The Bendigo Pioneers have unearthed an exciting utility early in 2025, while two 19-year-olds have shown marked improvement as they seek draft selection as mature-aged players.
The talent pathway region, which spans the vast northwest of the state, had four players drafted last year, with Hunter Wright looking likely to follow in their footsteps.
Wright's form, which has him averaging 20 disposals and almost two goals per game, is reward for a monstrous pre-season.
“I think his season's start has been as good as any,” Bendigo coach Danny O'Bree told Zero Hanger's Craft of the Draft.
“His cleanliness, ability to get through traffic and decision making has been second to none.
“Whether it be at contest, outside the contest or getting forward he's had a big impact on the games he's played.
“He's so versatile, I think he'd settle into any role you threw him into – he's good in the air and on the ground, he's brilliant in traffic and makes good decisions by hand and foot.”
O'Bree also poured praise on exciting bottom-ager Cody Walker, a Carlton father-son and Richmond NGA prospect who already has senior footy experience at country powerhouse Echuca.
After getting exposure late in the season following a dynamic U16s National Championships in 2024, Walker has been a consistent cog for the Pioneers this year and is shaping as a top 10 selection in 2026.
“He's very aware of parts of the game he needs to improve on and he works hard and is so professional,” O'Bree said.
“To be in the leadership group as a bottom ager shows his buy-in – (he's not just in there) because he's a really good footballer, it's because he buys in helps others along the way and has led by example on and off the field.
“His competitiveness and aggressiveness has been impressive and his kicking has been a big improvement in his game.
“He just does some special things: his craft around the footy and as a forward has really impressed.”
Namesakes Connor Evans and Tom Evans have both been important pillars of the backline.
Having split his time between Bendigo Pioneers and Xavier College in the APS system last year in between injury, Tom Evans, a close friend of 2024 top five draft pick Finn O'Sullivan, has been recast as a defender and shown his natural ball-winning, averaging 32 disposals and taking the game on by foot.
“I've been wanting to talk about Tom for the last couple of years to anyone who would listen,” O'Bree said.
“Before we started pre-season I used (Western Bulldog) Harvey Gallagher as an example and said we have to show something else, whether it's your running or kicking ability.”
Gallagher was drafted as a 19-year-old from the Pioneers to the Dogs and was a Rising Star nominee last year.
“I think Tom has an exceptional IQ and people are getting to see that on a consistent basis," the coach added.
“His kicking, decision-making and footy IQ has been on display for four to five games and it's as good as any.
“He takes the kicks through the middle of the ground, is biting off dangerous kicks and opening up the game up by moving it off the line.”
Connor Evans, meanwhile, has had an injury-interrupted 18 months, but was in draft conversations at times last year and O'Bree is adamant the 182cm defender deserves more attention.
“If he can add a level of consistency, there's no doubt he'll make an AFL list,” O'Bree declared.
“He's got all the footy attributes so I'd be shocked if he didn't make an AFL list if he strung numerous games together.
“I think his kicking is the one that catches everyone's eye with the way he opens up the game, the way he reads the game and his intercept marking is excellent for his size.
“And then his contest work, he's so physical and tough, he's always got eyes for the ball and he's so dynamic.”
Others around the mark for Bendigo are Vic Country trialists Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, who has improved his strength and fitness in 2025, and the hard-running Finlay Lockhart.
“Jaidi's always had good endurance and been an exceptional kick of the footy but now he's so clean, so strong in the air and on the ground, he's so good to watch," O'Bree said.
"Finlay's GPS data is off the charts and he's great in the air for 191cm but he's just tidying up some things to best showcase his attributes.
“He'll keep catching the eye as the year goes on.”
Shaun Watson and Jessie Johnstone also trialled for Vic Country.
The Bendigo Pioneers are next in action on May 10 at Queen Elizabeth Oval against Calder.
