THE Murray Bushrangers have announced their pre–season squad for the under 18 boys.

Fifteen local players have been selected in the 101–player squad as they look to begin their journey towards an AFL list.

The Bushrangers' pre–season begins Sunday, November 20 with whole–squad sessions held at Norm Minns Oval every Sunday, while satellite groups in Albury and Shepparton train on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Murray Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson said it was a difficult job picking the squad

"It was a hard process picking the squad because we had the floods while we were doing our testing and trials," Wilson said.

"Off the back of the pandemic we haven't seen much of this age group play so we've casted a net far and wide to get a squad together.

"We normally wouldn't have 100 players in the pre–season squad but we wanted to give all of the kids an opportunity after having a few years of their footy interrupted.

"All players from the under 16s Bushrangers program come into the squad and then all of our under 17s from this season stay for pre–season so we had 50–odd players there and then we found another 50."

With both the Magpies and Rovers having successful seasons in the thirds competition this year, a strong contingent of local players was selected.

From Wangaratta, Joe Berry (Magpies), Hugh Canning (Magpies), Sam Comensoli (Rovers), Hunter Graham (Magpies), Harrison Hewitt (Magpies), Charley Holland–Dean (Magpies), Xavier Laverty (Magpies), Charles Ledger (Rovers), Will McCarthy (Rovers), Harry McMonigle (Magpies), Samuel Rourke (Rovers), Judd Schubert (Rovers), Oliver Sharp (Rovers), Darcy Wilson (Rovers) and Daniel Young (Magpies) were all selected.