SOME of the best young footballers in the state were in Swan Hill last week, vying for selection in the Bendigo Pioneers V/Line Cup squads.
Under-15 footballers from leagues across the north-west and central regions of Victoria sought their spot in the representative tournament to be played in Ballarat this September.
Boys from across the surrounding regions ran out at Alan Garden Reserve last Wednesday, while local girls were able to prove their ability later in the week.
The Central Rivers leagues had a strong representation at the tryouts, taking the field in both the boys and girls matches.
A pair of North Central Football League players also had their shot at earning a guernsey.
AFL Victoria head Greg Madigan called the V/Line Cup “an historic and important event for many of the best young footballers from regional Victoria.”
“V/Line Cup is a highlight of the AFL Victoria calendar,” he said.
About 600 young footballers will travel to Ballarat for the carnival’s 75th edition between September 23 and 25, where two boys’ divisions and one girls’ division will take the field.
Those selected to play for the Pioneers will take on two of the seven other competing regions, in two full-length matches at venues including AFL ground Mars Stadium.
LOCAL RISING STARS
Central Rivers under-15 players in matches:
BOYS
Lucas Griffiths (Balranald)
Maximus Caruso (Lake Boga)
Reef Mulligan (Lake Boga)
Bryce Anderson (Lake Boga)
Jobe Roberts (Mallee Eagles)
Murndarra McInnes (NNW United)
Max Thompson (NNW United)
Tiger Veering (Nullawil)
Chad O’Sullivan (Sea Lake Nandaly)
Campbell Fisher (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
Julian Muir (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
Ronarion O’Dowd (Kerang)
GIRLS
Tayla O’Connell (Cohuna)
Sarah Vrolijks (Swan Hill)
Ruby Butler (Tyntynder)
Carly Shepard (Tyntynder)
Grace Ayars (Woorinen)
Sunny Barry (Woorinen)
Chloe Lovell (Woorinen)
Meg Young (Woorinen)
