THE GIPPSLAND League home and away season makes way for All Stars carnival action this weekend, with talented young footballers and netballers showing their class during a busy day at Traralgon Recreation Reserve.
The intraleague games pit Team Red against Team Navy, with Leongatha and Wonthaggi having representatives in the various Team Red sides.
The exception is open grade netball competition in which Leongatha A grade stars Nicola Marriott and Lara Stefani will represent the competing teams.
Team Red is selected from Leongatha, Wonthaggi, Warragul, Drouin and Moe, while Team Navy representatives are generally picked from Morwell, Traralgon, Maffra, Sale and Bairnsdale.
‘Senior’ footy squads have a top age of Under 25, with Leongatha fielding four players in that match, alongside a couple of Wonthaggi representatives.
Jack Hume, Xavier Lamers, Ty Hall and Tallin Brill are the selected Parrots, with Hunter Tiziani and Brodie Mabilia the Power representatives.
Leongatha senior coach Trent McMicking would love to see a return of interleague competition, if possible, but sees the intraleague carnival as providing important experience for young players.
“It’s a great opportunity for the boys to go up against the best young talent in the comp,” McMicking said.
Melinda McLennan, Leongatha’s head of netball operations, expressed similar sentiments, pleased that the best players will have the chance to test themselves at a high level of competition.
“It’s a good opportunity to see what talent we’ve got within the league,” McLennan said.
Wonthaggi also has two representatives in the combined Under 18 and Under 16 Team Red footy side, with Leongatha having five players in that team.
The Power is not represented in either Open aged netball team, with the Parrots having just one player in each side.
Leongatha and Wonthaggi combine to form almost the entire Under 17 Team Red netball side, with Hannah Davis of Warragul the exception.
The Parrots have three girls in Under 15s action, with Wonthaggi missing out at that level, while Leongatha has three Under 13 representatives and Wonthaggi one.
***Breakout Box***
Gippsland League All Stars carnival details:
Where:
All action takes place at Traralgon Recreation Reserve
When:
Saturday May 20, gates open at 10am.
Senior netball (2pm)
Senior football – Under 25s (1.15pm)
Junior netball – Under 17s (1pm), Under 15s (12pm), Under 13s (11am)
Junior football – Combined Under 16s and 18s (11.15am)