Young Cobra to represent Vic Country

By Jessica Howard 

Hamish Coulton will don different colours this weekend as he represents the Energy Safe Vic Country Under 19 football squad.

The young Bacchus Marsh talent was selected in the final team of 22 that will line up against its metro rivals this Saturday (July 8) at Frankston Oval.

Coulton was one of four players in the Ballarat Football Netball League that took to the field over three training sessions, with the final squad selected earlier this week.

The squad is coached by Yarrawonga co-coach Damien Sexton, who takes the reigns for his ninth season.

Coulton said the selection was a relief.

“After training for the last few Sundays and having put aside time and effort into a squad that you’re not sure if you will make, it was good that I was recognised as part of the best 22, in what was a strong squad of 40-50,” he said.

“This will be my first time representing Victoria in any way, which is exciting as it’s something I have aspired to do in plenty of different sports throughout my juniors”.

Coulton fought for his spot in the squad during a series of intense training sessions held at Harry Trott Oval in Albert Park, Melbourne.

“[Training] was pretty high skilled and performed at a high intensity considering all the players were sore and tired from having played on the Saturday before, but it was good to be in an environment with 40 odd blokes just trying prove ourselves and learn a bit while we were there.

“These games and squads will really provide an insight as to how strong players from other leagues are, and you can really learn a lot by just watching the way they go about things and taking that back to local footy with the Marsh to hopefully improve myself as a player”.

BFNL Operations Manager Scott Carey said it was fantastic to see Coulton selected in the final team – not just for himself, but also the league.

“It’s a credit to Hamish and the Bacchus Marsh Football Netball Club for all the hard work they have put in, and his selection caps off a fantastic 12 months after taking out the BFNL’s Rookie of the Year award last year.

“I’m sure Hamish will represent himself and the league with pride”.

The Under 19 squad will take on the Victorian Amateur Football Association at 11.15am on Saturday.