Interleague and representative football has dried up since Covid, with Geelong’s leagues not holding any plans for its return. But a poster child of the power of interleague as backed a return.
A string of representative football greats pushed AFL Victoria to reinstate games featuring sides like Vic Country this week, after the carnivals were lost during Covid.
Tom Stewart rises above the pack.
Interleague has also not returned to Geelong’s leagues since the pandemic, although Victorian competitions Ovens and Murray and Goulburn Valley will play off on Saturday.
AFL Barwon boss Ed Wilson told the Geelong Addy last month that an interleague return was on the table, if clubs were willing to back it.
A four-time All-Australian and premiership player with the Cats, Stewart is one of the great success stories of the pathway from local level, after working his way up from GFL club South Barwon.
Geelong’s Vic Country reps in 2014: Kevin Bourke, Jordan Erskine, Tim Sheringham, Daniel Nichols, Tom Stewart and Tom Gillies Picture: Wayne Ludbey
He played for Vic Country in 2014 as he made a name for himself with Geelong’s VFL side, before he was drafted onto the Cats’ AFL list later that year and said representative footy was “massive” for his career trajectory.
“It sort of springboarded me towards VFL football,” he said.
“I played the Vic Country game against the VAFA in 2014, I believe, and that really was a massive step for me to prove I could play against some of the best players in the state.
“It is a massive coup. There is nothing better than playing with some of the best players in your league and if you get the opportunity, with some of the best players in the state.
“It is a nice thing to have and I think it’s super important for local football.”
Isaac Smith leaps high in Vic Country colours in 2010. Photo by Stefan Postles
Stewart’s Geelong teammate Isaac Smith is another success story from representative football, with the four-time AFL flag winner and Norm Smith medallist having also played for Vic Country on his path to the top.
AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue told News Corp that the “appetite has diminished” for structured representative football since Covid and it was likely to be limited to leagues organising games between themselves.