Three local footballers have been named in the prestigious AFL Goulburn Murray V/Line Cup squads.
Deniliquin Rams player Charlie Bull has been named in the boys’ division one squad.
Sam Crossley, also from Deniliquin Rams, has been named in the division two squad.
Fellow Ram Savannah Emery has also been named in the girls’ squad.
The V/Line Cup is Victoria’s premier under-15s championship competition for country footballers.
The program consists of two under-15s boys teams, and an under-16s girls team.
The teams represent the best talent from the region and they play in the AFL Victoria Country State Championships which are held during AFL grand final week.
The three teams train over approximately a six week period.
The competition has a rich history dating back to 1949 when it was first won by Goulburn Valley.
V/Line came on board as naming rights sponsor in 2004 and the girls division was introduced in 2010.
From 2015 scores were no longer recorded as the focus of the carnival moved towards developing the best football talent in regional Victoria.
The V/Line Cup was subsequently awarded to the boys and girls teams who best displayed leadership, teamwork, growth and development.
For many Victorian country footballers and officials, the V/Line Cup provides a pathway to higher level talent programs and for some it is even the first step towards a career in the AFL or AFLW.