Sport

Goulburn Valley products light up the best for Murray Bushrangers

By Callum Farquhar

Aug 10, 2026

Murray Bushrangers' Mackenzie Calleja earned a spot in the best. Photo by Jazzy Johal

While it was a dark day for the Murray Bushrangers on Saturday at La Trobe University, Goulburn Valley exports were a bright light to come out of the loss.

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The Bushrangers copped a 122-point beating to the Gippsland Power, 4.11 (35) to 24.13 (157), conceding an eight-goal to zero first term en route to the damning defeat.

However, positives can be taken from plenty of bottom-age players in the purple and gold colours, as Murray turned to the youth in one of the later rounds of the Talent League season.

Shepparton’s Lincoln Brand was one of the game’s top fantasy points accumulators, notching 23 disposals and seven marks for a return of 82 ranking points - the second most of any Bushranger.

Mooroopna’s Mac Calleja also played strongly with 17 disposals and a goal.

16-year-old players, Shepparton’s Alex Whitlock (17 disposals, six marks), and Tatura’s Patrick McCarthy (11 disposals, four tackles) had influential games also, the latter named in the best for Murray alongside Brand, Calleja and Shepparton’s Ryan Ash.

Over-age selection Ash was deemed the best on ground for Murray as he tallied 22 touches in his second appearance of the season, while another Bears product in Archer Hueston peppered the goals, kicking 1.4 on the day.

Bear Jack Mellington also had a goal from 18 disposals, while Seymour’s Rory Kennedy and Shepparton United’s Lucas O’Hara also featured in the line-up.

The Bushrangers have a bye next week before the Talent League’s final round of the season takes place, Murray’s boys and girls scheduled for Sunday, August 23 against Calder.