Bendigo Pioneers hopefuls impress in trial games
More than 200 young footballers took the field at Epsom-Huntly Recreation Reserve over the weekend in trials for the Bendigo Pioneers.
The Pioneers conducted trial games for their under-16 boys squads and their under-18 boys and girls squads.
Pioneers regional talent manager Steve Sharp was delighted with what he saw over the weekend.
"We had about 50 girls trial, we had two under-16 games involving about 80 boys and then two under-18 games involving another 80-odd players,'' Sharp said.
"The standard of the games was really high and we're very happy with the talent in our program.
"We did the trials to ascertain which players we take forward to the next phase.
"Unfortunately, we can't take everyone and we need to make some changes."
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The girls in the Pioneers' training squad will get another chance to push for selection this weekend, while the boys have to wait until February 15 for another opportunity to impress new coach Damian Truslove.
"The girls have a trial game against Murray Bushrangers in Yarrawonga this weekend,'' Sharp said.
"The boys have this weekend off before playing at Craigieburn the following weekend. The under-16s will play a six-quarter game against Oakleigh which will be followed by two under-18 games against Calder Cannons.
"We're hoping to get a squad of about 45 players for the under-18 boys (to play in the NAB League).
"The NAB League squad needs to be finalised by the first Monday in March."
Sharp said the Pioneers' coaching staff have a tough job ahead to select their final squads.
"There's always a player or two that surprises us,'' he said.
"Hopefully the players that surprised us at the weekend play equally as well again in a couple of weeks time.
"They might get an opportunity on the back of that whereas two or three weeks ago they might not have been in our plans."
The NAB League boys season starts on March 21, with the Pioneers away to the Geelong Falcons.
The NAB League girls season starts on February 29, with the Pioneers to play Western Jets at the QEO in a curtain-raiser to the AFLW clash between Richmond and Geelong.
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