RELATED: 2014 NGFNL fixture
GLENGARRY will unfurl its 2013 North Gippsland football premiership flag ahead of its clash against Heyfield.
The grand final rematch at Glengarry headlines round one of the North Gippsland season on Saturday.
Magpies coach Ryan Potter was fully aware his side has become the hunted.
Despite the departure of some big names, Potter was confident that with a combination of recruits and talented youth, the Magpies would again be at the top of the pecking order.
“We have recruited well and I think that we will could repeat last year’s efforts and go back-to-back,” he said.
“There is some great talent among the thirds kids who will be sure to push for senior game time. It will be quite exciting to provide others with an opportunity to step-up.”
The Magpies and Kangaroos contested one of the most epic grand finals in recent times having gone into extra time after scores were level after four quarters.
With the Kangaroos noted slow starters to seasons, coach Adrian Cox said it would be great to begin with a win on Saturday.
“We don’t know how Glengarry has gone over the pre-season, but we certainly know that it will be a tough game,” he said.
“There is no denying that the grand final loss hurt the club and players, it has driven the guys over the pre-season to train harder and be fitter than what they were last year.”
YARRAM will begin a new era in the North Gippsland league when it hosts 2013’s biggest improver Traralgon-Tyers United.
TTU coach Matt Stolarczyk said his players were “jumping out of their skin to have a kick, and relish the challenge of playing Yarram first up”.
The addition of Yarram to the competition has many intrigued as to what the Demons will bring to the table.
“We had a solid pre-season hit out against Mirboo North, but it is hard to know and judge just how well we will go,” club president Shane Richards said.
Richards said the Demons had a number of players who would be closely checked by opposition sides.
“We have some talented players including the Underwood brothers, the Swift brothers, Jarryd and Josh, will be ones to watch, then there are a lot of second and third year players who are still very young, 18 and 19 years of age, who will be key,” he said.
“The players are crisp enough and ready to go, if we can put it all together at one time there is no reason that we can’t play finals as we have in past years in the Alberton league.”
BOISDALE-Briagolong will open its campaign at home against Woodside.
Excited at the prospect of a solid hit-out, Bombers coach Dean Pratt was looking forward to the clash.
“Realistically, we go into the contest against Woodside seven games behind. We won three games last year and they had a great season,” he said.
“We know that it isn’t going to be easy, this is a two to three year prospect that we are now building.”
The Wildcats will be keen to let their footy do the talking on Saturday. Strong recruitment has aided the Wildcats in adding to an already competitive list, and with a solid pre-season behind them, coach Chris Pettitt has his side primed on making an attack on a top five finish.
With their sights firmly placed on a finals berth after the disappointment of 2013, Woodside will be eager for a solid start to the season but will have to hold a new look Bombers outfit at bay.
THE young pups of Sale City will be out to impress new coach Hayden Burgiel when the Bulldogs host Gormandale.
Making it known that he was looking for a new challenge, Burgiel has brought with him a new game plan he hopes will catapult City back into the contention with the main pack.
“The guys are adjusting well to a new game plan, they have all taken it on board and certainly talk of finals is definitely on the agenda,” Burgiel said.
“Playing just one home game in the opening six matches, it is important for us to win round one to set us up for the tough run ahead.”
With a tough assignment first up, Gormandale will travel to Stephenson Park for one of the hardest matches on the fixture.
It won’t be all one-way traffic for the Bulldogs, despite a lean 2013, the Tigers showed in patches that they are a competitive outfit and like all sides will confident of claiming a first up win.
CHURCHILL will host Rosedale in a contest which promises plenty.
Bowing out of the last year’s finals at the expense of the Blues in the elimination final, the Cougars, under new coach Alan Chandler, will be keen to brush aside that disappointment victory on Saturday.
A sour taste still remains in the mouths of many Blues players, with last year’s preliminary finalists hungry for premiership success this season. The premiership window still remains open after finishing second in 2012 and one game out of the big one in 2013.
Blues coach Nick Leechino was confident the departure of Brad Caldwell, Chris Graham and Jake Power could be covered.
“We have gained equally if not better than the quality of players that we have lost, with Dale Fleming returning and Morwell pair of Brandon McConnell and Mitch Marino to have an impact,” he said.
“The first three games are incredibly important to see where we are at, we are ready to field the best side that we can against Churchill.”
COWWARR will have the bye.
