Riverina League has wasted no time preparing for interleague football with the announcement of their representative squad.
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Wagga Tigers' off-season recruitment drive has not been overlooked by selectors with nine players from Robertson Oval among the initial 41-man squad.
Leeton-Whitton is next best with seven representatives, closely followed by Griffith with six.
The squad was selected prior to round one and new representative coach Jade Hodge is open to rewarding early season form by adding players.
Former Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney (GWS) footballer Jake Barrett headlines the squad, which also features four club coaches.
Other recruits to feature are Narrandera's Ben Perry, Griffith's Nathan Richards, Turvey Park's Nathan Byrne, Coolamon's Jeremiah Maslin and Brendan Myers, Tom Osmotherly, Jesse Manton, Jackson Kelly, Reid Gordon and the Keogh brothers from Tigers.
Hodge is happy with the strength of the squad.
"I'm really happy with it," Hodge said.
"Obviously the biggest thing now is getting everyone available to play. Barring injuries, hopefully everyone puts their hand up and if everyone does that, I'll be really happy with it."
Riverina League will play AFL Canberra in Canberra on Saturday, May 19.
Hodge knows he has a tough task in front of him but believes the best of the Riverina competition can match it with Canberra.
"We've got good players in every area of the ground and there will be some really good players who miss out," he said.
"We've got some good key position players and good smaller players as well. Going down to Canberra, they're going to be pretty fit and will run pretty well so we'll have to pick a similar side."
After the opening weekend of games, Leeton coach Daniel Muir has already been ruled out through injury.
The Riverina League squad will train at Narrandera Sportsground on Wednesday nights May 1, 8 and 15.
Riverina League representative squad
Collingullie-GP: James Kennedy, Marc Geppert, Luke Gestier, Ben Klemke, John Buchanan
Griffith: Will Griggs, Jordan Iudica, Lucas Conlan, Isaac Campbell, Jacob Conlan, Nathan Richards
GGGM: Jacob Olsson, Aaron Proctor
Leeton-Whitton: Tom Meline, Matt Rainbird, Daniel Muir, Bryce O'Garey, Will Wakeman, Ryan Grey, Ryan Dunn
MCUE: Nick McCormack, Ryan Price
Turvey Park: Matt Bailey, Josh Ashcroft, Jeremy Sykes, Nathan Byrne
Coolamon: Luke Redfern, Joe Redfern, Nick Pleming, Jake Barrett, Jeremiah Maslin
Wagga Tigers: Nick Ryan, Tom Keogh, Will Keogh, Ben Kelly, Jackson Kelly, Brendan Myers, Tom Osmotherly, Reid Gordon, Jesse Manton
Narrandera: Ben Perry
Coach: Jade Hodge
Selectors: Paul Kelly, Nathan Jones and Phil Rowston
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