The Western Football Netball League recently announced an initial 39-strong squad that will take on rival competition Southern Football Netball League on May 17, and among the group is a Shepparton United product.
Charlie Di Stefano, who last called Deakin Reserve home in 2022, has carved out a name for himself for WFNL outfit Parkside and has now been rewarded with an interleague call-up.
He ended up at Parkside in 2024 via Essendon District Football League side Airport West, having broken into Shepparton United’s senior setup three years ago.
Di Stefano kicked 12 goals in 16 games last season for Parkside, and has started with a hiss and a roar in 2025 with two majors against Sunshine in the season opener.
He’ll be hoping to make the cut once the WFNL interleague squad is thinned down, with a statement released by the association indicating the calibre of players Di Stefano will be competing against for a spot.
“The initial 39-member squad includes numerous stars of the competition including 2024 Barry Priest Medallist Alex Paech, two-time MVP winner Michael Selsby and last season’s TIV division one leading goal-kicker Tom Condon,” it read.
“More than half the squad is currently or was previously VFL-listed with three players also AFL-listed at one point, the most recent of those being Altona recruit Emerson Jeka who has returned to his junior club after five years with Hawthorn and Geelong.
“There are four players in the squad who represented the WFNL in its last Interleague outing with Nick Buykx, Braden Ferrari, Nayef Hamad and Daniel Nielson all lining up against the Goulburn Valley Football Netball League six years ago.
“The squad will eventually be trimmed to 25 players with 23 players to line up against the Southern FNL on May 17.”
Di Stefano has one game of VFL football under his belt, having played for Northern Bullants in 2023.
He made waves in 2024 as he was nominated for the Vic Local Footy Mark of the Year for a towering grab in Parkside colours against Point Cook.
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