The NFL’s five junior representative sides are back in action in the 2017 AFL Victoria Metro Junior Championships this weekend.
Once again, 1000 of Melbourne’s best junior footballers will don their representative jumpers as part of the Championships.
The Championships kicked off last Wednesday, with the NFL having a tough start against the Yarra Junior Football League.
After recording five losses to the YJFL, the NFL’s five representative teams will be looking to bounce back in their matches this Saturday and Monday.
The AFL Victoria Metro Junior Championships is the first stage of the AFL Victoria talented player pathway.
It gives respective TAC Cup regions an opportunity to view these players at a higher level than they experience each week in club matches.
Held at local venues across Melbourne, the Championship series brings together the top junior players in the Under -14, Under-15 and Under-15 Girls age groups.
Eight metropolitan leagues will have representative teams participating this season, including sides from the Northern Football League (NFL), Eastern Football League (EFL), Essendon District Football League (EDFL), Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL), South East Juniors (SEJ), South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL), Western Region Football League (WRFL) and Yarra Junior Football League (YJFL).
The tournament will see all teams compete in a three-round competition, with the top two teams in Division 1 Pool A and Pool B playing off in Grand Finals.
The Under-15 Division 1A, Under-15 Division 1B and Under-15 Girls Grand Finals will be played on Saturday June 24 while the Under-14 Division 1A and Under-14 Division 1B will be held on Saturday July 1.
Click here to see the squads for the NFL’s five junior representative teams.
AFL Victoria Community Football Operations Manager Gerard Ryan said the Championships provide a great opportunity for Melbourne’s top junior players to test their skills against the best players in their age group.
“The Metro Junior Championships continues to provide an opportunity for Melbourne’s best junior players to be discovered and showcase their skills against quality opposition,” Ryan said.
“A number of TAC Cup scouts will be present at games throughout the Championships and use the competition as a platform to view players for consideration in their elite development programs.
“While all leagues will be hoping to take home some silverware at the end of the series, participation in the Metro Junior Championships in itself is a fantastic achievement and something all players, coaches, umpires and staff will look back fondly on in the years to come.”
The Northern Football League wishes all of its players and coaches the best of luck during the Championships.
Click here for fixtures or follow the hashtag #AFLVicMJC for updates.
