There was a buzz around the Allansford Recreation Reserve as the final teams were announced for the Warrnambool and District league's junior interleague sides.
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The WDFNL will send under 12, 14 and 16 sides to the AFL Western District Junior Carnival, to be held at Pedrina Park in Hamilton on Sunday.
Kolora-Noorat's Henry Kenna, who won the league's under 14.5 best and fairest award in 2018, will captain the under 16s side, coached by Cameron O'Flaherty and Dean Picken, with Power teammate Ryley Hutchins and South Rovers' Miles Picken as vice-captains.
"It's a great opportunity," Kenna said.
"I'm looking forward to playing alongside some of my club rivals for once."
Joining the trio in the squad are Rhys Buck, Taylan Jones, Ethan Boyd (Allansford), Hamish Allen, Ash Keen, Tom Lee (Dennington), Jack Carlin (Kolora-Noorat), Jackson Smart, Jaxon Madden, Jirra Clark, Ben Conboy, Rueban Swan (Merrivale), Hugh Giblin, Oliver Delaney (Nirranda), Josh Lucas, Harry White, Joe Nyikos (Old Collegians), Dylan Parsons (Panmure), Aston Hall (Russells Creek), Nick Annott, Judah Greene (South Rovers), Lewy Brown, Kyle Delaney, Liam Lawson and Sullivan Wallace (Timboon Demons).
O'Flaherty said some "very tough" decisions had to be made in order to trim the initial squad of 50 players down to the final side.
"We think we've assembled a really good squad that can go to the pointy end of the competition," he said.
"What we look for is leadership, talk, football smarts and good team players.
"There's a lot of pace in there too and a fair boys with senior experience as well."
Timboon Demons' Eben White has been selected captain of the under 14 squad, coached by Phil Beasley, with South Rovers' Ethan Greene vice-captain.
They will be joined by Jackson van Ginniken, Sutha Hawkins, Dylan Lake (Allansford), Jaxon Keay (Dennington), Alex Kenna, Jack Vaughan, Fred Beasley, Caleb Kavanagh, Oscar Curran (Kolora-Noorat), Jesse Mahony-Gilchrist, Jobe Wilson (Merrivale), Noah Dawson, Joe Douglas (Old Collegians), Fletcher Timms, Blair Sextus (Russelss Creek), Izack Agnew, Noah Greene, Ryan Malone, Mitchell O'Neill (South Rovers), Luke Gale, Luke Gledhill, Zack Lenehan and Taj Quarrell (Timboon Demons).
Nirranda's Harvey Wiggins has been selected captain of the under 12 squad, coached by Tim Parsons, with East Warrnambool Bombers' Jailon Jenkins vice-captain.
They will be joined by Kristian Hutchins, Mack Mills (Allansford), Maggie Johnstone, Darcy Stokes (Dennington), Ted Kenna, Darcy Hutchins, Charlie Kenna, Oliver Guthrie (Kolora-Noorat), Sam Conboy (Merrivale), Sam Willsher, Archie Poumako (Nirranda), Jack Couch, Max Couch (Old Collegians), Lochie Chadderton, Charlie Hoye (Russells Creek), Denny Fawcett, Tully Matheson (South Rovers), Kurtis-Jay Baker, Tommy Illingworth, Jasper Makin, Ryan Mottram and Rylee Parsons (Timboon Demons).
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