As the BFNL builds towards another exciting Interleague campaign and match day against the Ovens & Murray FNL, the commitment of players from across the League continues to set the tone for what it means to represent the Blue & Gold.
At the forefront of that commitment are three key figures — Fergus Greene, Bailey Henderson and Ben Thompson — who have put their hands up to represent the BFNL on the interleague stage in 2026.
For each of the three players, Interleague in 2026 means something a little different and while each player brings a unique set of strengths to an Interleague program, their commitment to representing their League is a consistent factor.
Fergus Greene – Sandhurst FNC
The Greene name is synonymous with Interleague football and after making his debut in the Blue & Gold in 2025, Fergus is keen to continue a Greene family tradition, “Knowing Dad’s (Chris) history, along with my uncle Brendan Hartney, who were both part of the 1989 championship side against Ovens & Murray, it means a lot to carry on that family tradition. Dad has always said that if you’re fit and healthy, you should aim to play at the highest level possible — because you never know when your time at representative level might come to an end.”
Greene played a huge role in our 2025 match against the VAFA and when speaking on the experience he said, “2025 was my first year playing open-age interleague, and I loved it. It’s a great experience playing alongside players you usually come up against, building connections that grow over time. You’re always surrounded by players you respect, which makes it even more special.”
In 2026, we re-ignite a rivalry with the Ovens & Murray FNL, adding the excitement of a country rivalry to a match day, “The prospect of playing Ovens & Murray is really exciting. There’s a better understanding of the opposition and the standard, which adds another layer to it — whereas with VAFA there were a lot of unknowns. It’s a super strong competition, and the challenge is clear. Bendigo footy is in a great spot right now, and the time is right to take it on.”
Bailey Henderson – Castlemaine FNC
Bailey Henderson is returning to representative football for the first time since 2019 when he played for the BFNL against the Outer East FNL. Now the senior coach of Castlemaine FNC, a lot has changed for Henderson since 2019 but his ability to be a standout performer and his desire to play representative football is still there.
Henderson will play his first Interleague match for 6 years and said, “It’s been a while, so I’m really excited for the opportunity. I’ve had limited chances in the past through injuries and VFL commitments, so to be involved in 2026 and to play alongside new players in the league — building relationships that can last a lifetime — is something I’m really looking forward to.”
“I grew up watching interleague footy — it was always part of the winter routine. You’d hear stories about past players and the pride they took in it, so to now be a part of it myself is pretty special.”
The prospect of playing against the O&M for the first time in 30 years is exciting for Henderson for multiple reasons, “Coming up against guys I’ve played with before, including Brodie Filo, adds another layer to it. The Ovens & Murray is recognised as one of the strongest competitions in country footy, so it’s a huge challenge and a great opportunity to test ourselves against the best.”
Overriding all that though the pride that comes with representing the Blue & Gold, “More than anything, it’s about representing our league alongside players you usually compete against. That’s what makes interleague footy unique and something I’m really keen to be part of.”
Ben Thompson – Eaglehawk FNC
Rewind to July 2025 and Ben Thompson was selected in the BFNL Interleague side picked to play against the VAFA. Thompson put in an all-time performance in that game on the big stage and in front of a big crowd at the QEO.
Two months later, Ben repeated that feat on the biggest stage of all in the 2025 BFNL Grand Final where he was named as the second best on ground in a Premiership side.
It’s hard not to draw a correlation between the two performances.
When reflecting on his 2025 experiences within the Interleague campaign, Ben said, “It’s a great experience playing alongside the best and learning how they go about it. Building those connections has been really valuable, and it’s helped prepare me for the back end of the season — both with my training and playing with more confidence.”
Like Greene and Henderson, Thompson is excited by the BFNL’s new Interleague partnership with the O&M, “The prospect of playing Ovens & Murray is really exciting. It’s a strong competition, and it’s a great opportunity to see where we stand as a competition.”
“It’s always good to challenge yourself against top-level players and see where you’re at. That’s what representative footy is all about.”
Like Fergus Greene, Ben has a family history of BFNL interleague football with his father Darren representing the League on two occasions (1994 & 1995) “It’s a great honour to represent the league and not one that’s lost on me. Knowing Dad’s experiences with rep football makes me value it even more and to be recognised by the coaching staff is a real privilege.
As the countdown to this year’s interleague fixture continues, the commitment of Fergus, Bailey and Ben serves as a reminder of what makes representative football so special — a genuine commitment to something bigger than the individual.
Stay tuned for an announcement regarding the full training squad over the coming days ahead of our Interleague clash against the Ovens & Murray FNL on 23 May at the QEO.
