Sport
21 August, 2025
Bloods step up with Rebels
TERANG Mortlake under 18 footballers Tayla Bell and Indi Cameron both made their debut for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the under 18 Coates Talent League competition on Sunday.
Playing against the Dandenong Stingrays at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, the Rebels were defeated 8.10.58 to 4.4.28.
Bell noticed the difference in standard from the Western Victoria Female Football League under 18 competition.
“It was a big step up, especially as a bottom ager, the skills were a lot better.
“Dandenong was a very strong team.”
Bell, in her third year of football, started training with the Rebels “about halfway through the season.”
Playing as a forward, Bell had a handful of possessions and was happy to lay a few tackles.
The Mercy College student has a busy sporting schedule, training with the Rebels in Ballarat on a Wednesday night as well as representing Terang Mortlake’s under 17 netball team.
Bell first played football for the school, adding that despite her love of netball, footy was her favourite sport.
For Cameron, her rise through the ranks has come rapidly.
Sunday was just her seventh game of football.
“It was a bit of a surprise, I’d only been to a couple of trainings,” she said.
Cameron also played as a forward for the Rebels and noticed the step up.
“The pace of the game was a lot different to playing for Terang Mortlake, Dandenong was really fast.”
The talented netballer, who plays in Camperdown’s Open and under 17 teams, is enjoying her new sport.
“Terang Mortlake’s under 18 girls coach Kelvin Bell had been at me for a while to play, I’ve really enjoyed it.”
With one game left in the season for the Rebels, Cameron is hopeful of getting another start.
“If I get to play the next round I feel I’ll be better prepared and know what to expect.”