MURRAY Bushrangers coach Mark Brown is paying little attention to the club's 15-game winning stretch against Bendigo ahead of their clash at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve on Saturday. With the sides playing a tight practice match and the Pioneers defeating Geelong Falcons by 43 points in the opening round, Brown is expecting a fierce contest. "Regardless of the record, Bendigo seem to be well on track this year," Brown said. "We played them in a practice match two weeks ago and I think it came down to a point either way. It was that close then and I expect it to be similar again. "I'm expecting a very good hit-out." The Bushrangers have made only one change to their line-up which lost to Gippsland last weekend with Shepparton's Ethan Baxter replacing injured Wangaratta defender Trent Matthes. The extent of his hamstring injury is yet to be confirmed. Despite the narrow loss, Brown said the Bushrangers showed promise in torrid conditions against Gippsland. "We were really happy with the weekend," Brown said. "Two weeks ago when we played Bendigo I thought we were a bit off the pace with our ball handling, skill execution and running patterns. "I was much more pleased with the performance last week. "We had more scoring shots, we won every single stat except for inside 50s and the scoreboard." Co-Captain Cam Wilson was prominent for the Bushrangers last week kicking three goals working through the midfield while Lachie Ash's run was also critical. The match starts at 2pm. Meanwhile, the Bushrangers girls host Bendigo Pioneers in their round four clash at Wangaratta's Norm Minns Oval on Saturday. The Bushrangers are coming off consecutive wins and will be looking to continue their good form against the Pioneers. The Bushrangers welcome back Jess Ward while debutants Charli Dorrity (Northern Angels) and Aurora Smith (Shepparton United) have impressed at training. Millie Brown, Zali Spencer, Kate Adams and Abby Favell will be looking to get their hands on the ball first with Ally Morphett's brilliant ruck work and provide plenty of opportunities for Mikaela Trethowan, Teagan Brett, Emilee McPherson, Olivia Antonello and Tali Verhoeven in the forward line. Charli Boschetti, Ellie Mifka, Chelsea Hargreaves and Mindy Quade will look to lock down the backline with the support of Sophie Locke and Hayley Doohan. The match starts at 11.45am.
Bushranger Kade Chalcraft is tackled by Jhett Cooper at training. Chalcraft has been named on the interchange against Bendigo Pioneers.
MURRAY Bushrangers coach Mark Brown is paying little attention to the club's 15-game winning stretch against Bendigo ahead of their clash at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve on Saturday.
With the sides playing a tight practice match and the Pioneers defeating Geelong Falcons by 43 points in the opening round, Brown is expecting a fierce contest.
"Regardless of the record, Bendigo seem to be well on track this year," Brown said.
"We played them in a practice match two weeks ago and I think it came down to a point either way. It was that close then and I expect it to be similar again.
"I'm expecting a very good hit-out."
The Bushrangers have made only one change to their line-up which lost to Gippsland last weekend with Shepparton's Ethan Baxter replacing injured Wangaratta defender Trent Matthes.
The extent of his hamstring injury is yet to be confirmed.
Despite the narrow loss, Brown said the Bushrangers showed promise in torrid conditions against Gippsland.
"We were really happy with the weekend," Brown said.
"Two weeks ago when we played Bendigo I thought we were a bit off the pace with our ball handling, skill execution and running patterns.
"I was much more pleased with the performance last week.
"We had more scoring shots, we won every single stat except for inside 50s and the scoreboard."
Co-Captain Cam Wilson was prominent for the Bushrangers last week kicking three goals working through the midfield while Lachie Ash's run was also critical.
The match starts at 2pm.
Meanwhile, the Bushrangers girls host Bendigo Pioneers in their round four clash at Wangaratta's Norm Minns Oval on Saturday.
The Bushrangers are coming off consecutive wins and will be looking to continue their good form against the Pioneers.
The Bushrangers welcome back Jess Ward while debutants Charli Dorrity (Northern Angels) and Aurora Smith (Shepparton United) have impressed at training.
Millie Brown, Zali Spencer, Kate Adams and Abby Favell will be looking to get their hands on the ball first with Ally Morphett's brilliant ruck work and provide plenty of opportunities for Mikaela Trethowan, Teagan Brett, Emilee McPherson, Olivia Antonello and Tali Verhoeven in the forward line.
Charli Boschetti, Ellie Mifka, Chelsea Hargreaves and Mindy Quade will look to lock down the backline with the support of Sophie Locke and Hayley Doohan.
