THE Victorian Country Football League's best young footballers are out to prove the country really does do it better than the city.

Article first appeared: 14 July 2007   Herald Sun

The VCFL under-19 side will play the Victorian Amateur Football Association at Ballarat's Eastern Oval in a curtain-raiser to the VCFL and VAFA senior match tomorrow.

The inaugural hit-out between the two sides will also aim to entice AFL recruiters to take a second glance at footballers overlooked in the draft or TAC Cup.

VCFL under-19 co-coach and former VCFL representative Shane Garner said the game was another pathway into the AFL.

"What bigger opportunity is there to look at both country and amateur players on show?" Garner said.

Garner will be joined by Hawthorn great Peter Knights as coach.

This year's VCFL team is predominantly made up of players from the 2006 VCFL East versus West under-18 challenge.

"VCFL under-19 selection is the next step up from the previous year's East and West game," Knights said.

"It has been a difficult process to pick the side, with the standard quite high. A lot of decisions are gauged on the boys' performance playing senior footy in their own leagues."

Knights and Morris are wary of the VAFA squad, which has already had a match against the Queensland under-21 side and is coached by former Richmond player Justin Pickering.

VCFL players to watch include second-time under-19 representative and captain Jarrod Skinner, from Leopold FC, and vice-captain Nick Scanlon, from Narre Warren.

Ruckman Daniel Weymouth, who represented West last year, will also be an influence, along with rover Joel Soutar, a former East player.