Almost 100 south-west under 18 hopefuls hit training tracks in Warrnambool and Camperdown on Monday night as Greater Western Victoria Rebels started their 2018 selection process.

Rebels talent manager Phil Partington said respected duo Adam Dowie and Aaron Sinnott would run the Warrnambool and Hampden sections respectively with players to train two nights a week before their summer school holidays.

The Rebels also have training centres in Hamilton, Horsham and Ballarat.

“It’s to get a little bit of a base behind them before the Christmas break,” Partington said.

“(New regional coach) Marc (Greig) won’t be teaching game plans before then. We’ll leave it up to the experienced coaches down there to prepare them.”

Partington said the Rebels would have a skills day in January and begin trial matches in February.

The final squad will be announced in early March.

The Rebels’ under 16 prospects will also train over the next six weeks while their girls’ program will start on November 22.