Western Victorian selectors have unveiled an impressive cache of teenage Wimmera Mallee football talent in preparation for AFL Victoria’s blue-ribbon under-18 TAC Cup junior football competition. They have named 14 Wimmera Mallee players in a North Ballarat Rebels squad of 44. Six of the 14 are from Wimmera League club Horsham.
North Ballarat Rebels draw players from Ballarat, Wimmera, South West and Warrnambool regions. Selectors initially looked at 120 players as part of their pre-season.
Wimmera Mallee squad members: Tom McDonald, Edenhope-Apsley; Lucas Cook, Coleman Schache, Hopetoun; Rory Taggert, Horsham Saints; Riley McFarlane, Kalkee; Jake Ward, Nathan Kelly, Michael O’Callaghan, James Kirby, Sebastian Ross, Horsham; Martin Dufty, Nhill; Callum Hobbs, Harrow-Balmoral. The picture shows Jake Ward in action for Wimmera League.