MURRAY Bushrangers had to wait until the final round of the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls season to pick up their first win, but in 2025, that all changed as the Country region stormed into finals and even upset the higher ranked Gippsland Power in the elimination final.

SEASON 2025

SNAPSHOT

Played: 14
Won: 8
Lost: 6

BEST PERFORMANCE

Elimination Final: def. Gippsland Power by 19 points

In a memorable finals win after a number of years with little success on the scoreboard, Murray made it count. They came back from conceding five goals in the third term to pile on six in the last and run over the top of the highly-fancied Power. Majella Day booted three goals, while Ellie Hall and Nikhita Spiteri both found plenty of the ball and were fierce defensively in the win.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE

Nil.

STATE DRAFT COMBINE

Rain Dodd (Wodonga Raiders)
Utility | 165cm | 13/01/2007

Stats [15 games]: 16.8 disposals, 1.6 marks, 4.9 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 2.1 inside 50s, 1.9 rebound 50s, 2 goals

The sole Bushrangers Draft Combine invitee captained Vic Country at the 2025 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, largely playing out of defence. Dodd’s versatility is a great point of difference, with the competitive and tough utility able to role on-ball, up forward or off a wing, which allows her to fit into any setup. She finds her own ball, is courageous and shows great defensive and repeat efforts all over the ground.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Murray’s future prospects are bright, with bookends Majella Day and Rose Bell holding down key roles, while the hard-running Sophia Green roams the midfield. Day (16 goals) and Bell (15 goals) both had their share of moments before the latter was rotated into defence and finished with 20 rebound 50s from 28 touches in the loss to Eastern. Green laid 112 tackles throughout the season and can equally play off half-back or even forward, showing great versatility as well.

Other bottom-agers who have impressed at different points include forwards Skylah McPherson and Eliza Roche, strong midfielder/forward Carmela Perri, and defenders Lana Carroll and Constance Dodd. The group has a strong core of high-upside players who can only further improve, before looking at the double bottom-agers. Tall midfield duo Charlie Gibson and Evie Henley are stars of the future and should see more on-ball minutes in 2026 after mostly playing up either end this year.