BENDIGO PIONEERS v CALDER CANNONS
SUNDAY, MAY 29
SWAN HILL REC. RESERVE at 10.30am
BENDIGO PIONEERS
COACH – Danny O’Bree
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
B. 14. Corbin Anderson 22. Jacob Nihill 49. Will Burke
HB. 38. Solomon McKay 11. Jed Brereton 45. Samuel Deola
C. 25. Joshua Goss 21. Benjamin Cameron 52. Joshua Grace
HF. 4. Harley Reid 19. Eli Pearce 8. Hugh Hamilton
F. 15. Raymond Murphy 32. Malik Gordon 26. Patrick Kelly
R. 35. James Worme 18. Nyawi Moore 47. Pala Kuma
INT. 53. Joseph Mezzatesta 12. Lachlan Wright 13. Taj Stevens 48. Sam O’Shannesy 50. Oliver Poole
CALDER CANNONS
COACH – Ross Smith
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
B. 30. Logan Johnson 35. Dane Whitnall 34. Ned Ryan
HB. 7. Reuben Rode 12. Luca Alessio 4. Matthew Foley
C. 18. Jack Newitt 31. Matthew Pellegrino 10. Sam Valensisi
HF. 16. J. Brown 23. Fraser Phelan-Smith 24. Declan Willmore
F. 6. Carlos Egan 9. William Hubik 21. Luke Said
R. 26. Matthew Gook 27. Paul Pascu 3. Caleb Burquest
INT. 15. Kade Mueller 36. A Makieng 43. Mahmoud Taha 57. J. Croft 60. Isaac CullenBENDIGO PIONEERS
PLAYER PROFILES
12 – LACHLAN WRIGHT
Original Club – Woorinen
Position – Tall defender
Has played every game for the Pioneers this season, a key defender who can both lock down on an opponent or run and create out of defence.18 – NYAWI MOORE
Original Club – Woorinen
Position – Midfield/forward
Talented player who played very well for the Fitzroy Cubs against Carlton’s VFL side on May 15. Very exciting player with ball in hand and will relish the fast play of the NAB League style.
26 – PATRICK KELLY
Original Club – Nullawil
Position – Midfield/wing
Kelly has played three NAB League games and has adjusted to the speed well, averaging 15 disposals a game whilst hitting the scoreboard. Is highly skilled on both sides of his body and will benefit from playing on the larger Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
38 – SOLOMON McKAY
Original Club – Tyntynder
Position – Wing/half forward
‘Solly’ started the NAB League season in style and shows great running ability as well as possessing a number of AFL physical traits. Has attracted AFL interest and has just been given an invitation to train with Essendon’s VFL side.
CALDER CANNONS
PLAYER PROFILES
4 – MATTHEW FOLEY
Original Club – Strathmore
Position – Defender
A running defender who takes the game on, Foley is strong in the air for his size and continually provides run and carry from the Cannons defence.27 – PAUL PASCU
Original Club – Oak Park
Position – Midfielder
Pascu is the Cannons 2022 captain and a highly regarded member of their program. Pascu leads from the front and has played with Essendon’s VFL team this season on top of being a Vic Metro squad member.
28 – JAMIESON JARVIS
Original Club – PEGS
Position – Wing
A 19-year-old who plays outside and is good above his head, Jamieson has had a solid start to 2022. Has clean skills by foot and regularly hits the scoreboard.
35 – DANE WHITNALL
Original Club – Craigieburn
Position – Tall defender
Son of former Carlton forward Lance Whitnall, Whitnall’s development over the past three years has been extraordinary. Tall, rangy defender who continues to improve with every session and game he is involved in.
MATCH PREVIEW
THE Bendigo Pioneers will be hoping a change in home ground might bring about a change in luck, when they host the Calder Cannons at the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
While the Pioneers are yet to register a win this season, they have been extremely close on a number of occasions including a draw against the Geelong Falcons in round two and a two-point loss to the GWS Giants Academy in round four.
It’s a situation the Pioneers will be hoping to rectify come Sunday, although according to head coach Danny O’Bree, it won’t come at the expense of his young players’ development, which is what NAB League footy is all about.
“We’ve been in front in every game we’ve played so far, some by a significant margin, and unfortunately we’ve fallen asleep in a couple of those games,” O’Bree said.
“We were three or four goals up against the number one team in the competition (Gippsland Power) and fell asleep that day too, so it’s all about concentration for us.
“We’ve played some unbelievable football and when we turn it on, we’re as good as any team in the competition, but we’ve just lacked a bit of composure and a bit of concentration in some vital moments of the game which has allowed our opposition back in but were not far away from a win at all.
“We put a premium on players’ development and that has probably cost us the win in almost every game this year, things like keeping players in positions where we think they could possibly get drafted, instead of putting them in a position where we could have won the game.
“Hopefully it doesn’t cost us the game on Sunday, but we’re more than happy to give up the four points in order to get another player into draft calculations.”
For the Pioneers, Sunday will mark their first game back after a three-week break following the Vic Metro versus Young Guns representative game, while the Cannons returned to action last Sunday with a 20-point victory over the Northern Knights.
A number of potential draftees will take the field for both teams, with Bendigo’s Harley Reid fresh off playing for the Young Gun’s squad against Vic Metro a fortnight ago, one who will certainly be considered come November’s AFL National Draft.
The Calder Cannons will also have a number of potential future AFL stars take to the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve, with Vic Metro squad member Paul Pascu highly rated by AFL scouts, along with potential Carlton father-son draftee Dane Whitnall. Dane is the son of former Blues forward Lance Whitnall and Luca Alessio, who is tied to Essendon as a father-son recruit through his father, Steven.
There will also be a number of our region’s talented players getting their opportunity to show their talents at the level, with Tyntynder’s Solomon McKay, Nullawil’s Patrick Kelly and Woorinen’s Nyawi Moore and Lachie Wright all confirmed starters on Sunday.
Unfortunately for Balranald supporters, one player who won’t be out there is AFL Academy product Jason Gillbee, with O’Bree confirming that the Central Murray regions latest potential AFL player will instead be managed due to a significant workload of late.
“He’s had a significant start to the year and played in the All-Australian game last weekend against Collingwood’s VFL side and just needs a rest,” O’Bree said.
“He’s got some wear and tear that we really want to manage leading into National Championships, which is unfortunate for our Central Murray fans but Gilb’s welfare has to come first.”
“We want to play as many of the local kids as possible, but he’s got so much on at the moment and I’m know he’s really disappointed as well.
“It was one of those games we really wanted him to play in, but he just needs a rest.”
