The 2025 School Sports Victoria list has been announced, with a raft of district athletes glittered among the best young talents ready to rip and tear at the School Sport Australia Championships in 2025.
Kyabram bowls prodigy Jacob Cartwright has been named in the 18-and-under bowls side with Echuca’s Gracie Retallick listed as an emergency.
Goulburn Valley Grammar School pair Ryder Telford and Madison Heywood are poised to make waves in the pool, selected in the respective 10-12 and 13-19-year-old swimming squads.
Shepparton tennis wiz Thomas Ranson, though now attending Caulfield Grammar, has made the grade for the 18-and-under tennis team, while Echuca United’s Harper Delamare is among a 25-strong 15-and-under girls footy side.
Last, but certainly not least, is Eamon Hyde.
The 15-year-old student attending St Mary of the Angels Secondary College at Nathalia has been selected to compete in the boys’ footy team, slotted to go up against the best in the code in July.
A dynamic presence on-field for Cobram across half-forward, half-back and midfield, Hyde said he was a bit surprised to be picked for the representative team.
“I was a bit surprised that I got picked because I didn’t play the greatest in the first two trials. But then I played not too bad in the last trial and put my best foot forward,” Hyde said.
It’s not the first time the 187cm tall talent has entered the SSV ranks, with a taste of the action in 2022 as part of Victoria’s under-12 side.
“It was pretty cool. It’s a different experience playing against all the best players in the country. And playing five games in a week is a bit difficult, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” he said.
Looking ahead, Hyde has his eyes on making his way into contention for a spot in the AFL ranks one day for either his favoured Richmond or Collingwood.
In the meantime, he has his jumper presentation and a three-day camp in Melbourne in the first week of the upcoming school holidays to look forward to.
Hyde will then join his teammates to compete against squads from across Australia at the School Sport Australia Championships in Brisbane in July.
Last year, Hyde tied for Murray Football League’s under-14 best-and-fairest and was also the league’s leading goal-kicker with 80 goals from 22 games.
