Leeton-Whitton premiership coach Jade Hodge will take charge of the Riverina League representative team this season.
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Hodge has been appointed representative coach, replacing Guy Orton, who has stepped down for personal reasons after two years in the job.
Hodge coached Leeton-Whitton for the past three seasons, leading the Crows to a drought-breaking premiership in 2017.
He got them to a grand final in 2016 and guided a young squad to finals again last year, before stepping down.
In a further bonus, Riverina League has secured Sydney Swans legend Paul Kelly as a selector and team runner.
Hodge is excited to take the reins ahead of Riverina's showdown with AFL Canberra on May 18.
"It's good timing," Hodge said.
"I've had a little bit of time freed up by not coaching at club level again, which will make this easier so it should be good.
"I've never really thought about rep coaching but I'm always wanting to better myself and I do love coaching. I never stopped enjoying coaching."
AFL Canberra is expected to prove a formidable opponent and defeated Riverina League by 40 points at Robertson Oval in 2017.
Hodge hopes to get the best players in the Riverina League available to take it up to the Canberra team on their home turf.
"The goal is obviously to go there and win," he said.
"It would be fantastic if we get all players available for selection, that's the tough thing with rep footy.
"If we can get everyone available then we can go over there and have a real good crack at them. They're obviously a strong competition now but we've got some fantastic footballers here."
Riverina League president Chris Flanigan is rapt to have Hodge and Kelly involved.
"Jade is a premiership coach and he's looking forward to having a crack at Canberra as well," Flanigan said.
"To get Kel involved is good for the league and he's happy to help out.
"I think the Farrer League game last year created a bit more interest and obviously Canberra is going to be a bit more quality of opposition. Hopefully being in Canberra, we can get our Canberra-based boys involved and keen to play."
Kelly is the only appointed selector at this stage, with Hodge keen to add another based in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA).
Hodge hopes to name a squad early enough to get a month's worth of training in before the game.
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