Day, who chalked up his 200th senior game for the Crows earlier this season, will be joined in the leadership group by Bungaree utility Shaun Finlayson, who has been named vice-captain.

He takes over the role from Adam Sewell, who was captain during the past two years.

Central Highlands coaching staff have released a squad of 26 players, which will be trimmed to the starting team of 22 before Thursday’s final training run.

The Highlanders will then host Loddon Valley in the state country championships at Bungaree on Saturday.

Senior coach Greg Middleton said Day was a great choice to skipper the side in his third-straight appearance in league colours.

“I’ve been involved in the last few years and loved his attitude and the bloke is very proud about his footy. He’s a very good leader of the group and has the right values to push the concept of the interleague program and bring the best out of the players around him,” he

said.

Middleton said he was pleased with the team that had been assembled, despite a few injuries to key players in recent weeks. 

One of those is assistant coach Tim Malone, from Springbank, who will be confined to the sidelines with a rib problem.

“The midfield group couldn’t get much stronger, the forwards are really potent and the backline is really steady back there. I think we’ve got a really good balance,” he said.

Bungaree is the best represented side in the competition with six players in the squad of 26, while 13 of the 18 teams are featured.

 Just one senior coach is named, being last year’s best on ground Jarrod Morgan, from Buninyong.

Saturday’s senior match kicks off at 2pm and will follow the under-17.5 intraleague curtain-raiser between two Central Highlands sides. 

A senior netball encounter will also take place during the afternoon.

CHFL SQUAD

Damien Day (Beaufort)

Marty Dufty (Bungaree)

Chris O’Keefe (Bungaree)

Dave Benson (Bungaree)

Scott Mann (Bungaree)

Joel Mahar (Bungaree) 

Shaun Finlayson (Bungaree) 

Jarrod Morgan (Buninyong)

Sam Turner (Buninyong)

Nathan Pring (Carngham-Linton)

Jayden Hind (Clunes)

Nicholas Hind (Clunes)

Sam Jenkins (Dunnstown) 

Ashley Munari (Gordon)

Mark Gunnell (Gordon)

Luke Gunnell (Gordon)

Brendan Sutcliffe (Hepburn)

Dan O’Halloran (Hepburn)

Alan Ware (Hepburn)

Jacob Werts (Learmonth)

Will Young (Newlyn)

Tyrone Ross (Skipton) 

Luke Fisher (Springbank)

Tom Eltringham (Springbank)

Jason Delaney (Waubra)

Jimmy Rushton (Waubra)