Our sports reporters Justine McCullagh-Beasy, Nick Ansell and Sean Hardeman are eager to talk sport via The Commentary Box.

JUSTINE: The south-west had two mates, Brody Couch and Tommy Jackson, join the Victorian Bushrangers as rookies last week. It's an incredible achievement for a country region to have one, let alone two, cricketers taken in one intake. What impact do you think they can have this summer?

SEAN: I hope we get to see both of them at some stage and when they do get that chance I feel they will slot right into the side. Tommy is a great batsman and will only get better as he becomes comfortable in the team. His recent showings with Geelong were impressive and he would have got some handy advice from a former first-class cricketer and south-west export Tim Ludeman over the time so he will not feel out of place in the Bushrangers side. He also has the likes of Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell to watch and learn from and they are two of Australia's most respected batsmen. As for Brody, he has had a taste of bowling against some top batters with a net session last year and experience in a Victorian Second XI match. His pace, bowling skills and confidence will be boosted being in the Victorian system alongside Australian aces James Pattinson and veteran Scott Boland.

NICK: Was rapt to see both of the boys get a crack at first-class cricket. Speaking to Tim Ludeman this week, he was delighted for them both as well as their former coach at Geelong. He said once you crack the system, the hard work really starts and I have no doubt both guys will be ready to make an impact. It sounds like both lads will head back to Geelong as there is no Futures League this season and ply their trade at Victorian Premier Cricket level in the hope of securing a state berth. But it certainly bodes well for cricket as a whole in this region. I remember playing against Brody in a division three match about five years ago and man, did he look the real deal. He blasted 122 not out and as a wicket-keeper back then, I had a pretty good seat to watch the innings. We just couldn't get him out. Shows he can bat as well as bowl a bit of heat.

Listen to this week's The Main Break podcast with Jackson Merrett:

JUSTINE: How did you go in that match Nick? Did you think back then he was capable of rising to the heights he has?

NICK: Looking at the scorecard the other day, I think I made about 15. Probably the third-highest score of my career which says a lot about my non-existent cricket ability. I always knew he had a hell of a lot of ability but kids at that age can go one of two ways. They either excel and rise to that next level or fade away. I think it shows Brody's attitude is first-class and his work rate is right up there too. He seems to have just come on leaps and bounds again under Tim Ludeman and Matt Gunther at Geelong in recent years. Wouldn't be surprised if he and Tommy become 15-year prospects for Victoria and beyond because they just live and breathe cricket.

SEAN: I feel that sort of attitude is what makes the best cricketers. You just have to look at Australia's top two batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. They are both cricket fanatics and do nothing else but talk about it and practice it. Tommy and Brody could be in the very early stages of that addiction and once they get exposed to the higher levels it may get more and more addictive for them. I'm sure if we asked them about them playing the backyard as kids they would have been imagining themselves wearing a baggy green on the international stage and that will be what spurs them on now. Hopefully we are seeing the south-west's next two Australian cricket stars emerging before our very eyes.

JUSTINE: There are so few spots available to be part of cricket's elite. It differs from AFL in that way as it boasts more than 800 players across the competition. Making a state cricket side is no mean feat and they've done that at a young age - Tommy is 19 and Brody 20. The next step - earning a first-class debut - will be tough but they both have the mental strength and maturity to do so.

NICK: They're both good people as well, so as a Warrnamboolian, you're wanting to see them have success. They're certainly in the right spot for it and will only improve from here. Good luck to them both!