By: Daniel Cencic
Twitter: @DC_EFL
The 2017 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships have arrived.
Led by coach Brett Moyle, the Eastern Football League takes on the Essendon District Football League on Saturday at Bayswater Oval, with the stakes at a high.
A victory against the EDFL would mean the EFL plays off for the number-one rank in the main game in 2018 – after its 24-point loss to the Geelong league in 2016 pushed it back to third rank.
After an initial squad of around 60 was named last month, Moyle faced the tough challenge of picking his side and reducing the list to just of the EFL’s most exciting footballers.
“It (was) going to be a challenge to try and cut the squad down, because there’s a lot of good players,” Moyle said.
“Every player that’s going to be removed is going to be a good player.”
While the initial squad has been virtually cut in half over the last fortnight, Moyle faces his next challenge before 2.15pm Saturday.
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“It’s not going to be a lot of fun for me but we need to get it down to the best 22,” he said.
Norwood leads the charge with six players named, followed by Vermont and Rowville with five each.
Rowville’s Cam Manuel features among the squad, with the 2016 Chandler medallist forming the list of eight Rowville players named.
“He’s keen to play, which is good,” Moyle said.
“I think Cam really embraced the whole thing last year and he’s right on board with it again which is great.”
Rounding out the Hawks’ selected players include Lachlan McDonald, Matthew Davey, Damian Garner and club captain Alex Frawley.
The Norsemen boast Dean Poynton, Stuart Hill, Matthew Aver, Leigh Williams, Lochlan Dickson and the returning Rhett Jordan in the squad.
Under the tutelage of Norwood senior coach Denis Knight – the former EFL senior interleague coach – all players have been encouraged to play, as Knight told EFL Game-Day a fortnight ago that he was on board with the concept of interleague during the season.
With a plethora of forwards to choose from, the tantalising prospect of seeing any of Leigh Williams, Jake Tucker, Jake Best and Jake Hammond – to name just a few – in the same forward line is set to excite all EFL followers.
“It’s hard to fit them all in (and) due to injury to a couple of key ones and unavailability we were left with one or two of the best goal kickers in the comp, whereas this year we’re going to be left with a lot of options,” Moyle said.
“Jake Tucker kicked seven goals for South Croydon in Round 3 and Hammond kicked four as well and Jake Best is kicking a few with Vermont.
“There’s lots of different options there for sure.”
Tucker has enjoyed a fruitful first month of the season, kicking goals each week for South Croydon who is currently undefeated after four rounds. A bag of seven on Anzac Day against Blackburn at Cheong Park is Tucker’s biggest haul for the year.
Meanwhile, a bag of six against Norwood in Round 1 and four against South Croydon on Anzac Day has formed part of Jake Hammond’s blistering start to the season for Blackburn, who looks a dangerous prospect up forward for the EFL should he play against the EDFL.
Last weekend saw Hammond register two majors in his side’s 28-point win over Noble Park.
Among the Vermont players in the squad, Jake Best, Adam Parker, Liam Wale-Buxton and Robbie McComb were all named in Vermont’s best last weekend in the win over Rowville, with Rory Lehmann also enjoying a strong start to season 2017 named in the best twice.
In what is yet another accolade on an illustrious football CV for Brett Moyle, which includes captaining Balwyn’s 2008 premiership side and coaching North Ringwood to premierships in 2012 and 2014, the EFL coach can’t wait to guide 22 of the League’s superstars.
“It’s a real honour,” he said.
“Last year when we didn’t win, I wasn’t sure that I’d be asked again so I’m glad I’ve been asked again to do it.
“It’s really enjoyable working with all the best players and while it has its challenges to try and pick a side, but what we’re going to be left with is a really good side to be in charge of.”
A former senior interleague representative himself, Moyle knows the significance of playing for the EFL at representative level and performing on the big stage.
“I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“That’s something I tried to impart onto our players last year and I will again (this year) of how much I enjoyed the experience of playing in a game like this.”
