Next gen stars get a taste of glory

Can't be what you can't see: Greater Western Victoria Rebels players met AFL player and former Laker Dan Butler as part of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour to Ballarat, and the launch of the V/Line Cup. Photo: EDWINA WILLIAMS

THE state’s premier under fifteen representative football carnival, the V/Line Cup, was played in Ballarat earlier this week, and saw the next generation of AFL and AFLW talent in action.

The tournament was launched late last week at City Oval during a stop of the Toyota AFL Premiership Cup Tour.

Greater Western Victoria Rebels players met 2017 Richmond premiership player, 2011 V/Line Cup participant, and now St Kilda forward Dan Butler (a former Lake Wendouree junior and North Ballarat Rebel), and were treated to a hold of the cup ahead of tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final.

“This event is a highlight of the AFL Victoria calendar, and an historic and important opportunity for many of the best young footballers and umpires from regional Victoria to showcase their skills,” said AFL Goldfields regional manager, Jason Muldoon.

“This competition provides opportunities for our next generation of footballers and umpires to be identified for further talent pathway opportunities.

“The carnival couldn’t go ahead without the incredible support of our long-standing partner V/Line and the City of Ballarat, who will host the carnival for a second consecutive year.”

More than 600 players, officials and umpires were involved in the 2025 V/Line Cup. It’s the second year in a row Ballarat has hosted it.

“We take enormous pride in the quality of our sporting facilities and our substantial investment over many years enables us to hold terrific events like this,” said City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves.

“It is fantastic to see the best young footballers from regional Victoria descend on Ballarat.” More on page 38.