Five Rural Bank Bendigo Pioneers players have been included in the Victoria Country squad for round one of the AFL under-18 national championships.
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The BFNL’s Jye Caldwell and Kane Farrell, Central Murray’s Paddy Dow and Brent Daniels and Sunraysia’s Lochie O’Brien have been selected to play against the Allies at Blacktown on Sunday, June 11.
“All of the boys have done very well to get this far,’’ Pioneers coach Rick Coburn said.
“The boys are developing really strongly and deserve their chance.
“Jye (Caldwell) is a bottom-age player, so to get into the team at his age is a big effort.”
Strathfieldsaye duo Bailey Henderson and Angus Schumacher missed selection for round one, but remain under consideration for the remainder of the carnival.
Henderson has a hip flexor injury that forced him out of last weekend’s trial games and he’s in doubt to play for the Pioneers this weekend.
Coburn said Schumacher played well in the trial game against the Allies and was a good chance of playing for Vic Country later in the carnival.
The Allies are yet to finalise their squad for round one, but is expected Pioneers’ duo Jarrod Brander and Laine Fitzgerald will be in the team to play Victoria Country.
In TAC Cup action, the Pioneers play Dandenong at the QEO this Sunday.
