Four teams full of wonderful talent and led by some of the best coaches in the AFL South East region will represent the Southern Stingrays in next week’s V/Line Cup.

Fresh off a magnificent victory in the MPNFL Division One Grand Final, Pines premiership coach Paddy Swayn will lead the Division One Boys into battle against the cream of junior talent from across the state.

Peter Freeman will lead the Division Two Boys, while Shaun Beatie and Jenny Todd will coach the Girls Under-16 Division One and Two teams respectively.

WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country’s premier junior regional championship is set to be bigger and better than ever when the competition returns to Latrobe City Council next week.

Now in its fifteenth 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 2018, the V/Line Cup has grown to include two Under 15 Boys and one U16 Girls divisions, with more than 3,000 participants expected to flock to Moe, Morwell and Traralgon when the four-day carnival runs from Monday September 24 to Thursday 27.

For many competing at these championships, the V/Line Cup will be a stepping stone to AFL Victoria’s mainstream talent pathway, the TAC Cup and TAC Cup Girls competitions.

In addition, the V/Line Cup also provides an important development pathway for young umpires, with all field umpires at the Championships members of V/Line Umpire Academy.