Four talented Wimmera footballers will get the chance to continue developing their games at the highest level, after being named in the Greater Western Victoria Rebels under-16 boys team.
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Horsham's Ben Hobbs and Harley Pope, Horsham Saints' Sam Breuer and Nhill's Drew Schneider have been named in the final squad along with the brightest football prospects in the region.
Wimmera talent coach Brendan Bryan said it was great to see more talented youngsters from the Wimmera get their chance.
"There are a lot of talented kids around and these boys have put in the hard work and got their reward," he said.
"It's a great effort from everyone around the Wimmera."
Bryan said the four selected had shown a propensity for hard-work that put them in a good position for selection.
"These boys are all very fit. They don't just train Tuesday and Thursday, they do a lot of extra work in their own time, which is important," he said.
"The four of them have been in the system for a few years and have been progressing well through the ranks.
"They are all pretty good leaders and high-quality character kids, so that will all help in their progress as well."
The under-16s will play in the 2019 Victorian Country Championships over five weeks starting on March 23.
They will face the Dandenong Stingrays in their first contest in a curtain raiser for the Rebels' under-18s match.
The team played its first of two practice matches before the championships on Sunday against the Bendigo Pioneers in Sebastopol. Hobbs did not play due to resting, but Bryan said the other three reportedly played well.
The under-18 Rebels squad is expected to be finalised in the next few weeks as the squad continues its selection process.
The squad played a practice match on Sunday and still have several more to come before a team is announced.