The under-19 and under-17 squads have been selected and now all eyes turn to the start of their respective 2021 campaigns.
The Murray boys will kick-off their season on April 4, Easter Sunday at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve in a mouth-watering double-header.
And Bushies coach Mark Brown will have a 44-player under-19 squad — consisting of 17 Goulburn Valley products — to pick from.
Shepparton United has the most representation (six) on the under-19 list, with Zavier Maher, Kade Chalcraft, Jhett Cooper, Bowen Calogero, Kaedyn Napier and Fergus Pinnuck named.
Shepparton and Shepparton Swans both have three youngsters on the roster.
Swans juniors Ethan Warburton and Diesel Batey are joined by fellow Swan and AFL National Academy player Josh Rachele.
The trio of Bears talents are headlined by livewires Jayden Gagliardi, Matt Pellegrino and Achoung Agog.
Euroa doubles up with gun pair Ben Bath and Tom Panuccio, while exciting prospect Tom Brown waves the flag for Mooroopna.
And Cobram's Harry Beasley and Finley product Ben Ashley-Cooper (Lavington) round out the district list.
But the process of finalising the squad was unlike any other according to Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson.
“It was different to other years,” Wilson said.
“We brought back players from the 2020 squads, with exception for a few over-age players, so it's effectively last year's group.
“And normally it's around 70-80 players who we have come and train over the pre-season, but we didn't do it like that. We thought it was only fair for those that made it last year to come back."
Just like the selection process, there are multiple changes to the NAB League following last year's cancelled season.
It will be the first time the elite pathway competition moves from an under-18 to under-19 age group, while each NAB League club will be aligned to two VFL clubs.
Which will allow for the Bushies’ players to get a taste of football with their aligned VFL outfits — Collingwood or Richmond.
“While this is our squad for the start, we have the option to bring in players who perform well during the season,” Wilson said.
“With NAB League clubs being aligned to two VFL outfits, which will help support the top-age players, there will be possibilities for inclusions in the squad.”
Meanwhile, a Mooroopna product Brown starred at the NAB League boys testing day at the weekend.
The day had 458 of Victoria's top junior under-19 talents go through their paces in a range of tests.
Brown, brother of Geelong AFLW player Millie, aced the vertical jump, running vertical jump and agility tests, finishing top-10 in all three.
Brown scored 8.02 on the agility test — third best — while scoring 94cm and 75cm in the running vertical jump and vertical jump, respectively.
Shepparton Swans duo Warburton and Rachele finished inside the top-10 in the running vertical jump.
Murray Bushrangers under-19 squad
Harry Beasley (Cobram), Ben Bath, Tom Panuccio (Euroa), Ben Ashley-Cooper (Lavington), Tom Brown, (Mooroopna), Matt Pellegrino, Achoung Agog, Jayden Gagliardi (Shepparton), Josh Rachele, Ethan Warburton, Diesel Batey (Shepparton Swans), Zavier Maher, Kade Chalcraft, Jhett Cooper, Bowen Calogero, Fergus Pinnuck, Kaedyn Napier (Shepparton United).
Murray Bushrangers under-17 squad
Matteo Allen (Cobram), Fletcher Paul (Euroa), Zander Nash (Finley), Bailey Smith (Katunga), Kydan Atkinson, Coby James (Mooroopna), Ash Atkinson (Rumbalara), Alex Elliott, Nick Quigg, Jack Davey (Seymour), Boston Dowling (Shepparton), Max Clohesy (Shepparton Swans), Ryan Calogero, Charlie Di Stefano (Shepparton United), Angus Murray (Tabilk), Brayden George (Wangaratta Rovers), Tom Gorman (Yarrawonga).
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