The future of Loddon Mallee goalkeeping is in safe hands with the Lewin brothers from Swan Hill. Chris, 16, Ben, 14 and Anthony, 12 were all selected as keepers in the 2011/12 Loddon Mallee representative sides competing in the Victorian Champions League.

Chris, who is competing in his fourth VCL season, was the first of the three to don the gloves before Ben and Anthony followed in his footsteps.

“They are all just copying me I reckon,” joked Chris.

“We practice together in the backyard a fair bit and I try to help them where I can.”

Ben is no slouch himself, having kept for five years, including two VCL campaigns, and says that there is no better position than between the posts.

“You get to see the game from a different angle and really take it in,” he said.

Anthony, who is playing his first VCL season, says that he is enjoying the elite program.

“You learn a lot more about the game, the coaching is great,” he said.

“There is more skill needed, you can get the ball out faster along the ground and it’s more about keeping possession.

The boys’ father Trevor said that the boys are a tight knit group and have fun goalkeeping together.

“The trampoline in the backyard cops a fair pounding,” he joked.

“It’s up to the kids as to where and how they want to play, and for some reason, they all want to be keepers.”

And as for who is the best keeper, all three brothers agree that it’s Chris with no arguments, though Ben and Anthony did say that that was just for the moment.

All three will be keen to get back on the park when the VCL kicks off again after the Christmas break on 22 January.