MURRAY Bushrangers might have only picked up the one victory, but had far more talent on paper than results suggested. Early blowouts impacted the team’s percentage, but Murray was far more competitive in the backend of the season, particularly against sides outside the top few where the Bushrangers could have won a couple more games.

2024 SEASON DETAILS:

RECORD: 13th Overall | 7th Country | 1-13 | 39.00%
STREAK: L | LLL | LLLLLLLLLW

THE STORY:

Murray Bushrangers naturally have one of the more challenging regions in terms of travel and getting playing groups together, thus having struggled over the past couple of years in terms of wins and losses. But once full strength – regaining their Giants Academy members – the Bushrangers were ultra competitive and perhaps left a few potential wins out there fading late in a couple of games. Fortunately the Bushrangers ensured they would not go through a season winless, picking up a victory in the final round against Bendigo Pioneers.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

It was impossible to go past the Round 17 win over Bendigo as the highlight of the year. A close first half was followed by a strong third term where Murray booted three goals to nil and opened up a 26-point lead. While the Pioneers hit back with the last three goals of the game at home, by that stage the visitors had extended the margin out to an unassailable 36 points. Ellie Hall (39 disposals, five marks, eight tackles and 12 inside 50s) was outstanding and brought her own ball to the match, while Majella Day and Eliza Roche combined for five goals, the latter 2.5.

THE STAR:

While Hall had some huge games, from a full season perspective, top-age skipper Holly Egan was a constant in the side. Capable of playing on all three lines, she was primarily deployed as a rebounding defender, though had plenty of midfield time in between, rotating with a number of teammates including Hall and Sophia Green.

Standing at 176cm, Egan produced seven games of 25 or more disposals,, including two 30-plus disposal games in the run-home. Her form across the last three rounds of the season was sublime, averaging 27.0 disposals, 5.0 marks, 6.0 tackles and 5.7 rebound 50s. Egan also got her chance at Vic Country and looms as one of the Bushrangers’ top prospect with Hall, earning a National Draft Combine invite and looking to join sister Grace (Richmond) at AFLW level.

THE MAINSTAYS:

No doubt Murray would have loved to have had Hall for more than five games given she produced four 30-plus disposal performances, as well as averaging 8.2 marks, 9.0 tackles and 5.6 rebound 50s to go with 26.6 disposals between her Bushrangers and Giants Academy commitments.

Left-footed talent Madison Ibrahim had some great moments for the Bushrangers across the course of the season, being deployed from half-back to the wing and then on the inside. Boasting some athletic traits, she has future improvement potential. The other name who has put up some strong performances over the last two years is Tamika Rourke who was limited in her season to just seven games, but did get a chance with both the Giants Academy and Allies.

THE FUTURE:

The positive news for the Bushrangers is the stack of future talent at Murray’s disposal, headlined by some mammoth performances from double bottom-ager, Green. She, along with Rose Bell and Day (the latter two both Giants Academy members) were outstanding, while Roche is a raw talent who is also a part of the 2026 AFLW Draft crop.

Next year the Bushrangers also have some exciting prospects with Molly McLaren missing a fair chunk of the season due to injury, but she and tackling machine Nikhita Spiteri will headline next year’s crop. One player who had a barn-storming finish to the year was Rain Dodd who looms as a high-upside prospect. She can play as a wing or out of defence, but has the traits to also go inside as well.