Boys win squad selection

Ten talented under-16 Wimmera-mallee footballers have won selection in a Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy squad to contest this year’s V-line Cup.

The squad comprises players from the AFL Wimmera-mallee, Goldfields and Western District regions.

Team manager and AFL Wimmera Mallee football development manager Jason Muldoon said the squad was the result of an extensive selection process, bringing together footballers from three zones.

“It’s a huge area,” he said. “The selectors and Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy coaches have worked hard to ensure the players have the best opportunity to display their skills.”

Current Ballarat Football League interleague coach Shaun O’loughlin and former Victoria Country under-16 assistant coach and GWV Rebels assistant coach Ricky Andrews will oversee the V-line Cup team.

“The coaching staff are very impressed with the standard of players that are coming through to the V-line Cup. This is a direct result of the structures and level of coaching the players are receiving at their local clubs,” Muldoon said.

“This is the final step in the Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy for all of these players, who will transition into the GWV Rebels program later in the year.

“We are hoping these players become TAC Cup players for the GWV Rebels.”

This year’s V-line Cup carnival will be in Gippsland from September 25 to 28. Wimmera-mallee players in the squad: Sam Breuer, Cody Bryan and Austin Mckenzie, Horsham Saints; Ben Hobbs, Harley Pope, Horsham; Charlie Johnston, Charlie Langley, Harrow-balmoral; Drew Schneider, Nhill; Jeziah Woods, Ararat; and Liam Feder, Kaniva-leeor United.