NAB League Boys: Fourteen Stingrays in Vic Country Under 19 squad

Nineteen-year-old players Will Bravo, Bayleigh Welsh, Jai Neal and Bryce Milford are among the Rays tapped for trials.

Bryce Milford playing for the Stingrays in 2019.

Good timing from Bryce Milford.

The Dandenong Stingrays forward kicked four goals against Bendigo Pioneers when the NAB League Boys season resumed on the weekend.

A day later the tall forward was named in the Vic Country squad for the Under 19 national championships.

The 19-year-old player spent the first half on the wing but took up an attacking role after half time and enjoyed a star turn.

“He’s trying to find some consistency with his football, but he’s got some elite traits,’’ Stingrays coach Nick Cox said of the left-footer.

“He’s 196cm, mobile, kicks the ball really nicely.’’

The Stingrays were chuffed to have 14 players in the Vic Country squad, which will be trimmed before Country’s first game, against the Allies, on August 14.

Miller Bergman, Jai Neal, Colby Nayna, Connor MacDonald, Judson Clarke, Will Bravo, James Cahill, Bayleigh Welsh, Lachlan Robinson, Mac Andrew, Justin Davies, Josiah Kyle, Zac Tobin and Milford were initial call-ups.

Stingrays coach Nick Cox. Picture: Stuart Milligan

They will take part in two trial games against Vic Metro at Werribee on Sunday.

“Obviously some of our players are touted quite highly, and for some others it’s an opportunity to see what the next level looks like,’’ Cox said.

“That’s what it is at the moment, an opportunity, because the squad has to be condensed.

“But it will be good for their individual growth and it’s good recognition for our program. It showcases what the local coaches are producing and when they come to us our development is at a pretty good level.’’

Cox said he was particularly pleased for 19-year-old players Welsh, Bravo, Neal and Milford. All missed last season because of Covid and the coach said they’d “gone through a fair bit’’.

Welsh is captain of the Stingrays.

“Really happy for him. He’s got a lot of good traits with his footy, and off the field too,’’ he said.

“Same with Will Bravo. He’s had a few setbacks. We see week in, week out how he’s trying to get better.’’

The Stingrays defeated the Bendigo Pioneers comfortably and gave a debut to ruckman Billy Taylor from Mt Eliza.

He had a lot of work to do after Mac Andrew was injured early in the game, getting crunched after backing into a pack.

Andrew passed a concussion test and could have gone back on, but Cox, knowing the youngster has a lot of football coming up, chose to rest him.

With Cox having a role with the Vic Country panel, assistant Josh Moore will coach the Stingrays in their next two matches, against Tasmania and Eastern.

Moore was a leading player in the Eastern league, coached Rye and is in charge of the Frankston VFL Academy program.

The Rays also have four players – Jackson Binns, Mitch Szybkowski, Ned Moodie and Henry Hustwaite – in the Vic Country Under 17 squad, as well as emergences in Sam Frangalas and Jess McManus.