Vic Country releases National Championships squad
VICTORIA Country’s squad to face Western Australia has been finalised, with 27 players set to make the trip over to Perth on Saturday June 7. Runners-up last year, the Vics will be coached by Gippsland Power mentor Rhett McLennan and have left the door open for more prospects to be added to the roster.
>> SCROLL to see the full squad & fixture
Eight players have been promoted from outside the summer training hub; namely Rilley Aquilina, Jett Elek and Jesse Mellor (Geelong Falcons), Talor Byrne (GWV Rebels), Zac Harding and Harry Moon (Murray Bushrangers), Tom Matthews (Gippsland Power), and Callum Smith (Dandenong Stingrays).
As it stands, a handful of National Academy members will feature for the Big V, including pick one contender Willem Duursma. Geelong Falcons defender Josh Lindsay, who was best afield in the Academy’s second showcase game, is also among the side’s top talents this year.
A further half-dozen prospects are tied to clubs, including Carlton father-son duo Harry Dean and Cody Walker. Geelong has Next Generation Academy (NGA) pair Mellor and Ben Rongdit included from the Falcons, along with Toby Sinnema (Melbourne NGA) and Mitch Stevens (Adelaide father-son).
Walker is one of just three bottom-agers in the squad, joined by Wil Malady and Darcy Szerszyn. Only one over-ager made the cut ahead of the AFL Mid-Season Draft, with in-form Murray Bushrangers ruck Harding likely to get his chance after missing out on representative duties last year.
While Vic Country faces a tough away trip to open its National Championships campaign, three effective home legs follow in Melbourne. Among those fixtures is the now customary carnival-closer against Vic Metro, this time set to take place at RSEA Park on Sunday July 20.
2025 VIC COUNTRY U18 SQUAD
| NAME | CTL CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| Tairon Ah-Mu | Dandenong Stingrays | Berwick |
| Rilley Aquilina | Geelong Falcons | St Josephs |
| Talor Byrne | GWV Rebels | Koroit |
| Harry Dean | Murray Bushrangers | Lavington |
| Willem Duursma | Gippsland Power | Foster |
| Jett Elek | Geelong Falcons | Lara |
| Zac Harding | Murray Bushrangers | Wodonga Bulldogs |
| Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves | Dandenong Stingrays | Mornington |
| Harley Hicks | GWV Rebels | Lake Wendouree |
| Max Lee | Dandenong Stingrays | Edithvale-Aspendale |
| Josh Lindsay | Geelong Falcons | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Wil Malady* | Gippsland Power | Bairnsdale |
| Thomas Matthews | Gippsland Power | Moe |
| Jesse Mellor | Geelong Falcons | Geelong West |
| Hugo Mikunda | Geelong Falcons | Bell Park |
| Harry Moon | Murray Bushrangers | Rochester |
| Zachary O’Keefe | Gippsland Power | Maffra |
| Riley Onley | Murray Bushrangers | Shepparton United |
| Ben Rongdit | Geelong Falcons | Colac |
| Jobe Scapin | Gippsland Power | Inverloch-Kongwak |
| Toby Sinnema | Dandenong Stingrays | Devon Meadows |
| Callum Smith | Dandenong Stingrays | Vermont |
| Mitchell Stevens | Gippsland Power | Heyfield |
| Darcy Szerszyn* | Dandenong Stingrays | Noble Park |
| Archie Taylor | GWV Rebels | Cobden |
| Cody Walker* | Bendigo Pioneers | Echuca |
| Hunter Wright | Bendigo Pioneers | Golden Square |
* denotes bottom-age player
2025 VIC COUNTRY U18 FIXTURE
vs. Western Australia | Saturday June 7, 12pm @ Mineral Resources Park
vs. South Australia | Sunday June 29, 10:30am @ TBC
vs. Allies | Saturday July 5, 12:15pm @ IKON Park
vs. Vic Metro | Sunday July 20, 11am @ RSEA Park
Vic Country releases National Championships squad
VICTORIA Country’s squad to face Western Australia has been finalised, with 27 players set to make the trip over to Perth on Saturday June 7. Runners-up last year, the Vics will be coached by Gippsland Power mentor Rhett McLennan and have left the door open for more prospects to be added to the roster. >> […]
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Victorian Under 18 trial squads released
SQUADS have been announced for Friday’s Victorian Under 18 trials, where Country and Metro will go head-to-head in a pair of showcase games. The fixtures serve as an audition for budding representative prospects to press their case to represent the Big V at this year’s National Championships. >> SCROLL to see the full squads Set […]
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