Footy’s fab four earn Sports Star scholarship

FOUR of the Latrobe University Bendigo Pioneers Football Club’s rising stars were selected in the August intake of scholarships for Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

The talented Steph Demeo, Keely Fullerton, Lila Keck and Bryde O’Rourke have all had superb seasons on the footy field.

All four represented Victoria Country in the AFL under-18 championships and represented the Pioneers in the Coates Talent League under-18 girls competition.

The Victoria Country team headed west to play WA and also took on Queensland in Brisbane, and Victoria Metro at Sandringham.

Fullerton, Keck and O’Rourke have earned a call-up for the AFL Women’s Draft Combine being held across September and October.

The versatile O’Rourke was named on the interchange bench in the Coates Talent League under-18 girls Team of the Year.

The talented teenagers made their way to the Coates Talent League from Bendigo FNL clubs.

Keck and O’Rourke are team-mates at Strathfieldsaye Storm, Demeo at Golden Square and Fullerton with Eaglehawk.

Another of this year’s scholarship intake, Harley Reid was also selected as rover in the Coates Talent League under-18 boys Team of the Year.

Throughout 2023, Reid played for the Bendigo Pioneers; represented Victoria Country at the national under-18 championships, and also lined up for Carlton and Essendon in VFL.

He also did not forget his roots as Reid returned to play for Tongala in the Murray Football League.

This Saturday’s prelude to the AFL grand final will include the AFL Futures Match.

A group of 46 of the country’s hottest prospects have been selected to play for Team Joel Selwood or Team Nic Naitanui.

Among them are Bendigo Pioneers clubmates Archer Day-Wicks and Tobie Travaglia from Sandhurst; and Moama’s Jobe Shanahan.

A four-time AFL premiership star, Joel Selwood was Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year in 2009-10.