The NFL has announced its under-19 squad for its representative clash against the WRFL this Saturday.
NFL under-19 rep coach Rod Cann admits the plethora of talent at his disposal caused a selection dilemna ahead of the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships match.
Cann last year guided the NFL’s under-19 side to a commanding 85-point win over the MPNL and believes this year’s squad is just as talented as the 2016 team.
Speaking to NFL.org.au, Cann admitted it was a tough process reducing the preliminary squad of close to 50 players for Saturday’s match at Preston City Oval.
The squad now contains 26 players, of which two players will be named emergencies later this week.
“It’s a pretty hard task, given the quality of the players that we’ve got to select from this year,” Cann said.
“Selection was probably a bit more difficult this year where we have a couple of players playing seniors right across the league.
“It’s a pretty hard task trying to get from about 50 down to 26. Certainly the quality is right up there again this year.”
Cann has spent the past month watching as many under-19 games as possible in order to get as much insight into each player in the squad.
“The way the fixture has played out we’ve only had a month of football to have a good look at some of these guys,” he said.
“We’ve spent a lot of time looking at games and how they’re going and looking at videos and trying to get them to training.
“It’s been a hard task given the short lead-up time to get them all together and try to make an assessment on everyone.”
Despite taking great confidence into Saturday’s match, Cann is also wary of the quality of the WRFL side.
The WRFL last year beat the Ballarat Football Netball League by 95 points in its representative fixture and is again expected to select a skilful young side.
“I’d imagine they’ll be coming into the game just as confident as we will,” Cann said.
“There are a lot of unknowns when you come into these games. It’s a little bit different to the senior group where a lot of the players are known around the leagues.
“It hard to get a gauge on the opposition because it’s totally new opposition for us. You get a whole new group of under-19s in the NFL and they’ll have a whole new group of under-19 players themselves.
“We’re as confident as we can be and without really knowing the opposition, I think we’ve put a strong list together.”
Cann is again being assisted by South Morang’s Mark Muscat, while Lower Plenty assistant coach Ben Turner is also part of the under-19 coaching panel.
Turner coached Greensborough’s seniors for the past two years and previously led the Boro’s under-19s to multiple premierships.
“Mark Muscat has come on board again, which is great and he knows the ropes,” Cann said.
“I’ve been able to engage Ben Turner who has got a really good knowledge of some of the young guys coming through the competition.
“That has certainly been advantageous for us as well. It’s a really strong assistant coaches group and we’re really looking forward to getting it done this week.”
To view the 2017 NFL representative squad, please click on the link below.
DOWNLOAD: 2017 NFL Under-19 Representative Squad
