Magpies’ best on deck for Rams’ international clash with Italy

Magpies Mitch Burke and Izaak Scott will play in Western’s under 20s side – Burke has been named captain - while Iszac Bell will run out in the Rams’ under 16s and Charlie Staines, Farren Lamb and Jaiden Burke have been included in the Western under 18s that will take on their respective Italian outfits at Bathurst.

It’s the second year running Western has hosted the FIRLA sides, which are made up of Australian-based players with Italian heritage.

While no Forbes players made the opens side – coach Darren Jackson said a lot of players were unavailable due to end-of-season trips – all four sides will go into Saturday’s matches confident of producing against an international opponent.

Although Jackson concedes preparing a representative outfit at the end of the season is a touch different to the usual Western approach.

“Especially this time of the year. There’s guys unavailable, there’s a few enjoying the break and that’s ok. We’ve picked the best side possible,” he said.

“It’s a limited preparation. We’ll have one training run (on Friday) at Carrington, then play Saturday.

“It’s just about keeping it simple. That old cliche, playing mistake-free footy.”

Jackson said with the under 23s country championship to remain, he intended to bring up some of the under 20s players on to the first grad bench.

Mitch Burke will be one of those players in contention, having played in the first grade side against FIRLA in 2016.

Games start at 11am with the under 16s. First grade kicks off at 3.15pm.