THE Ovens and Murray will hold an interleague camp in a bid to build team camaraderie ahead of its crunch representative clash with the Hampden league on May 24.
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In a sign the league means business, the O and M will cover the costs and logistics of hosting the final squad of 25 players next week.
The camp will start after the league’s final training run at Norm Minns Oval next Thursday, with the squad to be based out of Albury from then until the game on Saturday.
A golf day, as well as a dinner at Albury’s SS&A Club next Friday, will also be part of the build up.
Coach Brendan Fevola said it was crucial to make the weekend enjoyable for his players.
“I just want to make it more fun and for the guys to get something out of it,” Fevola said.
“You don’t want people just rocking up, playing and then nicking off again.
“I want the group to be together as much as possible.
“Hopefully it builds a bit of camaraderie, the group enjoys it, we have a win and everyone wants to come back again next year and the year after until we’re No.1 again.”
Seventeen of the Ovens and Murray’s best trained at Yarrawonga’s J.C. Lowe Oval last night.
Albury, Yarrawonga and Lavington had the biggest presence, with competition stars Brayden O’Hara, Joel Mackie, Craig Ednie, Drew Barnes and Adam Prior a handful of names in attendance.
Young guns Lonnie Hampton, Jarrah Maksymow and Adam Flagg were also put through their paces during the session.
In a blow, Justin Koschitzke, Brad Murray, Luke Wells, Matt Grossman, Sam Carpenter and Myles Aalbers have all withdrawn from the squad because of injury or unavailability.
Chris Hyde, Luke Garland and James Saker are other big names to make themselves unavailable.
The squad will train again at
Lavington on Tuesday night before Thursday’s final session at Wangaratta.
Fevola is likely to name a rough squad early next week, with about 30 players still in the running for a spot in the final 22.