IT WILL be a case of Riordan versus Riordan in Ballarat’s crucial interleague match against Goulburn Valley today.
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The two brothers, Brenton from Redan and Andrew from Shepparton Swans, will not only play on opposite teams in the AFL Victoria Country Championships match, there is every possibility they will actually line up on each other.
Brenton, playing his first Ballarat Football League representative match, will most likely take a spot in the forward arc, with his younger brother to play a key defensive role, most likely on whoever lines up as Ballarat’s number one forward.
“It’s obviously pretty exciting, getting to play against each other. It’s never really happened before,” Brenton said.
“He’s very much a lock-down defender. He won’t get beaten too many times one-one-one. If I do come up against him, I will have a bit of knowledge of how he plays, though.”
With six years separating the two brothers (Brenton is 29 and Andrew is 23), the pair have actually played very little football together.
Originally from Katandra, about 30 kilometres north-west of Shepparton, both brothers moved to Geelong to study at university, where they spent two years playing together at Grovedale in the Geelong Football League.
Aside from that, however, their football association is limited.
Andrew played for the GVFL last year when it lost to Geelong at Kardinia Park, with Brenton a keen onlooker at the time.
“I had a look at a lot of the players then, obviously not thinking I would be playing against them this year,” the Redan power forward said.
“I know a fair few of the players from being up from that way, so I’ve been able to help out a few of our guys there.
“I haven’t had to give a lot of my knowledge to Shane (coach Shane Skontra) because he’s so organised and he’s done the homework but, with individuals, I’ve been able to share a fair bit.”
If the day was not significant enough for the family, middle brother Matthew will also pull on an interleague jumper, playing for Heathcote District Football League against Horsham District Football League.
But when it comes to parents’ support in the Ballarat versus Goulburn Valley clash, Brenton thinks he might have Dad on his side.
“Dad usually goes for the underdogs and we are probably considered underdogs, so maybe that’s a bit of an omen there,” he said.
“I think Mum will just be hoping we both have a good game and she won’t care who wins. I think she’ll be barracking for the
draw.”
MATCH TIMES
Senior football: 2.30pm
Under-18 football: 11.45am
Senior netball: 1.30pm
17/under netball: noon