GEELONG premiership ruckman Brad Ottens has put his hand up to play interleague against the Ballarat Football League.
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Football Geelong operations manager Michael Limb yesterday confirmed the former big Cat was keen to play in the Victorian Country Football League clash in Ballarat on May 26.
Ottens, who retired from AFL ranks at the end of last season, is suiting up for Geelong Football League club Newtown-Chilwell this year. Should Ottens play, Sunbury’s Pat Cariss and former AFL/VFL ruck Tristan Cartledge are the leading Ballarat contenders to face him.
The 32-year-old could be joined in the Geelong interleague team by former Cats’ hardman Max Rooke, who remains uncertain due to ongoing knee trouble.
Rooke retired from the AFL at the end of 2010 and was assistant coach at Newtown-Chilwell last season and has played for the Eagles this season in between his new duties as Geelong’s VFL assistant coach.
Limb said the pair must pass fitness testing and remain available the next three weeks, like all interleague candidates, leading into the clash.
Ottens and Rooke each have other football commitments outside the GFL but Limb said they were available most weeks for the Eagles.
It was Ottens who kicked the winning goal for Newtown-Chilwell in a three-point win against Geelong West-St Peters at the weekend.
The GFL unveiled its preliminary training squad last week, including Ottens, Rooke and former Geelong/St Kilda forward Ryan Gamble.
At the time, GFL interleague coach Glen Wallace told Geelong media all three were “very much hit and miss” whether they would play.
The GFL’s preliminary squad includes Ballarat Swans’ premiership midfielder and BFL interleague representative Will McGregor, who plays for St Mary’s.
Geelong players met for a recovery and meet-the-coach session on Sunday morning.
The GFL and BFL officially started interleague training last night.
North Ballarat City best and fairest Ayden George has added his name as a BFL interleague contender.
The BFL yesterday confirmed George was in the mix after initial doubt about his availability when the squad was announced late last week. City now has nine players nominated for the interleague bout.
George has begun the season in top form and has received maximum votes for City in
The BFL has named 41 players for the preliminary training squad and must whittle the list back to the 23 that will face Geelong at Eastern Oval.
All 11 BFL clubs are represented in the initial squad.
Ballarat, coached by Shaune Moloney, had its first training run at Eureka Stadium last night and will move to Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh, next Wednesday.
The squad will train at Eastern Oval twice in interleague week with a jumper presentation at BFL’s Saxon House headquarters after training on May 24.