MURRAY Bushrangers will blood four first-gamers in their clash with Geelong Falcons at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
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North Albury’s Doulton Langlands, Wangaratta’s Nick Richards, Wodonga Raiders tall Flloyd Bollinghaus and Euroa’s Jack McKernan have been called up.
Langlands and the 196cm Bollinghaus were strong in practice matches, while McKernan will slot into a key defensive post and Richards played well for Wangaratta in their first grade win over Wodonga Raiders on Good Friday.
Billy Cooper (Shepparton East) and Lachlan Waite (Seymour) have also come into the side.
They have taken the places of Will Brodie, Jy Simpkin and Zach Sproule (AFL academy), Chris Welsh (concussion), James Cousins (ankle) and Harry Morrison (ankle).
“We’re really excited to be playing another four first-gamers,” Bushrangers coach Leon Higgins said.
”Doulton Langlands, Nick Richards, Jack McKernan and Floyd Bollinghaus have all earned their spots and now get their opportunity.”
Brodie, Jy Simpkin and Zach Sproule will go into a two-week camp which involves playing matches against VFL sides.
Higgins expects Geelong to provide stern resistance in the annual country round.
“The Falcons are a well-drilled outfit,” Higgins said.
“They work hard both ways and will no doubt apply enormous pressure.
“We are confident that our young squad will be up for the challenge.
“Geelong probably isn’t as big as they have been in previous years.
“They have a few more smaller players this season.”
In the other country matches, Bendigo play Gippsland at 10.30am and North Ballarat Rebels meet Dandenong Stingrays at 1pm.
The Murray Bushrangers then take on Geelong at 3.30pm.
Higgins already has a sizeable injury list with Trent McMullan (knee), Billy Robertson, (foot), Esava Ratugolea (knee), Fletcher Carroll (quad), Isiah Jones (ankle), Cousins (ankle), Welsh (concussion), Morrison (ankle) and Alex Paech (shoulder) sidelined for between one and six weeks.
The Bushrangers team is:
B: Hemphill, McKernan, Nihil
HB: Williamson, Garthwaite, Donaghey
C: Spargo, Wallace, Page
HF: McKeown, Boyd, Paton
F: Richards, Marshall, Neagle
Foll: Lynch, Pinnuck, Tiziani
Inter: Cooper, Waite, Langlands, Marr, Butts, Bollinghaus
Emerg: Lane, Bruce, Kilpatrick
