Sport

Murray Bushranger hopefuls announce themselves at V/Line Cup

By Josh Huntly

Sep 28, 2026

Mooroopna's Kobe Freer was in the thick of the action at this year's V/Line Cup. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A host of rising Goulburn Murray footy stars took their chance to put their best foot forward at one of Victorian football’s pathway proving grounds.

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The annual V/Line Cup calls on the country Victoria’s premier under-15 talents to compete against rival Talent League-tied squads, and this year three Murray Bushranger squads descended on Gippsland to test their mettle and thrust their names forward as future Bushies hopefuls.

And several next-generation guns took their opportunity with glee.

The division one Bushrangers were dealt a pair of tight defeats, but in a narrow five-point loss to the Bendigo Pioneers at the Traralgon Showgrounds, Nagambie sharpshooter Flynn Bush’s fine year in front of the sticks continued.

After booting a century of goals for home club Nagambie, Bush proved a danger at representative level as well, booting an equal game-high two goals as the Bushies went blow-for-blow with the Pios, a feat he repeated in game two against Greater Western Victoria (GWV).

Mooroopna’s Kobe Freer was also a prominent contributor for the Bushies in game one, booting a pair of goals himself and earning a mention in the sides top six players alongside Nathalia’s Caleb Russell and Nagambie’s Billy Harrison.

Harrison was again a threat in the 13-point defeat to GWV, kicking two goals as the Bushies eyed off overturning a 35-point half-time deficit.

In division two, the Bushrangers also tasted a five-point loss to Bendigo, but not for a lack of trying from Seymour’s Levi Brown, who impressed at Traralgon Showgrounds to take out best-on-ground honours.

Mooroopna’s Abel Huggard and Shepparton’s Hayden Feltham also earned a mention in the best players, while Brown again shone in another tight encounter.

The Lion cub was prominent again as the Bushies pipped GWV by two points at Ted Summerton Reserve, Huggard in the votes again to end his carnival on a high.

Meanwhile, Nathalia’s Mia and Sienna Heard formed a part of the Bushrangers dominant under-15 girls campaign, the Bushies bettering Bendigo (41 points) and GWV (51) in a flawless campaign.

Goulburn Valley Umpires Association members were also afforded a chance to strut their stuff with the whistle in hand, with boundary umpires Nathan Lloyd and Aiden Maksacheff made the journey across alongside goal-line official Ellee Pleming.