The up and coming stars of the Ballarat Football League will be on show as interleague representative football returns.
The league announced an initial squad of 58 players, with a final 22 and two emergencies to be named closer to July 1, when the league will take on the Hampden Football League.
The teams this year will consist of players who are under-23 to give exposure to that talent who have missed out on representative football the last three years.
There has been no interleague football the last few seasons due to COVID-19, with the BFL one of a few leagues to have it return this year.
Players from all 11 clubs have been named in the BFL initial squad.
Jack Parente is the single player named from Bacchus Marsh, while Mace Cousins, Bailey Young, Adam Azzopardi, Zane Le Huray and Lucas Impey have been named from Darley.
The Sunbury Lions have the most representatives in the squad with eight players.
Victorian Football League listed players Jake Sutton and Harrison Minton-Connell headline the Lions selections.
Former Essendon rookie Cody Brand, Cody Bramble, Jake Egan, Riley Miller, Jack Newitt and Joel Muir are the others selected.
Reigning premiers Melton have seven players named in the initial squad.
Harrison Hanley, Kyle Borg, Conrad Farrugia, Jason Hibbert, Zac Russell, Lachlan Phillips and Max Scoble have been named in the squad.
While it has been tough going for Melton South this season, the Panthers young stars have been recognised.
Cody Chapman, Mitchell Fino, Riley Theo, Rhys Lee, Cassius White and Jarrod Bibby have all been named in the inaugural squad.
Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides will coach the BFL side having first been named the league’s interleague coach back in 2020, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Jonathan Brown has been named Hampden’s coach.
League chairman Adrian Bettio noted that the inclusion of “Kouta” as head coach would be great exposure for prospective players from the BFL to play under and for one of the game’s greats.
“Anthony will be a great inclusion to our interleague program in 2023,” he said.
“His knowledge and expertise will give the players a real boost to not only perform at this level, but to take back to their home clubs only strengthening our competition.”
Assistant coaches and support staff for the representative side will be confirmed shortly.
Tara Murray
