GFL BIG GUNS GET NOD

GEELONG’S brightest local football stars are set to lock down key positions in the Vic Country squad, with almost half the hopefuls surviving the axe.

State coach Danny Frawley has confirmed that seven of the 14 GFL players have made the final team to tackle the Victorian Amateur Football League at Elsternwick Park Oval on Saturday.

Slicing the revised 40-man squad back to 22, Frawley announced that the GFL contingent would play crucial roles in the Brian Molony Cup clash, with Alex Cincotta (Newtown & Chilwell), Cam Tudor and Curtis McCarthy (St Joseph’s) Nik Rokahr (Bell Park), Andrew Boseley (South Barwon), Marcus Thompson (Leopold) and Sam Michael (St Albans) lining up.

Joeys pair Brenton Rees and Riley Ferguson were unlucky to miss, but will remain on standby in case of injury.

Grovedale’s Cam Delaney and Colac’s Jarryn McCormack were overlooked.

Eagles’ ball magnet Matt McMahon chose to line up in the highly anticipated GFL clash against St Joseph’s, while Tiger Jonathan Simpkin made himself unavailable.

Simpkin’s teammate, Lochie Veale, was ruled out through suspension and Swan Louis Herbert would have been “first picked” in the squad had he not gone down with an ankle injury.

“It makes sense that there’s seven (players) in from Geelong,” Frawley said.

“A few of these guys didn’t play interleague, so I’m pretty lucky, really.

“Out of all of them, Ferguson and Rees will just miss out. Delaney missed out, just because Tudor’s in better form.”

McMahon, a dual Mathieson medallist and a regular Vic Country representative, indicated early in the piece that he would play for his club.

“He definitely made himself unavailable,” Frawley said.

“Newtown play St Joeys and he wanted to play there.

“Newtown loses Cincotta and St Joeys lose Tudor and McCarthy, so the Joeys coach (Paul Carson) would be relieved that he’s got a couple there to play. He hasn’t lost all four.”

The GFL will have a strong presence on the ball, while Boseley and Tudor will play pivotal roles at opposite ends of the ground.

“We’ve got Tudor down back, and he can play forward as well, but he’s more of a key defender,” Frawley said.

“Alex Cincotta will be in defence as well. He can seriously play. He’ll be a running halfback or play wing.

“Rokahr will play on ball. He’s a good player.

“Marcus Thompson will play in the midfield and big Sam Michael is in the ruck

“Curtis McCarthy will play half forward. S--- he can play. He’s a very good player.

“Andrew Boseley is in. He picks himself because he’s the leading goalkicker in the best country football comp in the state, other than GV (Goulburn Valley FL).

“He’ll be either centre halfforward or full forward.

“Curtis McCarthy will be our leading forward … he’s a lot taller than his brother (Lincoln McCarthy at the Brisbane Lions).”