AN exciting new representative football chapter will commence on Saturday for the Goulburn Valley League, when it takes on the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s Premier B to Division 3 representative team at Melbourne’s historic Elsternwick Park.
For the first time, the leagues will meet under a two-year agreement that will see this year’s fixtures played in Melbourne before the GVL hosts the return contest in 2027.
The representative day will feature two matches, with the 19&Under clash beginning at 11.30am, followed by the senior fixture at 2.20pm – both on Saturday, July 11.
Both games will be live streamed via the VAFA website (www.vafa.com.au), allowing Goulburn Valley supporters to follow every moment from home.
The fixture presents a fascinating benchmark for the GVL against a competition that has traditionally tested itself against some of Victoria’s strongest country football.
For the past two years, the VAFA has faced the Bendigo Football Netball League, winning both encounters by narrow margins of 10 points and 13 points.
Before that, however, the VAFA’s representative rivalry was with Vic Country, a side that regularly featured some of the Goulburn Valley League’s finest footballers. Country football dominated that series, with Vic Country claiming six consecutive victories, a trend the GVL will be hoping continues when it heads to Melbourne.
In more recent seasons, the Goulburn Valley League has maintained its own representative rivalry with the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League, which itself only recently met Bendigo in another quality interleague contest.
The senior GVL side will be coached by Benalla’s Nick Pearson, with Trent Freer serving as assistant coach.
Adding another layer of experience is Peter Banfield, whose previous involvement coaching VAFA representative teams provides valuable insight into the opposition and the representative environment.
The league’s future stars will be guided by Shepparton United coach Rum Yze, who will oversee the 19&Under representative squad.
Both representative teams will be officially announced on Wednesday evening at Deakin Reserve, where players will complete their final training session before the traditional jumper presentation.
The Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association will also be strongly represented.
Senior appointments
Field: James Meek
Goal: Mark Corey
Boundary: Blythe Rayson and Aiden Maksacheff
19&Under appointments
Field: Geordie Teasdale
Goal: Ellee Pleming
Boundary: Chandler Abel and William L’Estrange
Supporters are encouraged to keep an eye on the GVL App and the league’s social media channels throughout the week for the official team announcements, match previews and live coverage from both representative fixtures.
The Goulburn Valley League also acknowledges the support of Shepparton Volkswagen, Winning Edge Presentations and New Balance, whose partnership continues to strengthen the league’s representative football program.
With representative pride on the line and a new rivalry beginning, the stage is set for two outstanding contests between country and metropolitan football.
-After 13 rounds of home and away competition the Shepparton Bears and Echuca share a 12-1 win/loss record in the senior football competition.
While Seymour is a game and a half clear in third place, just eight premiership points separates the next six teams – fourth placed Shepp Swans to ninth ranked Mansfield.
In the netball, a draw between previously top team Mooroopna and 8th placed Swans has Euroa and Echuca leading the competition on 12 wins apiece – the Cats are third, but there is again a log jam after fourth ranked Seymour, which is two games clear in fourth spot.
Fifth placed Shepp Bears to 9th ranked Shepp United are separated by just two wins.
It goes well for an exciting final five rounds of home and away competition, which will recommence on July 18.
