The usual stars of the show — the Whitlock twins Matt and Jack — were rested for the Murray Bushrangers’ match on Sunday, but there was still plenty of star power on display.
In round 12 of the Coates Talent League Boys, the Murray Bushrangers played the GWV Rebels at Windy Hill in Essendon.
The match was tightly fought, with both sides featuring Victoria Country-listed players.
In the end, the Rebels were more accurate in front of goal and walked away 10-point victors, with the score finishing 9.7 (61) to 11.5 (71).
Talented Shepparton Swans product Oliver Warburton was the star of the show for the Bushrangers, with the tough midfielder-defender finding plenty of the football across the half-back line.
Warburton collected 30 touches and five marks, with Bushrangers coach Mark Brown full of praise for the young gun.
“I thought it was the best game he has played for the club over the past two years,” he said.
“He played his first national game two weeks ago at half-back, which is not a new position, but it is a new position for him in the Coates Talent League — he has traditionally played more on-ball.
“He was solid in the nationals game, but I thought his game on the weekend was exceptional.
“He rebounded well, he was clean by hand and foot, he made the right decisions, provided plenty of offensive rebounding and defended well when he needed to.”
Shepparton United’s dual-sport athlete Riley Onley also impressed onlookers during the match.
The 195cm midfielder played one of his best games for the season on Sunday, collecting 21 touches and four inside 50s.
The gun basketballer-footballer is in the bottom-age year for the Bushrangers and the Vic Country side, with Brown believing Onley’s stocks will continue to rise.
“Athletically, he is the modern-day AFL footballer,” he said.
“He is 195cm, he has got good speed, and is a big man; he is powerful, and I think he is just starting to understand what he can do with those physical attributes.
“I thought he was clean, he kicks the ball very well, but he is just starting to understand that he can power out of a stoppage and take that ball from inside to out pretty comfortably.
“He continues to grow and develop as a bottom-ager, which is fantastic.”
Euroa’s Cohen Paul (23 touches, six tackles and four inside 50s) worked hard all day for the Bushrangers, while Mansfield’s Max Mahoney (19 touches, seven tackles, six inside 50s and one goal) was also strong.
Brown highlighted the work of mid-sized forward Cooper Holdsworth-Rose (Seymour) in his second game in Bushrangers colours.
“One hundred and ninety centimetres; he (Holdsworth-Rose) comes up to the ball really well and his leading pattern is a strength, so we have been impressed by his two games in and as we roll into nationals — we are in the thick of it now — he will get a few more opportunities,’’ Brown said.
“There is always someone that pops up throughout the national carnival and emerges as a talented Coates Talent League player.”
Vic Country will play in its third match of the Under-18 National Championships, which will be played in Perth on Saturday.
The Whitlock twins will again don the navy blue Big V, while Warburton should be selected after a strong performance in the side’s only other match against South Australia.
Paul also featured in Vic Country’s last match, while Onley will fly to Perth as an emergency player.
In the Coates Talent League Girls, the Murray Bushrangers lost to Geelong Falcons in their round 11 match.
Shepparton United young gun Holly Egan once again led the Bushrangers.
Egan (also captain of the side) collected 19 touches, seven tackles and 10 rebound 50s while playing in defence.
Fellow Demon product Payten Johnston had eight disposals and four tackles for the match.
United had three other players feature in the side, with Matilda Henderson, Zara Findlay and Leila Creevey playing against the Falcons.