NORTH Ballarat Rebels will be out to avenge an early season loss to Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup under-18 competition.
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The Rebels lost to their regional rivals by 39 points in round three.
They were struggling at the time, going on to lose their first four games. That has changed.
The Rebels turned around their fortunes with wins over Oakleigh Chargers, Northern Knights, Gippsland Power and Sandringham Dragons.
Although teams across the competition have been impacted by Vic Country and Vic Metro selection for the national under-18 championships, North Ballarat’s revival has still been an exciting rise – getting to eighth after nine rounds.
Its latest success, a 90-point victory over Sandringham, was one out of the box.
With a relatively stable combination, the Rebels’ confidence will never have been so high.
Darcy Tucker and Daniel Butler will again fly the Rebels colours for Vic Country this weekend.
They will line up against Western Australian at Fremantle on Sunday.
The Rebels do regain ruckman Rowan Marshall for the clash with the Bushrangers.
Marshall will add a class and power factor, having missed out on Vic Country’s past two matches owing to injury.
North Ballarat will blood yet another player as well.
Sam McClure, from Edenhope-Apsley in the Horsham District Football League, will debut as the 23rd player.
He will be the 41st player to don a Rebels jumper this season.
North Ballarat Rebels will have seven players in the Vic Country team contest the national under-16 championships on the Gold Coast from Friday, July 4.
The 24-player squad features Todd Lawrence (Lake Wendouree), Kyden Jarvis (South Warrnambool), Jarrod Korewha (Koroit), Shannon Beks (South Warrnambool), Todd Clode (Casterton), Sam White (Mt Clear via Hopetoun) and Jarrod Berry (Horsham Saints).
