INJURIES have taken away some of the star power from the Farrer League’s representative squad after the list was culled ahead of the representative clash with Picola and District on Saturday.
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Reigning Gerald Clear Medalist Dean Pound is one a raft of players who withdrew citing injury.
After naming a bumper 55-man squad last month, coach Jason McPherson’s team has quickly changed in past two weeks.
Although it promised to deliver more, McPherson is still happy with the squad he’s assembled.
“I'm satisfied,” McPherson said.
“It could be better, but for the guys that put their hands up their are lots of players who missed out so you can’t really complain when you don’t have to call on individuals to come and put a jumper.”
Taking on Picola and District, a combination of Picola North, who was heavily defeated by the Riverina Football League last year, and Picola South, McPherson is expecting a tough encounter.
Even with the omissions, the Farrer League’s forward line packs plenty of punch.
East Wagga-Kooringal’s Marc Geppert will play at full-forward, with Temora’s Matt Wallis at centre half-forward.
Matt Harpley will provide the third tall option.
McPherson believes they’ll be his biggest weapon.
“They are three big talls in the forward line that will cause some trouble,” he said.
Among the big names to withdraw after the weekend included Pound, who injured his hamstring against Marrar, Northern Jets young gun Mitch Maguire was concussed through his representative duties and EWK ruckman Josh Hull has been hampered by a back injury.
The Rock-Yerong Creek were the most represented when the initial squad was announced on April 29, with eight players but only Denis Pedemont and Aiden Ridley have been selected.
Albury-based Andy Carey’s inability to train ruled him out while Dave Pieper has struggled for game time.
Marrar and Barellan are the only teams not represented, with the Bombers’ quality players, including Josh Hagar, Brad Turner, Clint Taylor and Brad Langtry sidelined through injury.
After revealing the 24-man squad on Monday afternoon, McPherson will add two emergencies after training on Wednesday night.
FARRER REPRESENTATIVE TEAM:
Jeremy Luff, Corey Watt, Kirk Hamblin (North Wagga), Lachlan Flagg, Marcus Jackson, Jack Fisher, Sam Fisher, Declan O’Rourke (Northern Jets), Jack Egan (CSU), Mitch Carroll, Simon Mackie, Drew Kenna (Coleambally), Aiden Ridley, Dennis Pedmont (TRYC), Ben Absolum, Marc Geppert, Jo Scott, Stuart Brierty (EWK), Jacob Turner, Chris Block, Charlie Vallance, Matt Harpley, Matt Wallis, Rob Grant (Temora)
