Benalla trio among record five Bushies girls representing Victoria Country
Young gun: Benalla's Keeley Skepper will don the Big V once again this weekend.
Photo by
Contributed
Murray Bushrangers will have a club record five girls don the Big V at under-19 level in 2022, after Victoria Country announced its 32 players for Sunday’s clash against Victoria Metro last week.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Flying the flag for Benalla are Keeley Skepper and Tayissa and Madison Gray, who have been rewarded for outstanding NAB League seasons to date.
Murray Bushrangers assistant coach Mario De Santa-Ana said having so many girls selected for state honours was a major coup for the club’s growing program.
“Heading into the announcement of this squad you aren’t really sure who will get the nod, so to see five girls from our team get named we are just over the moon as a club,” De Santa-Ana said.
“I think it is just validation that we are heading in the right direction with our program, we are providing the right resources and the right development plans that the girls need to get to the next level.
“It is the best outcome we have ever had in the Bushrangers’ girls program and we are pretty confident we will also end up with a few more in the under-17 Vic Country squad and four or five in the NSW squad, so that is a real positive for us as a program.”
Skepper has been a standout performer for the Bushrangers throughout their turbulent NAB League campaign, catching the eye of state recruiters with her game-breaking ability.
Gray sisters Tayissa and Madison have also been fantastic this season, providing run and carry from the wings, while Lavington’s Grace Hay rounds out the Bushies contingent after a solid campaign down back.
De Santa-Ana, who also serves as an assistant for Victoria Country, said he expected the girls to adapt seamlessly to the higher standard that is state football.
Flying the flag: Tayissa Gray is one of five Murray Bushrangers selected for Victoria Country’s under-19 squad.
Photo by
Meg Saultry
“I’ve been involved with Victoria Country for a few years now and it will be hard for the girls to understand the step up until they are actually out on the ground playing, where it just goes to another level,” he said.
“I think our group of girls will adapt pretty well, they have been doing a lot of extras this year in terms of their own development and I am confident they are ready and have the mindset to adjust to that.”
