Country Victoria football is responsible for producing many of the AFL's top players, but the pathway from the state's regional areas to AFL football is full of challenges.
The TAC Cup's 5 regional Clubs and local VCFL Club's do a wonderful job in dealing with geographical difficulties to ensure talented 15-18yr olds are provided with the highest quality programs to develop their football and life skills.
The NAB AFL Under 18 & Under 16 Championships are the pinnacle that many of these players aim for at the start of the season, and promising players from the North Ballarat Rebels, Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, Murray Bushrangers, Dandenong Stingray's and Bendigo Pioneers have the opportunity to compete against Australia's best junior AFL players while playing in the Vic Country team's.
The following Rebels TAC Cup Playing Squad members and U16 Development Squad members have been selected in the initial Victorian Country Squads.
Vic Country U18
Andrew Hooper (Golden Point)
David Astbury (Tatyoon)
Oliver Tate (North City)
Josh Cowan (Daylesford)
Jandre Slabbert (Hamilton)
Marcus Darmody (North Warrnambool)
Josh Free (Ballarat & Clarendon)
Lucas Cook (Ballarat & Clarendon) N
Ben Peters (Ballarat) INJ
Vic Country U16
Coleman Schache (Ballarat & Clarendon)
Will Pomorin (Emmanuel Hawks)
Peter Lulham (North Ballarat JFC)
Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol JFC)
Darcy Watchorn (Redan JFC)
Rory Taggert (Horsham Saints)
Sam Dobson (Koroit)
Nick O'Brien (Carngham Linton)
Karl Beddison (Horsham)
The Victorian Country u18's Squad will have their 1st
selection trial match this Sunday (2.15pm) at Victoria Park in Melbourne. From this selection game and following TAC Cup games the squad will be gradually reduced to a final squad that will represent Vic Country at the NAB AFL National U18 Championships which will be held across Australia starting late May.
The Vic Country U16's will also be involved in trial games over the coming months before a final squad will be selected for the NAB AFL National U16 Championships which will be held in West Sydney in July.
Last Modified on 23/04/2009 13:09