The brightest young talent from the AFL South East region will be on full display next week when the cream of the crop represents the Southern Stingrays in the 2019 V/Line Cup in Greater Shepparton.

Held annually, the V/Line Cup Carnival brings together the most talented male and female regional footballers from the under-15 age group, testing themselves against the best from around Victoria.

The Southern Stingrays will be represented by two teams of boys and girls, made up of players from the three junior leagues in the region – the FDJFL, MPJFL and SEJ.

The Boys teams were announced at Linen House on Wednesday night with the elite girls in the region to be presented with their playing kits this Friday.

Now in its sixteenth year as the official naming rights partner of the carnival, V/Line has contributed extensively in providing the opportunity for young players to challenge themselves against the best in their age group across regional Victoria.

In 2019, the V/Line Cup has grown to include 14 boys teams and eight girls teams with more than 3,000 participants expected to flock to Shepparton for the four-day carnival which runs from Monday, September 23 to Thursday 26.

Head of AFL Victoria Rick Bell said the V/Line Cup is one of the biggest events on the regional football calendar and AFL Victoria is pleased to welcome back another year of the hugely successful carnival.

“The V/Line Cup provides the next generation of aspiring footballers an opportunity to learn, develop and showcase their incredible talent against peers from across the state,” Bell said.

“For many competing at the championships, the V/Line Cup will be a steppingstone to the Under-18 NAB League competitions. The V/Line Cup also provides an important development pathway for young umpires, with umpires selected from the V/Line Umpiring Academy.

“AFL Victoria thanks V/Line for their partnership and involvement in this event for the past 16 years, and the Greater Shepparton City Council, as our host City, for their outstanding support and devotion to making the V/Line Cup possible.”

One of the highlights of the carnival will take place at Mooroopna on Wednesday, September 25 when the Southern Stingrays take on local rivals Gippsland Power in all three divisions.

See below for the team lists for both boys teams, along with the fixtures for all four days of competition.

Southern Stingrays Boys Division 1 Team List

Coach: Paddy Swayn

Team Manager: Nathan Evans

   Photos: Frankie Photography

Southern Stingrays Boys Division 2 Team List

Coach: Peter Freeman

Team Manager: Cam Roberts

SUPPORT STAFF

Assistant Coaches

Darren Roe, Richard Brennan, Leigh Stewart, Max Urwin, Tom Freeman, Matt Mayne

Training Assistant Coaches

Zac Horsley, Ben Corrie, Mark Hustwaite

High-Performance Staff

Steve Drury and Mick Storr