MURRAY Bushrangers made a preliminary final for the second Talent League Girls season in a row off the back of a solid 2026 campaign. The Bushrangers finished third in the Country Conference, but stepped up during the finals series to push Oakleigh Chargers all the way in the penultimate weekend.

SEASON 2026

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 6
Lost: 8

BEST PERFORMANCE

Quarter Final: def. Tasmania Devils by four points

Despite coming in as the underdogs down on the Apple Isle, the Bushrangers upstaged the Devils at KGV Oval in Glenorchy, winning by four points in a quarter final thriller. The Bushies got up 6.3 (39) to 5.5 (35) to book a preliminary final place against Oakleigh Chargers. Camela Perri (31 disposals, four tackles) and Evie Henley (18 disposals, three marks, six tackles and a goal) were both productive as always, while Murray had six different goalkickers in the win.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Eliza Roche (Wodonga Raiders)
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 03/03/2008

Stats [12 games]: 16.0 disposals, 2.1 marks, 6.2 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 3.7 inside 50s, 11 goals

A smart forward who oozes X-factor and boasts plenty of tricks, Roche earned a National Draft Combine invite off the back of 11 goals in 12 games, while also earning some midfield minutes throughout the course of the season. A tackling machine, Roche defies her lighter body with a ferocious attack on the ball and opponent, with plenty of development still to come for the exciting forward.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Rose Bell (Lavington)
Tall Utility | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats [11 games]: 16.6 disposals, 3.8 marks, 4.1 tackles, 1.2 clearances, 2.4 inside 50s, 5.6 rebound 50s, 11 goals

Capable of playing up both ends, Bell spent the bulk of her time in defence where she held up strongly and consistently rebounded. One of the most naturally smart players in the draft crop, Bell reads the ball exceptionally well, gets into great positions and is hard to beat one-on-one. While not as athletic as her contemporaries, what Bell lacks in that area, she make up for in just about everything else. A traditional footballer who has a booming kick and clunks grabs for fun.

Skylah McPherson (Wangaratta Rovers)
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 22/01/2008

Stats [10 games]: 18.2 disposals, 2.2 marks, 9.9 tackles, 2.9 clearances, 3.5 inside 50s, 1.2 rebound 50s, 12 goals

Really coming along in leaps and bounds, while McPherson unfortunately missed crucial preliminary final loss to Oakleigh, she showed enough throughout the year to catch the eye of AFLW club recruiters. McPherson brings the heat at ground level, and while predominantly a forward, certainly had her moments around the ball as well. Held her own during the national carnival as well, and with areas to improve such as that final execution, there is more to come.

Carmela Perri (Wodonga Raiders)
Midfielder | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats [12 games]: 27.5 disposals, 2.9 marks, 9.3 tackles, 3.6 clearances, 3.9 inside 50s, 1.8 rebound 50s, 4 goals

Perri is another Bushranger who is enormous defensively, laying more than nine tackles per match in the Talent League Girls season and covering the ground with ease. Boasting a superior speed-endurance mix, Perri has the athletic traits that standout, and while tidying up her execution by foot is the next step, she continues to battle on and competes strongly in the air, improved her repeat contest impact and finished as the Bushies’ most prolific ball-winner.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Murray boasts a couple of top-end talents next year who had brilliant Under 16s campaigns in 2025, with Evie Henley also eligible for the Giants Academy while Charlie Gibson is a New South Wales resident and therefore Allies tied too, though ins a similar position to Bell in not being Giants Academy-tied. Both had big seasons this year, with Henley earning her side’s MVP in the recent National Futures match at Windy Hill.

Other bottom-agers include Nikkita Nixon – who was a late call-up to the Futures game – a clever forward, while Crystal Holdsworth has shown promising signs as a defender-midfielder. Dynamic small forward Ebony Chapman was another Bushranger who booted double-digit goals in the 2026 season. From a double bottom-age group, Natalie and Abbie Spokes both had good introductions to Talent League football, while Ruby Newton booted nine goals across eight games.