Shepparton youngsters receive invitation to Vic Country pre-season

Nov 30, 2023

Opportunities: Oliver Warburton is one of four Shepparton youngsters to get an early crack at Victoria Country. Photo: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos

Four Shepparton-based junior footballers have an early opportunity to impress after receiving invitations to a Victoria Country boys’ pre-season camp.

All three Shepparton clubs are represented.

Bears duo Jack and Matt Whitlock, Shepparton United’s Riley Onley and Oliver Warburton of Shepparton Swans are named in the pre-season squad.

Strength to strength: Swans junior Oliver Warburton continues to enhance his draft prospects. Photo by Megan Fisher

The high-performance camps are running separately for Vic Country and Vic Metro, with the best 16 and 17-year-old talents across the boys and girls’ programs statewide nominated to participate.

Vic Country’s camp runs in two instalments: first, two days at Essendon Football Club from December 18-19.

After Christmas, the squad will reconvene for three days at the Federation University Ballarat campus from January 21-23.

Vic Country boys’ summer high-performance hub

Archer Day-Wicks (Sandhurst), Willem Duursma (Foster), Jonty Faull (Redan), Zac Harding (Wodonga), Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Mornington), Harley Hicks (Lake Wendouree), Cooper Hynes (Bonbeach), Xavier Ivisic (Bell Park), Sam Lalor (Bacchus Marsh), Harvey Langford (Mount Martha), Xavier Lindsay (Leongatha), Zac McInnes (Bell Park), Noah Mraz (Narre North), Riley Onley (Shepparton United), Finn O’Sullivan (Koroit), Flynn Perry (Cobden), Ben Rongdit (Colac), Jobe Scapin (Inverloch-Kongwak), Tobie Travaglia (Sandhurst), Rhys Unwin (Cobden), Oliver Warburton (Shepparton Swans), Jack Whitlock (Shepparton), Matt Whitlock (Shepparton)

Kicking goals: Jack Whitlock maintains a level head up forward. Photo by Zac Standish

Each player selected to participate has a chance to be called upon in mid-2024 to represent Vic Country again in the AFL National Championships.

Before that time comes, though, there will be more camps held in April, where more players will be added to an extended squad before decision time ahead of the national carnival.

By this token, the early opportunity to impress recruiters and coaches at the December and January camps is pivotal to earning a call-up during the next Coates Talent League campaign.

Prime mover: Shepparton's Matt Whitlock keeps mobile as a key defender. Photo by Megan Fisher

Swans junior Warburton has elevated his profile recently, featuring in the AFL Futures Game on AFL grand final day in September as part of a showcase for many of the top 2024 draft prospects.

Meanwhile, key forward Jack Whitlock earned plaudits for his big-moment composure after slotting a late game-winner in a nail-biting Under-17 Futures game for Country against Queensland in August.

Usually found down the other end of the ground, twin brother Matt has been stationed in the heart of defence, but employs some handy mobility, finding himself compared to fellow Murray Bushranger and recent Geelong draftee Connor O’Sullivan.

On his way up: Shepparton United’s Riley Onley should be in the mix again for Country in 2024. Photo by Megan Fisher

Bottom-age prospect Onley, who has kept busy this off-season with basketball in hand for the well-publicised Gators, carries the Shepparton United flag, but is no stranger to the Country jumper as a tall inside midfielder moving up the ranks.

Squads for the girls’ pre-season camps are expected to be announced next week.