Returning to the field after the Queen’s Birthday break, the Bushies will be desperate to make a return to the winners’ list after dropping their past two games to Gippsland Power and Tasmania.
But the Murray boys will have to do so without the services of their top players from the NSW region, as the Allies team ramps up its preparations for the upcoming under-19 national championships.
Obviously serving as a major blow for Bushrangers coach Mark Brown, he said the unavailabilities would provide a host of under-age players an exciting opportunity at NAB League level.
“Starting to lean into the championships, obviously that changes the profile and look of your side, so a lot of our 17-year-olds will start to get opportunities now which is fantastic,” Brown said.
“A lot of younger guys will get a go this week, so it’ll be good for them to get a look at the competition and standard and hopefully get a better understanding of what they need to achieve to become better AFL footballers.”
Despite being unable to come away with wins in the past month, there has been many positives to take away, with their work around the contest particularly impressive against two of the competition’s top teams.
Now faced with an excellent opportunity against the 12th-placed Pioneers, Brown said his team’s willingness to work and compete would be pivotal in getting the result.
“We go into every game with more of an eye towards development than straight-up victory, but that certainly doesn’t mean we go into the contest without the goal of winning,” he said.
“The side Bendigo rolled out four weeks ago will be completely different to the team we see this weekend, as will ours, so in terms of trying to get a read on them is almost impossible.
“So for us it just starts with being super competitive, what we look for most is that the boys bring 100 per cent effort and are good in the contest.
“The aim for us is to compete ruthlessly and then hopefully from that we start to execute our skills and get the game plan going, but I feel if we can bring that hunger it will go a long way to us winning the game.”
With a number of NSW-based players making way, the Bushies will be buoyed by the return of Shepparton Swans star Max Clohesy from concussion protocols, while local youngsters Oscar Ryan and James Auld will get another opportunity after strong debuts a fortnight ago.
However, they will be missing Tatura product Brayden George for the next six-to-eight weeks after her underwent knee surgery, leaving a gaping hole in the Bushrangers’ forward 50.
Murray Bushrangers take on Bendigo Pioneers in Mildura on Sunday at 11.30am.
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