This Saturday’s Vic Country vs Vic Metro clash at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships comes 30 years after Victoria was first split into two teams to compete on the national stage in 1989.

To mark the occasion, AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has compiled two celebration teams for Vic Country and Vic Metro, each containing 22 current stars of the AFL that came through under-18 Victorian country and metro-based regions.

The Vic Country celebration team is captained by champion Geelong skipper Joel Selwood (ex-Bendigo Pioneers) and coached by four-time Hawthorn premiership mentor Alastair Clarkson, who emerged as a player from the Wimmera district – part of the GWV Rebels region.

The Vic Metro celebration team is led by 2017 Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin (ex-Northern Knights), with 2011 Cats flag mentor Chris Scott – a former Eastern Ranges player – taking the reins as coach.

For the first seven years after Victoria was divided into Country and Metro, the representative teams were made up of under-17 players, before an under-18 carnival was introduced in 1996.

Vic Country claimed the first national title in 1989 under the coaching of the legendary Ray Jordon, while Vic Metro was guided by future North Melbourne dual-premiership coach Denis Pagan.

Among the victorious Vic Country team that year were current GWS Head Coach Leon Cameron, Giants General Manager of Football Operations Wayne Campbell and the club’s List Manager Jason McCartney – all of whom also enjoyed decorated AFL playing careers.

Vic Country has won a further four national titles since its inaugural triumph, with Vic Metro having claimed 17 titles in the carnival’s 30 years to date.

The Vic Country program takes in the NAB League regions of the Bendigo Pioneers, Dandenong Stingrays (since 2010), Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Murray Bushrangers, while Vic Metro teams are made up of players from the Calder Cannons, Eastern Ranges, Northern Knights, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons and Western Jets regions.

 

* Saturday’s opening match of the 2019 Under-18 Championships between Vic Country and Vic Metro takes place at the MCG from 10.35am, with the game to be shown live on Fox Footy and the AFL Live Pass app from 10.30am.

 

VIC COUNTRY CELEBRATION TEAM

B:Luke HodgeScott ThompsonJake Lloyd
 Geelong FalconsGeelong FalconsGWV Rebels
    
HB:Tom StewartRobbie TarrantLachie Whitfield
 Geelong FalconsBendigo PioneersDandenong Stingrays
    
C:Joel Selwood (C)Dustin MartinSteele Sidebottom
 Bendigo PioneersBendigo PioneersMurray Bushrangers
    
HF:Shaun HigginsJeremy CameronTravis Boak
 Geelong FalconsGWV RebelsGeelong Falcons
    
F:Gary Ablett jnrPatrick DangerfieldAdam Treloar
 Geelong FalconsGeelong FalconsDandenong Stingrays
    
R:Ben McEvoyScott PendleburyClayton Oliver
 Murray BushrangersGippsland PowerMurray Bushrangers
    
I/C:Ben CunningtonLuke ParkerDyson Heppell
 Geelong FalconsDandenong StingraysGippsland Power
    
 Jack Ziebell  
 Murray Bushrangers  

 

COACH: Alastair Clarkson (GWV Rebels)

 

 

VIC METRO CELEBRATION TEAM

B:Jamie MacmillanMark BlicavsDylan Grimes
 Oakleigh ChargersCalder CannonsNorthern Knights
    
HB:Bachar HouliMichael HurleyJames Sicily
 Western JetsNorthern KnightsWestern Jets
    
C:Andrew GaffTrent Cotchin (C)Josh Kelly
 Oakleigh ChargersNorthern KnightsSandringham Dragons
    
HF:Robbie GrayMarcus BontempelliJack Gunston
 Oakleigh ChargersNorthern KnightsSandringham Dragons
    
F:Toby GreeneJordan De GoeyJade Gresham
 Oakleigh ChargersOakleigh ChargersNorthern Knights
    
R:Max GawnRory SloaneLuke Shuey
 Sandringham DragonsEastern RangesOakleigh Chargers
    
I/C:Todd GoldsteinMarc MurphyDavid Zaharakis
 Oakleigh ChargersOakleigh ChargersNorthern Knights
    
 Josh Kennedy  
 Sandringham Dragons  

 

COACH: Chris Scott (Eastern Ranges)