The Murray Bushrangers’ under-15 V/Line Cup squad has been named, with the next generation of football stars outlined to contest September’s carnival.
A 44-strong list of young guns was announced, comprising players from 15 clubs around the Goulburn Murray region gearing up to challenge for the cup.
Simon Grumley has been tasked with coaching the division one side to success at the Ballarat-hosted competition, held from September 23 to 25, while Tyson Saunders will steer the division two side forward.
Grumley detailed how the rising stars were selected for the biggest date on the junior footy calendar.
“It’s a six- or seven-month process — we get around, look at games and who’s doing what et cetera,” he said.
“We also run a Murray Bushrangers junior academy through school holidays, so a lot of that program integrates into the V/Line Cup.
“We bring in kids for other reasons, they’re playing good football that haven’t been in the academy et cetera.
“It’s not a quick decision, there’s a fair bit of work that goes on behind the scenes.”
Shepparton-Notre leads the way with nominated players, boasting 10 from the pack of 44.
It makes sense considering the recent under-16 Goulburn Murray Junior League division one premiership that manifested late last month.
Over the next fortnight, Grumley and Saunders alongside Terrance Tuohey, Trent Freer, Tim Zak, Luke Davies (assistant coaches) and Brian Hill (team manager) will have the tough task of dividing the squad of 44 into two teams.
“That just comes down to different attributes as players on where we think they’ll fit and be suitable to play at the level of div one or div two because we don’t want to crucify them either,” Grumley said.
“A lot of different attributes go into why and where they’re selected.
“This year has probably been one of the harder selections we’ve had for the last four or five years which is a good thing.
“We’re happy with the squad and again, there’s been a lot of really good kids miss out too but it’s their first entry into a pathway program.
“The kids who missed out, they go away, work hard and at some point they’ll get their opportunity as well.
“But we’re pretty happy with the squad we’ve picked, but we don’t always get it right — it’s just part of the beast I suppose of those pathway programs.”
This year’s V/Line Cup will be the first edition not held in Shepparton in half a decade, involving more than 600 players, officials and umpires.
Goulburn Murray under-15 boys squad
Toby Lucas, Heath Sutcliffe (Alexandra), Rocco Anastasio, Eamon Hyde, Luca Orsida, Riley Thompson (Cobram), Addison Godsmark, Ethan Saxon, Oliver Wilson (Euroa) Brodie Maksacheff, Judd Tamburro, Max Thomas (Mooroopna), Henry Donovan, Van Kreeck, Maiko Leith, Archie Purtle, Axel Saunders (Mulwala), Izaak Hopkins (Numurkah), Isaiah Benson (Rumbalara), Harrison Thomson (Seymour), Nate Warrin (Shepparton), Maelan Allan, Lincoln Brand, Lewis Boswell, Gus Byrne, Archie Daniel, Cody Hooper, Elija McLeod, Ben O'Brien, Cole Parker, Alex Whitlock (Shepparton-Notre), Levi Duffy, Dashiel Smith, Sol Zak (Shepparton Swans), Zaine Atkinson, Lucas O’Hara, Lochlan Prosser, Liam Sofra (Shepparton United), Jimmy Blekic (Tallygaroopna), Anton Basile, Patrick McCarthy, Tanner Miller (Tatura), Angus Richardson, Ryder Robertson (Violet Town)