PROVEN representative performers Andy Grant and Steve Schultz will once again lead the VCFL district state team when it takes on the Victorian Amateur Football Association (sections C-D4) this Sunday.
Grant, from Elmore, and Schultz, from Kalkee, held the captaincy and vice-captaincy positions in last year's 63-point win over the VAFA and both were named in the VCFL's best players.
Coach Ron Thomas said the pair had played consistent football in representative matches in recent seasons and deserved the captaincy honour.
"They've been looking after the team together for the past two seasons and they've done a good job," Thomas said. "They are both very reliable players."
The match will be played at Barooga, NSW, with the VCFL taking a new-look side into its annual clash with the VAFA for the Cystic Fibrosis Cup. Only five players remain from last year's win.
While Thomas admitted the team had endured "a heck of a changeover", he said he had confidence in his debutant players.
"Having so many new players makes it a bit tricky," he said.
"We've only had two training runs and some squad members came to one training session and not the other one.
"So we'll literally have players in the team who have never laid eyes on each other before we meet up on Saturday."
Adrian Dohnt, from Lockington in the Heathcote league, is the team's oldest player at 32, while 19-year-old Jackson Macleod, from Geelong and District league team Thomson, is the youngest.
The Ellinbank and District league is the most heavily represented, with four players.
Thomas said the side would rely on tackling and teamwork.
"It's important players do the team things, even if they haven't played together before. But it's fingers crossed, in a way."
The VCFL team will be looking to get back into a winning groove, after losing to Queensland at last year's Australian Country Football Championships in Shepparton.
Queensland went on to win the Division 2 title.
Thomas said he was pleased 13 different district leagues would be represented in Sunday's match.
"It's great to see players from all over Victoria will get the chance to represent the state - even from very, very far-flung places, like Kalkee," he said.
VCFL chief executive Glenn Scott said state team selection was a feather in the cap for players.
"I am sure that they will honour the jumper, as so many before them have," Scott said.
"The rivalry we have with the Amateurs is a strong one, and these representative games are ones on which we stake our claim of being the heartland of Australian Rules football."
- VCFL District State Team
- Heathcote District FL: Andy Grant (C), Leigh Davies, Adrian Dohnt
- Horsham and District FL: Steve Schultz (VC), Grant Schultz, Josh Mibus
- Picola and District FL: Tim Cooper, Stephen Scott
- Ellinbank and District FL: Chris Urie, Kael Bergles, Kurt Batt, Shane Brewster
- Warrnambool and District FL: Ben Fraser, Brad Wiggins
- Geelong and District FL: Jackson Macleod, Luke Mahoney
- Central Highlands FL: Rhys Cahir, Aaron Sawers, Brenton Powell
- Alberton FL: Steven O'Bryan, Brad Hutchinson, James Ross
- North Gippsland FL: Winston Gieschen
- Kyabram District FL: Daniel Godsmark
- Maryborough-Castlemaine FL: Mark Ramsey
- Colac and District FL: Clay Brewer
- Lexton Plains FL: Tom Mullane-Grant
