NICK Rippon will represent the VFL in an international rules match against Ireland.
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The North Ballarat Roosters midfelder will tackle the Irish at Sandringham on Sunday, November 16.
This is a practice match for Ireland, which plays the AFL in WA a week later.
He is only the Roosters’ representative in a 25-strong squad being coached Damian Carroll, who also oversaw the VFL’s representative team last season.
Rippon, who was in the 2014 VFL Team of the Year, is not completely new to international rules.
He had a taste of the modified game when in Year 10 when he toured Ireland with St Patrick’s College.
“It’s an upside,” Rippon said in relation to that experience.
“The game wasn’t too much different ... obviously there’s a round ball.”
The VFL team will train for the first time together on Tuesday.
There will be other sessions on Thursday and Saturday.
Rippon’s selection makes up for some of the disappointment of missing out on wearing the Big V in the 2014 season, when he was part of the training squad.
“I was disappointed to miss the cut. It’s great to represent the VFL – a unique opportunity,” he said.
Carroll said when deciding the final squad they looked at rewarding players that had a good VFL season, as well as balancing a mix of youth and experience.
“We were looking at some youth that could put their names up there with a good performance against quality opposition in a draft sense, and that could also handle the load and be energised against a quick Irish side as well,” he said.
“The final side has a shorter rather than taller look due to the nature of the game as we tried to back in the guys that have played some exciting footy and are able to carry the ball.”
The VFL squad: Evan Panozza (Casey Scorpions), Adam Saad, Lech Featherstone (Coburg Lions), Ben Cavarra, Nicholas Newman (Frankston), Nick Rippon (North Ballarat), James Magner, Tom O’Sullivan, Toby Pinwill, Luke Tynan (Port Melbourne), Myke Cook, Adam Cockie (Sandringham), Scott Sherlock, Tom Gribble, Jye Bolton (Werribee), Scott Clouston, Ben Davies, Ben Jolley, Cameron Lockwood, Adam Marcon, Jake Owen (Williamstown), Jackson Geary (Golden Square), Thomas Paule (Old Melburnians), Bede Mahon (University Blacks), Ben Smithwick (Old Carey)