Return of the Young Pups

A BLEND of experienced youngsters and firsttime footballers will be the backbone of Pyramid Hill’s return to junior competition when the new AFL Central Victoria under 18 competition kicks off in April.

The Mitchell Park kennel has been without a junior side since completing a hat-trick of Loddon Valley under 18 flags in 2019.

Coach Bryden Morison has brought local players back to town from Leitchville Gunbower, teaming with those recruits to encourage other youngsters in the district to pull on the boots.

“We’ve a few lads new to footy and everyone is keen to get the side going. On the training track and at school players are encouraging each other,” said Morison,.

“The club is excited to have our own junior side again ... local lads supporters and senior players can see on the ground and encourage. The junior will certainly create interest among our supporters.”

Morison said the reborn junior Bulldogs would have a few handy talls “but the main thing is getting people together to play football, especially the new ones, and enjoying the game”.

“We’ll be a fairly young side with the oldest players only 16, so hopefully we will have them for a couple of seasons,” Morison said.

Morison said the first two weeks of training had brought players together, sharing Mitchell Park with junior Bulldog netball teams.

Pyramid Hill brought home one junior netball flag last season and featured in finals in several grades.