Talent Pathways

The Coates Talent League is Australia's premier underage football pathway competition for the Eastern States.

The Herald Sun Shield is Victoria’s longest-running school football competition showcasing some of the best young football teams and players.

First played in 1977, the Herald Sun Shield enters into its 47th year of competition in 2025 and involves girls and boys school teams representing school associations and competing across eight divisions, in semi-finals and grand finals.

The AFL Club Next Generation Academies is a joint initiative between the AFL and AFL clubs. 

The focus of the program is to increase opportunities to Multicultural and Indigenous participants who many be new or want to learn more about Australian Rules Football (AFL). The program is available to all young people, with any skill level, aged 11 – 18.

The V/Line Cup is Victoria's premier under 15s championship competition for country boys and girls footballers.

The competition has a rich history dating back to 1949 when it was first won by Goulburn Valley. V/Line came on board in 2004 as naming rights sponsor for the carnival and the representative competition has continued to prosper with a girls division introduced 2010.