The Farrer League’s reputation could be on the line again next year with a representative showdown against the Hume League potentially on the horizon, however president David Oehm has voiced his fears for the future of rep footy.
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The two leagues are exploring the possibility of a meeting in May, 12 months after the Farrer League had their colours lowered in emphatic fashion by the Riverina League.
Oehm expects, if it goes ahead, they’ll go in as underdogs.
“We’re under no illusions that they’re probably a stronger league than us. But we’ll give it a crack,” Oehm said.
He said there was no push for a rematch against Riverina after the Farrer League was handed an 85-point hiding this year making an anti-climax of the long-awaited match-up.
“There wasn’t really from our end but probably not from Riverina as well. That’s not saying we won’t do it again. But I think looking into it every three or four years would be alright,” he said.
Having said that, Oehm raised his concerns about the viability of inter-league competition.
“It’s getting harder and harder to coordinate and promote rep footy,” he said.
“As much as I’ve been a big supporter of it for many years, I can see it coming to an end. And sooner rather than later.
“It’s getting harder to get the good players, or the majority of the better players, to be available.
“I can understand their reasons why they don’t. I can also put up a lot of reasons why they should be playing. But it’s getting harder and harder, in football and netball.”
He conceded one of the factors in favour of a clash with the Hume League is geography, with a day trip the preferred option.
The Farrer and Hume Leagues haven’t met since 2008, when it was part of the country championships format. But the Hume sprang a major upset in 2016, beating Riverina at Robertson Oval.
If the contest is ratified by the Hume League, Oehm said it’s likely the representative schedule will feature senior football and netball and an under 17 or 18 fixture.
There is also the possibility of a younger age group, potentially involving a Wagga and District Juniors representative side to tackle the Hume League juniors.
The Riverina League is also exploring its options for a representative fixture, potentially involving a trip to the nation’s capital for a rematch with AFL Canberra, who won their last match-up in Wagga in 2017.
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