Oliver Munro, Will Le Deux, Sam Thomson and Angus Murray are the four Lions selected in the Bushies’ pre-season training squad, with the program officially beginning last Sunday.
Confirming the squad last week, the Bushies have chosen a record 101 boys to undertake their arduous pre-season training program, with a relatively even split between the Goulburn Murray and North East Border regions.
Undertaking a slightly different selection process for the 2023 season, Murray Bushrangers regional talent lead Mick Wilson explained why such a large squad was chosen.
“It is a big group, but that is relevant to the fact the past couple of years have been interrupted due to COVID-19 and we haven’t been able to do as much scouting on this group,” Wilson said.
“All of the players that were nominated this year were invited to do a test and trial day. Normally we’d be very selective about that, but due to those interrupted COVID seasons we just invited all of them.
“We were very cautious of not missing any kids, so that’s why it’s such a large group.”
The 2022 campaign was relatively successful for the Bushies, who finished ninth on the ladder before falling to eventual NAB League champions Sandringham Dragons in an elimination final.
Wilson said he was confident that with the talent identified in this pre-season squad there would be scope for improvement.
“At this stage it is probably looking a little bit stronger (than last year), but things can change very quickly,” he said.
“We actually weren’t very far away from winning it last season. Sandringham just beat us and nobody got close to them after that.
“All last season we didn’t get the chance to put our full-strength side on the park until that last game, so hopefully with a bit more luck this group can have a successful year in 2023.”
The final squad for the boys NAB League season will be selected in early February.
