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MYRTLEFORD year six student Sam Lupo has been selected in the u12 School Sport Victoria Australian rules team.
Lupo played at the Victorian showcase trials last Friday in Melbourne and impressed selectors on his way to being selected in traditionally the country’s best Australian rules state side.
The 12-year-old will play at the national championships at the Lavington Sportsground from August 5 to August 11 where he’ll play against the country’s best for his age group.
Lupo said he's excited to represent the 'Big V'.
"I feel very excited to be selected in the state team because this is a great opportunity for me to play high level footy against boys all over Australia.," Lupo said.
"It's an honour to be chosen to represent Victoria.
"I had only known about the tryouts since the first day of school this year at my old school when my PE teacher told me about it so I've been wanting to make the team ever since then."
The Myrtleford junior admitted it was a nervous wait to find out if he'd been selected.
"I found the tryouts fun but challenging because there were a lot of good footballers and it was always nerve racking at the end of each trial waiting for the selectors to call my name out to see if I had progressed," he said.
"I was really hoping I would make the team, I thought I'd been fairly competitive throughout the trials."
The Victorian team will have their first training session this Sunday and will then get together every week in July in the lead up to nationals.
The star plays midfield for Myrtleford but will be more than happy to play wherever the Victorian team needs him.
"My favourite position is midfield, on ball," Lupo said.
"My strengths are rucking, marking, kicking to a teammate and tackling.
"I will play anywhere on the field to help my team.
"My goal is to play my absolute hardest to help my team win the national championships."
It's been a busy few weeks for the budding sports star with Lupo also taking part in School Sport Victoria's basketball trials as well.
Lupo said he can't pick between the two sports.
"At this stage I love them both but when I'm older I will have to make a decision on which one I play," he said.
"Playing both keeps me very busy at the moment."





