The Rebels list proved it is one of the TAC Cup under-18 competition’s fittest lists in AFL testing just days after the playing squad was confirmed in early March.

As a whole, the Rebels ranked above average of the 12 TAC Cup clubs and achieved topthree status in most categories.

They won agility.

Rebels talent manager Phil Partington said the training squad had worked hard with Federation University’s Warren Young to ensure it was in the best condition for fitness testing.

This is no easy feat for the Rebels who have spent most of the summer working in Ballarat and across four satellite training bases.

Hampden region players, based in Camperdown and traditionally aligned to Geelong Falcons, were added to the Rebels mix in a TAC Cup rezoning for this season.

The Rebels have listed two Cobden players in Christian Koroneous and Jack Hutt, who both delivered particularly impressive pre-seasons.

Koroneous and Hutt are among 13-listed players from the Warrnambool and Hampden regions in the Rebels final 48-strong squad.

Players are also sourced from the Wimmera (Horsham base), South-West (Hamilton base) and Goldfields (Ballarat base) regions.

“This has probably been one of the most difficult selections to go through for the Rebels,” Partington said.

“Players have been really even across the board.”

Six players come into the squad as bottom-age players having been promoted from the Rebels’ rookie squad after playing good football at club level.

Nine from last season have dropped off the list, including the injured Alex Ross who is sidelined for the year after knee surgery.

Five players will play for the Rebels under the 19-year-old rule. 

Under a rule change this season, the 19-year-old rule has expanded from three to five players that can play anytime in TAC Cup football.

Josh Webster (Kalkee) and Joseph Symons (North Ballarat City) struggled with injury last season. 

Matt Johnston (North Ballarat City), Tom Schnerring (Warrnambool) and Tom Templeton (Portland) had limited exposure to the TAC Cup program as first-year players last season.

Partington said the new ruling helped country clubs like the Rebels, Bendigo Pioneers and Murray Bushrangers, develop players with potential to play the game at higher levels in areas where there was no VFL development league.

It bridges a gap to senior state league football.

Players can also be added or deleted from the Rebels list anytime during the season.

Rebels players and staff have worked together to establish their trademark style for this season.

The Rebels finished top four last season, had three Afldraftees – Oscar McDonald (Melbourne), Dan Butler (Richmond) and Jesse Palmer (Port Adelaide) – with Oscar McDonald

and coach David Loader named in the TAC Cup team of the year.

But this is a new Rebels outfit, ready to make a new impact.