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BENDIGO Pioneers hopefuls get the opportunity to press their case for selection on the under-18 list this Sunday when the club plays its first trial matches at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve.
“We’ll have five groups trialing on Sunday and at different stages throughout the morning they will play a trial match against each other,” Pioneers coach Rick Coburn said on Friday.
“We’re trying to beat the heat (top of 38 forecast) by playing the games in the morning and we’ll then finish with an education session afterwards.”
Sunday’s trial games will be followed next week by the first cut of the Pioneers’ training list.
“The boys have had a solid seven to eight-week program before and after Christmas, which has given us a good chance to have a look at the lads and after the trial games we’ll be in a position to trim our squad from just under 140 back to 75,” Coburn said.
The Pioneers will have a reduced list this year of about 45 players for their 2019 campaign.
“Once we get down to 75 we’ll then do another three weeks, which will involve a couple of practice matches against opposition and then we’ll cut again down to about 45,” Coburn said.
“We’re also looking at potentially having a development squad as well that may consist of some young developing talls and bottom-age players.”
The Pioneers girls will also be playing trial games at Epsom on Saturday.
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