Three Barry Priest medallists are included in the initial Western Region Football League squad for the AFL Vic Metro championships.
Werribee Districts’ Matthew Dean, St Albans’ Tim Jenkins and Sunshine’s Russell Douglas are among 58 players named for the March clash with the Eastern Football League.
With an average age of 24, the line-up is three years younger than last year’s squad, but it isn’t without experience with eight of 2014’s division 1 team captains being named.
Two former AFL players, Hoppers Crossing’s Wayde Skipper and Altona’s Jayden Post, also add experience to the squad.
Players from each of the division 1 sides have been selected, with Glenorden’s Josh MacDonald the only player selected from division two.
Not surprisingly, reigning premier Deer Park has the most players in the squad, its nine including captain Chris Stewart. Runner-up Spotswood has eight players in the squad, including VFL premiership player Michael Fogarty.
Both Wyndham teams, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee Districts, are well represented with seven and six players respectively.
Seven St Albans players have been named, with six from Altona and five from Sunshine. Albion and Port Melbourne Colts have four each and Chris Muratore is the sole representative from newly promoted Parkside.
Coach Brett Jacobs and his coaching panel are still to choose a captain. Last year’s skipper, Jason Cloke, has moved to Essendon District Football League side Craigieburn.
WRFL football operations manager Dave Newton says the initial squad has the versatility and skills to match it with the best.
“We had an average age of 27 last year, so combining a few younger names with the talent of our more experienced players will be of great benefit to Brett and the rest of the coaching panel when selecting the final squad,” he said.
Senior inter-league training is set to start in mid-February ahead of the March 28 clash at VISY Park.
