Paddy Parnell and Daniel Turner play well in Country's loss to Metro

The bush boys fell by 61 points in the under 23 fixture, which served as a crucial 'dress rehearsal' for next month's AFL mid-season rookie draft.

Metro won 14.13 (97) to 5.6 (36).

Parnell, Turner, Charlie Byrne and Cameron McLeod are also aligned with Albury in the Ovens and Murray Football League.

"Paddy used the ball well out of the back half and competed quite well as a small defender, he would have been in our best players," Country coach Eammon Gill offered.

"Daniel Turner defended really well one on one and was under a lot of pressure for the majority and won his fair share of those one on one contests.

"Charlie Byrne gave some good efforts in and around the contests, while Cam McLeod played a bit of everywhere and used the ball OK by foot a couple of times."

The game featured a host of players who are likely to play AFL, with Metro's Corey Preston training at the Western Bulldogs over summer.

"They were probably a bit stronger bodies around the contests and their leg speed and ball use going forward was more efficient," Gill explained.

The Bushies are still in the under 19 competition's five-week break, which would mean players can return to their home clubs, but Albury doesn't play on Saturday.

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The Bushies are home to the Oakleigh Chargers on May 22.

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