IT was an exciting weekend for two of Sunraysia's brightest young footballers, who both laced up with the Bendigo Pioneers for the first time.

Werrimull's Shanika Kirby-Wilson and former Mildura player Aiden Avery were both in Ballarat on Sunday for their respective team's matchups against the Greater Western Victorian Rebels.

Avery, 18, recounted his first outing, which was a nail biter.

"Gett...