Goulburn Valley-heavy Murray Bushrangers under-16 squad announced

By Liam Nash

Feb 11, 2024

Sofra, so good: Blake Sofra is one of a number of Shepparton-based talents named in the Murray Bushrangers’ under-16 boys’ squad. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

More than half of the Murray Bushrangers’ under-16 boys’ squad is made up of talent shooting up through the Goulburn Valley football scene.

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The squad, announced on Friday night, comprises 31 of the finest young gems from the wider Shepparton, North East and Albury-Wodonga areas.

Of that, 16 ply their trade in the Goulburn Valley bubble.

Shepparton Notre lays claim to the throne regarding best outputs, with four players (Liam Broom, Jack Mellington, Riley Myers and Angus Williams) hailing from the Goulburn Murray Junior League club.

Other sides from the region are well represented as Shepparton United (Archer Hueston, Blake Sofra), Mooroopna (Oscar Emanuelli, Rhys Osborne) and Shepparton Swans (Keelan Phillips) have Bushies-bound players set for the cut and thrust of Coates Talent League action.

Though a fixture hasn’t yet arisen, Murray Bushrangers’ under-16s will play two games throughout the March-April window.

Goulburn Valley-based players

Murray Bushrangers’ under-16 boys’ squad

Codi Bowden (Barooga), Connor Breheny (Benalla Bulldogs), Alex Krause (Cobram), Oscar Emanuelli, Rhys Osborne (Mooroopna), River Freeman (Nathalia), Tanner Armstrong (Rumbalara), Rory Kennedy, Josh Porter (Seymour), Liam Broom, Jack Mellington, Riley Myers, Angus Williams (Shepparton Notre), Keelan Phillips (Shepparton Swans), Archer Hueston, Blake Sofra (Shepparton United)

Meanwhile, a string of Goulburn Valley prospects are gearing up for a shot at state representation in a few months’ time.

Five Bushrangers were successful in earning selection to Victoria Country’s training hub following high-performance training camps late last month.

Shepparton’s Jack and Matt Whitlock, Shepparton Swans’ Oliver Warburton and Shepparton United’s Riley Onley made the grade for Vic Country’s under-18 boys’ training core, while Shepparton Swans’ Holly Egan was the sole local named in the girls’ hub.

The quintet will hope to put its best foot forward in the coming months, with Victoria Country conducting trial matches in April ahead of the 2024 National Championships.