The Pioneers have a strong regional flavour to their squad, with three Kyabram players and three Echuca teenagers in the lineup.
Reid, who is widely tipped to be the number one draft pick at the November 2023 AFL Draft, will lead the Coates Talent League team in the opening round match against GWS Rebels at 3.30pm on Saturday, March 25.
Reid played two games for Tongala in the Murray league last season, was named in the All-Australian Under-18 team and finished second as a 17-year-old in the Pioneers’ best-and-fairest count.
He will play alongside Kyabram trio Mitch Dodos, Nicholas Jephson and 19-year-old Charlie Barnett. Barnett will play with the Pioneers when not selected in North Melbourne’s VFL team.
Echuca’s Hugh Byrne, Tom Evans and Will Rhode are all in the Pioneers squad.
The Pioneers play their first game in Bendigo, at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, on Saturday, April 1, against GWS Giants.
On page 19 of today’s paper, Campase News takes a closer look at the success of Rochester’s Sarah Ingram, who was a member of the PINT premiership-winning team in the Northern Territory Football League Premier women’s competition.
14°C