Tinney talks Big V on FTLOTG podcast

Earlier in the week, the VAFA announced its initial representative squad ahead of the June 9 senior Big V clash against the Adelaide Footy League in South Australia.

The boys on For the Love of the Game podcast dissected the 40-man squad that will form arguably one of the strongest sides the VAFA has fielded in representative football.

When asked for his thoughts on the side, Head of Media at the VAFA, Nick Armistead, said it’s “probably the strongest squad I’ve seen in my time in the VAFA”.

“You look at who’s come in and there’s some absolute genuine walk in’s. We’ve probably got eight or nine who can come in from last year, it’s looking so strong.”

De La Salle President, Brian Waldron, whose club has five of the 40 representatives, also paid credit to the selection panel on the squad that boasts 11 former AFL-listed players.

A five-time representative from U19’s to seniors, former captain of the Big V and Old Trinity star, Harry Tinney, has once again earnt a spot in the 40-man squad. Speaking on FTLOTG , Tinney understands the significance of pulling on the Big V.

“(It’s) a real privilege and an honour,” he said. “Having been involved in that game on a couple of occasions previously, it’s something that you don’t take for granted and when you’re there, you appreciate every moment. To represent not only myself but the club as well is pretty satisfying and something you don’t take lightly.”

At AFL level, state of origin representative football has not been played since 1999. One of the main reasons it’s no longer a part of the AFL fixture is concerns from clubs that their champions face the risk of sustaining an injury. But Harry, like fellow players in his position, jump at the opportunity to represent their club, Association and state.

“Once you’re involved it’s something you want to be part of, and if you are picked you’re more than willing to play. I have no qualms at all, I think the experience speaks for itself as something you want to be part of.”

And of course, every match throw’s up memorable moments and highlights that will go down in the annals of sporting history. When FTLOTG asked Harry about his memorable Big V moment he narrowed it down to his first experience when he played against a powerhouse figure of the Northern Football League.

“That game at Princes Park against the Northern Footy League I was given a job by Cam Roberts on Shane Harvey (Brother of AFL games record holder Brent Harvey), a prolific goal kicker in the NFL and within about the first two minutes he’d taken a couple of marks and had a shot on goal and I thought I was in for a real shocker of a day, but I managed to pull him back and have a pretty good day. At that point in his career he had about six or seven years of 100 plus goals”

For a snapshot of the history of the VAFA & SAAFL visit https://www.vafa.com.au/latest-news/vafa-vs-saafl-a-storied-history/

Keep up to date with everything happening in the VAFA on VAFA Tragics released every Tuesday night with Andrew Leonard and Nick Armistead + the VAFA’s official podcast For the Love of the Game released Wednesday afternoons with Joe Pignataro, Nick Armistead and Brian Waldron.