Footballers in the zone

BEST OF THE BEST: The Western Border, Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and Mid South East Football Leagues will put their best players forward when they contest the 2018 South East Zone Interleague Carnival in Robe tomorrow.

ROBE Football Club will host some of the region’s best footballers tomorrow, when the Western Border, Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and Mid South East leagues fight for bragging rights in the fifth consecutive South East Zone Interleague Carnival.

Each league will be represented by their best available players as they take their football to the next level, with selection for the 2018 Murray South East Zone squad also on the table based on individual performances.

South East football operations manager Michael Mourbey looks forward to the event and said spectators can expect another close competition across both the senior and Under 17 grades.

“I think it will be a really good event,” he said.

“There’s some really good footballers throughout the South East in both junior and senior level.

“Last year there was very little between all three leagues and with the quality of the players in each league who are playing I would think it will be once again a closely fought competition.”

Western Border claimed a two-goal victory in last year’s senior grand final against Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and will look to go back-to-back in 2018.

However, with little separating all three leagues throughout the previous carnival, the reigning champions will have their work cut out to defend the title.

“Obviously if you are the reigning champions you come in as favourites, but I think it will still be very close,” Mourbey said.

“A lot can depend on just how they gel on the day.

“They come together for one weekend and the team that gels the quickest will really decide the weekend.”

Mourbey believes the Interleague Carnival is a great event and is a prime opportunity to showcase the talent of the region, while it also provides the perfect chance to select players for the Murray South East Zone squad.

“To go away long distance to play against another league in an interleague game is very expensive,” he said.

“So this really does fit the bill for us in the South East and is a very good selection for our Murray South East Zone side.”

With plenty of tourists already making the trip to Robe for the long weekend, Mourbey said it should boost crowd numbers and he expects a good turnout tomorrow.

“Robe have been working very hard on their ground and I went past there the other day and it looked in very good nick,” he said.

“I would expect we will get a pretty good crowd there, being the June long weekend.”

With Western Border’s Under 17 side also going into the carnival as reigning champions, Mourbey expects another close battle as both Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and Mid South East have really narrowed the gap in recent years.

“I would expect it to be a fairly close competition,” Mourbey said.

“Western Border would be favourites to come out on top, but don’t be surprised if the other two leagues start to push them this year.”

In terms of the senior final, Mourbey said he tries not to tip a winner and only hopes to see an entertaining and successful day of football.

“I just hope its a really good contest between the three leagues,” he said.

“You are never going to get the full side from any league.

“There’s unavailability, injuries, suspensions, there is all sorts of things that come into play.

“But at the end of the day, I think all three leagues work on the basis of they want the players to really want to play at this level.

“So they will get three sides out on the ground of players who are really committed and who want to go to the next level and that’s really all you can ask for.”