Forty-nine boys and 24 youth girls will represent the Bendigo Pioneers in the 2016 V/Line Cup under-15 competition, starting today in Gippsland.

The Pioneers will field both division one and two boys teams, with players drawn from the AFL Central Victoria, Central Murray, Goulburn-Murray and Sunraysia regions.

The boys teams will open their campaign today  against Geelong Falcons at the Morwell Football Ground before a Thursday encounter against Goulburn Murray.

AFL Central Victoria development manager Rick Coburn said the team boasted a good representation of indigenous and multicultural players and would acquit themselves well given the circumstances.

"It's a challenge because the players come from so far apart," he said.

"We have a really good process where we get the boys together in their own regional academies, than they play a carnival up in Mildura in June over three days.

"That's the main selection carnival and then they come to Bendigo to do a training camp, which is sponsored by La Trobe Uni who do some testing, and then there's another trial game which limits the boys down to their squad of 49.

"Then they come back for two training days. We'd like to get them together more to train, but it's not a realistic thing.

"But we think our preparation is as good as it can be."

The Pioneers are being coached by five-time former Golden Square premiership star Mark Lloyd.

Coburn said Lloyd, who played in a Central Murray league premiership with Kerang this year, represented te region well.

"He's also played in the North Central league (with Wedderburn) which is part of our region, so he covers our region well," he said.

"He also brings a good level of experience to the role."

The V/Line Cup will for the first time include the youth girls division, formerly known as the Youth Girls Shield.

Bendigo will face Goulburn-Murray today, ahead of Wednesday's clash against the Ballarat Rebels.