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The best young guns in the Goulburn Valley league revealed

There’s plenty of exciting young talent within the ranks of Goulburn Valley league clubs. Here’s a look at the best.

In every competition there are always the next generation of stars who show glimpses of their potential, or take the game on and dominate.

The Goulburn Valley is no different with multiple players taking centre stage this season to be among the best in the league.

We’ve compiled a list of the best who have impressed this year in the Goulburn Valley league.

VFL players are listed but they had to play more than six games for their local club this season.

So here are the best young guns this season.

Joshua Alford is a rising star for Seymour. Picture: Goulburn Valley Football League.
Joshua Alford is a rising star for Seymour. Picture: Goulburn Valley Football League.

Joshua Alford, Seymour

The forward was one of the best for Seymour this year. Alford played 18 games and kicked 17 goals. This included two three goal hauls during the year.

Echuca’s Corbin Anderson fights for the ball. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Echuca’s Corbin Anderson fights for the ball. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Corbin Anderson, Echuca

The small forward impressed in his first season of senior footy. He kicked 31 goals in 21 games, including five goals against Mooroopna in round 9. Anderson played for the Bendigo Pioneers last year.

James Auld, Shepparton Swans

Can play in the midfield, on the wing, at half forward or halfback. Auld’s impressed this year, kicking 22 goals in 18 matches. This included five goals against Tatura and Mansfield.

Shepparton Swans player Diesel Batey has had another great season for the club. Picture: Shepparton Swans Football Club.
Shepparton Swans player Diesel Batey has had another great season for the club. Picture: Shepparton Swans Football Club.

Diesel Batey, Shepparton Swans

Played a full season for the Swans after being one of the rising stars last year. The midfielder kicked three goals and was in the best in three matches.

Echuca and Bendigo Pioneer Hugh Byrne is a star of the future. Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
Echuca and Bendigo Pioneer Hugh Byrne is a star of the future. Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Hugh Byrne, Echuca

A forward to look out for in the future. He only played nine games this year but impressed in the big matches. Against Kyabram, in the qualifying final and the grand final, he kicked five goals including three in the decider.

Zac Clohessy, Shepparton Swans

The forward was of the best in attack for the Swans. Clohessy played 18 games and kicked 13 goals.

Mitch Cricelli has been one of the competition's most dangerous players this year. Photo: Facebook.
Mitch Cricelli has been one of the competition's most dangerous players this year. Photo: Facebook.

Mitch Cricelli, Rochester

The ruckman is a rising star for the Tigers. Cricelli played 18 games and was in the best in 10 games. The Tigers rising star also kicked 17 goals.

Anthony De Pasquale, Kyabram

A forward on the rise. In his second year of senior footy he kicked 31 goals in 22 games.

Echuca’s Jack Evans snaps a kick. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Echuca’s Jack Evans snaps a kick. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Jack Evans, Echuca

The midfielder is now a two-time premiership player after helping the Murray Bombers to the title recently. Evans is already a major player of the team despite still being a young gun. He played 16 games and kicked 16 goals. Evans also played for Geelong in the VFL, making six appearances during the season.

Noah Langborne, Echuca

Still eligible to play under-18s, Langborne played 11 senior games this year after making his debut in round 4. The midfielder knows how to effectively dispose the ball and also has great composure with it.

Echuca’s Matthew Lias tries to smother the ball. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Echuca’s Matthew Lias tries to smother the ball. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Matthew Lias, Echuca

A small midfielder who knows how to tag rivals in the competition. Lias played 20 games this season and was among the best in seven matches.

Riley Mason in action for Goulburn Valley earlier this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Riley Mason in action for Goulburn Valley earlier this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Riley Mason, Seymour

Capable of playing in multiple positions for the Lions. Mason played as a wingman, a half forward and a half back. He kicked 34 goals in 20 games to further establish himself as one of the best in the competition.

Lewis McShane has been a handy recruit for the Shepparton Bears this season. Picture: Shepparton Bears Football Club.
Lewis McShane has been a handy recruit for the Shepparton Bears this season. Picture: Shepparton Bears Football Club.

Lewis McShane, Shepparton Bears

Impressed after moving from Cobram in the off-season. The Bears forward kicked 24 goals in 14 games and was among the best in three of them.

Euroa’s Cohen Paul, 28, tries to take a mark. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Euroa’s Cohen Paul, 28, tries to take a mark. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Cohen Paul, Euroa

A young forward on the rise at the Magpies. He kicked 16 goals in 11 games for Euroa but has also played for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates League.

Rochester's Nate Rasmussen is a young gun on the rise at the Tigers. Picture: Rochester Football Club.
Rochester's Nate Rasmussen is a young gun on the rise at the Tigers. Picture: Rochester Football Club.

Nate Rasmussen, Rochester

The former Bendigo Pioneer impressed for the Tigers this year. The midfielder played 15 games and was in the best in two of them.

Tom Riley, Benalla

The leading goalkicker for Benalla in the under-18s this season. He kicked 29 goals in 16 games and made his senior debut in round eight.

Seymour midfielder Ben Rigoni made his debut in the VFL this season. Picture: Seymour Football Netball Club.
Seymour midfielder Ben Rigoni made his debut in the VFL this season. Picture: Seymour Football Netball Club.

Ben Rigoni, Seymour

Rigoni made his debut for Coburg this season in the VFL while also playing well for Seymour. Last year he won the Morrison Medal as the best and fairest in the competition. This year, he played 14 games and was among the best in eight of them.

Aidan Robinson playing for Nightcliff in Darwin. Picture: Glenn Campbell
Aidan Robinson playing for Nightcliff in Darwin. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Aidan Robinson, Kyabram

Continues to be one of the best big men in the competition. Robinson helped Kyabram make the grand final and played 19 games and was among the best players in three.

Mitchell Roche, Shepparton United

The Demons vice-captain has had a superb season. He played 18 games in the midfield, being among the best in nine. This included a 43-disposal game against Benalla.

Kyabram’s Reuben Rode has had a good season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Kyabram’s Reuben Rode has had a good season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Reuben Rode, Kyabram

A speedy midfielder who was one of the best for the Bombers in his first year with the club. Rode played 20 games and kicked 12 goals.

Darcy Russell played his 50th senior game for the Cats this season. Picture: Mooroopna Football Netball Club.
Darcy Russell played his 50th senior game for the Cats this season. Picture: Mooroopna Football Netball Club.

Darcy Russell, Mooroopna

One of the young midfielders who has helped the Cats rebuild. Russell played 19 matches and kicked 13 goals.

Will Russell, Tatura

A rising star at the Bulldogs who continues to shine. He played 17 games and kicked 10 goals.

Liam Serra is a Shepparton United half back on the rise in the competition. Picture: Shepparton United Football Netball Club.
Liam Serra is a Shepparton United half back on the rise in the competition. Picture: Shepparton United Football Netball Club.

Liam Serra, Shepparton United

A half forward who also played at half back in the later stages of the season. Serra played 18 games and kicked 16 goals.

Echuca's Brady Simpson has had another great year. Photo: Facebook.
Echuca's Brady Simpson has had another great year. Photo: Facebook.

Brady Simpson, Echuca

The half back played mostly seniors this year but missed out on a grand final spot. He played 18 games and kicked one goal.

Riley Smith won a grand final with Echuca this season. Picture: Goulburn Valley Football League.
Riley Smith won a grand final with Echuca this season. Picture: Goulburn Valley Football League.

Riley Smith, Echuca

The wingman played 21 games for the Murray Bombers and was one of the leading players. He kicked seven goals and was among the best in three. Smith also played in the grand final win against Kyabram.

Goulburn Valley’s Bryce Stephenson was a star in interleague this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Goulburn Valley’s Bryce Stephenson was a star in interleague this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Bryce Stephenson, Shepparton Bears

One of the best ruckman in the competition and showed it when he was one of the best for Goulburn Valley in the interleague this year. Stephenson played 18 games and was among the best in 10.

Echuca’s Jackson Stewart has had a good season for the Mighty Bombers. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Echuca’s Jackson Stewart has had a good season for the Mighty Bombers. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Jackson Stewart, Echuca

The pocket rocket kicked a goal a game for Echuca. Stewart was in his second year of senior footy.

Euroa’s Nathan Stewart takes on Echuca earlier this season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Euroa’s Nathan Stewart takes on Echuca earlier this season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Nathan Stewart, Euroa

A defender who is also capable of playing in the ruck. The former Calder Cannon played 21 games this season, kicked 15 goals and was among the best in five games.

Sam Thomson. Mansfield

A midfielder on the rise for the Eagles. Thomson kicked 16 goals in 13 matches.

Jed Woods, Mooroopna

Has been another young standout for the Cats. Woods played 18 games, kicked eight goals and was among the best in eight.

Originally published as The best young guns in the Goulburn Valley league revealed

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Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/the-best-young-guns-in-the-goulburn-valley-league-revealed/news-story/b1d8c74b5479ecc8b7f5d6b0d64bddb9