After making the final squad, the 18-year-old tore his quad at the start of last season.

However, he didn't let that stop him, working his way into the side in a futures game midway through the year and holding his spot on the wing until the Bushies were knocked out of the finals.

He continued to develop his game during the pre-season and was appointed co-captain alongside Lachy Ash, the son of two-time Albury premiership player Stephen Ash, capping off a remarkable comeback from injury.

"It's a big privilege and I'm pretty stoked to get it, but it comes with a lot of sacrifice," Wilson said.

"The first goal was to make the final squad again, and, if I could, put my hand up to be a leader.

"I remember last year the leaders like Jacob Koschitzke really helped us younger boys to relax a bit more and back yourself.

"It sits in the back of your mind that people are going to look at you to take responsibility, but it's just another challenge to step forward and try to be a leader."

Wilson is also a fine example of the talent that lies within the region's district leagues.

He's done more than enough to be recognised by playing senior football at Rutherglen, rather than heading down the Ovens and Murray or Goulburn Valley path - where the majority of the Bushrangers' 52-man squad has been selected from.

"They're not going to force anything, so I was happy I could still be aligned with Rutherglen and go back there to train when we're not training with the Bushies," Wilson said.

"I started out at Coreen and I feel like playing a couple of senior games out there before I moved across to Rutherglen really helped me develop more when I was younger."

Ash admitted his father has been a massive influence on his career.

"Every time I get in the car for footy or training, I get to evaluate and he's a pretty good person to lean on and ask a few questions," Ash said.

"It's an extra 10 per cent I've got in my back pocket that some other kids aren't lucky enough to have.

"From a young age, mum and dad taught me to be a leader not a follower.

"I've been a natural leader for most of my career, but I've been working more on my on-field stuff rather than off-field, because I tend to get a bit feisty when I'm out on the ground.

"Trying to calm that a bit is what I'm looking to improve as a captain this year."

Ash added he's looking forward to building a strong connection with Wilson as the season progresses.

Murray Bushrangers coach Mark Brown is expecting to see most of his 52-player squad in action throughout the season.

The squad has been expanded from 49 to 52 players in 2019, but Brown admitted there's plenty to be factored in throughout the year.

"Nationals carnivals come into it, school footy comes into it, injuries come into it and just general fatigue because of the amount of kilometres the boys do to get to and from training and games," Brown said.

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"We suggest there will be plenty of opportunity for the kids, but we're certainly not in the business of handing out games.

"The boys had to work really hard to make the initial squad and that work continues in a bid to secure a game."

A spot in the backline has already opened up after round one with key defender Trent Matthes (Wangaratta) suffering a severe hamstring injury against Gippsland Power.