ALMOST half of the Murray Bushrangers’ 52-player squad will be bottom age players this season.
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Coach Leon Higgins said the number increased to 25 mainly because of a strong pool of 17-year-olds in the region.
“It’s probably a combination of reasons,” Higgins said.
“There is certainly a talented group of 17-year-olds at the moment and we are keen to give them some opportunities to build their experience over a two-year-period.
“With 10 players drafted as 18-year-olds last season, it’s pretty hard to match as well I guess.”
Albury has led the way for the second successive season with six players – Ben Kelly, Jacob Koschitzke, Jackson Carmody, Ben McIntosh, Riley Bice and Charlie Spargo – selected in the squad.
TAC Cup sides will have a testing day in Melbourne on Saturday, followed by a practice match against Eastern the following Friday. The season starts on March 25.
- The squad is: Edward Adams, Angus Hicks and Zane Barzen (Shep United), Noah Amery (Lavington), Sam Beasley (Cobram), Riley Bice (Albury), Daniel Bond (Federal), Thomas Boyd (Picola), Jake Bradshaw (Wodonga Raiders), Jordon Butts (Shepparton), Ajak Dang (Shepparton), Edward Dayman (Wang Rovers), Josh Flight (Deni Rovers), Bailey Frauenfelder (Yarrawonga), Hudson Garoni (Wodonga), Logan Hamilton (Lavington), Daniel Johnston (Barooga), Harrison Jones (Wodonga), Ben Kelly (Albury), Jacob Koschitzke (Albury), Jy Lane (Corowa-Ruth), Doulton Langlands (North Albury), Mark Marriott (Benalla), Nick Murray (Henty), Nathan Oakes (Nathalia), Michael Oates (Lavington), Tom O'Brien (Albury), Alex Paech and Ben Paton (North Albury), Rory Quinn (Wodonga), Joe and Nick Richards (Wangaratta), Jack Schilg (Corowa-Ruth), Ely Smith (Yarrawonga), Jett Trotter (Euroa), Isaac Wallace (Wodonga), Patrick Warner (Benalla), Jessy Wilson (Howlong), Ryan Bruce (Yarrawonga), Will Donaghey (Wodonga Raiders), Joe Gorman (Yarrawonga), Will Christie (Wangaratta Rovers), Isaac McMillan (Yarrawonga), Laitham Vandeermeer (Mooroopna), Floyd Bollinghaus (Wodonga Raiders), Jackson Carmody (Albury), Kyle Clarke (Shepparton United), Ben McIntosh (Albury), Dave Smith (Shepparton), Charlie Spargo (Albury), Blayke St John (Wodonga Raiders), Mathew Walker (CBDHU)