Newly-reappointed representative coach Guy Orton is keen to help cement the Riverina League as the premier competition in the region.
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Orton has accepted the Riverina League representative coaching job for a second year, and will lead the team in this year’s showdown against Farrer League at Robertson Oval on May 19.
The Griffith stalwart coached Riverina for the first time last year when they went down to AFL Canberra by 40 points.
Orton is looking forward to help restoring Riverina League’s reputation.
“I was keen to do it again and have another crack. Hopefully we can get the RFL back to where it should be,” Orton said.
Orton is interested to see how the Farrer League stack up.
“They have obviously picked up a bit,” he said.
“They have got a fair few guys from Canberra, and a few from the RFL have gone there so it should be a pretty good game, I reckon.
“A few guys from our league have gone to other leagues to better their footy but hopefully the core group of our (rep) side will still be there.
“Hopefully everyone puts up their hand.”
Orton will use last year’s team as a starting point for this year’s squad.
The Riverina League will only play four rounds before the representative fixture, making it hard for Orton to pick a squad and get training runs into the team.
“I think those who played in last year’s game, we’ll put them in, and then we’ll add to it as we go,” he said.
“I want to have at least three or four training runs, but it’s going to be hard.”
MCUE coach Travis Cohalan has already come on board as a selector and bench coach, with Orton still finalising the make up of the rest of his selection panel.
New Riverina League president Chris Flanigan was happy to have Orton in the coaching position again.
"Absolutely, Guy coached last year and was keen to go again. He's rapt in the rivalry and is really keen for it,” Flanigan said.
"He's been representing the league for six years now, he leads well, he's really good with the young blokes and that's what we're looking for. We think he'll do a really good job.”
Orton, a two-time Jim Quinn Medal winner, previously coached Griffith. He is a big advocate for representative football and has represented NSW Country in the past.