THURGOONA trump card Jayden Kotzur says the introduction of an additional bye has re-ignited the passion of players throughout the competition to represent the league.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The top-of-the-table Bulldogs have the most players named in the initial squad with 10.
Kotzur said he expected most of his teammates to be in the final side which will be announced after training on Thursday night.
"I've always been an advocate for inter-league football," Kotzur said.
"The biggest difference this year is we have been in discussions with the league for the past couple of seasons about introducing another bye.
"The season started a week earlier to allow for the bye.
"If your played inter-league the past couple of years, you pretty much played 16-weeks straight.
"Which is not fair, especially with Thurgoona who has got an ageing list.
"So now that the league listened and granted another bye, we are all pretty keen to play.
"I'm fairly sure Brett Doswell, Michael Rampal, Dylan Rake, Mark Haydon and possibly one or two others from Thurgoona will play.
"Kane Westlow missed last week and won't play."
MORE INTER-LEAGUE NEWS
On form, Kotzur will be one of the first magnets coach Mark Sarau reaches for when selecting the final side.
The Barton medallist has returned to the sort of form when he won the league medal in 2016.
The classy finisher has also been hurting the opposition on the scoreboard after booting a personal best of 75 goals last year.
He has booted 19 goals so far this season.
Kotzur said there had been a genuine buzz at inter-league training.
"The training has been really good, positive and all the better players have been attending," he said.
"I definitely think it will be one of the strongest sides to represent the league.
"All the better players seem keen and enthusiastic.
"The league has got on the front foot in regards to attracting the best side possible and has thrown in a few perks for the players which is always handy."
Kotzur said Sarau had been a real driving force behind getting the best side possible.
"Mark has been awesome and getting around the players and asking for feedback and ideas," he said.
"He has already touched on some strategic plans that he wants to implement that are going to create an exciting brand of football.
"Players won't be restricted, he is encouraging players to use their flair and has basically given us a licence to thrill.
"Which is no doubt enticing and another reason most players have put up their hands up to play."
Kotzur said he wasn't surprised by the Bulldogs' dominant start to the season after winning their opening six matches.
"I know externally a lot of people had written us off as contenders," he said.
"But internally we knew we had added a fair bit of depth and the results prove that."
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here
