Rising stars selected for Victoria

LOCAL football talent is continuing to emerge across the region, with 10 players from Geelong, the Surf Coast and Bellarine selected in School Sport Victoria’s under-14 state squads.

The players have earned places across Victoria’s four representative teams – two boys and two girls sides – that will compete at the 2026 School Sport Australia Championships in Melbourne this July.

Victoria will field two teams, blue and white, with the week-long tournament bringing together the country’s best school-age footballers at La Trobe University in Bundoora.

Torquay Football Club pair Harriett O’Dwyer and Wren Rahilly headline the girls blue squad, coached by Wesley College’s Andrew Fisher.

O’Dwyer was part of Victoria’s championship-winning under-12 side in 2024, where she served as vice-captain, while Rahilly – daughter of current Geelong Cats assistant coach James Rahilly – is a member of the club’s Next Generation Academy.

Isla Briggs from Ocean Grove Football Netball Club and Tayla Cations from Armstrong Creek Football Netball Club have been selected in the girls White squad, coached by Chris Goldstraw.

In the boys division, Jed Hamilton (Ocean Grove), Zavier Hollmer (Lorne), Samuel Sandiford (Torquay) and Axel Szalay (Williamstown/The Geelong College) were named in the Blue team, which will be coached by Galen Catholic College’s Aron Lombardi.

Charlie Rocke from Drysdale Football Netball Club and Zeplin van den Ham from St Joseph’s Football Club were selected in the boys White squad under coach Michael Moran.

The championships begin with an opening ceremony on 25 July before matches get under way throughout the week, concluding on 31 July.