Bendigo Pioneers reveals their boys squad ahead of the season

Potential father-son recruit Cody Walker headlines a squad full of experienced Pioneers. Check our analysis of every player.

Cody Walker. Picture: Madeleine Blanche

The Bendigo Pioneers hope experience and the son of a gun, Cody Walker, can help the side bounce back this year in the Coates Talent League.

The Pioneers had a successful season last year off the field with four players drafted including Tobie Travaglia who was selected at pick eight by St Kilda.

On the field, they won just four games, and and lost to Dandenong Stingrays in the wildcard match.

But as Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree explained sometimes results have to get in the way of doing what’s best for the players.

“If you are looking at it from a win loss point of view there’s 10 games where we cost ourselves with different positioning and everything else,” O’Bree said.

“It was because we wanted to get more kids at AFL level.

“Our strong focus is developing AFL talent and making sure we narrow the gap so when they get taken they can make an impact on an AFL list.”

This year’s squad has five 19-year-olds with the focus for them to be drafted either in the Mid-Season Draft or the AFL Draft at the end of the year.

It also contains Cody Walker, the son of former Carlton player Andrew Walker.

He is eligible to be drafted to Carlton (father-son) or Richmond (NGA Academy).

O’Bree said he’s already become a leader and someone other players are inspired by.

“He’s a super competitor, has incredible training standards and a will and desire to be better every day,” he said.

“People gravitate to those leaders in our group.

“Anyone in our program who has those qualities everyone enjoys working with.”

O’Bree said the team had a slow start to pre-season but is hopeful of finding form quickly.

Meet the squad below with analysis of each player with the help of O’Bree.

Eamon Austin, Sandhurst

A small forward who can also play as a defender. He’s exceptionally talented and a big moment player and incredibly exciting.

Ryan Bassett, Koondrook Barham

An extremely athletic hybrid type player. He will be looking to play in the half back, wing and half forward role.

Sonny Beasy, Swan Hill

An incredibly versatile player. He understands the big moments and will generate a lot of interest.

Jack Bell, South Bendigo

He’s super talented and an athletic and attacking half back.

Wil Bennett, Swan Hill

Has a really good football IQ. Reads the ball as an intercept half back and has a nice kick.

Doug Billings, Deniliquin Rams

Quite a raw, really athletic, 203cm ruck. He’s a very exciting prospect.

Patrick Blake, Tyntynder

A hard nosed half forward who provides high pressure and excellent speed.

Harry Bremner, Koondrook Barham

A solidly built half forward who is incredible in front of goal. He’s got some versatility and has shown some good stuff behind the footy.

Oscar Cail, Sandhurst

A real old school footballer. Is exceptionally skilled, a good decision maker, and reads the game well.

Russell Clark, Wentworth

Incredibly gifted indigenous player. Got great forward craft and knows where the goals are. His left foot kicking is one of his strengths.

Zane Connick, Sandhurst

The son of former Sandhurst and Bendigo interleague coach Ash Connick. He’s grown a lot, a late developer, who is starting to find his feet. A half back who can also play on the wing.

Baxter Cowley, Deniliquin Rovers

A smooth moving left footer who is very creative and crafty.

Ethan Curran, Nyah-Nyah West

Has elite speed and great pressure. Always around when the big moments are happening. Was best on ground for Nyah-Nyah West in last year’s Central Murray senior grand final.

Jonty Davis, Marong

Super quick, really energetic and becoming very crafty in front of goal.

Riley Dillon, Golden Square

He’s coming back from an ACL. He’s got himself ridiculously fit and will be looking to make amends. He’ll be an inside midfielder.

Seamus Doherty, Strathfieldsaye

A 195cm player with a basketball background. He’s going really well and can play physically. He also marks the ball really well.

Bohdi Edwards, Wentworth

An exceptionally good IQ at half back. He’s an excellent kick and an intercept marker.

Tom Evans, Echuca

An extremely versatile small player who can play forward or back. Has played extremely well at Coates Talent League already.

Connor Evans, Kangaroo Flat

Exceptionally talented and versatile player who can play forward or back. Will probably start back and has an elite kick and is good at making decisions.

Glen Gillbee, Balranald

Brother of Jason who went to GWS as a category B rookie. He’ll play in the back end of the year after injury. He’s extremely athletic, is an elite runner and a great kick of the footy.

Gus Hay, Sandhurst

Extremely competitive, tough and courageous. He’ll potentially play inside midfield or on the half back line.

Angus Hoyne, Strathfieldsaye

Unbelievably athletic and is exceptionally built at 195cm. Can play forward or back and can also play in the ruck.

Giulian Iudica, Robinvale Euston

Has elite speed and is a very attacking half back or wing type of player. He’ll definitely catch an eye.

Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Strathfieldsaye

Is an exquisite moving inside midfielder. Has high IQ and an elite left kick of the footy.

Jessie Johnstone, Tongala

Another really good left footer who plays on the wing and half forward. Has good IQ and really good endurance.

Darby Jones, Echuca

He’s a hybrid type that can play forward or back. Will start back and is a really good mark.

Archer Lancaster, Wandella

Played plenty of senior footy for Wandella last year. Is a really raw, really athletic, hard inside type player. He’ll get better as the year goes on.

Finlay Lockhart, Sandhurst

Got a similar running capability to Tobie Travaglia and is in the elite category. Works really hard and will play a similar role as an intercept back or wing to Tobie. He’ll catch the eye this year.

Zaydyn Lockwood, South Bendigo

Had a really good start to last year, as a key back, so we’ll look to capitalise on that form. Extremely athletic, has good closing speed and is a nightmare for opponents.

Lenny McNamara, Sandhurst

A really nice mover who gets through traffic well. His agility through stoppage is quite good and he is a nice user of the ball.

Thomas Naujok, Moama

Is an inside midfielder who is developing his mid craft extremely well. Is very good around stoppage and is a nice kick.

Lockjack Nending, South Mildura

A really exciting intercept defender. Got really good leadership qualities. Everyone loves having him around.

Sam Nending, South Mildura

Is really athletic, very clever and gets through traffic really well. Can also hit the scoreboard from anywhere.

Lewis Pigdon, Maiden Gully YCW

A good intercept half back who is a beautiful kick of the football.

Chase Poyser, Sandhurst

We call him ‘The Glove’. Never gets beaten one-on-one and hates getting beaten.

Jarrell Ratcliffe, White Hills

A pretty exciting bottom aged, 190cm midfield. Is really athletic and is exceptional through traffic. Is also a good decision maker.

Carter Reid, Sandhurst

Very similar to AFL player and former Pioneer Jack Ginnivan. Very clever in front of goal, got a good footy IQ and got a great understanding of moments in the game.

Thomas Rutledge, Macedon

Been struck with injury in the past year. We’re hoping he gets a clean run at the footy and can show his talent.

Angus Scoble, Kyabram

A 19-year-old who has been in the program for the past two years. He’s got good athletic qualities and some nice kicking skills.

Nick Thompson, Charlton

He is hard at the footy, is extremely competitive, has got all the AFL qualities. He’s athletic, can jump, great at ground level and is a beautiful kick of the football. If he puts everything together I’m confident he can make it on an AFL list.

Lachlan Vrolijks ahead of his debut last year. Picture: Bendigo Pioneers.

Lachlan Vrolijks, Swan Hill

A serious competitor, quite physical and will be an inside midfielder for us.

Cody Walker, Echuca

You’ll see him in most parts of the ground for his experience, education and fun. He’ll play in every position apart from ruck. He’ll start the year as a midfield/forward but there will be times we’ll see him on the wing and at half back.

Bailey Warfe, Golden Square

Son of Rowan who played for Fitzroy and Sydney. Warfe is a late developer who has grown in leaps and bounds. He’s a really good intercept half back and used the ball well.

Shaun Watson and Hunter Wright. Picture: Bendigo Pioneers.

Shaun Watson, Mildura

He’s got incredible versatility. He’s a very good mark and kick of the footy. Is also good at stoppage. He can sit behind the ball, take some nice marks and also kick a nice score as well.

Angus Watson, Echuca

A really high footy IQ, great decision maker and great kick of the footy. A small forward player.

Noah Willits, Sandhurst

A beautiful kick of the footy and a great decision maker. He sees the game really well and can play on all lines of the ground. He’s a bottom-ager.

Campbell Wood, Maryborough

He’s plays well behind the footy. Has great speed and decision making. In time he might be a good inside midfielder as well.

Hunter Wright. Picture: Bendigo Pioneers.

Hunter Wright, Golden Square

He’s had an incredible pre-season. Was excellent at the Vic Country camp before Christmas. Led the charge with our standard and leadership. Can play outside and inside and is one of the cleanest players with the ball.