Six of the Pioneers' 2021 list - Sam Conforti, Jack Hickman, Cobi Maxted, Xavier Mitchell, Ryan O'Keefe and Caleb Ernst - and former club ruckman Aaron Gundry (now Carlton VFL) have been selected to play for Victoria Country against Victoria Metro in Saturday's Young Guns under-23 game at Werribee.

Jack Evans would have made it eight Pioneers players in the match, but he suffered a broken hand playing for Essendon's VFL side last week and underwent surgery on Thursday.

"AFL recruiters got together with the AFL talent (department) and sent out the names that they'd like to see play in the Young Guns game,'' Pioneers' coach Danny O'Bree said.

"The players selected the most were given priority. It's a good reward for a lot of our kids that have prepared themselves the best possible way this year and then played some good footy.

"History shows that the Young Guns game has led to a number of players being selected in the AFL mid-season draft. It's exciting our players get this sort of opportunity.

"Obviously, there's no promises, but it shows these players are some of the best 19-23-year-olds in Victoria."

In-form midfielder Conforti will co-captain the Victoria Country side.

In further positive news for the Pioneers' program, Cooper Smith and Nathan Kay will play for North Melbourne against Southport in the VFL this weekend and Jemma Finning will make her VFLW debut for Essendon.

Smith was an emergency for the Victoria Country squad for the Young Guns game.

"It's fantastic to see more of our players getting an opportunity at the next level,'' O'Bree said.

"They've worked hard and I'm sure they'll do themselves proud."

VIC COUNTRY SQUAD TO PLAY VIC METRO

No., Player, Age, Height, Weight, NAB League/VFL Club

1. Sam Conforti, 19, 173cm, 74kg, Bendigo Pioneers

2. Charlie Ham, 18, 180cm, 74kg, Geelong Falcons

3. Kobi George, 19, 182cm, 74kg, Dandenong Stingrays

4. Jack Hickman, 19, 177cm, 71kg, Bendigo Pioneers

5. Patrick Parnell, 19, 178cm, 60kg, Murray Bushrangers

6. Clayton Gay, 19, 183cm, 77kg, Dandenong Stingrays

7. Will Bravo, 19, 181cm, 77kg, Dandenong Stingrays

8. Marcous Herbert, 18, 181cm, 81kg, GWV Rebels

9. Flynn Young, 19, 181cm, 69kg, Geelong Falcons

10. Isaac Wareham, 19, 183cm, 81kg, Geelong VFL

11. Will Papley, 18, 178cm, 78kg, Gippsland Power

12. Noah Gribble, 18, 180cm, 79kg, Geelong Falcons

14. Charlie Byrne, 18, 184cm, 79kg, Murray Bushrangers

15. Sam Durham, 19, 190cm, 82kg, Richmond VFL

16. Cobi Maxted, 18, 188cm, 88kg, Bendigo Pioneers

17. Bryce Milford, 18, 195cm, 82kg, Dandenong Stingrays

18. Xavier Mitchell, 18, 191cm, 78kg, Bendigo Pioneers

19. Daniel Turner, 19, 191cm, 79kg, Murray Bushrangers

20. Ryan O'Keefe, 19, 192cm, 69kg, Bendigo Pioneers

22. Caleb Ernst, 18, 194cm, 91kg, Bendigo Pioneers

23. Mutaz El Nour, 19, 192cm, 83kg, Northern Bullants VFL

24. Cameron McLeod, 18, 192cm, 78kg, Murray Bushrangers

25. Jai Neal, 18, 192cm, 88kg, Dandenong Stingrays

27. Mason Hawkins, 19, 198cm, 82kg, Gippsland Power

28. Aaron Gundry, 20, 201cm, 91kg, Carlton VFL

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