SUNRAYSIA coach Don Falvo has named a star-studded 34-man squad for the Dreamtime at the P representative football clash with the NT Redtails at Mildura Sporting Precinct next month.
Last year’s SFNL senior grand finalists, Irymple and Wentworth, have the highest representation in the squad with seven players from each club, while Ouyen United and Robinvale Euston both have five.
Former AFL player Sam Kerridge, who is now the playing coach at Mildura, will co-captain the team with Swallows ace Nick Mee in the twilight game on Saturday, April 15.
They are joined in the leadership group by two other ex-AFL players, Matt Dea and Jarrod Brander, while former Essendon VFL captain Dan Coghlan has fully recovered from a broken leg and will play a key role.
Falvo said there was “no doubt” that this is one of the best ever Sunraysia representative football squads.
“We have class players right across the park,” the four-time McLeod medallist said.
“I’m very happy with how the players have been going about it at training over the past month or so, and the squad we’ve chosen has a good mix of youth and experience.”
There is also a high-quality Indigenous representation in the Sunraysia squad, with Eagles excitement machine Isaiah Johnson joined by Kangas duo Jermarl Daly and WA newcomer Jahmal Stretch.
The squad will be reduced to the final 22 early next month, but it’s set to be blessed with top-shelf attacking firepower in the likes of Brander, Hancock, Pezzaniti, Daly, Johnson and his Eagles teammate, Joey Mezzatesta.
The midfield will be dripping with class, too, as Kerridge, Mee, Coghlan, Red Cliffs gun Vas Tuifao, Mildura maestro Mitch Rogerson and Merbein marvel Daniel Tung vie for starting positions.
Ruckmen Nick Jensen (Roos) and Matty Rix (Merbein) are both excited about the prospect of coming up against the Redtails’ marquee signing, Paddy Ryder.
The former St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Essendon star is set to be joined in the Redtails line-up by another former AFL player in Matty Campbell (North Melbourne).
There is also the possibility that former Robinvale Euston playing coach Andrew Richardson, who moved to Alice Springs recently to work for the Clontarf Foundation, will be playing for the Redtails.
Falvo gave special praise to former Richmond and Essendon player Dea for the “impressive way he’s guided the young guys” at training over the past month.
“Some of my rep juniors have been coming to our senior training sessions, and Matty has been amazing in how much time he’s giving these up-and-coming kids,” Falvo said.
“We’re so fortunate to have the likes of Matty, Sammy, Jarrod and (former Sydney Swan and St Kilda assistant coach) Benny McGlynn already giving back so much on their return from the AFL.”
The Sunraysia squad will be training at Sarah Oval next Friday, March 24, from 6pm. The public is welcome to attend.
SUNRAYSIA SQUAD
Co-captains Nick Mee (Irymple) and Sam Kerridge (Mildura). Dan Coghlan, Tom Brownbridge, Nick Pezzaniti, Mitch Roads, Brodie Jackson, Connor Mensch (Irymple). Wade Hancock, Nick Jensen, Andy Wall, Jarrod Brander, Tom Sapuppo, Finn Ellis Castle, Tristan Parker (Wentworth), Matt Dea, Layne McHugh (Imperials), Josh Dean, Mitch Rogerson (Mildura), Daniel Tung, Matty Rix, Noah Hills (Merbein), Vas Tuifao, Jed Connelly (Red Cliffs), Dallas Willsmore, Luke Stanbrook, Alex Morrish, Jahmal Stretch, Jermarl Daly (Ouyen United), James Zappia, Isaiah Johnson, Joseph Mezzatesta, Ricardo Liparota, Joey Madio (Robinvale)
