The spectacle of elite junior football will be on full display in Shepparton later this month.
Three Greater Shepparton venues will share hosting rights for the 2023 V/Line Cup, where about 600 of the best under-15 footballers from across regional Victoria will descend on the district for a three-day carnival held September 25-27.
Deakin Reserve, Princess Park and Mooroopna Recreation Reserve have hosting rights for the 74th edition of the cup, with head of AFL Victoria Ben Kavenagh glad to welcome the event back for another year.
“The V/Line Cup is one of the most exciting events on the AFL Victoria calendar with more than 600 players as well as hundreds of officials and family members coming together for what is a true celebration of junior country footy,” Kavenagh said.
“We’re thrilled to be heading back to beautiful Shepparton and it will be very special to see hundreds of kids and their families from all over regional Victoria descend on Shepp, which has been through an incredibly difficult time.
“I also want to thank the City of Greater Shepparton and the wonderful people of the region for welcoming the V/Line Cup back.
“It promises to be a fantastic carnival and I wish all those involved the very best.”
The competition comprises three divisions ― two boys and a girls division ― where each team will contest two matches over the three days.
It features representative teams from seven regions: Barwon, Bendigo, Gippsland, Goulburn Murray, Greater Western Victoria, North East Border and South East.
City of Greater Shepparton successfully hosted two V/Line Cups in 2022 – the first was held in April having been postponed from 2021 because of the pandemic and the second event took place in the traditional AFL grand final week slot last year.
“To host the event once more in 2023 is a massive coup, as it allows the region to continue with the tradition of hosting high profile AFL events with our partners AFL Victoria and AFL Goulburn Murray,” Mayor Shane Sali said.
“Our local clubs are excited for the great opportunity to be involved with some of the key event operations, using this experience to invest back into their facilities and sporting groups.
“Local businesses in our visitor economy have done it tough over the past few years and are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors again, helping support local jobs and keeping the economy strong.”