Pios finalise under-18 boys squad

BENDIGO Pioneers have put the finishing touches on their under-18 squad for the 2026 Coates Talent League season.

A squad of 45 is highlighted by potential number one AFL draft pick Cody Walker, from Echuca, and Riley Travaglia, the brother of St Kilda player Tobie.

Walker is the son of Carlton great Andrew Walker.

The squad includes 15 players with ties to BFNL clubs, with Sandhurst best represented with eight.

Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo all boast two players, while Kangaroo Flat and league newcomers Broadford supply one apiece.

A further three players from non-BFNL Bendigo-based clubs have been included.

They are Lewis Pigdon and Drew Warren, from Maiden Gully YCW, and White Hills’ Jarrell Ratcliffe.

The squad will warm up for the season with a practice match against Murray Bushrangers on Sunday 8 March at Catherine McAuley College.

The game will coincide with the Labour Day long weekend, when the Pioneers players complete their pre-season testing and team camp.

The season proper will begin on the weekend of March 21-22.

The under-16 boys squad will be released in March.

Meanwhile, three of the Pioneers’ graduating class are VFL bound this season.

The signings of Riley Dillon (Greater Western Sydney), Zaydyn Lockwood (Richmond) and Nick Thompson (Collingwood) were all announced by their respective clubs in the last few weeks.

Under-18 boys squad: Bryce Anderson (Lake Boga), Eamon Austin (Sandhurst), Chase Bartlett (Deniliquin Rams), Sonny Beasy (Swan Hill), Jack Bell (Kangaroo Flat), Douglas Billings (Deniliquin Rams), Jude Blundy (Irymple), Hugh Bremner (Kerang), Billy Buhagiar (Golden Square), Charlie Bull (Deniliquin Rams), Max Connick (Sandhurst), Corbin Copeman (Wentworth), Bohdi Edwards (Wentworth), Xavier Emmerson (Pyramid Hill), Sioeli Fangaloka (South Mildura), Kristian Fitzsimmons (Echuca), Tyce Griffin (Strathfieldsaye), Lucas Griffiths (Balranald), Angus Hoyne (Broadford), Charlie Isaac (Kyrabram), Josh Kelly (Golden Square), Logan King (Wentworth), Archer Lancaster (Wandella), Will Mayes (Strathfieldsaye), Campbell McCarty (Moama), Max McCarthy (Moama), Levi McClelland (South Mildura), Lenny McNamara (Sandhurst), Thomas Naujok (Moama), Miller Nihill (Sandhurst), Cruz O’Sullivan (Sea Lake Nandaly), Lewis Pigdon (MGYCW), Chase Poyser (South Bendigo), Will Pye (Lake Boga), Jarrell Ratcliffe (White Hills), Carter Reid (Sandhurst), Oliver Stewart (Sandhurst), Max Thompson (Nyah Nyah West), Riley Travaglia (Sandhurst), Joel Turner (Kyneton), Tiger Vearing (Ultima), Cody Walker (Echuca), Drew Warren (MGYCW), Noah Willits (Sandhurst), Campbell Wood (South Bendigo).