A pair of district players have put in fantastic shifts for Murray Bushrangers, while Holly Egan continued her goal-scoring streak to start the new Coates Talent League season.
Taking on the Northern Knights, Coby James (Mooroopna) and Oscar Ryan (Shepparton United) had more than 20 disposals in the Bushrangers boys’ seven-point loss on Saturday.
James kicked two goals to go with his 22 touches in a best-on-ground performance, with Ryan also collecting 22 possessions.
It was the second game in a row that 17-year-old James has accrued more than 20 possessions, picking up 24 disposals in round one against the Gippsland Power.
James had 15 kicks, seven handballs, three marks and seven inside 50s against the Knights, while Ryan had 16 kicks, six handballs, six marks and seven rebound 50s.
Bushrangers coach Mark Brown was full of praise for the way James and Ryan performed at the weekend.
“They are two of our standout players. They are both top-end Coates League players for mine,” Brown said.
“Coby is in the Vic Country squad and is a really impressive footballer. He’s got solid fundamentals, athletically he is flawless.
“The way his game has rounded out, he is a first-touch footballer. He uses it well and he hit the scoreboard on the weekend.
“We consider Oscar a Vic Country-calibre player. He is combative, he is competitive. He makes the right decisions at the right time.
“His first two games have been solid, I thought his game on the weekend was better than round one, and that is saying something.”
The Bushrangers fell to 0-2 to start the season after letting a three-quarter time lead slip.
The Bushies were ahead by 16 points at the final change, but a seven-goal-to-three last term had the Knights storm back to hit the front late and snatch a 13.9 (87) to 12.8 (80) victory.
“We were in control for a majority of the game, so to not finish off and take the four points is a disappointing result, in particularly for the boys,” Brown said.
“From our perspective it is all about developing the kids, so we don’t get wrapped up in the winning and losing side of things. Having said that, you do like some validation for what you are doing and you get that from winning.”
Brown said he hoped the playing group could take the lessons learned from the manner of Saturday’s defeat and implement them down the road.
“The boys get a really good education around game management and what they need to do in those periods of the game where we lose ascendancy,’’ he said.
“What we hope is when we are in a similar position in two months’ time that we see a distinct change in the method.”
Joeve Cooper (Shepparton Swans) had 14 disposals and kicked 1.2 against the Knights.
His Swans teammate Lucas Rachele had seven touches, while Bears brothers Jack and Matt Whitlock had four and 10 possessions, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Bushrangers girls are still chasing their first win of the season after they too fell to Northern Knights.
The Bushrangers were efficient in front of goal kicking 5.1, but they were outclassed by a Knights side that booted 10.10 to run out a 39-point winner.
Ellie Armstrong (Shepparton Swans) had nine kicks and three handballs for the Bushies, her second game in a row with double digit disposals.
Egan (Shepparton Swans) had 12 touches as well – three kicks and nine handballs – as well as four marks.
She also kicked a goal on Saturday, the third match in a row Egan has been on the scoresheet.
Egan is the only Bushies player to have kicked truly in every game this season.
Payten Johnston and Olivia McGie played in their third Bushies game of the season, each picking up nine touches.
The Bushrangers are 0-3 and sit in 14th spot on the ladder.