THE Tallangatta League will conduct a full review into the recruiting process for its interleague team in the wake of its 29-point loss to the Ovens and King league last weekend.
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Coach Ryan Richardson was forced to turn to Kiewa-Sandy Creek veteran Mark Hortle in the ruck after more than a dozen ruckmen passed over the chance to play for the team.
Hortle, who played in Kiewa’s losing grand final team in 2015, had been able to play just three reserves games before stepping up to represent the league.
AFL North-East Border leagues operations manager Gavin Rendell said a review of all grades was on the agenda.
“We’ll be doing a full review of the interleague process,” he said.
“We’re certainly looking to improve on the commitment to interleague.
“We’ll be organising a meeting of the league’s executive in the coming weeks, where we’ll have a look at the process across all grades.”
Rutherglen coach Karl Jacka said the TDFL needs to be “more transparent” in the lead-up to next year’s interleague match.
Jacka said he believed most clubs wanted their players to represent the league if possible, but that lines of communication between them and the league were unclear.
In previous seasons the interleague coach has been able to nominate and recruit the players they wanted in the side, while clubs have also been able to nominate players who they believe deserve a place in the team.
“I don’t think there’s a problem with the quality of the players representing the league at all,” he said.
“Richo (Ryan Richardson) was on the phones trying to get players on board, and I don’t think the lack of a ruckman was what cost us.
I think there just needs to be a bit more communication between clubs and the league in the lead-up to the game.
- Karl Jacka
“If the league wants players to commit to the team, there has to be more of an investment from the league to really push it to the players.
“I think there just needs to be a bit more communication between clubs and the league in the lead-up.”
Mitta coach Simon Hillier said switching between the North-East and Victorian Country Championships interleague pools, as well as a standalone competition against the Hume league, affected players’ desire to take part.
“I think it's hard to give players the consistency they need when you're switching from one competition to another,” he said.
“It's hard to pick where you'll play, which is a consideration.”
