Forty-one in line to represent BFNL against the VAFA

BENDIGO Football Netball League senior interleague coach Simon Rosa says the ‘depth and quality’ of the league is reflected in the announcement of the training squad for the team’s clash against the VAFA next month at the QEO.

The league unveiled its 41-player training squad on Friday morning.

It comes after an intriguing first seven rounds of action in the 2025 season.

The squad, which includes at least one representative from all eight clubs, will eventually be trimmed to 23 players and two emergencies the week before the July 13 clash.

The full squad is listed below.

South Bendigo leads the way with nine players, while Sandhurst (seven), Eaglehawk (six) and Gisborne (six) also have a strong presence in the training squad.

Castlemaine, Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye are all represented with four players each, while Ethan Roberts is the sole Kangaroo Flat representative.

Rosa is keen to hit the ground running at the squad’s first training session at Camp Reserve in Castlemaine on Wednesday, June 18.

“We’re really pleased with the depth and quality across the board in this 41-player squad,” he said.

“It’s a great mix of proven performers and emerging talent from all BFNL clubs, and we’re excited to see how they come together in the training environment.

“It’s a terrific opportunity for these players to represent the BFNL and test themselves at a higher level.

“Interleague footy brings the best out of the best, and I know the group will embrace the challenge.

“I’ve got a fantastic coaching and support team alongside me, and we’re all committed to getting the most out of this squad.

“The standards will be high, and so will the support.”

The squad is headlined by 2024 joint Michelsen medallist Lachlan Tardrew and his Dragons premiership teammate Fergus Greene, the league’s reigning Ron Best medallist as leading goalkicker.

Co-coach of the ladder-leading Dragons, Tardrew is not the only senior coach in the squad.

Castlemaine’s Michael Hartley, Eaglehawk co-coach Clayton Holmes and South Bendigo co-coach, Jack Fallon have also been named the squad, which features 13 players who represented the BFNL in last year’s match against the VAFA at Elsternwick Park.

The captain of that team, Jack Reaper is one of six Gisborne’s players in the squad.

The squad’s second training session will be on Wednesday, June 25, at a location to be confirmed.

The final two sessions for the 23-player team will be held at the QEO on July 9 and 11.

BFNL senior training squad: Josh Eyre, Kal Huntly, Michael Hartley, Ryan Eyre – (Castlemaine), Charlie Langford, Joel Mullen, Clayton Holmes, Brayden Frost, Tyh Evans, Ben Thompson (Eaglehawk), Harry Luxmoore, Shane Clough, Zac Vescovi, Dylan Johnstone, Jack Reaper, Matt Merrett (Gisborne), Jordan Rosengren, Tom Strauch, Jayden Burke, Brodie James (Golden Square), Ethan Roberts (Kangaroo Flat), Lachie Hood, Cobi Maxted, Fergus Greene, Lachlan Tardrew, Lachlan Wright, Matthew Wilkinson, Cooper Smith (Sandhurst), Jack Fallon, Brock Harvey, Josh Nitschke, Brody Haddow, Macgregor Cameron, Callum Crisp, Tom Brereton, Kaiden Antonowicz, Anthony Zimmerman (South Bendigo), Riley Wilson, Cooper Jones, Bode Stevens, Lachlan Ratcliffe (Strathfieldsaye).