Worksafe AFL Victoria Country has released an initial senior representative squad ahead of its 2017 Brian Molony Cup clash against the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) on July 8.
Thirty-eight of Victoria’s best country players are in the running to don the Big V jumper when the pair meet at Frankston City Oval next month.
Eight different country football leagues are represented in the initial squad, with Ovens & Murray Football League (eight), Geelong Football League (eight), Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (five) and Ballarat Football League (five) boasting the most selections.
Three training sessions will be conducted in the lead up to the representative clash, with the final squad to be trimmed to 22-players.
Held biennially, the 2017 Brian Molony Cup is set to reignite one of the longest-standing rivalries in community football, as the best from the bush take on the best from the burbs.
WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country will be looking to extend its winning streak over the VAFA after defeating their metro rivals by 62-points in the pair’s last meeting at Bendigo in 2015.
Country Victoria’s top senior footballers will be led by former AFL player and coach and Bungaree Football Club product Danny Frawley, who took over the reins from Hawthorn legend Peter Knights last year.
WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Football Manager Jim Cail said the 2017 Brian Molony Cup presented country Victoria’s top community players with the opportunity to showcase their skills.
“The Brian Molony Cup provides an opportunity for some of country Victoria’s best senior players to test themselves against the top talent in the state.
“For some players, the Brian Molony Cup will be the highest level of football they will play in their career, while for others, it is a chance to move a step closer to achieving their AFL dreams,” he said.
“In addition, a number of players who have gone on to play at the elite level will also enjoy the challenge of playing in a representative competition and donning the Big-V jumper.”
The 2017 Brian Molony Cup will kick off at 2:15pm at Frankston City Oval on Saturday July 8.
SEE BELOW THE INITIAL WORKSAFE AFL VIC COUNTRY SENIOR SQUAD:
| NAME | LEAGUE | CLUB |
| Rob Condy | Geelong FNL | Newtown Chilwell FNC |
| Matt Dussin | Ovens & Murray FL | Myrtleford FNC |
| Jonathon Spina | Ovens & Murray FL | Lavington FNC |
| Dylan Jones | MPNFL | Bonbeach FNC |
| Jayden Symes | Geelong FNL | Geelong West Giants FNC |
| Lachlan Howe | Ovens & Murray FL | Yarrawonga FNC |
| Ben Monkhorst | AFL Yarra Ranges | Woori Yallock FNC |
| Scott Dwyer | AFL Yarra Ranges | Wandin FNC |
| Michael Newton | Ovens & Murray FL | Wangaratta FNC |
| Matt Thornton | Bendigo FNL | Sandhurst FNC |
| Sam Dobson | Geelong FNL | St. Mary’s FNC |
| Aaron Edwards | MPNFL | Pines FNC |
| Rory Taggert | Hampden FNL | North Warrnambool Eagles FNC |
| Tim McIntyre | Hampden FNL | Koroit FNC |
| Steven Stroobandts | Goulburn Valley FNL | Rochester FNC |
| Jarrah Maksymow | Ballarat FNL | Bacchus Marsh FNC |
| Shane McDonald | MPNFL | Bonbeach FNC |
| Jason Davenport | Geelong FNL | North Shore FNC |
| Campbell Floyd | Geelong FNL | Colac FNC |
| Matthew McMahon | Geelong FNL | Newtown Chilwell FNC |
| Chris Moreland | Geelong FNL | Geelong West Giants FNC |
| Scott MacLeod | MPNFL | Frankston YCW FNC |
| Jason Cole | Goulburn Valley FNL | Seymour FNC |
| Nathan Marrone | Goulburn Valley FNL | Rochester FNC |
| Elliott Powell | Ovens & Murray FL | Albury FNC |
| Brian Graham | Ballarat FNL | Darley FNC |
| Scott Sherlock | Ballarat FNL | Bacchus Marsh FNC |
| Andrew Collins | Bendigo FNL | Sandhurst FNC |
| Ben Dobson | Geelong FNL | St. Mary’s FNC |
| Sam Martyn | Goulburn Valley FNL | Benalla FNC |
| Kyle Hutchison | MPNFL | Frankston YCW FNC |
| Brayden O’Hara | Ovens & Murray FL | Albury FNC |
| Jack Geary | Bendigo FNL | Golden Square FNC |
| Michael Bordignon | Ovens & Murray FL | Wangarratta FNC |
| Liam Hoy | Ballarat FNL | Redan FNC |
| Shane Page | Ballarat FNL | Darley FNC |
| Codie Price | Bendigo FNL | Sandhurst FNC |
| Jack Di Mizio | Ovens & Murray FL | Wodonga Raiders FNC |