mmg.com.au

Murray Bushrangers tuned up for the TAC Cup season with a crushing performance against Greater Western Sydney’s academy squads on Sunday.

The under-18 side played a six-period match at Barooga and came out an estimated 20-goal victor.

Murray Bushrangers talent manager Andrew Carson said it was a valuable hit-out.

‘‘It was a really successful day for us,’’ Carson said.

‘‘The last two games before round one are really important and it is about trying to settle the team for round one.

‘‘We will do the same again when we take on Bendigo this Sunday at Rumbalara.’’

He said scores were not kept, but one official had said it was about 23 goals to five in the Bushrangers’ favour.

Carson said the GWS squads varied in ability.

‘‘It was fair to say they had a mixed group,’’ he said.

‘‘Some of their boys were actually fairly new to the game and are still very much in the development phase.

‘‘They had one kid that had only played three months of footy and was coming from a rugby background.

‘‘It was still a good hit-out for all concerned.’’

He said plenty of Bushrangers players had put their hand up to be a part of the team for the opener.

‘‘There weren’t any real standouts,’’ he said.

‘‘It was just a good even display.

‘‘As I have said, we were just trying to work on getting the team settled down.

‘‘A few players were tried in different positions and others were rotated on-and-off.

‘‘There was more of a focus on that side of things than anything else.’’