Barwon showcase 2025: Young talents who impressed in under-15 representative matches

A host of emerging talents from the region shone at the inaugural Barwon region showcase. See who made a name for themselves.

Team Hodge knocked off Team Walsh. Picture: Supplied

A host of emerging talents from across the region impressed in the first Barwon region showcase last Wednesday.

The Geelong Falcons initiative pitted the top under-15 players in the region against each other in two boys matches and one girls clash.

Geelong Falcons talent lead Jesse Drever was pleased with how the showcase went, giving the Falcons vital intel on young talents ahead of the V-Line Cup in September.

“We don’t have interleague footy for the majority of our region down in Geelong – it’s only kind of the Colac district that play a game at that age level,” Drever said.

“So for us, intra-league footy probably was a good opportunity to give some of these players a chance to play against the best of the region, but also for us serves the purpose for identifying talent for V-Line Cup and the next steps in our pathway.

“We obviously still do our recruiting work in community because there are a few players unavailable on the day and there’ll be others that put their name up across the back half of the year, but substantively our V-Line squads will come from the players that played on that day.”

See who shone in the showcase.

Team Dangerfield got the win over Team Ablett.

BOYS SHOWCASE GAMES

Team Ablett – 6.6.36 defeated by Team Dangerfield – 10.9.69

TEAM ABLETT

MVP – Ingemar Borrack (Western Eagles)

Drever said: He’s from the Western Eagles, so down in the CDFL. It was great that a player like him played really well on the day because it just shows the players from across our region, not just the inner Geelong network as well. So that was really pleasing.

Harry Price (Torquay)

Drever said: Another standout from Team Ablett. Played really well as a rebounding halfback.

Team Ablett MVP Ingemar Borack. Picture: Supplied

TEAM DANGERFIELD

MVP – Lachlan Brady (Newtown & Chilwell)

Drever said: Awarded best player, a competitive mid-sized player. He was impressive and they were able to get the win on the day. Across the board quite an even performance from them – while Lachie won the MVP, there was quite a few good players.

Reece Charles (South Colac)

Drever said: A strong bodied mid, can float through a few different roles.

Harry Lindsay (Newtown & Chilwell)

Drever said: He’s (2025 top-10 draft prospect) Josh Lindsay’s younger brother. He’s pretty similar to in a lot of ways that he can play a lot of different roles. He’s probably more of an outside player at the moment, so kind of that wing, half forward, half back. He was quite impressive.

Billy Blake (St Joseph’s)

Drever said: An inside mid – undersized – but an inside mid that wins a lot footy and a good user on the outside as well.

Team Dangerfield MVP Lachlan Brady. Picture: Supplied

Team Hodge – 9.13.67 defeated Team Walsh – 3.7.25

TEAM HODGE

MVP – Jack McGinness (Torquay)

Drever said: He is a hybrid defender, someone who can play tall, play small. Good interceptor and good ball-user coming back the other way as well.

Arki Searle (South Barwon)

Drever said: Flexible position, inside outside, that medium height so can play a few different positions, which we’re looking for around that age group.

Ben O’Brien (Torquay)

Drever said: More of an outside ball user, he was pretty impressive for Team Hodge

Team Hodge MVP Jack McGinness. Picture: Supplied

TEAM WALSH

MVP – Tate Hobson (South Barwon)

Drever said: He’s the younger brother of Jai who has been around Coates Talent League program. A taller option who can play forward, can play back, and is competitive in the air.

Sam Gray (Leopold)

Drever said: Had an impressive showing, probably more of a halfback/wing player. An outside runner who has got a bit of zip and pace, he had a good game.

GIRLS SHOWCASE

Team Howley – 8.5.53 defeated by Team Morrison – 9.7.61

TEAM HOWLEY

MVP – Sienna Bilinski (Bell Park)

Drever said: She played in our U16s program this year despite being a year younger than everyone else on that team. She is someone that has a really exciting future. She’s a state schoolgirl player as well, so she’s had a bit on in the school holidays, but really exciting prospect that played really well across the day. She played back, mid, forward.

Stella Hanegraaf (Geelong Amateur)

Drever said: Younger sister of Charlie and Archer who are in our Coates League program at the moment. She played quite well on the inside and outside.

Emilia Evans (Portarlington)

Drever said: Another one that played well for Team Howley. Like Stella, her inside-outside flexibility impressed.

Team Howley MVP Sienna Bilinski. Picture: Supplied

TEAM MORRISON

MVP – Sienna Schmidt (Torquay)

Drever said: She’s a quick, speedy ball winner. She was very impressive.

Remi Sliwa (Torquay)

Drever said: A Cats NGA player. She’s a really strong athlete, she is an elite netballer as well. She is quite a good height, so is another one that’s quite flexible in the positions she can play, but at this stage probably more of a running halfback. She was impressive.

Winter Davies (Ocean Grove)

Drever said: Another one similar to Sienna Balinski that played in our under-16s team earlier this year, so had the opportunity to play while she was younger. She was another known player in that team. She can play a bit of forward, bit of inside mid.

Originally published as Barwon showcase 2025: Young talents who impressed in under-15 representative matches