North Albury, Lavington name nine first-gamers for O and M season opener
DOWN TO BUSINESS: Hopper coach Isaac Muller is looking forward to seeing his youngsters in action against Lavington on Saturday. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE
NORTH Albury coach Isaac Muller plans to follow Corowa-Rutherglen's rebuild model after naming five debutants to play Lavington at Lavington Sportsground on Saturday.
The Hoppers selected Ned McKeown, Tom Godde, Tom Sharp, Jackson Weidemann and Mitch Wadley for the season opener while Aidan Johnson, Andrew Mackinlay, Brad Carman and Shaun Mannagh will debut for Lavington.
Johnson, Mackinlay and Carman played finals for Hume league clubs Brock-Burrum and Holbrook last season.
After a tumultuous off-season at Bunton Park, Muller said North Albury were looking forward to getting down to business.
"We've been pretty heavily scrutinised by the paper and the media and everything, whether that's on me or the team or a bit of both, so we're looking forward to the challenge," the first-year coach said.
We're in a situation where I look up to Marc Almond and what he's done at Corowa so we're looking to model something like that
Isaac Muller
"We will give everything and that's all you can ever ask.
"We're in a situation where I look up to Marc Almond and what he's done at Corowa so we're looking to model something like that."
Muller said North Albury, who defeated Mangoplah-Cookardinia United in its final practice match last week, had been blown away by the enthusiasm on the training track in the lead-up.
"We've got 93 or 94 registered players at the club and 115 have been to pre-season training," Muller said.
"They are really keen.
"Lavington's a big test but we'll see how we go."
Corowa-Rutherglen has named a new-look side to play reigning premier Wangaratta at Norm Minns Oval on Saturday evening.
Andrew Pretto, James O'Connell, Shane Tregear, Leigh Schulz, Jarred Lane, Rohan Davies and Alex Wallis have come into the improving Roo side.
Utility Tim Brook will miss due to suspension from a Northern Territory match.
"It's a tough ask first-up but the boys have had a good pre-season," coach Marc Almond said,
"We're keen."
Wangaratta has named a powerful line-up with coach Luke Morgan, Ben Speight and Daine and Josh Porter topping up a formidable list.
Porter will equal defender Brett Keir's club record of 265 matches when he takes the field on Saturday.