Football
23 April, 2024
Juniors train hard ahead of carnival
After more than three decades, the Wimmera Football Netball League have junior Interleague squads in the under-17s and under-14s football categories.
The last time the WFNL had an Interleague under-17 match was back in 1992/1993, while the under-14 match dates back even further to 1988.
Approximately 70 boys from these age groups gathered for training sessions, overseen by under-14 coach Kyle George and under-17 coach Jarrod Illig, alongside some selectors.
WFNL Chair Peter Ballagh hailed the return of junior Interleague as a monumental achievement for the league, expressing his satisfaction with the coaches' efforts.
"This is a massive achievement for the league to get junior Interleague back and I am really happy with the coaches," Ballagh said.
"The coaches did a fantastic job today in training and selecting crews, and it was good to see everyone get involved."
Under clear skies, training unfolded smoothly, with the WFNL extending gratitude to Chris Delahunty and his team for facilitating the use of the ground and organising a BBQ post-training.
The squads are scheduled for another training session on Sunday, April 28, following which the final teams will be announced.
The two teams representing WFNL will compete in the South West League carnival on Sunday, May 5. The under-14s are slated to battle it out at Heathmere, while the under-17s will showcase their skills at Westerns Oval in Portland.
The resurgence of junior Interleague football not only marks a significant milestone for the WFNL but also underscores the league's commitment to nurturing young talent.