During the December-January period most people in the Goulburn Valley will be busy enjoying swims in the river, jumping in the pool or lying on the couch by the airconditioner.
However, for three talented junior footballers, their summer holidays are set to be filled with gut-busting runs, countless team meetings and precision-based skill sessions.
Shepparton United’s Riley Onley and Tanner Armstrong (also connected with Rumbalara) and Echuca’s Cody Walker have been selected as part of Victoria Country’s under-18 summer hub squad.
Players selected in the squad are born in either 2007 or 2008 and are eligible for the Under-18 National Championships scheduled for the middle of 2025.
The squads will take part in two high-performance training camps, with Gippsland Power coach Rhett McLennan leading the Vic Country boys.
The first camp will take place at NEC Hangar (Essendon Football Club’s home base) at Tullamarine from December 16-17.
Across January 21-23, the second camp will occur at Gippsland Power High Performance Centre at Morwell.
The camps will offer players football and wellbeing programs, while also providing each individual with development plans for the upcoming season.
Out of the region’s three invitees, Onley is the only player eligible for the 2025 AFL Draft and has been labelled by draft guru Cal Twomey as, “One to watch”.
Armstrong and Walker (son of former Carlton gun Andrew Walker) will head into the next two seasons regarded as two of the best players in their 2026 draft class.
Walker has the potential to join Carlton as a father-son prospect and Richmond as part of the Tigers' NGA Academy in 2026.
Walker was named Vic Country MVP and all-Australian at the under-16 national championships earlier this year.
He helped Echuca’s thirds to a fifth straight flag, while stepping up to the senior squad four times, and making three appearances for the Bendigo Pioneers in 2024.
Armstrong is also part of the academy.
26°C