Ryley Bjorkstein is one of the young Pies that the club is putting its faith in to climb back up the ladder.
The 18-year-old Euroa Secondary College student has been part of a generation of success that has seen him, along with some of his current team-mates in the senior line-up, playing in seven junior premierships in a row from under 12 through to under 16.
He says he is completely shocked to have received a nomination for the 2016 Rising Star award.
“I wasn’t expecting it all as my form had dropped away late in the year,” he said.
“I started in the seniors but have missed the last four games, playing in the thirds.”
Bjorkstein says he is hell bent on helping the thirds make amends for a disappointing exit from last year’s finals after losing to eventual premier Benalla.
“We won our first final against United and then we were about four to five goals up at half time against Benalla before we probably got ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“That loss certainly motivates me personally to do well and beating Benalla in the last round to get third gives us plenty of confidence going into our final against the Shepparton Bears.”
He admits to not knowing what team will take to the field for the Bears with their seniors also qualifying for the September action.
“We had a good win against them earlier in the year, but it will count for nothing if we can’t beat them.”
Last Modified on 22/09/2016 15:04