THE Murray Bushrangers will have to overcome a speed blitz from Gippsland Power duo Irving Mosquito and Tyrone Hayes in their TAC Cup match at IKON Park on Saturday.
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The pair were lively through the midfield and up forward against Dandenong last weekend and coach Leon Higgins expects them to present plenty of challenges.
“Gippsland has a strong group of on-ball players and a couple of good talls,” Higgins said.
“Tyrone Hayes and Irving Mosquito are really good players.
“We will have to watch them closely.
“They are very quick.”
Although Charlie Spargo, Alex Paech and Daniel Johnston are unavailable due to GWS commitments, the Bushrangers have welcomed back Doulton Langlands who missed last weekend due to injury.
CDHBU’s Matt Walker will play his second match for the club after making a one-off appearance last season.
Higgins said his team needed to improve on its opening round win against Bendigo Pioneers.
“We certainly have to improve our efficiency with the ball and our running will need to be significantly better as well as it’s quite a big ground.” he said.
“It’s a wide ground at IKON Park.”
Ben Paton, Langlands and Will Donaghey will play vital roles for the Bushrangers with their run from defence while Hudson Garoni, Isaac Wallace and Joe Richards need to hit the scoreboard.
Wodonga Raiders big-man Floyd Bollinghaus competed well in the ruck last weekend and is another key.
TAC Cup sides are allowed to use six players on the interchange for the first three weeks of the season.
Saturday’s match starts at 2.30pm.
Murray Bushrangers: B: S. Beasley, J. Koschitzke, K. Clarke; hb, D. Langlands, J. Butts, B. Paton; c, W. Donaghey, N. Amery, R. Bruce; hf, I. Wallace, T. Boyd, D. Smith; f, J. Richards, H. Garoni, J. Trotter; foll, F. Bollinghaus, H. Jones, N. Richards; inter, M. Walker, L. Vandermeer, B. Kelly, B. McIntosh, A. Hicks, J. Wilson; emerg, B. St John, E. Dayman, E. Smith.