City to host V/Line Cup footballers

Ahead of the bounce: Head of AFL Victoria Greg Madigan, City of Ballarat representatve Cr Peter Eddy and acting V/Line CEO Jonathan McKeown at Mars Stadium on Tuesday Morning. Photo: EDWINA WILLIAMS

BALLARAT is set to host the seventy-fifth edition of the V/Line Cup in September.

The annual under 15 boys and girls representative football carnival will see regional Victorian teams the Bendigo Pioneers, Gippsland Power, Goulburn Murray Bushrangers, North East Border Bushrangers, Greater Western Victoria Rebels, South East Stingrays, and the Barwon Cats compete over 21 matches.

Games will be played at Mars Stadium, Marty Busch Reserve and Learmonth Oval, with City Oval as a back-up option.

AFL Victoria head Greg Madigan said the competition is a key talent pathway for AFL and AFLW players of the future.

“The V/Line Cup is a highlight of the AFL Victoria calendar, and an historic and important event for many of the best young footballers from regional Victoria,” he said.

“To be able to see the event go to Ballarat, a place with such rich football history, wonderful facilities, including female-friendly changerooms, and a thriving community, will ensure a fantastic experience for more than 600 participants, officials and umpires involved.

“We recently announced the extension of AFL Victoria’s long-standing partnership with V/Line, now 20-years strong, which is a major reason why we can continue to hold this event.”

City of Ballarat spokesperson, Cr Peter Eddy said hosting a “prestigious” 75-year-old event like the V/Line Cup is “sensational” for Ballarat.

“We’ll have 600 participants here in September this year, plus their families, and there’s an economic benefit we get out of that, as well as a boost to Ballarat’s profile,” he said.

“We expect it will put $675,000 into the local economy.

“When people start to see the teams around town it will be a boost to the economy and confidence generally.”

Acting V/Line CEO Jonathan McKeown said the partnership gels well in 2024 as Ballarat is a strong footballing region and a key hub on the V/Line train network.

“We look forward to seeing the state’s young football stars line up in Ballarat in September and are proud to continue to support this important event,” he said.

The V/Line Cup will be held during AFL Grand Final week from Monday 23 until Wednesday 25 of September. Matches will be live streamed.