Another three local products are heading to Coffs Harbour to represent their state at the National Youth Championships.
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Shepparton duo Hassan Alhilfi and Reece Reedy and Tatura's Gerald Corbo have been picked in the Victoria Country under-14 squad that will contest the championships, looking to do their state and themselves proud.
The trio has been picked after a gruelling selection process, under the watchful eye of Football Victoria's Shepparton talent identification and development centre coach Tommy Giuliani.
Giuliani, who himself has been picked to attend the championships and coach Victoria Metro, said the talents should look no further than Goulburn Valley Sun James Nieuwenhuizen for the size of the opportunity they have been handed, Nieuwenhuizen having used last year's tournament as a springboard to national under-15 selection.
"It's a great opportunity the National Youth Championships — look at what happened to James Nieuwenhuizen," Giuliani said.
"That's what it is all about, that talent pathway."
Summing up the National Premier League trio — Reedy and Alhilfi with the GV Suns and Corbo with Moreland City — Giuliani saw great strength in each of them.
"Gerald Corbo is a really good box-to-box midfielder, he's very technical, really, really good decision-maker. He simplifies the game, he's very effective and good on the ball," Giuliani said.
"Reece Reedy is versatile, he can play right across the back four and holding midfield. He's very strong and has really developed, I'm very happy for him. He's come a long way, worked on his game and worked really hard.
"Hassan is a natural talent, a number 10 or a right winger. He's very creative, good with the ball, very good one-on-one. He's a flair player, he's very good on the ball and likes to throw in a lot of step-overs."
Giuliani was also grateful for the opportunity he had been given, picked to coach the Metro squad under head coach Jasper Kristensen.
"They just rang up and said they'd like me with the Metro squad, which is basically just all Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory kids," he said.
"It's a real honour, and they told me I was the first regional coach to do it."
He also congratulated all participants in the TIDC program regardless of selection for the championships.
"It's been a great year for our program and I'm really happy to see the pathway there for the country kids. It's all about being seen by the right people," he said.
"All the players involved in the Shepparton TIDC were fantastic this year.
"There was lots of development, a great culture among the group and there were more contact hours with FV for the boys, with more gala days and two Victorian camps."
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