AFL Queensland has named Morningside Panthers’ David Lake as coach of the 2015 Queensland representative team to play Vic Metro in Brisbane on the Queen’s birthday weekend.
The match is part of a state representative program that will see four matches played at the Moreton Bay Regional Sports Complex on Sunday June 7.
North Queensland will take on South Queensland, Queensland will meet Victoria Metro, the NEAFL will play the Tasmanian State League and the Queensland Women’s team will match up against a Tasmanian state representative side.
Lake was assistant coach of the 2014 state side and brings more than 10 years’ experience in community coaching, including stints at the Mt Gravatt Vultures and in Morningside’s player pathway program.
He made a triumphant return to state league coaching in 2014, bagging the QAFL premiership with a Morningside team that was undefeated all season.
Lake is looking forward to taking the reins of the Queensland side, which is open to players from any Queensland competition – including NEAFL players not selected for their squad.
“I am very passionate about this. It’s a great opportunity and something I haven’t done, so I’m very excited about it,” he said.
“It’s important from our footy standing that we put our best foot forward, we need to win it to stamp our mark on where we sit in footy in Australia.”
Lake is a strong advocate of the state representative program and says players should wear the Queensland colours with pride.
“There is nothing better than the opportunity to represent where you exist in, and pull on your state colours,” he said.
AFL Queensland Chief Executive Officer Michael Conlan said he was thrilled with the appointment.
“It’s important that we have the best Queensland coaches leading the best Queensland players,” said Conlan.
“As the reigning QAFL premiership coach David Lake is the perfect choice and I have no doubt he will bring out the best in our Queensland team.”
Match Schedule
Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex – Sunday June 7
The day kicks off with North Queensland – comprising players from Cairns, Capricornia, Mackay, Mount Isa and Townsville – taking on the best players from the QFA, QAFA, Darling Downs and Wide Bay leagues in a repeat of last year’s match.
Game two sees Queensland take on a Victoria Metro side comprising players chosen from all Melbourne metropolitan based competitions.
The best of the NEAFL will line up against the Tasmanian State League and the Queensland women’s team will close out the day with their clash against the Tasmania.
|
10.45am |
North Queensland Vs. South Queensland |
|
1.00pm |
Queensland Vs. Victoria Metro |
|
3.45pm |
NEAFL Vs. Tasmania |
|
6.30pm |
Queensland Vs. Tasmania (Women’s match) |
