By JARROD POTTER
BOUNCING back from a disappointing 2015, Beaconsfield under-16s midfielder Mitch Riordan primed himself for a bigger and better 2016 campaign … now including Vic Country duties.
Riordan, 16, from Berwick, sustained a niggling foot injury in a trial match that ruled him out of representing the School Sport Victoria side for a second time early last year.
It dogged him throughout most of last year, and it was something he wanted to put behind him quickly this year.
“I was injured in a trial game last year, and I was pretty disappointed not making last year’s team, but everyone stuck around me and gave me confidence to believe in myself,” Riordan said. “That was my foot – it was a bone injury and not 100 per cent what it was – but didn’t get to play at full potential last year.
“I was out for four weeks and that was the start of the season and didn’t get back up to playing at full strength for the whole of the year – but went away, had a strong pre-season with the 16s and reaping the rewards.”
The Dandenong Stingrays’ prospect put injury frustrations aside as he finished the year as best he could as he played in a glorious South East Juniors under-15s premiership – a thrilling two-point win over Berwick.
He set himself for a monster pre-season as he prepared for life in the Beaconsfield and Haileybury jumpers.
But the biggest reward was a little unexpected – his ticket into the Vic Country under-16 squad – as he prepares to battle the rest of the nation this upcoming week in Queensland.
“I was pretty excited about it – told us a couple of weeks ago at VISY Park and it was pretty nerve-wracking, “Everyone is in a room together and then they have an interview with you and tell you if you’re in our out – but when I was told I was very relieved and happy.”
“At school I play backline – running off the half back line – but in my own age level I play in the midfield but I love the midfield … I’ll be playing in the midfield pretty much the whole carnival.”
Vic Country is a well-meshed unit, according to Riordan, who believes the side has what it takes to hold aloft a national championship, but equally as important is his thirst for knowledge and improving his game.
“Obviously, I’m going to get a lot of knowledge and get a better understanding of the game and knowing how quick national footy is – so I’m really excited about that,” Riordan said. “Also getting to know a lot of new people and getting a lot of mates, that’s another really exciting thing about it.
“We had a squad of 50 facing the Metro squad of 50 and we won both games, so it will obviously be different the second time around, but we’ve bonded really well over the last month and it should be exciting – we should be able to challenge a lot of teams.”
Riordan wanted to thank his parents, grandparents, friends and family for their support.
Vic Country battles Vic Metro at Skilled Stadium, Geelong, on Sunday before the whole show goes on the road as Country faces Western Australia at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium and South Australia in Southport, Queensland, next week.
Other Dandenong Stingrays to make the squad were Jai Nanscawen, Jai Taylor, Sam Fletcher, Bailey Williams and Riley Bowman.
