Murray Bushrangers announce their Coates Talent League Boys squad

With a pair of AFL Academy young guns and plenty of Vic Country talent, Murray Bushrangers has announced a strong 2023 squad.

Murray Bushrangers continues to be one of the AFL’s most reliable talent factories.

The 2023 season looks no different with several high-quality draft prospects and several potential surprise packets included in the club’s Coates Talent League squad.

The Bushrangers have had at least one player drafted in the first round for the past five seasons.

This season, two youngsters have been included in the elite AFL Academy squad – Albury’s Connor O’Sullivan and Wangaratta Rovers’ Darcy Wilson.

Wilson, Coby James (Mooroopna) and Boston Dowling (Shepparton) are in the Vic Country hub, while O’Sullivan, Mitch Way (Wodonga Raiders) and Jesse Hart (Lavington) are in the Allies.

Joe Berry in action for the Murray Bushrangers.

There are also famous bloodlines with Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Will Bradshaw, son of two-time premiership winner Daniel, Jedd Longmire is the nephew of Sydney coach John and Rory Parnell and Lucas Rachele, brothers of Adelaide pair Patrick and Josh.

Bushrangers coach Mark Brown said from the top prospects down, everyone had the same goal.

“Our message to the boys, whether you’re a top-end prospect or had to work your butt off just to make our squad, is to leave our program better,” he said.

“Our program is designed around getting kids drafted but we also understand that that’s only applicable to 10 to 20 per cent of kids that come through, so we’re mindful of offering more than just getting drafted.

“We’re one of the luckier country clubs, while we obviously face the tyranny of distance and travel probably more than any other, our bases are in Shepparton and Albury and Wang sits in the middle.

“We’re getting better and better at, our biggest battle is having our boys running on top of the ground at the end of the year.

“At the start and middle of the year the boys are fine but once the accumulative affects of, not only, game day travel but training travel they can look flat by the end.”

Longmire showcased his ability with four goals, 16 disposals and four tackles in the wildcard round loss to Sandringham Dragons last season and will link up with Collingwood’s VFL team in 2023.

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan is a 199cm key position prospect that played 10 games last season as a bottom-ager and Wilson is one of the draft class’ elite runners and made his senior debut for Magpies as a 16-year-old last season.

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Brown also identified Albury small forward Phoenix Gothard as a potential draft smokie.

“There’s a young kid by the name of Phoenix Gothard, which is about the coolest name in football I think,” he said.

“He trialled at 16 and 17 and was very small but he’s grown a bit and has exceptional acceleration, great lateral movement, takes the game on and kicks goals so we expect him to catch the eyes of recruiters.”

The Bushrangers kick off the 2023 campaign against Gippsland Power at Morwell on March 26.

Darcy Wilson in action for the Murray Bushrangers.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 2023 COATES TALENT LEAGUE SQUAD

Joe Berry (Wangaratta Magpies)

Sam Bicknell (Shepparton Swans)

Will Bradshaw (Wodonga)

Caleb Clemson (Albury)

Joeve Cooper (Shepparton Swans)

Toby Cossar (Myrtleford)

Harvey Cribbles (Wodonga Raiders)

Kade Dwyer (Shepparton Swans)

Daniel Finnimore (Wodonga)

Tom Forrest (Corowa-Rutherglen)

Tom Gorman (Yarrawonga)

Phoenix Gothard (Albury)

Mitchell Grumley (Shepparton Swans)

Zac Harding (Wodonga)

Jesse Hart (Lavington)

Harrison Hewitt (Wangaratta Magpies)

Charley Holland-Dean (Wangaratta Magpie)

Coby James (Mooroopna)

Ben Kennedy (Rennie)

Indhi Kotzur (Rutherglen)

Xavier Laverty (Wangaratta Magpies)

Charles Ledger (Wangaratta Rovers)

Ben Les (Mansfield)

Will Lierch (Lavington)

Jedd Longmire (Bundoora, Collingwood VFL)

Will McCarthy (Wangaratta Rovers)

Charlie McGrath (Albury)

Lachlan Miotto (Myrtleford)

Oliver Munro (Seymour)

Josh Murphy (North Albury)

Angus Murray (Seymour)

Nick Newton (Lavington)

Connor O’Sullivan (Albury)

Rory Parnell (Albury)

Nick Paton (Tallangatta)

Cohen Paul (Euroa)

Caidan Phillips (Shepparton Swans)

Lucas Rachele (Shepparton Swans)

Oscar Ryan (Shepparton United)

Judd Schubert (Wangaratta Rovers)

Alex Swinnerton (Lavington)

Andrew Thompson (Mansfield)

Josh Tweedale (Wangaratta Magpies)

Oliver Warburton (Shepparton Swans)

Mitch Way (Wodonga Raiders)

Jack Whitlock (Shepparton)

Matt Whitlock (Shepparton)

Conor Willis (Lavington)

Darby Wilson (Euroa)

Darcy Wilson (Wangaratta Rovers)

Daniel Young (Wangaratta Magpies)