SEVEN players from the Northern Football League will represent Vic Metro in this Saturday’s clash with WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country.
Montmorency quartet Ryan Jackson, Jesse Donaldson, Shane Tennant and Patrick Fitzgerald, Bundoora utility Matthew Dennis, Lower Plenty ruckman Patrick Flynn and Northcote Park two-time best and fairest Nick Carter have all won selection in the team.
The AFL Victoria Community Cup will be just the second time in history that a team of Melbourne’s finest community footballers takes on a representative side of country Victorian competitions.
The first time was some 28 years ago, when country prevailed comfortably back in 1986.
The ultimate bush v burbs showdown will be played at Avalon Airport Oval this Saturday, July 12 from 2:15pm. The venue has been changed after Simonds Stadium became unavailable due to poor weather.
Coach Brian Royal and his fellow selectors have named a 24-man team with two emergencies from the six metropolitan leagues that competed in the Metro Championships on Saturday, March 29.
The NFL has the most representatives in the final squad of 24, ahead of the Eastern Football League (EFL) with six and the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) with five.
It is fantastic recognition for the seven players that have been selected in the squad, all of whom played vital roles in the NFL’s victory over the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) earlier this year.
The NFL led that clash from start to finish, registering a 13.9 (87) to 7.8 (50) victory which elevated the league to the No. 2 ranking amongst Melbourne’s metropolitan football leagues.
Below is the Vic Metro squad named for this Saturday’s clash with WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country.
| Number | Player | Club | League | Age |
| 1 | Natale Caruso | Northern Saints | EDFL | 28 |
| 2 | Fortunato Caruso | Northern Saints | EDFL | 26 |
| 3 | Timothy Jenkins | St Albans | WRFL | 25 |
| 4 | Ryan Jackson | Montmorency | NFL | 26 |
| 5 | Cameron Cloke | Bundoora | NFL | 29 |
| 6 | Will Tardiff | Collegians | VAFA | 27 |
| 7 | Brendan Goss | Old Xaverians | VAFA | 23 |
| 8 | Jesse Donaldson | Montmorency | NFL | 22 |
| 9 | Rennie Gilchrist | Balwyn | EFL | 25 |
| 10 | Jack Bull | Old Scotch | VAFA | 24 |
| 11 | Patrick Flynn | Lower Plenty | NFL | 22 |
| 12 | Justin Van Unen | Vermont | EFL | 23 |
| 13 | Kwame McHarg | Deer Park | WRFL | 22 |
| 14 | Ryan Mullett | Vermont | EFL | 31 |
| 15 | Luke Barker | Balwyn | EFL | 27 |
| 16 | Sam Boyd | Airport West | EDFL | 25 |
| 17 | Rhett Jordan | Norwood | EFL | 24 |
| 18 | Lee Spiteri | Altona | WRFL | 24 |
| 19 | Joel Perry | East Ringwood | EFL | 28 |
| 20 | Thomas Paule | Old Melbournians | VAFA | 27 |
| 21 | Matthew Dennis | Bundoora | NFL | 27 |
| 22 | Nick Carter | Northcote Park | NFL | 24 |
| 23 | Joel Rice | Old Carey | VAFA | 29 |
| 24 | Pat Fitzgerald | Montmorency | NFL | 24 |
| Emergencies | ||||
| 25 | Daniel Campisano | Greenvale | EFL | 27 |
| 26 | Luke Crozier | Bentleigh | SFL | 24 |
