Bushrangers hope for three first round selections, including both Whitlock twins finding homes
Towering twin stars headline the crop of young footy guns from the Murray Bushrangers who are in the hunt to be drafted this week.
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After enjoying a record haul of four first round selections in 2023, the Murray Bushrangers are aiming for another bumper crop in this week’s AFL Draft.
Coach Mark Brown doesn’t expects the Coates Talent League side to repeat it’s record haul from last year but knows the club won’t be too far away with some high-end talent in the 2024 group.
“I don’t think we’ll get to four but we’ve got our fingers crossed we’ll have three that go early which would be a great result for the club,” he said.
Those three are the Whitlock brothers, Jack and Matt, and small forward Joe Berry.
“They all fit in that 10-20 (pick) bracket,” he said.
“But one might slide to the mid-20s.
“We are just hopeful they get an opportunity to chase an AFL dream.
“They’ve emerged throughout the season off the back of a lot of hard work and good football which I think is fantastic.”
Jack and Matt could be one of the stories of the night with the twins expected to go in the first round.
But who goes first out of the Shepparton Bears duo is a complete guess.
Brown said while there might be bragging rights between them about who goes first, deep down both will be proud of each other for just getting a chance at a club.
“I don’t think that will be a strong consideration (bragging rights) for either of them,” he said.
“They are competitive kids, there is no doubt about it, I’m sure there is an element of sibling rivalry there.
“But they are great mates, so I think both will he happy to have their names called out and get the opportunity to chase an AFL career.”
Both are 200cm and play the same positions, in the forward line and in ruck.
But Brown said each provide something different to AFL clubs.
“The fact they are twins, and both are 200cm, tends to lead people to think they are similar players,” he said.
“They are quite different footballers so both offer different attributes to whichever club grabs them.
“Jack is more of a traditional key marking forward/second ruck.
“He does a lot of his work in the air.
“Matt, while capable in the air, is good at ground level and has fantastic agility for a 200cm kid.”
Then there is Berry who Brown said was ready made for AFL as a small forward who can put on a lot of pressure and also get up the ground.
And it could lead to the Wangaratta Magpie being a midfielder as time goes on.
“Joe is almost the modern day AFL prototype,” Brown said.
“He’s 181cm, got elite top end speed, he’s clean, kicks the ball really well either side and hits the scoreboard.
“I think his physical attributes lend to that really well but he also has some scope.
“We think there’s some scope to grow as he develops and get heavier.
“He’s got some genuine AFL attributes.”
Brown said all three should get a chance to play AFL.
But there are others among the Bushrangers who are in contention to be selected.
It might just come on the second night.
“We’ve got another three boys who we think are well and truly on the radar,” he said.
“Ollie Warburton, Josh Murphy and Ben Kennedy. We’re hopeful in addition to the three spoken above, we’re hopeful another one or two might get an opportunity.
“Their form suggests they will be in the conversation.”
Warburton, a Shepparton Swan, has spent time with Collingwood this year in the VFL with the midfielder having speed to burn and knowing how to find the ball.
Murphy (North Albury) and Kennedy (Yarrawonga) will both be looking to be picked up after strong seasons.
Brown added a fourth, Zac Harding, was also in the mix, but his interrupted year might hurt his chances.
The Wodonga Bulldogs player was invited to combine, showing there is some interest in the ruckman.
The draft starts on Wednesday and finishes on Thursday.
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