ACT ready to defend their trophy

ACT captain James Kavanagh is expecting tough competition at the opening day of the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival today but is confident his side can retain the coveted trophy.

The ACT team won the last carnival in Shepparton in 2008 and with the side containing a mix of youth and experience there’s no reason why they can’t make it back to back wins.

Kavanagh, who will be playing in his fourth carnival, said the success of last event will be a driving force this time around.

“I think this year’s going to be one of the toughest because there’s only one division and there’ll be a few sides that will be keen to get their hands on the trophy,” Kavanagh said.

“When you’re backing up after winning one you’ve always got to step up that next level, we’re pretty confident, but at the same time we are aware that it’s going to be pretty stiff competition.”

This year’s team will include three teenagers, Ben Symons (Tuggeranong), Riley McMahon (Eastlake) and Sam Gumley (Eastlake) who will all be playing in their first Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival.

Kavanagh, 30, said the three newcomers will bring a lot of enthusiasm to the team and he is expecting them to adapt to the increased intensity.  

“They’re going to be fine, I’ve seen them week in week out and there’s nothing they don’t have that some of the experienced players have,” he said.

“It’s just the ability for them to believe in putting it out there on a rep level but hopefully with the amount of leaders in our team we’ll instill that into them that really it’s not that much different and in a way it can be more of an advantage because they’re younger, fitter and faster.”

The ACT team will feature eight players from Eastlake, which according to Kavanagh is a true reflection of where the club is placed in the AFL Canberra competition at the moment.

“Eastlake’s probably one of the teams to beat and I think the format of the carnival will suit a few of their players – they’ve got a few highly skilled and fairly fit running players – and I think they’ll slot into the format really well.”

One player oppositions should watch out for is Belconnen’s Griffin Underwood. Underwood has impressed in the local competition for a number of years and he will be a marked man having won the player of the carnival in Shepparton two years ago.

Although, Kavanagh said the opposition teams won’t recognise the player who can change a game on his own boot.

“I think anyone who plays with him or against him know what he’s like, he just doesn’t stop, and his intensity is unbelievable,” he said.

“I had a joke with him the other night that he won’t get noticed as much this carnival because he doesn’t have his dreadlocks anymore but I think if he plays the way he’s been playing this year he’ll be noticed just as much.”

Kavanagh, who played for Coburg in the VFL before moving to Canberra eight years ago, said he is looking forward to leading the side out tomorrow in their first match against Western Australia.

“It is a real honour and I’m really proud to do it. You’re never really sure when you play in a rep side, you’ve got heaps of great players and that transforms into great leaders as well, so I’m really proud to be leading the ACT team out and a team that I think is going to be fairly competitive.”