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 provides a pathway to the AFL for some players, for others it provides experience in elite under-18 football and a pathway to playing or coaching 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./www.footballvic.com.au/vfl/vfl_clubs.htm
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.http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,5287609%255E20322,00.html
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.
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. as of 2024, Glassenbury still resides in Wangaratta.
Grand Finals
Under 18's Boys Year Premiers Score Runner Up ScoreVenueBest on Ground1998Murray Bushrangers17.18 - 120Geelong Falcons 12.12 - 84 Melbourne Cricket GroundMichael Stevens2003Calder Cannons 16.14 - 110Murray Bushrangers 2.6 - 18 Melbourne Cricket GroundBrock McLean2007Calder Cannons 14.20 - 104 Murray Bushrangers 7.12 - 54Melbourne Cricket GroundAshley Arrowsmith2008Murray Bushrangers21.16 - 142Dandenong Stingrays9.7 - 61 Docklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumSteele Sidebottom2016Sandringham Dragons 12.13 - 85 Murray Bushrangers 9.14 - 68 Docklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumAndrew McGrath
Under 18's Girls 2017 - Murray Bushrangers finished 2nd on the ladder.
Statistical Record
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. 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. (no available records between 1994 & 1999) Longest serving coach: Kelly O'Donnell: 1994 - 2000 (seven seasons) AFL Stats (by former MBFC players) AFL Coaches Association Award - Champion Player: Barry Hall (2005), Clayton Oliver (2021 & 2022) AFL Grand Final. Norm Smith Medalist: Steve Johnson: Geelong (2007) Anzac Day Match Medal: Mark McGough: Collingwood (2002), Steele Sidebottom Collingwood (2016) Robert Rose Medal: David Teague (2004) Leading AFL Goalkicker: Coleman Medal: Fraser Gehrig 2004 & 2005 AFL Mark of the Year: Michael Newton: (2007), Jamie Elliott: Collingwood (2013) AFL Best First Year Player: Brett Deledio Richmond (2005) AFL Rising Star Award: (Ron Evans Medal) Brett Deledio Richmond (2005) Most All Australian Side Selections: 4 - Barry Hall Most Goals: 549 - Fraser Gehrig: & Most Games: 376 - David Mundy: Most Consecutive AFL games: 230 - Jack Crisp: Collingwood (2015 to 2024) Former MBFC player to be a senior AFL coach: Adem Yze: Richmond (2023)
Yearly Ladder Placings (1993 - 2025) Year 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Position8th 6th 6th 10th 2nd 1st1st* 1st* 1st* 2nd 2nd 9th 8th 9th 2nd 1st*10th 8th 11th 5th 8th 8th 3rd 2nd 5th 5th 9th N/A12th9th13th7th16th
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.
Year Draft No'sMurray Bushrangers FC - Player's Name 19932 Fraser Gehrig: No.5, Paul Lewis: No.30 19945 Joel Smith: No.5, Shane Sikora: No.12, Adem Yze: No.16, Shaun Gordon No. 86, Steven King: P.19956 Luke Trew: No.14, Barry Hall: No.19, Andrew Lamb: No.36, Leigh Marshall: Z, Ben Mathews: Z, Adam Houlihan: P.19964 Rory Hilton: No.3, Hayden Lamaro: No.30, Ben Parker: No.86, Nathan Tresize: No.14R.19977 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.59R19986 Michael Stevens: No.5, Murray Vance: No.6, Chris Lamb: No.13, Aaron Henneman: No.25, Derek Murray: No.54, Ricky Symes: No.61.19997 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.92.200012 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.20017 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.4920024 Hamish McIntosh: No.9, Luke Mullins: No.7P, Jonathon McCormick: No.1R, Shannon Byrnes: No.40R.20035 Kane Tenace: No.3, Ryley Dunn: No.10, David Mundy: No.19, Ben Cosgriff: No.11R, Luke Taylor: No.59R.20043 Brett Deledio: No.1, Chris Egan: No.10, Michael Newton: No.43.20053 Marcus Drum: No.10, Beau Muston: No.22, Alipate Carlile: No.4420063 Ben Reid: No.8, Tim Looby: No.40R, Adam Prior: No.61R, Sam Rowe: No.62R20075 Ben McEvoy: No.9, Dawson Simpson: No.34, Daniel Boyle: No.31R, Dean Terlich: No.61R, Jarrod Harbrow: No.27R20084 Jack Ziebell: No.9, Steele Sidebottom: No.11, Sam Wright: No.27, Caleb Tiller: No.80. 20098 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.20105 Shaun Atley: No.17, Josh Mellington: No.56, Jonathon Ceglar: T, Sam Schulz: Z, Mark Whiley: Z.20116 Patrick Wearden: No.47, Lachlan Smith: No.17R, Jack Crisp: No.40R, Jamie Elliott: T, Tim Segrave: Z, Anthony Miles: Z.20127 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.20134 Jarman Impey: No.21, Nick Holman: No.51, Matt Taberner: No.70, Zac Williams: No.95, 20147 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.20155 Josh Schache: No.2, Clayton Oliver: No.4, Mitch King: No.42, Nicholas Couglan: No.23R, Kyle Galloway: No.59R201611 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: BR20176 Charlie Spargo: No.29, Ben Paton: No.46, Harry Jones: No.7R, Doulton Langlands: No.8R, Nick Holman: No.19R, Josh Prudden: No.35R20187 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: PSSS20192 Lachlan Ash: No.4, Alex Keath: No.23T.20203 Elijah Hollands: No.7, Dominic Bedendo: No.55, Nick Murray: PSSS.20215 Josh Rachele: No.6, Tom Brown: No.17, Patrick Parnell: No.4MSRD, Sam Durham: No.9MSRD, Daniel Turner: No.24MSRD.20226 Oliver Hollands: No.11, Brayden George: No.26, Caleb Mitchell: No.40, Joe Richards: No.48, Daniel Howe: No.33R, Kayne Turner: No.39R20235 Connor O'Sullivan: No.11, Phoenix Gothard: No.12, Darcy Wilson: No.18, Oscar Ryan: No.27, Shaun Mannagh: No.36.20246 Toby Murray: No.7MSRD, Joe Berry: No.15, Matt Whitlock: No.27, Jack Whitlock: No.33, Riley Bice: No.41, Aidan Johnson: No.68.20251 Ewan Mackinlay: No.11MSRD, Harry Dean: No.3, Riley Onley: No.2R, Liam Hetherton: Cat BTOTAL(180)YearNo'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.