AFL Football will once again get off to a great start on the North Coast with elite under-18 years players trialling for a place in the NSW/ACT Rams state team during the Joss State Zone Trials in Coffs Harbour from January 19-21.

The trials see the best players from the seven talented player regions around NSW play the three-day carnival at BCU International Stadium.

Trials for the Northern Heat team, which includes players from the North Coast, Mid North Coast, Hunter and Central Coast, were held at Lake Macquarie on Sunday.

Coffs Coast players selected in the team included Sawtell/Toormina’s Jack Gillingham and Simon Taylor, who played in the team as bottom-aged players in 2009.

They have been joined by Sawtell teammate Elliot Schmidt in the 2010 side.

North Coffs' Jack Campbell has made the team as a bottom-aged player, as has Inverell’s Mick Corcoran.

The final two players form Northern NSW to make the team are basketball convert Harrison Dixon from Port Macquarie and new arrival from Launceston, Blayne West.

North Coast will also be represented on the sidelines this year.

Mark Heaney, AFL NSW/ACT regional manager, will coach the Northern Heat and Port Macquarie’s Scott Abercrombie will be one of the assistant coaches.

The squad begins its training program with a five-hour session at Newcastle University this Sunday.