1st June 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
A total of 194 of Victoria’s most promising young basketballers have been selected for the 2026 Country Metro Challenge (CMC), an important milestone within Basketball Victoria’s Performance Pathways program.
Set to be held at Red Energy Stadium in Bendigo on Saturday 28 and Monday 30 June, the annual Country Metro Challenge provides athletes from Basketball Victoria’s Future Development Program (FDP) with the opportunity to compete alongside and against some of the state’s best emerging talent in a high-performance environment.
This year’s Challenge will bring together 72 country athletes and 122 metro athletes, with boys and girls representing more than 50 associations from across Victoria.
The Country Metro Challenge is an important part of Basketball Victoria’s player development pathway, providing athletes with the opportunity to test themselves against quality opposition, learn from experienced coaches and continue building the skills required for the next stage of their basketball journey.
Basketball Victoria General Manager Pathways, Dom Linossier, said the Country Metro Challenge is one of the highlights of the pathway calendar.
"The Country Metro Challenge is always an exciting event. CMC provides athletes with the opportunity to translate their learnings from their initial High Performance Program blocks to game play,” Linossier said.
"For our athletes, it's about much more than what happens on the scoreboard. It's about learning, challenging themselves, building confidence and taking another step forward in their basketball journey.
"We're incredibly fortunate in Victoria to have such strong associations, coaches, volunteers and families supporting player development right across the state. To have athletes from more than 50 associations represented at this year's Challenge speaks to the depth and breadth of talent we have coming through our pathway.
"Selection is something athletes should be really proud of. It's recognition of the hard work, commitment and dedication they've shown, and we're excited to see them embrace the opportunity and make the most of the experience."
The Future Development Program is the first stage of Basketball Victoria’s performance pathway and is designed to identify and support athletes with the potential to progress through the State Development Program (SDP), State Performance Program (SPP) and National Performance Program (NPP).
For many athletes, the Country Metro Challenge represents their first experience within Basketball Victoria’s performance pathway environment and an opportunity to continue developing alongside some of the state’s most talented young players.
Beyond the on-court experience, the event provides athletes with valuable opportunities to learn, connect and gain a deeper understanding of what is required to progress through the high-performance pathway.
Basketball Victoria congratulates all successful athletes on their selection and thanks the coaches, associations and families who continue to support their development. We look forward to seeing the next generation of Victorian talent take the court in Bendigo later this month.
View the full list of selected athletes below.
Country Athletes:
|
Association |
Gender |
First Name |
Last Name |
|
Altona Gators |
Male |
Jenul Methsuka |
Akurugoda Gamage |
|
Ballarat Miners |
Female |
Poppy |
Byrne |
|
Ballarat Miners |
Female |
Avery |
Edwards |
|
Ballarat Miners |
Female |
Ruby |
Hood |
|
Ballarat Miners |
Female |
Poppy |
Molloy |
|
Ballarat Miners |
Male |
Patrick |
Ashby |
|
Ballarat Miners |
Male |
Kobe |
Keem |
|
Bellarine Storm |
Male |
Raff |
Taylor |
|
Bendigo Braves |
Female |
Darcy |
Rodda |
|
Bendigo Braves |
Male |
Kade |
Cochrane |
|
Bendigo Braves |
Male |
Samuel |
Davie |
|
Bendigo Braves |
Male |
Benji |
Herdman |
|
Craigieburn Eagles |
Male |
Blake |
Francis |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Female |
Lillie |
Blacka |
|
Diamond Valley Eagles |
Male |
Fungai Jr |
Chinagana |
|
Diamond Valley Eagles |
Male |
Mack |
Thomas |
|
Echuca Moama Pirates |
Male |
Albie |
Brewis |
|
Foster Breakers |
Female |
Harriet |
White |
|
Frankston Blues |
Female |
Hannah |
Weston |
|
Geelong United |
Female |
Mia |
Rundle |
|
Geelong United |
Male |
William |
Bentley-Remes |
|
Geelong United |
Male |
Jude |
Ellis |
|
Geelong United |
Male |
James |
Kent |
|
Geelong United |
Male |
Lindsey |
Mugaba |
|
Geelong United |
Male |
Edward |
Waller |
|
Hamilton Hurricanes |
Male |
Connor |
Crawford |
|
Horsham Hornets |
Female |
Greta |
Smith |
|
Horsham Hornets |
Male |
Tex |
Askew |
|
Keilor Thunder |
Male |
Chigai |
Jieny |
|
Keilor Thunder |
Male |
Abishai |
Lue |
|
Kilysth Cobras |
Male |
Brody |
Featherstone |
|
Maffra Eagles |
Female |
Lexi |
Avery |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Myla |
Triantafilou |
|
Melton Thoroughbreds |
Female |
Aluel |
Acuoth |
|
Mildura Heat |
Female |
Evie |
Tucker |
|
Mornington Breakers |
Male |
Ash |
Sayer |
|
Mornington Breakers |
Male |
Leighton |
Winton |
|
Nile Warriors |
Female |
Aruei |
Kuereng |
|
Pakenham Warriors |
Male |
Tyler |
Wilson |
|
Pakenham Warriors |
Male |
Santo |
Wilson |
|
Shepparton Gators |
Female |
Stephanie |
Manning |
|
Shepparton Gators |
Female |
Ayak |
Riak |
|
Shepparton Gators |
Male |
Joseph |
Faamoe |
|
Southern Peninsula Sharks |
Female |
Iyla |
Wilde |
|
Southern Peninsula Sharks |
Male |
Jacob |
Brown |
|
Southern Peninsula Sharks |
Male |
Blake |
Hill |
|
Sunbury Jets |
Female |
Marley |
Law |
|
Sunbury Jets |
Male |
Cameron |
Oliver |
|
Sunbury Jets |
Male |
Fletcher |
Rush |
|
Swan Hill Flyers |
Female |
Mia |
Hirst |
|
Swan Hill Flyers |
Female |
Rubi |
Kelly |
|
Swan Hill Flyers |
Female |
Ivy |
Patterson |
|
Swan Hill Flyers |
Male |
Jack |
Grayling |
|
Swan Hill Flyers |
Male |
Lucas |
Pay |
|
Traralgon T-Birds |
Female |
Vienna |
Moss |
|
Traralgon T-Birds |
Female |
Jada |
Weaver |
|
Traralgon T-Birds |
Female |
Portia |
Weaver |
|
Traralgon T-Birds |
Male |
Angus |
Reid |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Female |
Arabella |
Eriya |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Female |
Savannah |
Shields |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Female |
Savannah |
Stubbs |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Male |
Luangkuoth |
Diu |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Male |
Barnaby |
Eriya |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Male |
Coby |
Jensen |
|
Warragul Warriors |
Male |
Eamon |
Macpherson |
|
Warrnambool Mermaids |
Female |
Sophie |
Byrne |
|
Warrnambool Mermaids |
Female |
Gretta |
Heggie |
|
Warrnambool Mermaids |
Female |
Adele |
Pinkerton |
|
Warrnambool Mermaids |
Female |
Nina |
Roll |
|
Wodonga Wolves |
Male |
Brady |
Martyn |
|
Wodonga Wolves |
Male |
Ryder |
Meldrum |
|
Wodonga Wolves |
Male |
Xavier |
Van schaik |
Metro Athletes:
|
Association |
Gender |
First Name |
Last Name |
|
Altona Gators |
Female |
Savannah |
Coppola |
|
Altona Gators |
Male |
Hesith |
Kalatuwage |
|
Broadmeadows Broncos |
Male |
Julian |
siladi |
|
Broadmeadows Broncos |
Male |
Bryce |
Young |
|
Bulleen Boomers |
Female |
Isla |
McMahon |
|
Bulleen Boomers |
Male |
Oliver |
LIM |
|
Bulleen Boomers |
Male |
Ronak |
Sandhu |
|
Camberwell Dragons |
Female |
Rose |
Burgess |
|
Camberwell Dragons |
Female |
Lana |
Jovanovic |
|
Camberwell Dragons |
Female |
Olivia |
Maiolo |
|
Camberwell Dragons |
Female |
Gracie |
Otter |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Zara |
Guthrie |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Gypsy |
Joksimovic |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Elise |
Ross |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Chance-I |
Scott |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Blaise |
Squires |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Analine |
Suli |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Destiny |
Windsor |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Male |
Liam |
Martin |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Male |
Cooper |
Redman |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Male |
Brody |
Stewart |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Female |
Bella |
Aiono |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Male |
Eli |
Chaponda |
|
Casey Cavaliers |
Male |
Aiden |
Ferguson |
|
Coburg Giants |
Male |
Jonas |
Neergaard |
|
Collingwood All Stars |
Male |
Paletuatoa (Pale) |
Toelupe |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Female |
Jasmin |
Kindler |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Female |
Zali |
White |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Kobe |
Constance |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Toby |
Hilton |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Spencer |
Lim |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Koby |
Lynch |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Carter |
Rivet |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Zayne |
Savannah |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Female |
Eleni |
Karag |
|
Dandenong Rangers |
Male |
Nathan |
Veuy |
|
Darebin Phoenix |
Female |
Helena |
Aspridis |
|
Darebin Phoenix |
Female |
Violet |
Elliott-Steele |
|
Darebin Phoenix |
Male |
Alex |
Kittler |
|
Diamond Valley Eagles |
Female |
Tahli |
Douglas |
|
Diamond Valley Eagles |
Female |
Charli |
Smith |
|
Diamond Valley Eagles |
Female |
Indigo |
Trentin |
|
Eltham Wildcats |
Female |
Alanna |
Chipchase |
|
Eltham Wildcats |
Female |
Zoe |
Lewis |
|
Eltham Wildcats |
Male |
Samuel |
Thickins |
|
Eltham Wildcats |
Male |
Caleb |
Brook |
|
Frankston Blues |
Female |
Grace |
McClelland |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Jak |
Bryant |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Jayden |
Duku |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Anton |
Hanigan |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Braxton |
Harris |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Brody |
Hughes |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Santino |
Muot |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Dittek |
Deng |
|
Frankston Blues |
Male |
Riek |
Muot |
|
Hawthorn Magic |
Female |
Chloe |
McGilton |
|
Keilor Thunder |
Female |
Juliana |
Smith |
|
Keilor Thunder |
Female |
Scarlett |
Peverill |
|
Keilor Thunder |
Male |
Sean |
Dela Cruz |
|
Keilor Thunder |
Male |
Zealand |
Maniapoto |
|
Kilsyth Cobras |
Female |
Scarlett |
Feagan |
|
Kilsyth Cobras |
Female |
Chloe |
Liu |
|
Kilsyth Cobras |
Male |
Angus |
Colson |
|
Kilsyth Cobras |
Male |
Oscar |
Coyne |
|
Kilsyth Cobras |
Male |
Thomas |
McKie |
|
Kilsyth Cobras |
Male |
Arlo |
Trigwell |
|
Knox Raiders |
Female |
Samia (Sam) |
Dell'Aquila |
|
Knox Raiders |
Female |
Diamond |
Gulic |
|
Knox Raiders |
Female |
Pippa |
Lamaro |
|
Knox Raiders |
Male |
Noah |
Cripps |
|
Knox Raiders |
Male |
Charlie |
Santamaria |
|
Knox Raiders |
Male |
Thomas (Tom) |
Van Der Schoot |
|
Knox Raiders |
Female |
Gracie |
Leonard |
|
Knox Raiders |
Female |
Lulu |
Scott |
|
Knox Raiders |
Male |
Jude |
Peace |
|
Knox Raiders |
Male |
Tenzin |
Wolokh |
|
McKinnon Cougars |
Female |
Lucinda (Lulu) |
Miller |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Mia |
Hedberg |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Harper |
Jozsa |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Heidi |
Magnanini |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Emily |
Oliver |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Kiara |
Sikivou |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Violet |
Wellings |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Male |
Maximus (Max) |
Kelada |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Evie |
Anderson |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Collette |
Cuberes |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Female |
Cleo |
D'andrea |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Male |
Flynn |
Ross |
|
Melbourne Tigers |
Male |
Matthew |
Su |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Female |
Miley |
Burnette |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Female |
Harper |
Gibbs |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Female |
Adele |
Staios |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Female |
Indi |
Turner |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Female |
Olive |
Welsh |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Male |
Luca |
Arcobelli |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Male |
Jensen |
Lan |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Female |
Claire |
Nguyen |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Male |
Ashton |
Arnott |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Male |
Owen |
Roberts |
|
Nunawading Spectres |
Male |
Bailey |
Rowell |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Female |
Frankie |
O'Shea |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Female |
Elizabeth (Lily) |
Sallabank |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Female |
Maya |
Saville Crowe |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Female |
Audrey |
Shannon |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Female |
Imogen |
Thomson |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Male |
Aston |
Carter |
|
Sandringham Sabres |
Male |
Lenny |
Ryan |
|
Waverley Falcons |
Female |
Emily |
Bukin |
|
Waverley Falcons |
Male |
Wesley (Wes) |
Collins |
|
Waverley Falcons |
Male |
Xavier |
Sama |
|
Westgate Imperials |
Female |
Sophie |
Ezzy |
|
Westgate Imperials |
Male |
Sebastian |
Portelli |
|
Westgate Imperials |
Male |
Kai |
Porto |
|
Westgate Imperials |
Male |
Angus |
Retallick |
|
Whittlesea Pacers |
Male |
Ganeev Singh |
Gill |
|
Whittlesea Pacers |
Male |
Nate |
Sedlock |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Female |
Uche (Emma) |
Essumei |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Female |
Anok |
Noi |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Female |
Aleeah |
Yeoell |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Male |
Elric (Keith) |
Acoba |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Male |
Jackson |
Koningen |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Male |
Philip |
Majak |
|
Wyndham Basketball |
Male |
Yak |
Yak |
-Ends-
