The next wave of football prodigies will be on display at Deakin Reserve on Saturday when the Goulburn Valley League plays the Ovens and Murray League in an under-18 interleague match.
The under-18 fixture gives spectators, pundits and coaches a glimpse as to which Goulburn Valley young guns have the potential to make an immediate impact at senior level either this year or next.
Ramadan Yze is in his second year of coaching the under-18 interleague side, and he believes his team is much better prepared to take on the O&M representative side this time.
“We had a big squad of 46 and cut it back to 26, so it is looking half-decent compared to last year; we will be real competitive and in with a real shot against O&M,” he said.
“(The game plan) it’s a simple message.
“The boys know how to play the game, so I just want them to showcase their talent and show everyone what they have got.
“Show the talent the GV boys have got; O&M got us last year, so we owe them one, and the boys are up and ready for the fight.”
In last year’s match, O&M was the dominant side, winning by 59 points, 13.11 (89) to 4.6 (30), at their home ground in Albury.
However, the match is back in familiar territory for the GVL this year.
Yze is hopeful that the players’ knowledge of how to play the Deakin Reserve deck, combined with a strong and passionate home crowd, will help the GVL under-18 side secure a win against tough opposition.
Should the crowd come through to support the Goulburn Valley’s young gun footballers, Yze said they wouldn’t be disappointed with some of the skill and X-factor on display.
“Right across the ground, there is plenty of X-factor, so hopefully they can bring it on Saturday,” he said.
“There are a couple of big boys in the side to keep an eye out for and then there are always the little quick blokes around their feet.
“A couple (of leaders) have stood out; young (Xavier) Chandler from Mooroopna and Ryan Hill from Euroa are two standouts at the minute and they will most likely be captain and vice-captain.
“Come out and support the local boys against O&M.
“We owe them one, so it will be good to get as much support as possible.”
One FM will broadcast both the under-18 and senior football interleague games, with the broadcast kicking off at 11.30am on Saturday.