Murray Bushrangers
Australian rules football club
Murray Bushrangers Full name Murray Bushrangers Football Club Nickname(s) Bushrangers After finals 7th Home-and-away season 7th of 18 Leading goalkicker Joshua Murphy (30) Best and fairest Joe Berry & Max Mahoney Founded 1993; 31 years ago (1993 ) Colours Black Indigo GoldCompetition Talent League Coach Mark Brown Premierships Talent League (2) 1998, 2008Ground(s) Norm Minns Oval , Wangaratta (capacity: 12,000)Official website MBFC website
The Murray Bushrangers is an Australian rules football team playing in Victorian statewide under-18s competition, presently known as the Talent League , since 1993 based in Wangaratta . The team trains on Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta.
The Under 18's boys team has been coached by Mark Brown from 2019 to 2024. The guernsey colours are Black, Purple and Gold, with black socks and black (home) or white (away) shorts.
The Bushrangers have produced some of the elite Australian Football League players through the AFL Draft including Daniel Cross , Brett Deledio , Steele Sidebottom , Steve Johnson , Jarrad Waite , Kayne Pettifer , Justin Koschitzke , Hamish McIntosh , Barry Hall , Fraser Gehrig , Ben Mathews , Steven King , Robert Campbell , Alipate Carlile , David Mundy , Shannon Byrnes & Laitham Vandermeer in recent years.
Club history
The TAC Cup was established in 1992 following the disbandment of the VFL Under 19's competition, due to the ceasing of the Victorian state geographical zoning regions and was initially ran by the Victorian State Football League .
The Murray Bushrangers are based at Wangaratta , near the Victoria-NSW border and have been involved in the competition since 1993 when the competition added another four country teams, which brought the number of teams to twelve regions. The club's original home ground was at the W J Findlay Oval, Wangaratta between 1993 and 2011, before they moved into the new Wangaratta Sports Development Centre on the Norm Minns Oval at the Wangaratta Showgrounds in 2012.
The Murray Bushrangers supports local talent squads at Under 15 and Under 16 levels and co-ordinates the talented player pathways program for young aspiring AFL players throughout the North East and Goulburn Valley regions.
While the Murray Bushrangers forms an initial career path to the AFL for some, for many others it provides an outstanding experience of elite under 18 football, giving players a solid foundation for a successful playing and or coaching pathway at regional level.
Following season 1999 , the AFL Reserves Grade was terminated leaving AFL clubs without a place to field their reserves players. The Kangaroos, together with the Ovens and Murray Football League launched their own stand-alone VFL club in the Victorian Football League called the Murray Kangaroos Football Club . The club's home games were split between Coburg City Oval in Melbourne, and Lavington Oval in Albury-Wodonga .[ 1]
The side was made up with players from the Kangaroos, topped up with players from the Ovens and Murray Football League , and offering a second chance to players from the statewide under-18s Murray Bushrangers team who had missed out on the draft.
At the end of 2002, The Murray Kangaroos disbanded the club citing pressure from the AFL, and cost-cutting measures (the club cost around $100,000 a year to field). North Melbourne instead decided to align with the Port Melbourne Football Club in a short-term deal.[ 2]
Murray lost in the 2007 TAC Cup Grand Final to the Calder Cannons by 50 points and Ben McEvoy was selected in the TAC Team of the Year. 2008 saw the Bushrangers dominate the entire competition season finishing 1st at season end and defeating the Dandenong Stingrays by 81 points in the 2008 grand final and midfielder-forward Steele Sidebottom had a game-high 32 possessions and kicked 10.3 claiming best on ground honours.[ 3] [ 4]
The club has had three players who have won the League's best and fairest award, the Morrish Medal, Derek Murray (1997), Farran Priest (2008) and Clayton Oliver (2015). Interestingly, back in 1959, former Wangaratta Football Club player, Dom Glassenbury won the Morrish Medal when playing for Fitzroy Football Club Under 19's.[ 5] as of 2024, Glassenbury still resides in Wangaratta.
Grand Finals
Steele Sidebottom: Collingwood FC
Under 18's Boys
Under 18's Girls
2017 - Murray Bushrangers finished 2nd on the ladder.[ 8]
Statistical Record
Steve Johnson: Geelong FC
Josh Fraser: Collingwood FC
TAC Cup / Club Stats
Premierships (2): 1998, 2008
Runners-up (3): 2003, 2007, 2016
Minor Premiers (4): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008
Wooden Spoons: Nil. (lowest: 13th of 18 in 2023)
Grand Final Best On Ground Medalist: Michael Stevens (1998), Steele Sidebottom (2008)
Most goals in a grand final: 10 - Steele Sidebottom (2008)
Morrish Medalist: Derek Murray (1997), Farran Priest (2008) Clayton Oliver (2015)
Leading U/18 Goalkicker: Josh Schache 34 (2015), Joshua Murphy 30 (2024),
No.1 Draft Pick (Allen Aylett Medal): Josh Fraser (2000), Brett Deledio (2004)
MB Games Record Holder: Derek Murray (48 games)
MB Goals Record Holer: Adam Prior (85 Goals)
MB Most goals in a season:
MB Most goals in game: 8 - Daniel Johnson: 2017.[ 9] Others ?
TAC CUP Coach of the Year award winners: Nil
Highest Score: MB: 28.12 - 180 d Sandringham Dragons: 8.7 - 55. Rd.8, 2003
Lowest Score: Calder Cannons: 16.14 - 110 d MB: 2.6 - 18. Grand Final, 2003
Most consecutive wins: 15 from Rd.9 2008 to Rd.1 2009.[ 10] (no available records between 1994 & 1999)
Longest serving coach: Kelly O'Donnell : 1994 - 2000 (seven seasons)
AFL Stats (by former MBFC players)
Yearly Ladder Placings (1993 - 2023)
1st*: Minor premiers
1st: Bold - Major premiers
MBFC / AFL Draft Selections
The following 165 former Murray Bushranger footballers were drafted / traded to an AFL club, with 125 (77%) of these players going onto to play senior AFL football (in bold). 41 drafted players have not played senior AFL football as of the 25th July 2024.
"BR": B. Rookie; MSRD": - Mid season rookie draft; "P": Pre-Season Draft; "PSSS": Pre season supplemental selection; "R": Rookie Draft; "T": - Trade; "Z": - Zone.
Jack Crisp: Collingwood FC
Year
Draft No's
Murray Bushrangers FC - Player's Name
1993
2
Fraser Gehrig : No.5, Paul Lewis : No.30
1994
5
Joel Smith : No.5, Shane Sikora : No.12, Adem Yze : No.16, Shaun Gordon No. 86, Steven King : P.
1995
6
Luke Trew : No.14, Barry Hall : No.19, Andrew Lamb : No.36, Leigh Marshall : Z, Ben Mathews : Z, Adam Houlihan : P.
1996
4
Rory Hilton : No.3, Hayden Lamaro : No.30, Ben Parker : No.86, Nathan Tresize : No.14R.
1997
7
Joel McKay : No.15, Brad Stephens : No.27, Joshua Robertson : No.46, Leigh Newton : No.3P, Brad Campbell : No.15P, Adam Coghlan : No.3P, Heath Younie : No.59R
1998
6
Michael Stevens : No.5, Murray Vance : No.6, Chris Lamb : No.13, Aaron Henneman : No.25, Derek Murray : No.54, Ricky Symes : No.61.
1999
7
Josh Fraser : No.1, Adam Butler : No.46, Andrew Mills : No.52, Robert Forster-Knight : No.72, Ryan Houlihan : No.73, Matthew Shir : No.83, Adam Mathews : No.92.
2000
12
Justin Koschitzke : No.2, Kayne Pettifer : No.9, Blake Campbell : No.31, Allan Murray : No.35, Chris Hyde : No.40, Sean O'Keeffe : No.46, Daniel Cross : No.56, Luke Hammond : No.59, Marc Bullen : No.63, Robert Campbell : No.27R, Craig Ednie : No.52R, David Teague : No.57R.
2001
7
Steve Johnson : No.24, Mark Powell : No.28, Simon O'Keefe : No.34, Justin Davies : No.39, Mark McGough : No.43, Jarrad Waite : No.46, Josh Houlihan : No.49
2002
4
Hamish McIntosh : No.9, Luke Mullins : No.7P, Jonathon McCormick : No.1R, Shannon Byrnes : No.40R.
2003
5
Kane Tenace : No.3, Ryley Dunn : No.10, David Mundy : No.19, Ben Cosgriff : No.11R, Luke Taylor : No.59R.
2004
3
Brett Deledio : No.1, Chris Egan : No.10, Michael Newton : No.43.
2005
3
Marcus Drum : No.10, Beau Muston : No.22, Alipate Carlile : No.44
2006
3
Ben Reid : No.8 , Tim Looby : No.40R, Adam Prior : No.61R, Sam Rowe : No.62R
2007
5
Ben McEvoy : No.9, Dawson Simpson : No.34, Daniel Boyle: No.31R, Dean Terlich : No.61R, Jarrod Harbrow : No.27R
2008
4
Jack Ziebell : No.9, Steele Sidebottom : No.11, Sam Wright : No.27, Caleb Tiller: No.80.
2009
8
Sam Reid : No.38, Brayden Norris: No.53, Taylor Duryea : No.69, Andrew Browne : No.94, Tom Rockliff : No.5P, Jamason Daniels: No.14R, Kayde Klemke: No.50R, Dylan McNeil: No.75R.
2010
5
Shaun Atley : No.17, Josh Mellington : No.56, Jonathon Ceglar : T, Sam Schulz : Z, Mark Whiley : Z.
2011
6
Patrick Wearden : No.47, Lachlan Smith : No.17R, Jack Crisp : No.40R, Jamie Elliott : T, Tim Segrave : Z, Anthony Miles : Z.
2012
7
Tom Clurey : No.29, Josh Prudden : No.50, Dean Terlich : No.68, Jack Crisp : No.86, Matt Taberner : No.11R, Cadeyn Williams : No.40R, Zac Williams : No.54R.
2013
4
Jarman Impey : No.21, Nick Holman : No.51, Matt Taberner : No.70, Zac Williams : No.95,
2014
7
Caleb Marchbank : No.6, Daniel Howe : No.31, Nathan Drummond : No.52, Dougal Howard : No.56, Sam Schulz : No.1R, Max King : No.19R, Kayne Turner : No.25R.
2015
5
Josh Schache : No.2, Clayton Oliver : No.4, Mitch King : No.42, Nicholas Couglan : No.23R, Kyle Galloway : No.59R
2016
11
Will Brodie : No.9, Jy Simpkin : No.12, Todd Marshall : No.16, Esava Ratugolea : No.43, Lachie Tiziani : No.54, Ryan Garthwaite : No.72, Harry Morrison : No.74, James Cousins : No.46R, Max Lynch : No.51R, Alex Keath : No.58R, Zach Sproule : BR
2017
6
Charlie Spargo : No.29, Ben Paton : No.46, Harry Jones : No.7R, Doulton Langlands : No.8R, Nick Holman : No.19R, Josh Prudden : No.35R
2018
7
Ely Smith : No.21, Laitham Vandermeer : No.37, Jacob Koschitzke : No.52, Mathew Walker : No.63, Finbar O'Dwyer : No.66, Jordon Butts : No.39R, Michael Gibbons : PSSS
2019
2
Lachlan Ash : No.4, Alex Keath : No.23T.
2020
3
Elijah Hollands : No.7, Dominic Bedendo : No.55, Nick Murray : PSSS.
2021
5
Josh Rachele : No.6, Tom Brown : No.17, Patrick Parnell : No.4MSRD, Sam Durham : No.9MSRD, Daniel Turner : No.24MSRD.
2022
6
Oliver Hollands : No.11, Brayden George : No.26, Caleb Mitchell : No.40, Joe Richards : No.48, Daniel Howe : No.33R, Kayne Turner : No.39R
2023
5
Connor O'Sullivan : No.11, Phoenix Gothard : No.12, Darcy Wilson : No.18, Oscar Ryan : No.27, Shaun Mannagh : No.36.
2024
5
Toby Murray : No.7MSRD, Joe Berry: No.15, Matt Whitlock: No.27, Jack Whitlock: No.33, Riley Bice: No.41.
TOTAL
(175)
Year
No's
Murray Bushrangers FC - Player's Name
Team of the Year players
The following players were selected in the TAC Cup / NAB Cup / Coates Talent League Under 18 team of the year side.
Year
Player's Name
1993
Fraser Gehrig
1994
Joel Smith
1995
Jason Sheather, Barry Hall
1996
Hayden Lamaro
1997
Matthew Hyde, Heath Younie, Derek Murray
1998
Chris Lamb , Derek Murray
1999
Craig Ednie , Josh Fraser , David Teague
2000
Craig Ednie , Justin Koschitzke , Sean O'Keeffe
2001
Mark McGough , Steve Johnson , Justin Davies
2002
Corey Brown, Hamish McIntosh
2003
Kane Tenace , Ryley Dunn , Lance Oswald
2004
Marcus Drum , Brett Deledio
2005
Tim Looby, Marcus Drum
2006
No player selected
2007
Ben McEvoy
2008
Jack Ziebell , Tom Rockliff , Kade Klemke
2009
Dylan McNeil
2010
Shaun Atley , Anthony Miles
2011
Jack Crisp
2012
Tom Clurey
2013
Michael Gibbons , Nick Holman
2014
Daniel Howe , Nathan Drummond
2015
Josh Schache , Clayton Oliver , Nick Coughlan
2016
Will Brodie , James Cousins
2017
Ben Paton
2018
Lachlan Ash , Jordon Butts , Hudson Garoni, Ely Smith
2019
Lachlan Ash
2020
NAB Cup in recess > COVID-19
2021
Josh Rachele
2022
No player selected
2023
Connor O'Sullivan, Darcy Wilson
2024
The following former Murray Bushrangers FC players were selected in various All Australian sides below.
Barry Hall: Sydney Swans FC
Jack Ziebell: North Melbourne FC
AFL - All Australian Side
Under 18 - All Australian Side
Under 17 - All Australian Side
Year
U/17 - Player's Name
Club
1994
Shaun Gordon
Congupna
1995
Adam Houlihan
Corowa Rutherglen
Leigh Marshall
Deniliquin
2006
Ben Reid
Wangaratta Rovers
Tim McIntyre
Corowa Rutherglen
Ben McEvoy
Dederang / Mt. Beauty
Ryan Normington
Shepparton United
Underage Australian National Championships: Best Player Awards
AFL Rising Star Nominations
The following former Murray Bushrangers players were nominated as an AFL Rising Star.
AFL Club Best & Fairest Award
The following former MBFC players have won an AFL club best and fairest award.
AFL Premiership Players
The following former MBFC players have played in an AFL Premiership team
100 plus AFL Games
David Mundy: Fremantle FC
The following former MBFC players have played 100 plus senior AFL games.
As of 2024, there are -
2 x 300 plus game players
20 x 200 plus game players
37 x 100 game plus players
Career Span
Player
Club(s)
Games
2004 - 2022
David Mundy
Fremantle
376
2009 - 2024
Steele Sidebottom *
Collingwood
324
2002 - 2015
Steve Johnson
Geelong &
253
2016 - 2017
GWS
40 (293)
1996 - 2001
Barry Hall
St. Kilda &
88
2002 - 2009
Sydney Swans &
162
2010 - 2011
Footscray
39 (289)
2008 - 2022
Jack Ziebell
North Melbourne
280
2005 - 2016
Brett Deledio
Richmond &
243
2018 - 2019
GWS
32 (275)
1995 - 2008
Adam Yze
Melbourne
271
2007 - 2010
Jarrod Harbrow
Footscray
70
2011 - 2021
Gold Coast
192 (262)
1995 - 2000
Fraser Gehrig
West Coast &
115
2001 - 2008
St. Kilda
145 (260)
2008 - 2013
Ben McEvoy
St Kilda
91
2014 - 2022
Hawthorn
161 (252)
2012 - 2014
Jack Crisp *
Brisbane Lions &
18
2015 - 2024
Collingwood
224 (242)
2003 - 2014
Jarrad Waite
Carlton &
184
2015 - 2018
North Melbourne
60 (244)
1996 - 2007
Steven King
Geelong &
193
2008 - 2010
St. Kilda
47 (240)
2011 - 2021
Shaun Atley
North Melbourne
234
1995 - 1997
Joel Smith
St. Kilda &
58
1998 - 2007
Hawthorn
163 (221)
2000 - 2010
Josh Fraser
Collingwood &
200
2011 - 2012
Gold Coast
18 (218)
2009 - 2017
Tom Rockliff
Brisbane Lions &
154
2018 - 2021
Port Adelaide
54 (208)
2010 - 2018
Taylor Duryea *
Hawthorn &
118
2019 - 2024
Western Bulldogs
88 (206)
2000 - 2011
Ryan Houlihan
Carlton
201
2001 - 2013
Justin Koschitzke
St. Kilda
200
1997 - 2008
Ben Mathews
Sydney Swans
198
2014 - 2017
Jarman Impey *
Port Adelaide &
75
2018 - 2024
Hawthorn
113 (188)
2016 - 2024
Clayton Oliver *
Melbourne
177
2010 - 2024
Sam Reid *
Sydney Swans
181
2006 - 2016
Alipate Carlile
Port Adelaide
167
2013 - 2020
Zac Williams *
GWS
113
2021 - 2024
Carlton
38 (151)
2007 - 2020
Ben Reid
Collingwood
152
2017 - 2024
Jy Simpkin *
North Melbourne
136
2009 - 2019
Sam Wright
North Melbourne
136
2013 - 2024
Matt Taberner *
Fremantle
124
2017 - 2024
Todd Marshall *
Port Adelaide
113
2014 - 2015
Nick Holman *
Carlton &
9
2018 - 2024
Gold Coast
102 (111)
2013 - 2024
Tom Clurey *
Port Adelaide
110
2011 - 2012
Jonathon Ceglar
Collingwood
0
2013 - 2021
Hawthorn
101
2022 - 2023
Geelong
9 (110)
2003 - 2012
Hamish McIntosh
North Melbourne &
107
2013 - 2015
Geelong
19 (126)
2015 - 2022
Daniel Howe
Hawthorn &
96
2023
North Melbourne
11 (107)
2015 - 2019
Dougal Howard *
Port Adelaide &
45
2020 - 2024
St. Kilda
57 (102)
Career Span
Player
Club(s)
Games
MCFC Leading Goalkicker
The following MB players were the club's leading goal kickers.
Year
Player's Name
Goals
1993
Jason Campbell
1994
Jason McMartin
1995
Barry Hall
1996
Rohan Graham
1997
Heath Younie
1998
Ricky Symes
1999
Brad Maxwell
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Nick Warnock
12
2012
Joshua Porter
18
2013
Jydon Neagle
16[ 13]
2014
Josh Schache
27
2015
Josh Schache *
34[ 14]
2016
?
[ 15]
2017
Daniel Johnston
45[ 16] [ 17]
2018
Hudson Garoni
15[ 18]
2019
Hudson Kaak
19
2020
In recess>COVID-19
2021
Cameron McLeod
12[ 19]
2022
Braden George &
19
Fletcher Hart
19
2023
Darcy Wilson
17[ 20]
2024
Joshua Murphy*
32[ 21]
- * Also won the TAC Cup goalkicking
Murray Bushrangers FC Best Team, 1993 to 2012
Jarrod Harbrow: Gold Coast FC
The Murray Bushrangers FC celebrated their first twenty years in the pre-eminent under 18 boys football competition in Australia, the TAC Cup by announcing their best ever football side in July 2012.[ 22]
Murray Bushrangers FC Best Team - 1993 to 2012
Backline: Ben Mathews (Sydney ), Ben Reid (Collingwood ), Ryan Houlihan (Carlton )
Half Backline: Joel Smith (St Kilda /Hawthorn ), Jarrad Waite (Carlton ), David Mundy (Fremantle )
Centreline: Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood ), Brett Deledio (Richmond ), Adam Yze (Melbourne )
Half Forwardline: Steve Johnson (Geelong ), Barry Hall (St Kilda /Sydney /Footscray ), Shannon Byrnes (Geelong )
Forwardline: Josh Fraser (Collingwood /Gold Coast ), Fraser Gehrig (West Coast /St Kilda ), Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda )
Followers: Steven King (Geelong /St Kilda , Daniel Cross (Footscray ), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions )
Interchange: Robert Campbell (Hawthorn ), David Teague (North Melbourne /Carlton ), Rory Hilton (Richmond /Brisbane Lions ), Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne /Geelong ), Alipate Carlile (Port Adelaide ), Jarrod Harbrow (Footscray /Gold Coast )
Club Honourboard
Clayton Oliver: Melbourne FC
Alipate Carlile: Port Adelaide FC
Murray Bushrangers FC: Under 18 BOYS - TAC Cup
Year
Coach
Manager
Captain
Best & Fairest
Ladder
1993
Gary Foulds
John Byrne
Clint Whitsed
Fraser Gehrig
8th
1994
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Mark Knobel
Jason Sheather
6th
1995
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Jason Sheather
Rob Thorton
6th
1996
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Matthew Byers
Matthew Byers
10th
1997
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Matthew Hyde/Joel McKay/Heath Younie
Matthew Hyde
2nd
1998
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Derek Murray /John Shiels
Adam Pearce
1st
1999
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Todd Brown / Matthew Shir
Craig Ednie
1st*
2000
Kelly O'Donnell
John Byrne
Criag Ednie/Chris Hyde/Marc Bullen
Kayne Pettifer
1st*
2001
Xavier Tanner
John Byrne
Josh Dicketts
Mark McGough
1st*
2002
Xavier Tanner
John Byrne
Lachie Longmire/Corey Brown/Shannon Byrnes
Cory Brown
2nd
2003
Xavier Tanner
John Byrne
Ryley Dunn/Will Gayfer
Kane Tenace
2nd (R/Up)
2004
Xavier Tanner
John Byrne
Jayden Kotzer/Michael Davidson
Jordan Wood
9th
2005
Xavier Tanner
John Byrne
Marcus Drum
Marcus Drum
8th
2006
Peter Dean
John Byrne
Brad Collins
Mark Tyrell
9th
2007
Peter Dean
John Byrne
Ben McEvoy
2nd (R/Up)
2008
Phil Bunn
John Byrne
Steele Sidebottom
1st
2009
Phil Bunn
John Byrne
Dylan McNeill
10th
2010
Darren Ogier
Andrew Carson
John Byrne Medal
8th
Shaun Atley &
Willie Wheeler
2011
Darren Ogier
Andrew Carson
Jack Crisp
11th
2012
Darren Ogier
Andrew Carson
Sam Martyn
8th
2013
Darren Ogier
Andrew Carson
Bryden Squires
8th
2014
Darren Ogier
Lee Fraser
Nathan Drummond
5th
2015
Darren Ogier
Lee Fraser
Clayton Oliver
3rd[ 23]
2016
Leon Higgins
Mick Wilson
James Cousins
2nd (R/Up)
2017
Leon Higgins
Mick Wilson
5th
2018
Leon Higgins
Mick Wilson
Harry Beasley/Elijah Hollands
Ely Smith
5th
2019
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
Jye Chalcraft &
9th
Jimmy Boyer
2020
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
In recess > COVID-19
N/A
2021
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
Kade Chalcraft
12th
2022
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
Noah Bradshaw &
9th
Ryan Eyers
2023
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
Darcy Wilson
Darcy Wilson
13th
2024
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
Zac Harding
Joe Berry &
7th
Max Mahoney
2025
Mark Brown
Mick Wilson
Year
Coach
Manager
Captain(s)
Best & Fairest
Ladder
1st*: Minor premiers
1st: Bold - Major premiers
Murray Bushrangers FC: Under 18 GIRLS - TAC Cup
Year
Coach
Best & Fairest
Ladder
2017
2nd
2018
Tamara Smith
7th
2019
9th
2020
In recess>COVID-19
N/A
2021
10th
2022
8th
2023
Emma Mackie
17th
2024
Emma Mackie
Premierships (0) : Nil
Runners-up (1) : 2017
Notes/References
Lovett, Michael, ed. (21 April 2024). AFL Record Season Guide 2010 . G. Slattery. pp. 906–907. ISBN 978-0-9806274-5-9 .
External links