Whitford is not sure himself, but believes that not making himself available for GVL representative duties in recent years due to injury fears may have been the reason.
He has represented the GVL on two occasions.
Whitford said he would consider any late inclusion in the GVL squad this year, which selectors should take notice of.
Whitford is one of the best Kyabram defenders I have seen in my 65 years covering GVL football in this paper.
His intercept ability is mind-boggling at times, and he has an added bonus of being a player who hits targets when he gets the ball.
Kyabram players selected in the GVL squad are Kaine Herbert, Anthony Depasquale, Zac Norris, Jack Russell and Aiden Robinson.
Two Kyabram players, Charlie Isaac and Isaiah Scoble, have been picked in the GVL Under-19 squad.
Senior interleague squad
Mark Marriott, David Mennen, Nick Warnock, Travis Young, Kevin Maroney, Chris Welsh (Benalla); Ryan Hill (Euroa); Sam Reid, Tom Evans, Jackson Stewart, Darby Jones, Mitch Wales, Malik Gordon (Echuca); Kaine Herbert, Anthony Depasquale, Zac Norris, Jack Russell, Aiden Robinson (Kyabram); Brodie Newman, Matt Casey, Angus Hicks, Joel Serra, Jesse Cucinotta, Jordan Haynes (Shepparton United); Cooper Hamilton, Ryan O'Keefe (Rochester); Callum Brown, Max Mahoney, Harry Mahoney, Jack Marks, Matt King (Mansfield); Bryce Stephenson, Lewis McShane, Jacob Watts (Shepparton); Max Clohesy, Ethan Warburton, Ollie Warburton (Shepparton Swans); Jack Murphy, Jaron Murphy, Riley Mason, Huw Jones, Nic Quigg (Seymour); Jimmy Bennett (Tatura) Keelin Betson, Liam Betson, Kai Madgwick (Mooroopna)
Under-19
Connor Breheny, Sam Gates, Max Smyth, Xavier Wapling, Hamish Wilett (Benalla); Baxter Cowley, Liam Gronow, Ky Henson, Jessie Johnstone, Darby Jones, Hudson Kellett (Echuca); Cam Baker, Will Creevey (Euroa); Charlie Isaac, Isaiah Scoble (Kyabram); Zane Chalcraft, Addison Godsmark, Lucas O’Hara, Jack Supple, Nate Warrin, Nate Yze (Shepparton United); Harrison Keating, Lachlan Joyce, Jordy Rasmussen, Hunter Wileman, Ethan Howard (Rochester); Daniel Bruno, Hayden Desmond, Sam Guppy, Jack Marks, Adam Storer (Mansfield); Zac Bathman, Liam Broom, Kaleb Gilmour, Noah Muir, Riley Myers, Sam O’Brien, Liam Teague (Shepparton); Max Bicknell, Sam Bicknell, Jake Cirillo, Rory Duffy, Campbell Flanagan (Shepparton Swans); Anton Basile, Ben O’Connell, Caden Robins (Tatura); Caleb Aitken, Mac Calleja, Oscar Emanuelli, Judd Tamburo, Jayden Thorne, Noah Williams (Mooroopna)
***
There is only one GVL side undefeated after seven rounds.
Seymour disposed of previously unbeaten side Echuca in dominant fashion in last Saturday’s round to leave Shepparton, who trounced Benalla, as the only unbeaten side.
Echuca gets the chance on Saturday week, there is a general bye in the league this week, to even up the ledger with Shepparton when they meet at Deakin Reserve.
But there will be a lot of pundits who will claim Shepparton will still be undefeated after that much anticipated clash and will be outright flag favourites.
***
The injury list of last year’s GVL premier Kyabram continues to grow.
The Bombers were scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill teams last Saturday after more senior players joined the injury list the previous Saturday when beaten by Shepparton.
Key players Jason Morgan, co-captain Aiden Robinson and Rueben Rode were all missing again last Saturday and a complex finger break to defender Jack Sheldon and a hamstring pull to Aaron Hayes in the Shepparton game ruled them out of last Saturday’s Mansfield game.
Sheldon and Hayes were part of Kyabram’s defence, which had already lost its key defender Morgan with a hammy injury.
Morgan is expected to resume after this week’s league bye, and Robinson is also a chance to play.
But Hayes, Sheldon and Rode have long-term injuries while another defender, Jake Parkinson also pulled up with a hammy injury last Saturday and will be monitored.
***
It’s been a long time since I watched a footy game with so many contenders for the goal of the day, but there were several Kyabram players vying for this honour in Saturday’s clash against Mansfield.
There were several contenders threading goals from the boundary and raising two flags/
Josh Dillon, Charlie Barnett, Kaine Herbert and Mackenzie Ayton all dobbed goals from almost impossible angles.
But Dillon’s six pointer following a possession on the boundary line and an instant snap on goal with his left foot, all in the same action, gets my vote.
The mark of the day was a lot easier to pick.
Fly-in Bomber Rhys Clark launched himself on the back of a Mansfield player on the western wing in the third term to gain a few frequent flyer points with an absolute screamer.
***
Legendary AFL footballer Michael Tuck is heading for Tongala.
Tuck, who once held the AFL games record with 426 games and who played in seven Hawthorn premiership sides, will be in Tonny on July 11, the day the Blues meet Numurkah in a Murray League blockbuster.
Tuck will be guest speaker at a function at the Tongala Hotel that evening.
He recently accompanied Richmond legend Dusty Martin to play a one-off game with Port Douglas in the AFL Cairns competition.
Bookings can be made at the Tongala Hotel.
***
Kyabram owned pacer Wicked Wizard saluted for his Murchison trainer Shane Sanderson and his reinswoman daughter Abby at last Friday’s Wagga trots meeting.
A four-year-old gelding by McWicked, Wicked Wizard scored an effortless win with over eight metres to spare at the finishing line.
Wicked Wizard now boasts a career record of 20 starts for four wins, five seconds and two thirds and has been a consistent money earner for his Kyabram owners who include Kyabram publican Brenton Shepperd, Susie and Rohan Bennett, Tony Hanson, Peter Hall and ex-Kyabramite Steve Sharp.
