Ten of the best Goulburn Valley League players, including Seymour Lions duo Jason Cole and Zac Keogh, have been named in the initial Victoria Country squad that will take on the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) in the Brian Moloney Cup clash on July 13. The match will be played at Carlton’s IKON Park, with the 58-player squad set to be cut down to a final 22 after four training sessions.
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For Keogh, the opportunity to play alongside the best footballers in the state was a welcomed prospect.
‘‘It’s awesome, it was humbling to get picked,’’ he said.
And after lining up in last year’s final Vic Country squad, Cole said he was slightly surprised by his inclusion this time around, after missing the recent GVL interleague match through injury. But he was happy to make the cut.
‘‘I think I was a bit lucky to be picked,’’ Cole said.
‘‘But I’m rapt for the opportunity to try out again.’’
With Keogh and Cole each having had previous experience playing representative football, both are keen to get as much out of the experience as possible.
‘‘It’s always a good experience to train and play with the best and to test yourself out against the best in country and metro footy,’’ Cole said.
‘‘In country footy, it’s probably the highest level you can play at — so I’m all for it.’’
‘‘And you get to play with the best blokes in our league, so to go out with them instead of facing them will be good,’’ Keogh said.
With Keogh a recent arrival at Seymour this year, both he and Cole have proven to be a formidable force in the Lions’ midfield.
‘‘It’s been awesome to play alongside Jase. He makes my job easier, and hopefully I make it easier for him too,’’ Keogh said.
And while both had been amongst the Lions’ best in a number of rounds, each have had their own spell on the sideline through injury.
For Cole, three surgeries during pre-season meant he’s only brushing the surface of what he can do on the football field.
‘‘I’m slowly getting there, but it’s hard when you’re behind from the start,’’ Cole said.
‘‘Hopefully the body will be right for the second half of the season.’’
And after starting his season strongly, Keogh has been missing from Seymour’s line up in recent weeks due to injury but will make his return to the Lions senior squad against Rochester this weekend.
“I’m going okay, you can always improve though,’’ Keogh said.
‘‘Hopefully I can be consistent for the rest of the year and play finals.’’
The Victoria Country squad will be lead by Head Coach and former AFL player Danny Frawley, alongside assistant coaches Mark Sandilands and Rob Condy.