THREE Cavendish girls have been selected in the training squad for the Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) Under-19 Female interleague clash against Ballarat which will be a curtain raiser for the U23 Clinton Baulch Cup on July 6.

Matilda Brook, Milly Thomas and Maddie Cotten were some of the local girls selected in the 34-player squad and will be hoping to make the final team.

There is also some local experience on the coaching panel in Pat Sherlock and Emily Huglin (Hamilton Kangaroos), while the other coaches are Chris Meade and Ryan Jones (South Warrnambool).

The squad includes a combination of HFNL players and players from the Western Victoria Female Football League (WVFFL).

There is plenty of talent locally with all three girls having represented the Rebels this year, Cotten and Thomas in the Under-19s and Brook in the Under-16s.

Maddie Cotten has played all nine games for the Rebels this season acting as a strong key forward who has a good set shot.

Her best game came against Bendigo Pioneers in round five where she had 12 disposals, one goal, four tackles and three inside-50s.

The 16-year-old has made the jump from the Under-16 Rebels squad to become a mainstay in the team in 2024.

In the past, Cotten has represented Cavendish, Hamilton and Portland in the WVFFL, as well as Casterton-Sandford in the Limestone Coast Women’s League.

She provides good defensive pressure inside the forward 50 and is a strong tackler with four per game.

Milly Thomas is another young gun who has graduated through the Rebels’ pathway having played Under-16s last season before stepping up to the Under-19s in the Coates Talent League this year.

She has since played four matches for the side as a defender with her best outing coming against Geelong Falcons in round six where she had 10 disposals.

The 17-year-old has played four games for Cavendish this season being named in the best every time, this included a senior game.

At 173cm, she has a bit of height down back mixed with athleticism as she can provide some run for the teams off the half back line.

Matilda Brook is one of the youngest in the squad and is still plying her trade back in the Under-16 Rebels development squad and was named in the best in the only game the team has played this year.

She has been a dominant force among the WVFFL Under-18s this season being named in the best every single time she’s stepped on the field – all six matches.

Since starting her football career with Cavendish back in 2022, she has been named in the best in 68 per cent of games she has ever played and will be looking to put her best foot forward at the upcoming HFNL training sessions.

The team will have two training sessions in the lead up to the interleague clash, next Wednesday at the Gardens Oval and July 3 at Reid Oval – the final team will be selected following this session.

Other players to make the squad include Poppy Peters, Greta Arnel, Adelle Weidemann (Horsham), Chloe Reynolds, Marnie Mueller, Airlie Aldridge (Portland), Hannah Rooke, Lila Evans, Molly Jones, Nikki Clover, Giann Gration, Frankie Bant, Marnie Beks, Lekaya Carson, Liv Wolter, Maggie Johnstone, Grace Schrama, Scarlett O’Donnell, Kate Noseda (South Warrnambool), Alysha Ralston, Lily Jenkins, Ava Moore (Warrnambool), Annabelle Glossop, Molly Kavanagh, Matilda Curran, Claire Kennedy, Tayla Bell, Holly Jones (Terang-Mortlake), Jenna May Bristow and Haylee Blurton (Tyrendarra).