A DOUBLE dose of V/Line Cup will grace the fields of Shepparton next year, with the 2021 edition officially pushed back to April, 2022. The under 15s competition for both boys and girls missed out last year due to Victorian lockdowns, and rather than cancel the 2021 competition completely, AFL Victoria announced during the week it would provide aspiring AFL and AFLW teenagers with V/Line Cups five months apart. The April edition will feature those eligible for the competition this year (under 15s) with the September regular timeslot to be those eligible under 15s for next year.

The four-day carnival will be held in Greater Shepparton for the second consecutive competition, having held it back in 2019 after previously being in the Latrobe Valley. Having run since 1949, organisers were keen to continue that tradition, with the V/Line Cup a fantastic initiative and pathway leading into NAB League Boys and Girls competitions for country sides. All the country regions compete in the four-day event, with Gippsland Power, Geelong Falcons, Bendigo Pioneers and Dandenong Stingrays among the teams, as well as localised regions for those such as the Murray Bushrangers and Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels who stretch over large portions of country Victoria.

AFL Victoria thanked the country regions of Barwon, Bendigo, Gippsland, Goulburn Murray, Greater Western Victoria, North East Border and South East for their cooperation and understanding during the tough time. Whilst it was initially hoped the competition could be delayed until late October this year, the uncertainty around community sport and Victorian lockdowns meant it was not feasible to go ahead in 2021. Luckily the players will not miss out, and instead the up-and-coming talent of country Victorian football will run around in April next year. The dates are yet to be confirmed.

V/Line Cup 2021

Postponed to April 2022
Location: Greater Shepparton
Players in the under 15 age group in 2021 eligible

Regional Development Carnival 2022

To be held in September 2022, as originally planned
Location: Greater Shepparton
Players in the under 15 age group in 2022 eligible