Goulburn Valley League gladiators ready for O&M clash

At the site of its famous victory, members of this edition’s GVL squad gathered on Wednesday evening, ticking off the last of its three sessions before Saturday’s bounce of the ball at WJ Findlay Oval, Wangaratta.

“It’s been a couple of good weeks with the playing group and coaching group involved,” GVL coach Dale Osborne said.

“We started with 52, that cut back to 35 pretty quick with unavailability and injuries.

“They’ve all been buying in and they’re all keen as. There’s been a few shuffles around over the last three or four days, but we’re keen to get down and rip into it.”

Under new interleague mentor Osborne, supported by assistants Simon Maddox, Trent Freer and Jack Hutchins, GVL will have somewhere in the region of 10 senior debutants.

But on the quality of the assembled talent, the men in purple will have a golden opportunity to square the ledger at 11 wins apiece from the two premier country leagues’ 22 encounters, the first of which occurred in 1978.

Experienced GVL campaigners such as Ben Hicks, Ash Holland, Zac Norris and Aidan Robinson will bring their classy touch to proceedings, but as evidenced in recent games, it’s been the young guns who have forced onlookers to stand up and take notice.

GVL is laden with rising stars as well as former Talent League and VFL-listed talent, which includes the likes of Ned Byrne, Jake Watts, Cohen Paul, Oliver Warburton, Archie Watt and Charlie Barnett to name a few.

Osborne identified where GVL’s primary strength would lie.

“With the squad we’ve picked, our one wood is going to be our pace – even our big blokes can move,” he said.

“For me and the other coaches, watching that over the last two Wednesdays has been exciting and we’re really driving that switch play, get on your bike into open grass.

“At the end of the day, we’re here to showcase what they can do, it’s got nothing to do with any of us.”

Regardless of age or experience, however, pride in the league jumper is where it all converges for the 26 players picked.

“They’re the GV’s best and we want to showcase what they can do,” Osborne said.

“It’s a platform for them to be seen, obviously, against the O&M, there’s been players like your Riley Bice who was picked up a couple of years ago and is now playing for Sydney.

“There are opportunities for some of these kids who are on VFL lists or who aren’t, so that’s really what we’re here to showcase.”

With no iron-clad agreement in place yet to extend the series between the two leagues, there’s hope another enthralling contest can pave the way forward for further editions.

“I’m hoping the future is bright (for the format),” Osborne said.

“I think this year with the interest and the buy in, it may be driving a bit of ‘the GV’s back’, and we want to play this brand of footy.

“I’ve been big on culture and history as the reasons I’m pushing this space because it’s important for the league to keep doing this kind of stuff.”

The first bounce between Goulburn Valley League and O&M will take place at 2.10pm at WJ Findlay Oval, Wangaratta.