Wodonga Raiders started their practice games with a strong win over North Albury at Sandy Creek on Saturday.
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Most importantly, Raiders didn't suffer an injury as it rested around a third of its best team.
"Most of the better players we had in the game only played two or three quarters," first-year coach Jarrod Hodgkin said.
Morris medallist Brodie Filo didn't play, along with Ethan Boxall and promising ruckman Floyd Bollinghaus.
Connor Newnham kicked a handful of goals, while new captain Brad St John impressed in the midfield.
Star recruit Brodie A'Vard showed his class in his first game for the club.
Raiders will hit the road to play Benalla next Saturday before rounding out its pre-season against Northcote Park.
The preliminary finalists, who've lost a stack of stars over the season, including Jackson Kelly and Matt Neagle, will start the campaign against grand finalists Wangaratta under lights at Norm Minns Oval on April 6.
Meanwhile in the only other games involving O and M teams, Myrtleford toppled Lavington 11.14 (80) to 7.9 (51) at Whorouly.
Elimination finalists Lavington was missing coach Simon Curtis and star on-baller Nick Holman, while Myrtleford was also missing a number of players, including coach Jake Sharp.
Brady Sharp and the Wales' brothers, Elijah and Hugh, were prominent in the first quarter, while former VFL player Tom Ellard kicked two goals.
The Panthers struck back in the second term through Nick Meredith and Marty Brennan, while Tom Yensch also impressed in his first game back after two years away.
However, the Saints regained the lead by eight points at half-time, with Lachie Dale showing his class.
Myrtleford kicked five goals to two after half-time, with Brady Sharp landing two goals in the third quarter.
Former interleague player Hugh Wales was terrific for the Saints, while Dale, Elijah Wales and Liam Harrington also played well.
Meredith was superb for the Panthers, while Holman and Brennan also did well, while Adam Flagg had a strong battle against Saints' number one defender Matt Dussin.
Myrtleford's final practice game will be against St Mary's in Geelong on March 23, while Lavington faces its annual game against Ainslie next Saturday.
Elsewhere, Yarrawonga defeated Victorian Amatuer outfit, Therry Penola, in the annual Ricky Bannister Cup match.
"It's a charity game and a really important one for both clubs," Yarrawonga coach Damian Sexton said.
The Piegons got through the game unscathed.
"Billy Andrew and Matt Gorman, our recruits from Barooga, they acquited themselves quite well, while Bailey Frauenfelder also played well."
Corowa-Rutherglen toppled Mulwala.
"We played a youngster list than the week before," Roos' coach Marc Almond said.
"We didn't have any injuries and a few young guys like Tyler Spencer and the Tanner twins, Matt and James, also played well."
The Roos will host Lower Plenty in the final practice game next Saturday.
The club is one of only four outfits to start the season itself on March 30.
The Roos will travel to Wangaratta for a night match, while Lavington is home to North Albury.
And Albury hosted an intraclub.
New coach Peter German was particularly impressed by a number of his talented teenagers.
"Riley Bice, Fraser Duryea, Jackson Carmody and Kolby Hennessy were all very good," he said.
"Jackson would have kicked two or three goals."
The Tigers will now play two practice games as they don't start the season until hosting Wangaratta Rovers, who are expected to be one of the big improvers.
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