One club will be hoping for a memorable start to the Kyabram District League season this weekend.
Girgarre will be looking to deliver some 100-year reunion joy for its past and present players and supporters when it takes on Lancaster in round one action.
The Sunday fixture will be a climax of the Roos’ weekend of centenary celebrations and is sure to lure a huge crowd.
Girgarre co-president Brendan Nicholson indicated it would be a huge weekend for the club.
‘‘A lot of people have booked in for the Saturday night and we are expecting a huge crowd at the game on Sunday with no other clubs playing,’’ he said.
Nicholson said it was a relief the celebrations were finally going ahead two years after the milestone was to be celebrated before being thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights of the weekend will be a Saturday night dinner when the naming of the Team of The Century (football) and Team of the Ages (netball) will be made, and the much-anticipated book on the club’s history, written by club and town stalwart Athol ‘Doc’ McDonald, will be launched.
A Front Bar segment, featuring some well-known club names, is also sure to add some humour to proceedings on the night, with doors opening at 4pm.
Sunday will feature an opening round Kyabram District Football League clash between Girgarre and Lancaster, which will incorporate a reunion of Girgarre’s Matt Flanagan-coached 1991 senior premiership side, the last Girgarre side to win a flag in the league.
It will be a new-look Girgarre outfit on Sunday, with former AFL player Damian Cupido now at the helm following the departure of Billy Barnes.
Lancaster will also front up a different looking squad, with Zac Cerrone, James Ross and Billy Ryan no longer at the Wombats.
- Around the grounds, Avenel and Nagambie are set to resume their rivalry this weekend.
The Swans travel to Nagambie Recreation Reserve in what shapes up to be the match-of-the-round.
Avenel looks to once again contest for the premiership after a successful off-season of recruiting, while the Lakers are sure to have a few surprises up their sleeves come Saturday.
Avenel’s coach Kasey Duncan understands it will be a tight tussle against the Lakers.
“We’re expecting much of the same really. It’s always a tight and hard-fought contest whenever you play Nagambie,” he said.
“They play a good brand of footy; they like to hurt you on the rebound with fast transitions. We know we’ll need to be clean with the ball.
“We want to play a fast style, get the ball in quick to the forwards and hopefully put pressure on the scoreboard.”
Duncan expected recruit Tim Brook to shine in attack in his debut for the Swans, along with former Mooroopna swingman Tim Karolidis.
In the remaining Saturday matches, Stanhope will welcome Merrigum in a contest that is sure to have a lot of attention from opponents.
Rushworth plays host to a star-studded Murchison-Toolamba outfit, with former Mooroopna captain Trent Freer one of the Hoppers’ gun recruits.
The Tigers’ mentor Damian Wust will get his first taste of the KDL in what is his maiden game.
Dookie United and Shepparton East will battle it out over at Mount Major in another must-watch contest, while Undera will play host to Tallygaroopna.
Lastly, Longwood heads up the Hume Hwy to take on Violet Town.