May 26, 2007
From Bendigo Advertiser
PROVIDE plenty of run and dash out of defence - that's the message from coach Mark Williams to Simon Rosa and Jason Cloke ahead of today's representative match between the VFL and Western Australia at Port Melbourne.
Rosa and Cloke - the Metricon Bendigo Bombers' pair - have both been selected on half-back flanks for the VFL for its clash with Western Australia.
PROVIDE plenty of run and dash out of defence - that's the message from coach Mark Williams to Simon Rosa and Jason Cloke ahead of today's representative match between the VFL and Western Australia at Port Melbourne.
Rosa and Cloke - the Metricon Bendigo Bombers' pair - have both been selected on half-back flanks for the VFL for its clash with Western Australia.
'‘They will both play as defenders and we hope they can play nice and tight on their opponents," Williams said yesterday. '‘They are both in really good form and it was fairly easy to select them.
‘‘Jason has been playing in a multitude of positions for Bendigo and Simon is one of the premier small defenders in the competition, and by being selected for Victoria it's a great reward for them.
‘‘We will be looking for them to provide a fair bit of run out of the back line, be nice and steady and beat their opponent." Rosa, who has played 94 VFL games, is in his first year as captain of the Bombers and has been in career-best form this season.
While he spends his fair share of time in the midfield for the Bombers, the 24-year-old is likely to be used primarily as a running defender for the VFL today.
‘‘We have picked a lot of midfielders as well, so we have really selected Simon as a designated small defender," Williams said.
‘‘Western Australia can go very small in its forward line, so we have to make sure we have that covered.
‘‘At this stage, Simon is a designated back." The VFL side also includes ex-Bendigo Pioneer Luke Livingston, now at the Northern Bullants, at full-back, as well as North Ballarat Roosters' ruckman Tristan Cartledge, who played 56 games with the Bendigo Bombers while on Essendon's list.
Today will be the 10th time the VFL and Western Australia has met.
Western Australia won the first eight encounters between the two sides by an average of 56 points.
When the two sides met in Perth in 2004, Victoria prevailed 10.9 (69) to 8.10 (58), with then Bombers' players Jordan Doering and Andrew Lovett part of the win.
Today's game at Port Melbourne starts at 1.10 pm.
Entry is free, but patrons are asked to donate to LifeGift.
