‘We just don’t know what to expect’: New era of Murray Bushrangers under-18 girls football begins on Sunday

By Liam Nash

Mar 15, 2023

One to watch: Shepparton Swans product Payten Johnston is expected to be one of the Bushies’ prime movers in 2023. Photo by Megan Fisher

White line fever has well and truly gripped the Murray Bushrangers’ girls camp, with the squad locked and loaded for Sunday’s season opener.

The Bushies’ first foray in the freshly labelled Coates Talent League, formerly the NAB League, arrives with a hit-out against country rival Bendigo Pioneers at Rumbalara’s Mercury Drive complex in round one.

Taking the reins is new head coach Emma Mackie, who said the side was prepped and ready following an extended lead-in to the 2023 campaign.

“It’s really exciting actually, it’s been a longer pre-season for us which is really good,” Mackie said.

“It’s allowed us to focus on developing the girls’ skills and get everyone ready for round one.”

Mackie, a former AFLW player for Hawthorn and St Kilda, was a part of the Bushrangers’ coaching coterie last season as a midfield mentor.

Making the switch to the top job has her undertaking greater responsibility, but she’s placed confidence in the selected group following plenty of pre-season hard yards.

“I’m really looking forward to starting the season as head coach, we’ve put in a good pre-season and we have a great squad with great staff around me. I feel well supported,” she said.

“Round one has come around quite quickly, our schedule is similar to the other country regions in Victoria.

“We had an intra-club match last week, which was a really good hit-out for the girls.”

Taking the reins: Emma Mackie will embark on her first game as Murray Bushrangers under-18 coach this Sunday.

Murray Bushrangers’ girls side finished eighth in last year’s campaign with a ledger of four wins and five losses.

The Pioneers followed two spots behind in 10th, but Mackie says there’ll be no complacency on the field at Mercury Drive come Sunday.

“Every season is a new one, we just don’t know what to expect,” she said.

“I imagine (Bendigo Pioneers) will have talented players out there, but the focus for us is to showcase all our players and highlight their strengths.”

Mackie identified a number of Goulburn Valley talents as impressive throughout the pre-season, with a total of 10 players hailing from the area included in the Murray Bushrangers side.

“Payten Johnston, I think she’ll have a great season as she’s been training really well,” she said.

“Holly Egan is great around the contest and is a tough player, she is a great one to watch.

“Another one is Atong Dang who has developed so well, she was with us last year, but has progressed even since the start of pre-season.”

And while the girls’ contest is Sunday’s big ticket item, the Bushrangers boys will have their chance to hit the park the following weekend when facing Gippsland Power at Morwell Recreation Reserve in round one.