The Bombers pair, who would have previously been aligned to the Geelong Falcons, were among 48 teenagers handpicked for the TAC Cup club’s 2015 list which was unveiled last night.

Koroit trio Nick Hausler, Jarrod Korewha and Willem Drew — fresh from a breakout senior season which netted him a premiership medallion — South Warrnambool quartet Kyden Jarvis, Shannon Beks, Hugh McCluggage and Charlie Lee, North Warrnambool Eagles’ Zac Urquhart and Portland’s Jake Edwards were other Hampden league talents honoured with Rebels’ selection for the first time.

Korewha, Jarvis and Beks played together for Vic Country at the AFL under 16 national championships in Queensland last year.

Warrnambool’s Luke McLeod and Port Fairy recruit Liam Howarth were also invited back for second seasons at the Eureka Stadium-based club.

Another Blue, athletic utility Tom Schnerring, and Tiger midfielder Tom Templeton were among five 19-year-old listed players given another chance to impress AFL recruiters.

TAC Cup clubs can play five overage players each game under new rules.

Three other south-west players — Heywood’s Jamaine Jones and Casterton duo Angus Cleary and Todd Clode — also made the final list.

North Ballarat talent manager Phil Partington said a further 17 players from around the Rebels’ catchment area were invited to take part in a new initiative called ‘the rookie squad’.

Those players will train with the main group at times throughout the year.

Partington said the club was thrilled with the success of its first pre-season with Corangamite under its umbrella.

The Rebels ran training bases in Ballarat, Warrnambool, Camperdown, Hamilton and Horsham throughout the summer.

“It is one of the strongest, even lists we have had for quite a few years,” Partington said.

“A lot of good players haven’t made the list because of the list of the depth of the midfield.”

Partington encouraged players — those who made the squad and those who missed out — to remain aligned to their local clubs to further their development.

Meanwhile, Cobden ruckman-forward Sean Darcy will play for Geelong Falcons in 2015.

Falcons coach Andy Allthorpe said Darcy went to school at Melbourne’s Xavier College.

“He goes to school in Melbourne and his parents decided it was the best fit for him, to catch the train back to Geelong,” he said.

Allthorpe said the 2014 Vic Country under 16 representative — already an imposing 200 centimetres tall — had suffered back and hamstring tightness in the pre-season but had a lot of promise.

“He still moves really well, that’s the impressive thing about him,” he said.

“He’ll be an exciting player in 12 months’ time.”

TAC Cup will run its testing day in Melbourne on March 7. The Rebels and Falcons meet in a season-opener showdown at Kardinia Park on March 29.