'He lit up the track': teenage gun headlines Suns' bid for carnival glory

Lachie Hampton, Millewah Suns coach John Murray, and Tyra Murray are all looking forward to the carnival at Warrnambool this weekend. Picture by Phoebe Adams

The Millewah Suns are determined to go one better when some of the Border's most talented Indigenous footballers and netballers descend on Warrnambool for this weekend's VACSAL Statewide Senior Football and Netball Carnival.

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The Albury-Wodonga senior men's Indigenous AFL side, coached by Johnny Murray, will be joined by a netball team as the club looks to build on last year's grand final appearance at Cranbourne.

Murray said anticipation was building within the group, with the Suns assembling a stronger squad and welcoming several exciting new faces.

"It is one of the highlights of the annual football calendar for us and everyone looks forward to the carnival each year," Murray said.

"We are very excited and it has been a solid preparation in the lead-up.

"We lost the grand final last year and hopefully we can go one better on the weekend."

The Millewah Suns players at training this week. They are competing in the upcoming VACSAL Statewide Senior Football and Netball Carnival. Front: Lachie Hampton, Taylor Hampton, Harley Wilson, Rodney Williams, Aidan Wall, Liam Wall, Tristan Lenaz and Jaara Moran. Back - Brittany Wright, Dimity Davis, John Murray and Tyra Murray. Picture by Phobe Adams

About 50 footballers and netballers will represent the Suns, with the travelling contingent swelling to approximately 70 when family members and support staff are included.

Murray said there were plenty of new faces in the side, with different players joining the program each year.

"The interest in playing for the Suns continues to grow and we are getting new players every year, which is satisfying," he said.

Murray believes this year's football squad is stronger than the group that reached the decider last season, with the club addressing some areas that needed improvement.

The players have also benefited from an extended preparation, with Jaara Moran leading training sessions over the past two months before the squad completed its final hit-outs on Tuesday and Thursday.

"The whole squad trained together on Tuesday and Thursday this week and looked slick on the track," Murray said.

Tyra Murray, John Murray, and Lachie Hampton were all making the trek to Warrnambool on Friday. Picture by Phoebe Adams

The Suns have added several promising players, including brothers Adam and Liam Wall, who played with Yackandandah this season, while Melbourne-based Brent Ryan, a former Beechworth player, returns to the fold.

But one of the most intriguing additions is 16-year-old Ryder Murray, who plays under-16s football with North Albury and will make his senior carnival debut.

"He trained with us during the week and lit up the training track," Murray said.

Ryder is the son of former Port Adelaide and St Kilda player Allan Murray, adding another chapter to the family's football connections.

The Suns will also lean on the experience of established campaigners, including Dean and Hayden Heta, while a younger brigade is expected to provide plenty of energy across the demanding carnival schedule.

Dean Heta will add some experience to the Millewah Suns on the weekend. File picture

Murray is quietly confident the combination can deliver a breakthrough result.

"I've got a lot of confidence in the group and we have done the preparation," he said.

"The boys are excited and we have got a lot of young legs this year to help out the more experienced blokes.

"I'm quietly confident that we can go all the way and have the ability to turn it on when we have to."

Murray's partner, Brittany Wright, will take on the role of playing coach of the Millewah Suns' netball side, which will combine the club's C-grade and D-grade teams from last year.

The Suns fielded two netball sides at Cranbourne last year but will head to Warrnambool with one combined team.

Wright said the carnival remained a valuable opportunity for the players to compete while strengthening their connections with the wider Indigenous community.

"It's very rewarding to be part of the carnival," Wright said.

"Every year we get to compete and last year at Cranbourne we had two sides in the netball, but we have combined our C-grade and D-grade side to form one side this year.

"It's a great opportunity and I'm grateful that I get to coach the girls and take them away to Warrnambool for the weekend."

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