The four footballers are Cori Corrigan, Cooper Heard, Cody Lindsay and Jayden Wright.

The V/Line Cup runs from Monday, September 26 to Wednesday, September 28 in Gippsland. 

Rats under-17 coach Allen Slocombe said the four players selected were extremely committed footballers. 

“Our main focus is bringing the group together due to some of the age gap,” he said. 

“These boys work exceptionally hard every day they play so I expected them to get through.” 

The Rebels V/Line Cup team will be coached by current Ballarat Football League interleague coach Shaun O’Loughlin and Rebels assistant coach Ricky Andrews.

Team manager Jason Muldoon said the coaching staff were impressed with the standard of players that were selected for the squad. 

“This is a direct result of the structures and level of coaching the players are receiving at their local clubs,” he said. 

“They are top end talent, some of the best we have seen in a while.

“We are all very happy with the squad and it is good to further their development.” 

The final 48 will now return to club football before joining back up on September 7 where they will train as a group for three weeks before the V/Line Cup starts. 

The players will all be presented with jumpers at a full day training session on September 21. 

The 48 players will split into two sides according to development.

“This will be huge for the players’ development,” Muldoon said. 

“Wimmera had 24 boys play in the McDonald’s Cup and we had almost 50 per cent get through.”

Slocombe said that it was great for the players.

“We are very proud and wish them all the best,” he said. 

Wimmera based players in the squad: Horsham Saints Nicholas Caris, Mitch Martin; Warrack Eagles Joshua Bibby; Jeparit-Rainbow Jakob Cocks; Harrow-Balmoral Matthew Jones; Horsham Demons Benson Miller; Swifts Joshua Reid.