The junior sporting careers of Shepparton twins Jack and Matthew Whitlock have been, much like their appearance, incredibly similar.
Towering figures at more than 195cm tall, the pair has been gifted with its athletic talents and certainly has not wasted the opportunity that is in front of it.
Throughout their childhood the twins have dominated the local football and basketball scene, each collecting a plethora of different awards and representative selections along the way.
Anybody that has taken any notice of junior sport in Shepparton would be well aware of their exploits and are eagerly awaiting what they can achieve as they continue to climb the ranks.
And a fortnight ago, the Whitlock boys embarked on yet another exciting chapter of their sporting journey together, as they made their Coates Talent League debut in the Murray Bushrangers’ round one loss to Gippsland Power.
Under-age talents, they made the final Bushies 22 after months of arduous training and sacrifice, as the initial squad was whittled down from more than 100 top prospects from across northern Victoria.
In terms of the result on game day, the Bushies boys could not secure a win for the twins on debut, falling by 37 points to a strong Power side.
But for Matt the result almost did not matter, as he recounted what was a monumental day in his football journey.
“We started training back in October with that 100-man squad, so it has certainly been a long road to get to this point, and to be rewarded with being selected in round one was pretty special,” Matt said.
“It was initially pretty exciting (on game day), playing the first game you are always ready and up and about.
“The pace of the game was a lot quicker than what I had ever played before, the skill level was very high and it was a tough game, but an experience I will never forget.”
But what made the day more special for Matt was the fact he had his brother by his side.
He said being able to share such a monumental career milestone with his twin was an incredible feeling.
“It’s always good having someone out there that you know, and to be able to share that experience with him was unreal,” he said.
“There was a bit of chemistry out on the field, knowing where he was going to run and stuff and I think that will just grow as we play more Bushies games together.
“Having the rest of the family there with my parents and little brother making the trip, it was just a very special day for us.”
For Jack, making a Coates Talent League debut seemed like a world away 10 months ago.
In the early stages of last season, a nasty collision on the field had the talented key position prospect suffer a serious injury to his ribs and chest ruling him out for the season.
But while most kids his age would cut their losses and pursue other interests after such a harrowing incident, Jack said the injury made him as determined as ever to get back on the park and get to the point where he could make a Coates Talent League debut.
“It was a bit of a setback when it first happened and it wasn’t exactly great news,” Jack said.
“But as a result, I got to work on a lot of other stuff, not just footy which really helped, I got to put on some weight which was good and did a lot more gym work.
“Watching Matt play throughout last year, going to Victoria Country and things, it really motivated me to come back better than I was before.
“So, I’d say the injury has really benefited me moving forward.”
Being bottom-age players in 2023, this season will serve as a launching pad for the boys as they strive towards their AFL dream come draft time next year.
Jack said getting a taste of under-18 football this year would put both he and his brother in great stead and could not wait to keep improving at the higher level.
“For me this year is all about developing my weapons and skills and learning from a lot of the top-agers,” he said.
“The Bushies have a lot of top-quality coaches that I can get feedback off, so I will just try to learn as much as a I can to get set for my draft year in 2024.”