Murray Bushrangers squad revealed ahead of new season
The Murray Bushrangers will be looking to continue its strong recent form of producing first round draft picks for AFL clubs. We look at this year’s boys under-18 team.
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The Murray Bushrangers are confident it can repeat its previous draft hauls with this year’s squad.
The Bushrangers enter the new season as the most consistent country team in the Coates Talent league.
Since 2018 it’s had at least one first round draft pick, something the other three country teams don’t have.
Last year, Joe Berry continued that trend by going to Port Adelaide at pick 15.
And Bushrangers boys coach Mark Brown said this year’s talent, especially a couple of players, could continue the success.
“It’s groundhog day, there’s a new batch of boys coming through, they’ve trained hard, they’ve done the work, they are in pretty good shape,” Brown said.
“We are eager for the season to come around. We’ve got a handful of player who will be pushing for that honour.
“A lot of hard work has got to happen and a lot of luck has to happen before November.
“We’ve got some prospects who we think will be in discussions for those early selections.”
This includes Liam Hetherton and Riley Onley, who are both part of the AFL academy.
Brown expects both to be fancied by AFL clubs throughout the season.
“Onley’s had a super impressive pre-season, he’s done a mountain of work,” he said.
“He’s done pre-season at the Collingwood Football Club. Athletically, he’s an impressive beast, he’s 197cm and runs sub three seconds over 20m.”
Brown said Hetherton would be a sought after forward.
“He’s one of the best key forwards in the draft pool this year,” he said.
“He really popped last year (to impress).”
Brown said there are others in contention including Harry Dean, the son of Carlton two-time premiership player Peter Dean, who is potentially a father-son recruit to the Blues.
There is also defender Harris Wilson who is linked with New South Wales for the national championships but is currently boarding at Scotch College in Victoria.
Here is our analysis of this year’s crop with some help from Brown.
Coen Ainsworth (Wodonga Bulldogs)
A 19-year-old in his final year of the program. Has elite power and speed.
Tanner Armstrong (Shepparton United)
One to look out for in the 2026 draft. Part of Richmond’s next generation academy and represented Victoria Country at the under-16 nationals last year. He also made the under-16 All Australian team.
Ryan Ash (Shepparton Bears)
A rebounding small back who will take the game on with run and by foot. Is the son of Goulburn Valley Hall of Fame player Stephen Ash and brother of GWS dashing defender Lachie.
Jamaron Atkinson (Rumbalara)
Part of the next-generation academy at the Murray Bushrangers. He played 32 matches for Rumbalara last year in the seniors, reserves and under-17s.
Max Bihun (Wangaratta Magpies)
A small forward with good goal sense.
Connor Breheny (Benalla/Wangaratta Rovers)
Played in the under-16 team last year and is playing Thirds for Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray league.
Mackenzie Calleja (Mooroopna)
A tall who played senior footy for Mooroopna while also representing Goulburn Valley’s under-18 teams. Gets his chance to shine in the Coates Talent League.
Ryder Corrigan (Lavington)
A key back who played senior football for the past 12 months. Is very good in the contest.
Izack Daley (North Albury)
Was part of the GWS Academy at last year’s under-16 nationals and also part of the Bushrangers under-16 team. Daley is a ruckman who can also play as a forward.
Harry Dean (Lavington)
A Carlton father-son player. Is an aggressive rebounding half back who loves the contest.
Paulie Degei (Cobram)
An agile small forward.
Baxter Donovan (Mulwala)
Won last year’s under-17 est and fairest for Mulwala in the Murray league and was fourth in the goalkicking in the competition.
Clinton Edwards (Shepparton United)
Played for the Murray Bushrangers under-16s last season and makes the step up to under-18s this year.
Zac Forge (Yarrawonga)
A third tall forward with solid fundamentals.
Cody Gardiner (North Albury)
Is an aggressive small forward who can pinch hit through the middle.
Zach Graham (North Albury)
An agile outside midfielder who puts speed on the game.
Flynn Grumley (Shepparton Swans)
Is a dangerous small forward with good footy IQ.
Kade Hadley (Wangaratta Magpies)
Was part of the Murray Bushrangers under-16s team in 2024. Last year he played thirds, as well, for Wangaratta Magpies.
Zac Harding (Wodonga Bulldogs)
A 19-year-old ruckman who completed a VFL preseason with Carlton.
Liam Hetherton (North Albury)
A key forward who kicked five goals playing for New South Wales against Victoria Country in the futures game last year. He hits the contest at speed.
Jackson Hewitt (Wangaratta Magpies)
Makes his first Bushrangers squad after impressing for Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray league thirds last year.
Billy Hilton (Albury)
Part of the GWS Academy last year for the under-16 nationals. Hilton was also part of the Bushrangers under-16 team for the Coates Talent League.
Harry Hopkins (Numurkah)
A tough inside midfielder who defends well.
Hunter Howells (Shepparton Bears)
Was best on ground for the Bears last year in the under-16 Goulburn Murray Division 1 premiership, which Shepparton won. It’s the first Murray Bushrangers squad he has been involved in.
Archer Hueston (Shepparton United)
The son of former Shepparton United coach and club legend Duane. Hueston has made the team after playing under-16s and 18s for United last year.
Toby Hunt (North Albury)
An athletic half back who strong in the air.
Ben Kennedy (Yarrawonga)
A 19-year-old third tall who has completed preseason at Williamstown’s VFL.
Rory Kennedy (Seymour)
A midfielder who goes to Assumption College. Kennedy last year played for the under-16s Murray Bushrangers.
Lenny Koller (Albury)
He is an athletic key back who intercepts well.
Alex Krause (Cobram)
Won last year’s under-17 best and fairest in the Murray league with Cobram. He was selected last year for the Murray Bushrangers under-16s team.
Zach Lambert (North Albury)
A part of the GWS Academy, which competed at the under-16 nationals last year. Lambert is a defender who like to run with the ball.
Jack Marks (Mansfield)
Has elite speed and agility. Look for the midfielder to power out of stoppages.
Baz McDonald (Nathalia)
A tough inside midfielder who can pinch hit at half forward.
Brogan McGee (Rumbalara)
A rebounding half back with an elite footy IQ.
Jack Mellington (Shepparton Bears)
Represented the Goulburn Murray league under-16s in interleague last year and played one game for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates league under-16 competition.
Harrison Moon (Numurkah)
A tough key back with good closing speed.
Blake Newton (Wangaratta Magpies)
Was one of two Bushrangers to play for Victoria Country in last year’s under-16 championships. Newton is a midfielder who played thirds for Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray.
Riley Onley (Shepparton United)
A big inside midfielder who is a member of national academy. He can play anywhere.
Rhys Osborne (Mooroopna)
Played in last year’s Bushrangers under-16 team and also played three senior games for the Cats in the Goulburn Valley league. He played as a half forward in the under-16 team in 2024.
Josh Porter (Seymour)
A ball magnet who played under-18 representative football for the GVL last year despite being eligible for the under-16s. Porter also made his senior debut for Seymour last year.
Oscar Roberts (Wangaratta Magpies)
A powerful athlete who is getting better understanding of the game and improving rapidly.
Blake Sofra (Shepparton United)
Won the Goulburn Murray Division 1 under-16 best and fairest last year and played for Victoria’s under-15s at the School Sports national titles in 2023.
Ryder Stevens (Yarrawonga)
A speedy wingman who will look to break the game with his speed.
Oliver Watson (Mulwala)
Won the U17 best and fairest at Mulwala in 2023, in a three-way tie, and also played a handful of senior games for the Lions. Was part of the Bushrangers under-16 team last year.
Angus Williams (Shepparton Bears)
Was part of last year’s under-16 Bushrangers team and played in the ruck for the Shepparton Notre Bear.
Harrison Wilson (Lavington)
A classy half back who uses the ball beautifully by foot.
Originally published as Murray Bushrangers squad revealed ahead of new season
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