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THE Bendigo Pioneers head to Williamstown on Sunday with the chance to consolidate their position in the NAB League top four against the Western Jets.
Coming off a bye last week, the improved Pioneers sit in fourth position on the ladder with a 5-3 record and are now just one win away from their most victories in a season since their 11 in 2003 when they made a preliminary final under coach Rod Macpherson.
As they have done all season so far, the Pioneers will unveil more first-gamers on Sunday, with Sandhurst's Michael Kiraly and Gisborne's Luke Ellings to make their NAB League debuts.
"We're really excited for Michael and Luke to get their opportunities on Sunday," Pioneers coach Danny O'Bree said this week.
"Luke has been playing senior footy with Gisborne and his selection is really good reward for effort. He has shown some real improvement over the past month and earned his chance.
"Michael had a go at 17s Vic Country at the start of the year and finally gets his opportunity. He has been working extremely hard as well to get this chance.
"I think we've had a debutant every game so far, which has been pleasing."
Kiraly and Ellings are among a host of inclusions for the Pioneers.
"We've got Ryan O'Keefe, Aidan Hare and Cobi Maxted all coming back from the VFL and Bode Stevens, Jed Brereton, Harvey Gallagher and Oscar Faulkead from Vic Country," O'Bree said.
"We won't have Cooper Hamilton or Sam Conforti though; they're both playing for Vic Country against Vic Metro on Friday and we think Jack Hickman may be playing VFL with Essendon."
While the Pioneers - who belted the Murray Bushrangers by 53 points in their last game on June 27 - are tracking along solidly, the Jets sit in 13th position with a 2-5 record.
Greater Western Victoria continues to set the pace in the NAB League in top spot.
Sunday's game at Williamstown starts at 11am.
SUNDAY'S TEAM
B: M. Hallinan, L. Wright, L. Thompson
HB: B. Stevens, J. Brereton, O. Faulkhead
C: J. Evans, H. Gallagher, C. Smith
HF: J. Stewart, R. O'Keefe, C. Maxted
F: A. Depasquale, C. Ernst, L. Ellings
R: J. Nihill, A. Hare, R. Monti
INT: C. Anderson, M. Dow, M. Kiraly, M. Spain, B. Cameron, C. Barnett
Ginnivan close, but AFL debut on hold
BENDIGO Pioneer draftee Jack Ginnivan is closing in on his AFL debut for Collingwood, but his first game with the Magpies will have to wait.
Ginnivan was selected in Collingwood's extended squad of 26 on Thursday night for the Magpies' clash against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
However, Ginnivan was one of the four emergencies when the final team of 22 was announced on Friday afternoon.
"Jack has put himself right in the frame and has been in discussions for a number of weeks. He's an exciting small forward and is getting closer by the week," Collingwood coach Robert Harvey said on Friday.
Ginnivan starred for Collingwood in the VFL last week, kicking four goals in the Magpies' 18-point win over Sandringham.
Ginnivan, 18, is in his first season on Collingwood's list after being taken by the Magpies with pick 13 at last year's Rookie Draft.
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