The boys side went into the match as underdog against a quality Dandenong side, but the Bushrangers were not going to let outgoing coach Mark Brown’s time end without a fight.
Undermanned without its top-end draft talent, Murray could have been forgiven for going through the motions but the emerging prospects fought doggedly until the end of the 2025 campaign.
With Brown set to depart for a new role at AFL NSW/ACT, the Bushrangers boys gave it their all to send off the stalwart with pride.
Consecutive goals to Toby Hunt stunned the favourites early in the piece as the Bushrangers extracted the opening lead of the game.
In an arm wrestle affair, scoring dried up for long periods in the first half, but after its jump out the blocks the Bushrangers gradually relinquished its buffer.
Over time Dandenong replied with goals of its own, tallying three in a row to take a seven-point half-time lead, 3.2 (20) to 2.1 (13).
The Stingrays’ quality kicked into overdrive in the second half, as Murray’s gallant efforts began to not be enough to stem the bleeding.
Three goals to one in the low-scoring affair opened up a healthy 19-point advantage for Dandenong at three-quarter time, before the Murray youngsters left their heart and soul on the field in a desperate final half an hour of the season, both sides exchanging a goal each.
Five behinds in the term to the Stingrays increased the lead slightly by the final siren however, with the Bushrangers falling in gritty fashion 7.9 (51) to 4.3 (27).
On Sunday, the Bushrangers girls advanced to a preliminary final after snatching a come-from-behind win.
The gripping battle saw Murray lead Gippsland through the first half, holding a 14-point lead at the main break, but the Power would challenge the Bushrangers’ belief in the third term.
Gippsland, which finished the season above Murray, clicked into second gear with the breeze at Shepley Oval, slotting five goals to one to take an 11-point lead at the final change.
Although the Bushrangers would now have the wind advantage, the mental challenge of scoreboard pressure remained, but the girls stepped up to the plate to cause a Power outage.
Ripping the wires from the switchboard, goals to Majella Day and Carmella Perri returned the lead in Murray’s favour, but the girls weren’t satisfied yet.
Six goals for the term to Gippsland’s one bested the Power’s third quarter sparks, resulting in a euphoric 11.5 (71) to 8.4 (52) victory to the Bushrangers.
The under-18s side head into a preliminary final, and should they continue their run of form, they’ll be headed to the Talent League decider on September 20.
