With the AFL Cats playing on the Gold Coast and none of the senior Geelong football leagues in action on the weekend, Skilled Stadium will take centre stage and play host to a regional battle of significant magnitude. On Saturday three matches between sides from Geelong and Bendigo will take place to find out - ‘just who has the stronger football region’.
The day kicks off at 9am with the Geelong Football League (GFL) U/18’s taking on the Bendigo Football League (BFL) U/18’s before the VFL Cats take on the 5th placed Bendigo Bombers at 11.15am. The VFL fixture will be followed by the VCFL Interleague Championships senior match between the GFL and BFL at 2.10pm.
After a week off the VFL Cats look set to welcome back a host of big names. Two time premiership player Shannon Byrnes, first year draftee George Horlin-Smith, co-captain Troy Selwood and twin towers Trent West and Dawson Simpson will all be back in the hoops as the Cats look to break their duck in season 2011. The return of West and Simpson will cover the loss of premiership ruckman Mark Blake who has undergone finger surgery.
A long list of current and former VFL and AFL listed players call either the township of Geelong or Bendigo ‘home’. Both areas are recognised as two of the strongest football regions in the country and a great deal of pride will be at stake come Saturday.
Geelong co-captains Troy Selwood and Matthew Firman both have links with the gold mining region. Selwood was born and raised in the town before being recruited from the Bendigo Pioneers to the Brisbane Lions in 2002, while VFL veteran Firman spent a season with the Bombers in 2011 while on the Essendon rookie list.
The Essendon aligned Bendigo Bombers have named a strong line up that includes former Geelong midfielder Brent Prismall, AFL premiership forward Mark Williams, Ricky Dyson and Jay Neagle. Former Williamstown spearhead and 2010 ‘Frosty Miller’ Medallist Matthew Little has formed a lethal forward combination with former Frankston Dolphin Tory Dickson and both player will be looking to wreak havoc on the wide spaces of Skilled Stadium.
Geelong members get free entry to the day.
VFL Round 9 Vs Bendigo Bombers
Saturday 28th May
11.15am @ Skilled Stadium
B: Matthew Firman (c), Tom Gillies, Ryan Bathie
HB: Joshua Walker, Andrew McLean, Cameron Guthrie
C: Jaxson Barham, Troy Selwood (c), Shannon Byrnes
HF: Steven Motlop, Trent West, Daniel Menzel
F: Jonathan Simpkin, Mitchell Brown, Jordan Schroder
Foll: Dawson Simpson, George Horlin-Smith, Mark Corrigan
I/C: George Burbury, Ben Raidme, Jack Hollmer, Casey Tutungi, Anthony Biemans, Tom Maas, Mitchell Cuthill, Jackson Sheringham, Isaac Baker (23rd Player)
