The Hampden region, as it will be known, trained under Rebels coach David Loader at a pre-season testing session at Terang stadium.

Its list — 25 under 18s and 25 under 16s — completed a series of fitness tests as preparations for the 2015 TAC Cup season ramped up.

The Rebels’ Warrnambool-based squad, which consists of a similar number of players, will test at Brauer College next Wednesday.

Loader said North Ballarat’s new alignment, which was announced in Camperdown last month, was a positive for the club.

All Hampden and Warrnambool and District league clubs fall under the Rebels’ zone under the changes, which ended Geelong Falcons’ connection with the south-west.

“It is super exciting for us,” Loader said.

“We look forward to working with the clubs in that area and seeing what’s about.”

Hampden region players, trying out for either the Rebels’ TAC Cup competition list or their under 16s country carnival teams, did 20-metre sprints and the endurance-focused beep test at Terang.

“We’d like to think all those kids would be able to run somewhere between 12 and above (for the beep test),” Loader said.“Certainly in the 16s you’ll get some kids who run over 11.

“To be an onballer at TAC Cup level you have to run a 14-plus now.

“We had a bottom-aged boy in Ballarat run at 14.9.

“Scott Springs five or six years ago was constantly running over 15 but he was an extremely good athlete.”

Players’ speed at the five-metre mark and finish of the 20-metre sprint were recorded.

Loader said anyone who broke the three-second barrier was considered quick.

“Usually talls will be around three seconds or just over the three-second mark,” he said. 

“Certainly guys who we think have good speed, to break three seconds is a goal.

“We had a lad run a 2.87 last night in Ballarat but he is very fast.”

justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au