Eleven players from the Echuca Moama locality were among the 57-strong under-18 preliminary squad, and six have now moved on to the final list, announced on March 24.
Echuca’s Tom Evans, Darby Jones, Cody Walker and Angus Watson all moved on to the final list of 48 names, as did Moama’s Thomas Naujok and Tongala’s Jessie Johnstone.
The Pioneers also named an under-18 development squad, which is filled with local talent.
Echuca’s Ned Ash-Townrow, Kristian Fitzsimmons and Liam Gronow, Moama’s Rhys Drennan and Max McCarty, and Tongala’s Hudson Kellett will all have the opportunity to grow within the Pioneers’ development system.
The under-16 squad was announced a couple of weeks earlier, on March 12, and features 30 names.
Three Echuca players feature on the list — Liam Beasley, Taj Fleming and Munyari Johnson-Wanganeen — with the trio joined by Leitchville-Gunbower’s Mac Ryan.
Both the under-18 and under-16 squads kick off their season on Saturday, March 29 at Highgate Reserve in Craigieburn.
The under-18 girls’ squad will get its season under way the following Saturday, April 5, at the Wangaratta Showgrounds.
The under-16 girls have already completed their two scheduled fixtures, first defeating Gippsland Power 9.8 (62) to 2.4 (16) on March 1, before getting the better of Murray Bushrangers 7.3 (45) to 6.4 (40) on March 15.
