3 Students Picked in Murray Bushrangers Pre-Season Football Squads

Two of our Year 9 boys, Kade Hadley & Gus Jayet, and Year 10 girl Lucy Kiely, have recently been selected in Murray Bushrangers Pre-Season Training Squads.

Gus & Kade being selected means they are regarded in the top 40 footballers for their age, in the region between Seymour and Albury and surrounds. They will train over summer hoping to make the Under 16 Bushrangers team which will play in next year’s Victorian Championships, the precursor to the Under 18 Coates Talent League, where most AFL players are drafted from. 

The boys both played in the prestigious V-Line Cup Under 15 Championships in September, as part of the North East Border teams, joining an illustrious list of W.H.S boys to do so including Tom Ford (2022), Hunter Gottschling (2018), Ky Williamson (2016), Ben Bray (2015), Daniel & Luke Saunders (2015), Daniel Sharrock (2013) and Alex Marklew (2011 & All-Australian).

It is a remarkable story considering Gus & Kade are long-time best mates, having come up through Wangaratta West PS together and played their junior footy together at Centrals FC. We wish them luck making the final Under 16 team.

Lucy is one of 60 girls from the Bushies catchment area who will trial over Summer to make the final Under 18 Girls squad. Her selection is a tremendous effort for someone still in the Under 15 age group, which means she has 3 more years of Under 18 football.

Lucy was also part of the North East Border Girls V-Line Cup team this year, playing in the premier Under 15 Championships for girls footy in Victoria.

We wish Lucy all the best making the final Under 18 squad. Can she follow in the footsteps of ex-Wangaratta High School student Darcy Vescio, who was drafted to Carlton FC and then became one of the most talented footballers the AFLW Women’s League has seen

• Jud Mullins