Riverina Football League’s vying for top honours
Riverina pride will be on the line this weekend when the Riverina FL, Farrer FL and Northern Riverina FL battle it out at the 2010 AFL (NSW/ACT) Cougar Sportswear Regional Championships in Wagga Wagga, starting on Saturday June 12.
With the introduction of NSW/ACT Indigenous Australian Football Association (NAIAFA) this year, the event is quickly becoming one of the best on the calendar bringing the state’s most talented footballers together for a sports event.
Division One’s Farrer FL will looking to stop Riverina FL from winning the event for a second time in a row, while Division Two’s Northern Riverina FL will face tough matches against NAIAFA, Central West AFL and South Coast AFL.
Riverina FL’s coach Troy Maiden said the Championships provide an opportunity for local players to impress on the representative AFL stage.
“The RFL won the Championship two years ago so we don’t want to go backwards,” Maiden said.
“I know at the younger age groups there is definitely some excitement there [that talent scouts may be looking on]. If it means more players from our area are getting looked at it has to be a good thing.”
Farrer FL’s coach Matt Carroll said the Championships can be the catalyst to getting local players onto AFL lists.
“I would like to think that the players are aware of the possibilities to get looked at by GWS and to be picked and try their chance at a higher level of football,” Carroll said.
“[At the end of the event] hopefully all players have improved their football and will take that confidence back to club level.”
Northern Riverina will be keen to knock over their Division Two rivals although the league will face three tough matches to get there. League official Pat Daniher said they’re expecting to play NAIAFA in the grand final if they make it.
“What you can expect is for their club footy to improve. They come back and they’ve got that bit of confidence in their own club footy and that’s the best thing about it.”
All three teams have been training hard for the Championships and each would be feeling confident they can win the title with a number of impressive youngsters forming the sides.
In Division One, AFL Sydney Under-23’s, Riverina Football League, Farrer Football League and Black Diamond AFL will battle it out for the ultimate prize.
All teams will play each other once on Saturday, June 12 with the top two sides playing off in the grand final the following day. The third and fourth placed teams from day one will play each other prior to the grand final.
The Division One matches will be held at Maher Oval while Division Two will be held at Robertson Oval in Wagga Wagga. All finals will be held at Maher Oval on Sunday.
