Lee Cox and Andy McKay
TWO of the Central Highlands Football League’s biggest stars have been ruled out of next month’s interleague clash.
Hepburn spearhead Lee Cox and midfield/forward Andy McKay are unavailable for selection due to a wedding on Saturday, May 26 – the day of the match against Ellinbank and District FL in Nar Nar Goon.
The pair was named in the league’s initial squad of 50 players on Monday night.
Central Highlands head coach Shane Skontra said Cox and McKay’s absence was an obvious blow for the league.
“It’s going to be a bit of a loss for the league, but we’ve got lots of depth and players who can cover their positions,” Skontra said.
“Whilst it will hurt the side, we will just look at the bigger picture.”
Cox and McKay are amongst a handful of the competition’s biggest names that will not be part of the league’s senior interleague revival.
Waubra midfielder Shaun Mullane and reigning Gordon best and fairest Tim Werner have been left out of the preliminary squad because of serious knee injuries, Beaufort recruit Nigel Otto has been ruled out with an Achilles problem, while Ballan’s Mark Williams is missing due to the finger injury he sustained last weekend.
Skontra said the selection panel had the right to add Williams, or any other player, into the team should they warrant inclusion.
The Highlanders will have their first training session this Sunday from 10am at St Patrick’s College.
It will be the first of four training runs, before the final team of 22 and three emergencies is announced on the Thursday night before the clash.