CHFL interleague clash to become a battle of the bodies

By TIM O'CONNOR

May 25, 2012, 3:04 p.m.

A WET and windy Nar Nar Goon is expected to turn today’s interleague showdown between Central Highlands and Ellinbank and District into a battle of the bodies.

The two teams, which return from senior representative wilderness for this weekend’s round of Victorian Country Football League clashes, are likely to be forced into a four-quarter slog after yesterday’s heavy downpours.

And more rain is forecast today, with weatherzone.com.au tipping a high chance of further showers.

Ellinbank and District head coach Steve Hodge has picked a side to suit the conditions in what will be the league’s first interleague bout in almost 10 years.

“It will be a hard-fought game with plenty of contests, and the side that shows up with the best attitude and adapts to the conditions will more than likely prevail,” he told The Courier yesterday.

Hodge, a dual premiership coach with Drouin and a premiership player at Warragul, said the Ellinbank and District side would be led by three players with VCFL representative experience.

These include forward Brett Dore, elusive goalkicker Kael Bergles and captain Shane Brewster, while league best-and-fairest winning ruckman Ben Dwyer will provide plenty of grunt around the stoppages, of which there is expected to be plenty.

Like the Central Highlands, injury and unavailability has played its part in the make-up of the Ellinbank and District side, but Hodge is pleased with the names he has at his disposal for today’s clash.

“I’m very, very happy with the side. They will give a good account of themselves and the league,” he said.

Central Highlands sits 27th on current VCFL rankings, one spot above the host competition.

CHFL LINE-UP

B: Louis Franc (Beaufort) Damian Day (Beaufort) Ash Whelan (Waubra)

HB: Ash Munari (Gordon) Mark Gunnell (Gordon) Luke Mitchell (Hepburn)

C: Seb Walsh (Daylesford) Jarrod Morgan (Buninyong) Rob Rodgers (Daylesford)