The V/Line Cup is coming to town, bringing with it 22 teams (14 boys and eight girls teams) full to the brim with elite talent and some of the top regional umpires.
The four-day carnival of football — from Monday to Thursday next week — will have matches hosted at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, Deakin Reserve and Princess Park and AFL Goulburn Murray region general manager Jamie Macri is excited to welcome a competition which he is extremely passionate about to the area.
"I was lucky enough to be a V/Line Cup coach for 15 years and have been involved in the program as an AFL worker for six years now ... and I love it," Macri said.
"I'm really proud that we've got it in Shepparton and I'm just really looking forward to showcasing Shepparton, because we've got so many great facilities here and it's such a great place to host it.
"It's really good for the whole region, the economic impact and being the school holidays it enhances that, so it's really great."
AFL GM will field three sides in the competition, which has proved time and again to be the launching pad for many professional careers over the journey.
"History shows that this is really that first step in that pathway, there's so many kids that have gone on from playing V/Line Cup to play at the highest level, so it's exciting to see who might come through from this lot," AFL GM football development manager Trevor Mellington said.
"From us we've got a division one and a division two boys team and our girls' team as well.
"The added bonus of having it locally here in Shepp for the first time (is that) so many of our aspiring footballers can come along and have a look.
"It's school holidays, they're probably looking for something to do and there's going to be such high quality football going on at our premier facilities across the region."
V/Line is in its 16th year as official naming rights partner and City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O'Keeffe acknowledged the organisation's support.
"We're very fortunate to have such great sponsorship support across our region," she said.
"It takes more than just one organisation, it takes many, and we are very supported in the region in that space, so we're very grateful for the support of V/Line and La Trobe (University) is on board as well.
"Hosting this event is a massive coup and continues our region's tradition of hosting high profile AFL events with our partners AFL Victoria and AFL Goulburn Murray.
"It also provides a great opportunity for our local clubs to be involved with some of the key aspects of the event such as catering, bringing funds to their clubs, which ultimately could be utilised to be invested back into upgrades and development within our community.
"We welcome all the junior athletes, their families, friends and supporters to our region and wish them all the best throughout the competition.
"We're very excited, there's going to be some fantastic talent on show over the four days."
Head of AFL Victoria Rick Bell is excited for the carnival to come around once more.
"The V/Line Cup provides the next generation of aspiring footballers an opportunity to learn, develop and showcase their incredible talent against peers from across the state," Bell said.
"For many competing at the championships, the V/Line Cup will be a stepping stone to the Under-18 NAB League competitions.
"The V/Line Cup also provides an important development pathway for young umpires, with umpires selected from the V/Line Umpiring Academy."
V/Line chief executive James Pinder was also full of praise for the event.
"We’re excited to be holding this year’s V/Line Cup event in Shepparton after four successful years in the Latrobe Valley region," he said.
"The V/Line Cup not only provides young players with a pathway to the AFL, but teaches them leadership and teamwork to make them great ambassadors for their community.
"At V/Line we’re all about being involved in the communities we serve and sponsoring the V/Line Cup is just another extension of that."