Falcons flying towards 2016

Geelong Falcons coach Andy Allthorpe says competition for spots on the 2016 list is heating up. Picture: BRIAN BARTLETT

COMPETITION for spots on the Geelong Falcons list is set to intensify as the coaching staff continues to cull its summer training squad ahead of the 2016 TAC Cup season.

Currently 67 youngsters are vying for places which coach Andy Allthorpe said would be cut to a final list of 50 next month.

The Falcons will have two intra-club trial matches at Colac’s Central Reserve on February 28 and March 6, after which their final squad will be named.

There’ll be five 19-year-olds on the list and Allthorpe said the coaching staff knows they’ll have to make some tough calls in coming weeks.

“It’s getting really competitive now and boys are well aware of it as the numbers start to dwindle down and know they’re getting closer and closer,” Allthorpe told K rock Football.com.au.

“The reward is there for them to get on the list – but that’s just part of it. Once they’ve got a spot on the list they’ve got to work really hard to get a game.

“The guys who miss out are going to have given it their all and have been extremely committed in the pre-season and they will be well prepared for wherever they play their footy this year.”

A practice match against North Ballarat Rebels – who will be their Round 1 opponents – is also scheduled the week before the season begins.

Allthorpe is entering his fifth season in charge at Highton Reserve – only Damien Christensen (six seasons) has coached the Falcons for longer – and said he’s encouraged by the potential of the 2016 squad to produce some surprise potential AFL draft prospects over the season.

“I’m excited by this group,” Allthorpe declared.

“It’s very different to probably the last two (seasons). The advantage of this group is, hopefully on an individual level we can produce a few surprise packets whereas the last few years we’ve had the ‘big names’ and guys everyone’s known about.

“This group is going to be about the team and how hard they work for each other and guys will start to shine through that.”

Twitter: @GreenBradley

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