Footballers soar to new heights

By Lachlan Ellis

It’s shaping up to be a great year for our local junior footballers, with 16 Moorabool boys named for the Western Jets and GWV Rebels squads.

Seven boys from the Bacchus Marsh Cobras and two from the Darley Devils have been named to play for the Jets, while five Cobras and two Devils will play for the Rebels.

Joel Freeman, Lucca Grego, Jack Kovacevic, William Lalor, and Isaac Nixon from Bacchus Marsh will join Darley’s Mitchell Gardiner in the Under 18 Jets side, facing Cody Gates, Sam Lalor, Ethan McKercher, Joshua Huxtable (Bacchus Marsh), Nick Cadman, and Brady Wright (Darley) from the Under 18 Rebels.

In the Under 16s, Kade Hilton and Jacob Martin from the Cobras will team up at the Jets with Sam Lillie from the Devils, while Bacchus Marsh’s Cody Salmon is Moorabool’s sole representative on the Under 16s Boys Rebels squad.

The Junior Presidents of the Bacchus Marsh and Darley Football Netball Clubs are both thrilled to see so many local footballers make the cut.

Bacchus Marsh FNC Junior President Scott James said the achievement was a positive for everyone at the Cobras.

“We’re extremely proud. Those boys have grown up playing at the Cobras, most of them for their whole career so far, so to see them achieve this is fantastic,” Mr James told the Moorabool News.

“It gives parents a glimpse into what could potentially be ahead for their kids, and inform them of the pathway programs. It gives the younger kids something to aspire to, so it’s good for all the families and the club to celebrate their achievements.”

Darley FNC Junior President Rohan Matthews said he was optimistic that playing in the Coates Talent League could be a stepping stone to greater things for the boys.

“The boys certainly have what it takes to make it far in their footy careers. Brady had a stellar 2022 playing at the Rebels and with the Darley Seniors, he is now training with the Geelong VFL team along with Playing with Rebels in 2023,” Mr Matthews said.

“Mitch had a great season last year at the Rebels and playing over half the year with the Darley Seniors including both finals as a 16-year-old. Nick had an injury plagued 2022 but has been training very strongly this year and we look forward to seeing him perform well at both the Rebels and Darley in 2023.”

The Coates Talent League Boys season kicks off on Saturday 25 March, with the Western Jets facing the Sydney Swans at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Craigieburn, and the GWV Rebels facing the Bendigo Pioneers at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.