Coach Chris Stuhldreier will be emphasising to his players the need to make the most of the opportunity they have representing Ballarat Football League in the AFL Victoria Community Championships in Ballarat on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He said some might never get another chance to play in such a big game or winning a match of such magnitude.
No one knows this better than Struhldreier, who as a champion goalkicker in a 21-year playing career never tasted premiership success at club level.
However, he did play in four VCFL Country Championship-winning sides - one with the Goulburn Valley and three with the Ovens and Murray.
"Those meant as much to me as a club premiership."
He said he hoped Ballarat could win so that the players could feel what the experience was all about.
While Stuhldreier is in charge of the BFL senior representative side for the first time, his Hampden counterpart Jonathon Brown is looking to continue his unbeaten run at the helm of the Bottle Greens.
Brown has taken Hampden to wins over South East and Bendigo in his two years in the role.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BALLARAT
Lachlan George (Redan): Midfielder. First season in BFL after 175-plus VFL career. Has made an immediate impact with precise delivery. Reads play exceptionally well.
Jordan Johnston (East Point): Key forward. High flying youngster with an ability to turn a game quickly off his own boot.
Grant Valles (Sunbury): Versatile back/forward. Can play in almost any position. Classy player with impressive aerial skills.
Jake Owen (Bacchus Marsh): Key forward, but has ability to play at either end. Strong pair of hands.
Daniel Jones (North Ballarat City): Midfielder. Strong bodied and creative, with a knack of finding open space. Can go all day.
HAMPDEN
Shannon Beks (South Warrnambool): Key forward. Mobile and a strong overhead mark.
Jeremy Hausler (Koroit): Five-time premiership tap ruckman, Critical cog in the on-ball brigade.
Dan Nicholson (Port Fairy): Proven goal scorer. Former AFL-listed player, will be eager to make an impact.
Adam Wines (North Warrnambool): :Proven goalkicker and goal stopper. Expect him to have a big impact.
Sam Cowling (Warrnambool): Captain is a strong mark. Can kick a bag of goals.
BALLARAT FL V HAMPDEN FL
at Mars Stadium, Saturday. 1.30pm
BALLARAT FL
B: Lachlan Watkins (Melton South), Ryan Carter (Melton), Ben Simpson (North B
allarat City)
HB: Ryley Stulhdreier (Bacchus Marsh), Liam Carter (Melton), Grant Valles (Sunbury)
C: Lachlan Bramble (Sunbury), Lachlan George (Redan), Nicholas Stuhldreier (Bacchus Marsh)
HF: Jordan Johnston (East Point), Jake Owen (Bacchus Marsh), Jacob Brown (East Point)
F: Braeden Kight (Melton), Aaron Willitts (Bacchus Marsh), Jack Landt (Sunbury).
FOLL: Jayden Eales (Sunbury), Mitch Conn (Sunbury), Bailey Edwards (Lake Wendouree)
INTER: Arthur Armstrong (Lake Wendouree), Scott Carlin (Lake Wendouree), Shaun Campbell
(Melton), Daniel Jones (North Ballarat City)
Emerg: Lachlan McLean (Redan), Marcus Powling (Ballarat), Billy Crofts (Melton)
HAMPDEN FL
B: Brett Harrington (Koroit), Ryan O'Connor (Terang-Mortlake), Fraser Lucas (Camperdown)
HB: Dallas Mooney (Koroit), Darcy Keast (North Warrnambool), Ben Dobson (Koroit)
C: Alex Pulling (Koroit), James Gow (Koroit), Riley Arnold (Camperdown)
HF: Tom Sullivan (Port Fairy), Sam Cowling (Warrnambool), Jarrod Korewha (Koroit)
F: Dan Nicholson ( Shannon Beks (South Warrnambool), Tom Couch (Koroit)
FOLL: Jeremy Hausler (Koroit), Kaine Merkovich (Port Fairy), Jackson Bell (Warrnambool)
INTER: Adam Wines (North Warrnambool), Sam McLachlan (North Warrnambool), Liam Hoy (Koroit), Jai Turland (Warrnambool), Harris Jennings (Portland)
