MATTHEW Dennis and Jesse Donaldson will captain the Northern Football League’s representative team at the 2016 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships.
The Bundoora ruckman and Montmorency midfielder were announced as co-captains at last night’s interleague training session, ahead of the NFL’s clash with the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League next week.
Both are highly decorated players and have featured in the NFL representative team over the past two years, as well as representing Vic Metro.
A two-time premiership player with the Bulls, Dennis tied with Northcote Park’s Bronik Davies for the league’s Division 1 best and fairest – the Frank Rosbrook Medal – in 2012.
Donaldson has captained Montmorency for the past two years and in 2014 was crowned the Division 1 Coaches Player of the Year.
NFL representative coach Robert Hyde said both would lead the NFL with distinction.
“Through my involvement last year, and knowing them from around the traps, they’ve been very good players and role models for their club and for the league for a very long period of time,” Hyde told NFL.org.au.
“As I said to the group, there are half a dozen to eight people I could have selected as captain.
“I think it’s great reward for both and they’re two terrific I blokes. They are super keen at training to represent the NFL.”
The NFL’s clash with the MPNFL will take place at Rye’s R.J Rowley Recreation Reserve on Saturday May 21 from 2pm.
An under-19 match will be played as a curtain-raiser from 11:15am, along with two netball matches.
