Among the 34-player squad are returning Echuca players Joe Guiney and Jack Evans, with the latter coming back after missing the opportunity to co-captain the side last season.
Echuca United’s Billy Barnes has also been named, joining Cohuna’s Xavier Mitchell and Rochester’s Nathan Kay in the team, along with Colbinabbin twins Cooper and Hugh Hamilton.
Rounding out the group is Kyabram’s Anthony Depasquale as well as Leitchville-Gunbower product Jed Brereton.
With the Pioneers gearing up for its first game of the season against the Murray Bushrangers on Easter Sunday, April 4 at Shepparton, Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree said his group was “fizzing” to get back to playing football.
“It’s been a long time since they have had a NAB League game of football, so they are super keen to get out there and just play football again,” O’Bree said.
“They have been working hard during education components to best understand how we want to play games throughout the 2021 season.”
With a long-awaited return to competitive football, O’Bree said the focus would continue to be on how the game was played – not the numbers on the scoreboard.
“As per the girls – we want to set the boys up to succeed in their football development – win, lose or draw,” he said.
“For our program it’s all about walking away from each training and game having learnt something and ensuring that you were a good teammate, playing your role and most importantly having fun – not about how many possessions you have,” he said.
The first three rounds of the 2021 NAB League season have been released, with Bendigo Pioneers set to come up against Gippsland Power and GWV Rebels at QEO Bendigo in round two and three on April 11 and 18 respectively.
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