Page 12 - 2015 STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARNIVAL RECORD

VIC METRO OUT TO CREATE LEGACY
Melbourne’s six premier community football leagues will unite for just the second time in history when they meet AFL Queensland today.
The Victorian Amateur Football Association, the Eastern FL, the Northern FL, the Western Region FL, the Essendon District FL and the Southern FL are regarded as some of the best community competitions in Australia but only combined to form a representative side for the first time last year.
The introduction of the AFL Victoria Metro Championship in 2014 saw the leagues ranked 1-6 and resulted in a triple header on the eve of the season.
Following the Championships, a Vic Metro Metro Squad was selected to take on the best of the 44 country Victorian leagues.
After overpowering their country rivals, a new opponent was sought with AFL Queensland agreeing to host another historic
encounter.
The 2015 Metro Championships again produced three enthralling matches with the who’s who of community football pressing their
case for section.
Today’s match offer players a chance to don the Big V jumper under the guidance of an experienced coaching
team led by Brian Royal.
Royal has spent almost two decades in the AFL system and will be supported by assistant coaches – Sean Millane (assistant coach last year), Jason Heatley
(NFL interleague coach), Brett Jacobs (WRFL Interleague coach) in the clash
against Queensland.
After watching his side come together over the past few weeks, Royal said he was excited to see
what they could produce on the field.
“It’s been challenge of course to get guys who have never met to come together as a tight-knit team but that’s all part of representative
football.”
“I’m a big believer of the benefits of rep footy and the importance of providing opportunities for guys to test their ability at a higher level.”
“We think we’ve picked a good balanced team that will be hard at the ball but also boasts some terrific skills.”