Gippsland League is thrilled to announce its coaching team for the 2025 Under 18s Interleague Carnival, with a talented group ready to guide the Leagues emerging stars.
Boyd Bailey from Morwell will take on the role of head coach, while Riley Baldi (Moe), Ryan Sparkes (Wonthaggi Power), and Cade Maskell (Leongatha) will take on Assistant Coach responsibilities. This team brings a wealth of experience, including senior premierships, league and club best & fairest awards, Team of the Year selections, MVP honors and more.
Bailey has been head coach of Morwell since 2023 and was instrumental as a player in the club’s premiership wins in 2013 and 2014. Since returning from VFL and NEAFL duties in 2021, he has taken on the Tiger’s Senior coaching role and has also been a senior representative coach in the Gippsland League Senior All Stars event in 2023.
Leongatha’s Cade Maskell joins the junior program in a coaching capacity with a strong background in Gippsland League representative football. Maskell had the honour of being our last Senior Interleague captain along with three other interleague jumpers to his name. We welcome two new Interleague leaders to the program. Riley Baldi, the recipient of last year’s Trood Award and Rodda Medal, has returned to VFL football this season at Casey while still making himself available for Moe. Wonthaggi’s Ryan Sparkes , the Leagues Most Valuable Player in 2023, has returned to the Gippsland League after spending the season with Collingwood's VFL side, Sparkes is now back full-time at the Power and been a key contributor to the Powers strong form to start the season.
The coaching team’s mix of experience from across the Gippsland League highlights the League’s focus on developing young talent and ensuring quality coaching. By bringing together knowledge from different clubs, the League aims to create a strong, team-focused environment as the U18 squad prepares for the carnival.
Preparations for the 2025 U18 Interleague Carnival are set to begin soon, with more details on training schedules and program timelines to be shared in the coming weeks.
