Anticipation and excitement is building among the top young footballers in the Wimmera ahead of next week’s V/Line Cup.
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Several boys and girls from across various Wimmera clubs will represent the Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy at the week-long competition in Gippsland next week.
Former Western Bulldogs player Wimmera export Brett Goodes was in attendance at Ararat’s Alexandra Oval on Wednesday night as the one girls and two boys teams gathered for their final training session before the tournament.
Read more: Girls squad announced
Goodes told stories about how he progressed from junior football to the AFL and passed on advice to the young and aspiring players.
More than 600 participants from eight different country regions are expected to compete in Victoria’s premier junior regional championships which start on Monday and run until Thursday.
The V/Line Cup returns to Latrobe City for a fourth consecutive year.
“For many competing at these championships, the V/Line Cup is a stepping stone to AFL Victoria’s mainstream talent pathways, with many AFL and AFL Women’s players using the event as a springboard for their AFL careers,” AFL Victoria chief executive Steven Reaper.
Wimmera footballers will play alongside juniors from the Goldfields and south-west regions.
The Western Bulldogs NGA has teams in divisions one and two for boys as well as in the girls division.
WIMMERA REPRESENTATIVES
WB NGA BOYS DIVISION 1
Harley Pope and Ben Hobbs (Horsham), Drew Schneider (Nhill), Sam Breuer (Horsham Saints), Liam Feder (Kaniva Leeor United)
WB NGA BOYS DIVISION 2
Charlie Johnston and Tyler Hateley (Harrow-Balmoral), Jeziah Woods (Ararat), Cody Bryan (Horsham Saints)
WB NGA GIRLS
Jesse Bligh and Crystal Summers (Stawell), Ella Friend and Kyra Clarke (Horsham Saints),
