LOCAL footballers have shone on the big stage in Shepparton over the last few days in the 73rd V/Line Cup carnival for boys and girls.

In the boys, Hamilton Kangaroos had Brodie Phillips, Zac Elliot and Hugh Fitzgerald represent the region, while Cooper Rentsch flew the flag for Penshurst, and in the girls, Amelia Thomas from Cavendish and Maddison Cotten who is a Hamilton local but played for Portland, also represented the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels at the carnival.

GWV Rebels fielded teams in the Boys div one and div two comps plus a team in the Girls competition with team managers, Jock Whiting and Loretta Kearney, enthused by the talent on show for the Rebels.

“The girls really enjoyed themselves for the carnival and saw just how big a step up from their local competitions the V/Line Cup is,” Kearney said.

“It was eye opening for lots of players across the teams, not just the Rebels, as they saw the standard required to go further as they get older.

“Maddison Cotten and Amelia Thomas were selected from the local leagues to play for the GWV Rebels, and both had good hit outs in both games played.

“Maddie kicked two goals in the first game and laid several huge tackles, while Amelia never stopped in both games.

“The second game saw the team come up against much bigger bodies and players who have been playing the game much longer than our girls.”

With plenty of knowledge gained by the girls, they also got to play in different spots on the ground and push the boundaries of their capabilities.

“All players were given opportunities to play different positions and roles throughout both games than the roles and positions they play in their local leagues, which gives them a different view of the game and how to play,” Kearney said.

“The V/Line Cup is not there to win but rather it is so players can use it as a stepping stone to further their games.

“The girls are now in the system and their progress will be monitored with each passing game and they may be invited to trial for the Rebels’ Under-16 squad, but they now know just what is required at the next level and they have their own goals to strive for.”