Sport

Young Pigeons earn Vic honours

By Jared Loughnan

Jul 8, 2026

Yarrawonga juniors Charlie Bourke and Jack Hawking will represent Victoria at the School Sport Australia National Championships in late July and early August.

Two Yarrawonga Football Netball Club junior players have been selected to represent Victoria at the School Sport Australia National Championships.

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Charlie Bourke has been named in the School Sport Victoria Under 14 football final squad, while Jack Hawking has been selected in the Under 12 final squad.

The pair were among hundreds of footballers from across Victoria who trialled for selection in the representative squads, each comprising about 25 players.

Having two players from a regional town such as Yarrawonga selected is an outstanding achievement and strong recognition of the club’s junior football program.

Charlie, the son of Sonja and Justin Bourke, already stands at 187cm and is a real presence on the field, predominantly playing in the ruck.

Yarrawonga Under 14s coach Matt Wollington said Charlie was a “great kid” who worked hard at his football.

“He is a born leader, a big-bodied ruckman, but also plays like a midfielder,” Matt said.

“You could compare him to Luke Jackson from Fremantle.”

Charlie said he liked to model parts of his game on Geelong star Jeremy Cameron and Essendon forward Nate Caddy.

“I like to move around the ground a lot and play half-forward, but also run deep into the forward line,” Charlie said.

“But, like Jezza, I also like getting out on the farm and enjoying the outdoors.”

Jack, the son of Maree and Shaun Hawking, stands at 156cm and is a bottom-age player in his squad at age 11.

He prefers the forward line and loves the way Nick Daicos goes about his craft, along with Hawthorn small forward Nick “the Wizard” Watson.

“I love the way the Wizard plays and kicks his goals,” Jack said.

Jack’s Under 12s junior coach Dean Bigger said he was a “super talented” player who could play at either end of the ground and through the midfield.

“He is a terrific kid who is going places,” Dean said.

Charlie will represent Victoria at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Melbourne from July 25 to 31, while Jack will travel to Canberra to compete with the Under 12 team from August 2 to 9.

Charlie and other local junior footballers represented the Albury Wodonga Junior Football League interleague teams in Wangaratta last Sunday.