Rosa leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of interleague success

IT wasn’t just the clubs, players and supporters who were rapt to see the start of the BFNL season roll around on the weekend.

For interleague coach Simon Rosa, it was a golden opportunity to see first-hand some of the players he might have at his disposal when the BFNL takes on the Victorian Amateur Football Association later this year.

As expected first-up, there was a nice mix of what some would term interleague regulars, hopefuls, newcomers to the league and bolters to stake an early claim for selection.

It was just what the Golden Square legend and his extended group of assistants were hoping for.

There will be plenty more chances for selectors to be impressed before an initial 35-player training squad is announced on 1 June.

Rosa felt the long lead-in to the 13 July interleague clash at the QEO would work to the BFNL’s advantage.

“Interleague footy is normally a bit earlier, around round five or six, but having 11 rounds before this year’s game gives us plenty of time to watch plenty of games and get out and see who’s in form,” he said.

“Hopefully, from that, we will be able to put the best squad forward to represent Bendigo.”

Rosa is leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of success, having already held discussions with many clubs and senior coaches.

He is impressed by the early support from clubland and the player buy-in.

“Part of my thinking is that because I have got so long to plan, it gives me a chance to plan really well,” Rosa said.

“Getting the support from the individual clubs and the players is the key to it all.

“Our assistant coaches and I will be contacting players and really trying to get the buy-in from them.

“Interleague footy comes and goes, as we saw through COVID, when we didn’t have it for a couple of years, anything can happen.

“My message to the players is that you just never know – due to injuries or unforeseen things – that your last interleague chance might have past you, so embrace it while you can.

“We really want to get that player buy-in.” Billed as a return bout, the BFNL will be aiming to make amends for a 13-point loss to the VAFA at Elsternwick Park last year.

Evidence of their commitment to the interleague concept, the league and Rosa have assembled an outstanding assistant coaching panel, comprising a cast of high-credentialed and well-respected individuals.

An astute panel includes household names – Nick Carter, Rick Ladson, Wayne Mitrovic, Lenny Schmidt, Troy Coates and Tyrone Downie.

Providing a link between past and present, Coates and Downie are actively involved as club coaches in the BFNL this season, with South Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat respectively.

Rosa is thrilled to be working alongside such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of football minds.

“All of us past players constantly talk about Bendigo footy, we all live locally, and we want to support local footy,” he said.

“Those guys are just as passionate as I am.

“When I approached them, they didn’t really have to think twice about getting involved – they embraced the opportunity to support Bendigo footy and the local playing group.

“Hopefully, our journey doesn’t just start this year and there is a flow-on from year to year.

“We want to be part of trying to attract good players into our competition and maybe even different clubs into our league.

“From our point of view, we want to do our part for Bendigo footy and give something back.”

On his own appointment, Rosa insisted the decision to dip his toes back into representative football was a straightforward one to make.

“There was no convincing needed. I’ve been involved as a player before and was lucky enough to captain a Bendigo interleague side before,” he said.

“And I worked under Darryl Wilson when he was coaching, so interleague footy for me is a real highlight of the season, as it will be for the guys who get to represent Bendigo for the first time.”