by Luke Barker (@ Luke2Barker)
I WAS hoping by the time I sat down to write this we would have celebrated a great win over the VAFA.
Potentially laying claim to the belief that the Eastern Football League is now the No. 1 competition in Metropolitan Victoria. However, hopes were dashed in the final 20 minutes in what can only be described as an old fashioned ‘touch up’.
After being a close, see-sawing game for three quarters, the VAFA came home with a wet-sail on the back. Assisted by a number of costly turnovers from our end, they eventually ran out comfortable winners.
Unfortunately we didn’t play the way we would have liked.
The experience, knowledge and friendships that I have developed out of being part of the EFL representative team is something I will be grateful for. I thank the EFL for backing this concept and brining it back into the football calendar.
Arriving at the first training session at Boronia some seven weeks ago was quite intimidating.
To be in the same change room as a number of players, who I had played against, admired and respected for quite a while, but didn’t really know.
We had a group of guys from over 13 football clubs across three divisions who had all never been in the same room.
Our coach Daniel Donati welcomed everyone down and asked each player to get up in front of the group, tell everyone a bit about themselves and explain what being selected in the squad and the interleague game meant to them.
Seeing everyone get up – some reluctantly – and, to a man, detail how excited, nervous and privileged they were to be a part of the squad certainly broke down a few barriers.
We were all on the same page. Everyone was going to give our very best if lucky enough to get selected to represent the EFL.
Over the next few weeks we trained together, under the guidance of Dan Donati, Marcus Buzaglo and Mick Fogarty.
The coaches’ instructions were simple: enjoy yourselves, play fast footy, back your skills and play together.
The training sessions were high quality. More often than not the ball didn’t hit the ground.
Apart from a few of Mulls [Ryan Mullett] handballs and a couple of balls that bounced off Broady’s [Blake Broadhurst] head.
We really clicked as a group. Everyone got along really well.
The hardest part of the whole experience was the final selection night before the game.
We have all been in that situation and know the gut-wrenching feeling that comes over you. It’s the worst part of footy. The guys who were not selected showed their quality as people.
After becoming such a tight group and having put together an ideal preparation, it was frustrating that we couldn’t perform the way we wanted.
The hardwork that the EFL, coaching staff and players put into Interleague this year was incredible.
A special mention must go to Matt Bishop [EFL Football Operations], who worked tirelessly to organize everything, including an emergency shipment of larger shorts for a few boys with sizeable rumps!
I swear I’m normally a medium!
Mention also to the coaching staff of Nutsy, who spent six weeks with five nights of footy, Buzz, Foggers, Johnno, Cossy, Trav and Grillsy and the incredible support and medical staff under the guidance of Salad.
For me personally, it was an awesome experience. Getting to know and play with so many good players that I have admired from afar.
I have made a lot of new mates over the last seven weeks and can’t wait to play against a few of them this season.
I think the EFL landscape may change a bit more now. A lot more opposing players now like each other!