Richmond Next Generation Academy-tied talent Tanner Armstrong has entered his draft year with serious form, racking up possessions and finding the scoreboard in the Bushrangers’ round one match against Gippsland.
Armstrong tallied a game-high 36 disposals at Kennedy Community Centre in Dingley, and kicked one of Murray’s eight goals on Sunday afternoon.
The Bushrangers fell to the Power by 87 points after a tough first half where they only managed three scoring shots, but would find some resolve and play with pride in the second half to score 13 times to Gippsland’s 17 in a dogged attempt to salvage the deficit.
Murray coach Justin McMahon said the loss was a “real eye-opener” for a Bushrangers team debuting eight faces in the black, purple and gold.
“We did play okay to a certain extent after the first half, but it was a real eye-opener to the boys,” McMahon said.
“They learnt firsthand the level of expectation of Talent League football, so there’s plenty of learnings we’ll take away from this.”
A notoriously windy venue that has generated headlines as Hawthorn’s new AFL training base, McMahon confirmed there was a significant breeze on Sunday.
“There was definitely a four or five goal breeze, which we played against in the first quarter,” McMahon said.
“It certainly wasn’t the reason for the result, but they did mention it’s a strong wind down there.”
McMahon was full of praise for an “impactful” Armstrong, who is set to play three games with the Bushrangers before APS and AFL National Academy duties kick in.
“It’s good to have Tanner back... he was really impactful,” McMahon said.
“He’ll play the first three rounds before he rolls off into the AFL Academy - we don’t have him a whole lot with his other commitments.
“The boys get around him when he plays though, especially the guys who he played a lot of juniors with.”
Those other Shepparton prospects include United’s Blake Sofra and Shepparton’s Archer Hueston, who worked in space to generate four shots on goal, albeit kicking 1.3.
Seymour’s Rory Kennedy and Josh Porter also impressed with 26 disposals and three goals between the pair, while Mooroopna’s Mac Calleja and Rhys Osborne also took to the field at Hawthorn’s training facility, as did Nathalia’s River Freeman and Shepparton’s Hunter Howell.
The under-18s will take on the Bendigo Pioneers next week, set to face Echuca’s Cody Walker, the father-son prodigy tied to Carlton and projected to land the first overall draft pick.
Despite his profile, McMahon will back in a “holistic” game plan.
“It’s more of a holistic approach, we obviously will look for some real improvement across the team front,” he said.
“In the development league it is about showcasing talent, and we don’t have any specific match-ups for specific players.
“It’ll be good to see Cody Walker roll around, and it’ll be a great chance for whoever matches up on him to learn off someone who’s expected to be a high draft pick.”
In the under-16s, the first of two matches for the Bushies season were played.
The under-16s boys played a curtain-raiser for the under-18s clash at Dingley and too were defeated by Gippsland, although by a less significant margin of 36 points.
The Bushrangers led by a point at half-time, thanks to a pair of goals to Shepparton Swans product Levi Duffy, but would kick just three goals to nine after the main break.
Cobram’s Eamon Hyde impressed and earned votes in the best, while Swans Lennix and Naite Mellington, Sidney Nihill (Tatura), Oliver Wilson (Euroa), and Nate Warrin (Shepparton United) all also had a kick of the Sherrin.
The under-16s will again play before the under-18s against the Pioneers in Wangaratta next week.
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