THE LODDON’S top young junior footballers will don representative jumpers for central Victoria’s gala day on Sunday.
AFL Central Victoria on Monday announced the 24 players selected for the new under 18 competition’s first appearance in the round robin matches at Maiden Gully.
Last year’s Loddon Valley league under 18 best and fairest and leading Inglewood senior player this season, Gabe Nevins, heads a list dominated by 11 youngsters from Marong.
Four of the new under 18 league’s five clubs have players in the side to be coached by Inglewood’s Leigh Lamprell.
Lamprell said: “We have some great young players running around in the AFL Central Victoria competition.
“Gala day allows all Loddon clubs to give players pathways to grow and develop their skills, be challenged and go back to their clubs and pass on new skills to teammates,” he said.
“Players in the squad who made themselves available for selection were all eager and committed at our training sessions and this has flowed through to the 24 selected on this occasion.”
Marong has been unassailable in the AFL Central Victoria competition’s first five rounds after Loddon Valley handed over running of junior football this season to boost youth participation and engagement.
North Central league was having the final training run of its 43-strong squad in Wycheproof last night.
League development officer Zane Bigmore said the final session would be a chance to check on player injuries before team selection.
AFL Central Victoria team -
Marong: Fletcher Waters, Riley Kerr, Lochie Hale, Josh Hall, Zac Justice, Kepler Thomson, Hudson Bourke, Liam Reilley, Kai Terrill, Spencer Taylor, Kobe McCaig.
Pyramid Hill: Harrison Goodes,  Blake Gibson, Lewis Stubbs, Riley Hutton. Inglewood: Jaspa Wendels, Gabe Nevins, Tyler Murphy.  East Loddon: Cade Tuohey, Jaxon Addlem, Mason Hocking, Jye Rasmussen, Tyler Rasmussen, Josh Diss.