SIX locals have been selected in the region’s V/Line Cup squad ahead of the return of the competition to its tradition slot in the September school holidays.

With no events in 2020 or 2021, a catch-up event was held earlier in the year for 2021 eligible players, with 2022 eligible players set to take to the field in Shepparton later in the year.

Cavendish’s Amelia Thomas and Hamilton’s Maddison Cotten – who played for Portland this year due to the Kangaroos withdrawing from the Under-18 girls competition – were included in the girls squad, while Penshurst’s Cooper Rentsch, and Brodie Phillips, Hugh Fitzgerald and Zac Elliot from the Hamilton Kangaroos made the cut for the boys.

Rentsch said playing the trial games was a fun experience.

“It was fun, it was a new experience playing with players I don’t usually play with,” he said.

“I just wanted to get used to playing against people my own age, usually it is younger or older.

“I have been playing alright, played a couple of games of reserves and played two senior games.

“I kicked three goals in my first game of seniors.”

Amelia Thomas has also enjoyed the growth of girls footy in the region and was excited to experience the opportunity of playing against other girls from around the state.

“It was fun playing, it was good seeing what the competition was like and it was fun playing against girls my own age,” she said.

“It has been good having these opportunities.”

AFL Western District region manager, Jason Muldoon said it was great to get back to a familiar routine with the event set for the upcoming school holidays.

“It brings it back into alignment to what we usually do, we couldn’t deny those kids the opportunity earlier this year,” he said.

“It is good to be back into it though.”

With two strong squads named, they will be trimmed with two boys teams and one girls team of 24 players travelling for the carnival.

The growth of the girls game and quality of selection is a positive for the future.

“That is probably the pleasing thing, we watch the trial games and every year we rock up to Ararat and the girls keep getting better and better,” Muldoon said.

“It is great to have some representatives from Hamilton and Portland.”

The Under-15 carnival plays a critical role in assessing the level of skills across the state and also identifying potential future AFL players at a young age.

“It really is our entry point to the talent identification pathways, so it is something we need to continue in some form at least,” Muldoon said.