By Roy Ward
YOUNG, fit and hungry. These were the prerequisites for Eastern Football League division 3 or 4 players looking to make Nick Tennant’s interleague side.
After the first session with his charges, the coach was very impressed with his squad.
“The balls hardly touched the ground. Everyone was very keen and committed,” Tennant said. “Guys were turning around to introduce themselves to players they didn’t know. We achieved everything we wanted.”
Tennant, despite having six to 10 players withdraw from his initial 48-man squad, said the side that would turn out against the VAFA C-D1 side at Bayswater Oval this Sunday would be very strong.
“There will be some good players who will miss selection. We didn’t pick older guys who had come down from division 1. We wanted guys who are division 1 standard but at the start of their careers.
“For all of them this will be a first-time experience. They have a real hunger to prove themselves.”
The only obstacle for Tennant, who coaches Ringwood in division 3, was to learn about his division 4 players he didn’t know.
He walked away impressed from his first meeting with those players. “There is a learning curve for me, but some of them impressed me with their size and speed.”
The division 3 and 4 side will play before the firsts from EFL and VAFA.
