JORDAN Johnston and Riley Taylor are the latest to get their first taste of TAC Cup under-18 football with the North Ballarat Rebels.
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They debut against Calder Cannons at Craigieburn on Saturday.
Johnston from North Ballarat is the 23rd man and has been selected to start on interchange with Taylor from Ararat Rats in the Wimmera league.
Callan Wellings (Trentham) has also been selected for his first game this season.
He is back from a foot injury, which has had him on the sidelines for seven weeks.
They have some big boots to fill with AFL Academy members Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage rested owing to workload over the past month. Jacob Wheelahan is also out with concussion.
Rebels talent manager Phil Partington said resting players would be a regular occurrence throughout the year as they coped with school, Rebels, Vic Country, and AFL Academy duties.
The Rebels go into what has become a traditional Anzac Day round match-up with the Cannons in desperate need of a win.
North Ballarat is yet to open its account after three rounds, but will have gained some confidence in finishing within 13 points of ladder leader Murray Bushrangers.
Calder is also yet to claim any premiership points, so there is plenty on the line.
This is the third year North Ballarat and Calder have played for the Anzac Cup.
An Anzac Day ceremony will precede the 1pm match.
REBELS’ LINE-UP:
B:Clay Bilney, Hasker Dawborn, Kyle O'Connor
HB: Callan Wellings, Jarrod Korewha, Tom Williamson
C:. Naish McRoberts, Willem Drew, Lachlan Huppatz
HF: Riley Taylor, Sam White, Jamaine Jones
F:. Nick Hausler, Shannon Beks, Izaac Johnson
R: Lloyd Meek, Charlie Lee, James Gow
Inter from: Jake McQueen, Max Scales, Todd Lawrence, Jordan Johnston (23rd man), Joe Dodd, Keegan Gray, Zac Urquhart
NINE Rebels development players have been named in the initial Vic Country under-16 squad after two wins in three games in the country carnival.
Joel O’Connell (Lake Wendouree), Jed Hill (Ballarat), Thomas Berry (Horsham Saints), Luke Bull (Mumbannar), Scott Carlin (Terang Mortlake), Lochie Dawson (Kokoda), Josh Chatfield (Koroit), Ethan McLaren (Hawks) and Tylar Watts (Heywood) will play in trial games ahead of the final team being selected for the national championships on the Gold Coast in July.
