By JARROD POTTER
SECOND time around, Evan Panozza still gets a rush to know he will represent Victoria.
The Casey Scorpions VFL captain has received his second nod for state selection and is geared up to face the old state-level enemy this year on home turf – the SANFL.
Part of the extended 40-man squad, Panozza has carried on his impressive form throughout his five years in the VFL and is honoured to get another crack at interstate level football.
“It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” Panozza said.
“After last year getting a taste and experience of it all for first time I’m really exciting to get another opportunity.”
After a narrow loss to the WAFL in last season’s state game, with the Western Australians winning 17.16 (118) to 15.10 (100), Panozza wants to be part of Victorian glory and help knock off the arch enemy South Australian.
“I was pretty cut about the loss,” Panozza said.
“It’s a once-off game, it’s such a big thing to represent your state so you obviously want to do your state proud and to get the win would make it all that more special so hopefully we can get the job done this time around.”
Wearing the Big V is a proud moment in Panozza’s football history and being the only Casey Scorpion on the list means he will don the jumper for everyone at Casey Fields as well as himself.
“It’s nice to represent the club and I would’ve liked to have a couple of team mates slip in the initial squad, but obviously that’s not to be,” Panozza said.
“If I can represent the club and myself as well as I did last year this time around, it will be nice to have Casey represented in the game.
“I thought Smithy (Tim Smith) was (unlucky) – he’s been playing well the last couple of weeks.”
Also receiving a nod in the initial squad is former Casey Scorpion and Garfield defender Luke Tynan, who is now plying his craft at Port Melbourne.
Tynan capped off his selection with a Best-on-Ground performance against Essendon, snagging 17 possessions, nine marks and four tackles in Port Melbourne’s 18 point win on Saturday.
The VFL team will be coached by Damien Carroll when it takes on the SANFL on Saturday May 31 at North Port Oval.
