What happened to the players from the 2010 Murray Bushrangers?

It was the 2010 edition and, in particular, the page dedicated to the Bushrangers.

The best junior pigskin kickers from the Goulburn Valley donned the black, purple and gold that year playing in the then-named TAC Cup.

A couple from the squad have gone on to become household names with Collingwood pair Jack Crisp (Myrtleford) and Jamie Elliott (Euroa) two players still on AFL lists.

Plenty achieved their dream of making it to the big time such as Wodonga Raiders’ Shaun Atley (234 games for North Melbourne) and Jon Ceglar (110 games at Hawthorn and Geelong) and Alpine Eagles’ Matt Taberner (125 games and 173 goals for Fremantle).

North Albury’s Anthony Miles (88 games at Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and Gold Coast) and Benalla’s Josh Mellington (six games at Fremantle) also spent time in football’s top flight.

Finley product Mark Whiley played for GWS and Carlton in 21 matches across five seasons before returning home and featuring in last year’s Murray Football League grand final loss to Congupna.

In terms of a Goulburn Valley focus, the following players may not have had their names called out on draft night, but that hasn’t stopped them from having a profound impact on football in the region.

Towering tall Ash Holland has made a name for himself as the best ruckman in the Goulburn Valley — if not the best Victorian country ruck full stop.

Success has followed Holland as he won a Goulburn Valley League premiership with Shepparton in 2018 before securing back-to-back flags and a league best-and-fairest for Picola District Football League side Waaia.

Upon returning to Shepparton, Holland won the 2024 GVL best-and-fairest award and is arguably the club's most important player.

The Bears will be hoping their turn for a puff of Dutchie can help secure the club's next flag.

Also playing in the 2010 Bushies side was Holland's future Shepparton premiership teammate and now co-coach of the Bears Xavier Stevenson.

The turbo-charged midfielder spent one year playing amateurs in Sydney, followed by a two-term stint coaching Tungamah in the PDFL.

Stevenson returned to Shepparton in 2023 and has been integral to the Bears’ sharp rise.

Another 2010 Bushie who has made an impact in the coaching space is Congupna’s Ben Bingham.

Despite playing some senior football for Shepparton United during the club’s back-to-back GVL flags across 2010-11, Bingham didn’t get a taste of senior football premiership success until last season when he coached Murray league club Congupna to a drought-breaking flag.

Kyabram’s Liam Ogden was also a 2010 Bushranger and will be an important part to the Bombers’ charge towards the GVL premiership later this year.

Then-Tocumwal gun Tim Garlick was noted in The News’ footy bible as a young gun to watch having played in a Bloods’ senior premiership at 15.

Shepparton Swans (Liam Sabri) and Tatura (Jayden Young) had one player each in the squad.

One of Mulwala’s two representatives in the team was Sean Johns who is currently co-coach of Tungamah in the PDFL.