JOEL Mackie has added another honour to his illustrious career by being named captain of the Ovens and Murray interleague team.
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The dual Morris medallist and five-time premiership-winning Tiger was announced as skipper after training at the Albury Sportsground on Wednesday night.
Tyler Bonat, Shane Gaston and Luke Garland will be Mackie’s deputies for the match against Hampden at Warrnambool’s Reid Oval on Saturday.
The O and M’s defence suffered a blow when Lavington’s Jono Spina injured his hamstring on Wednesday night, less than a week after Panthers teammate Brant Dickson was forced out of the match with an ankle complaint.
Co-coaches Jon Henry and Darrell Spencer unveiled a youthful line-up, with Elliott Powell, Christian Burgess, Shaun Mannagh and Jay O'Donoghue among the fresh faces to represent the league.
Wodonga Raiders speedster Brad St John was brought into the team from outside the initial 42-man squad.
“We’ve got a lot of young fellas, most of them are in their early 20s, but the important thing is they’ve been playing really good footy,” Henry said.
“The majority of them are in really good form and they’ve been playing roles for their sides, week-to-week.
“We’re looking forward to seeing guys like Michael Duncan, Elliott Powell, Christian Burgess, Mitch Dalbosco, Shaun Mannagh and Jono Spina get an opportunity.
We’ve got a lot of young fellas, most of them are in their early 20s, but the important thing is they’ve been playing really good footy.
- Jon Henry
“These guys have been playing senior footy for a few years and they know what it’s all about it.
“We’ll be playing them in positions to play to their strengths.”
The young team will have plenty of support around it on Saturday with Albury big guns Daniel Cross, Josh Mellington and Brayden O’Hara joining Tiger teammates Mackie, Duncan and Powell in the side.
Wangaratta Rovers skipper Gaston and Wodonga Raiders big man Hayden Heta will share the ruck duties.
“We think that can be a real strength for us because both of those guys are in really good form and they both bring a point of difference,” Henry said.
“They’re both very effective but they both have different strengths.”
OVENS AND MURRAY TEAM
B: M. Duncan, J. Heagney-Steart, M. Dalbosco
HB: J. Di Mizio, M. Dussin, B. Doswell
C: T. Bonat, D. Cross, E. Powell
HF: L. Garland, J. Neagle, S. Mannagh
F: C. Burgess, J. Mellington, D. Stone
Foll: H. Heta, J. Mackie, B. O'Hara
Int: S. Gaston, J. Svarc, J. O'Donoghue, B. St John
Emg: R. Whitehead
Xavier Mardling
Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023.
Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023.
