Victoria’s largest elite junior football carnival proved to draw the best of the best to Ballarat on September 23-25, with the Bushrangers taking on the cream of the future draft pool.
For the Goulburn Murray players, the level of opposition was a step up to say the least.
After the event was held in Shepparton since 2019, the Bushrangers were without a home advantage this year — and there were no warm welcomes from the other representative outfits, either.
The Bushies’ under-15 division one side suffered a 91-point defeat in round one to Greater Western Victoria Rebels, with a haul of three goals for Shepparton-Notre prodigy Alex Whitlock lining a dark cloud with a tinge of silver.
Simon Grumley’s boys then took on North East Border Bushrangers, ousted 15.6 (96) to 2.8 (20) as Maelan Allan (Shepparton-Notre) and Dashiell Smith (Shepparton Swans) starred in defeat.
Goulburn Murray’s under-15 division two pool was just as fearsome.
Tyson Saunders’ charges fought valiantly in a 9.9 (63) to 5.8 (38) loss to start the carnival, but were knocked over by 82 points by their north east rivals with Shepparton United’s Liam Sofra impressing.
Unfortunately for the Bushrangers’ girls, the tuned-up opposition was far too much to handle as Goulburn Murray suffered two heavy defeats to GWV and North East Border.
Meanwhile, a Shepparton United product graced the hallowed turf of the MCG before Saturday’s AFL grand final decimation.
Riley Onley lined up for Team Sloane in the AFL Futures match against Team Heppell in a curtain-raiser that showcased the best under-17 talent in the country.
The under-age Murray Bushrangers jet kicked a goal in a 9.16 (70) to 9.9 (63) loss, seeing his star rise even further following a solid performance in the midfield alongside some of Australia’s top 2025 draft prospects.
