VICTORIOUS Ovens and Murray captain Joel Mackie believes the league has the blueprint to return the competition to its glory days.
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Mackie rated Saturday’s 66-point hiding of Hampden as one of the best campaigns he had been involved with and urged selectors to stick with youth against rivals Goulburn Valley next season.
“It’s definitely the model going forward,” Mackie said.
“Last year we had all the good players but we didn’t really complement each other with youth and outside run.
“I thought they (Jon Henry and Darrell Spencer) got it spot on.
“All the young kids played well at the weekend.
“You still need a few experienced heads out there but I really think the younger blokes are the right way to go.
“They just need an opportunity.”
Mackie was the fourth oldest player in the Ovens and Murray side at 29, behind Daniel Cross, Hayden Heta and Brett Doswell.
The Albury star said players were already excited about taking on Goulburn Valley next year.
“It’s going to be good playing the old foe again,” he said.
“I think the last time was at Lavington in 2010.
“When you get the blokes who really want to be there, plus an experienced core, it really works well.
“The coaches were clear from day dot with their structures and everyone stood up at Warrnambool.”
Goulburn Valley and Ovens and Murray sit seventh and eighth on AFL Victoria’s new rankings with Geelong holding the No.1 mantle after defeating Eastern.