BO'C: With round one of the Upper Murray league season being played this weekend, it's been a pretty long off season for you. How's the vibe around the club heading into the first game?

LM: Everyone's really excited to be back, particularly because we start so late in the season. Most people are really happy to be back and training has been really energetic and enthusiastic.

BO'C: The end of your season last year is probably still a bit of a sore spot. You finished on top of the ladder and only dropped one game, but didn't make it through to the grand final. This year, is it business as usual or is there more fire in the belly to go that extra step?

LM: We did feel it, not being able to make it through to the final last year. We lost one of our main shooters at the start of the finals last year. This year, we think we have a shooter that will hopefully replace her and be just as strong, so hopefully that will help us go further this season.

BO'C: Being your first year as co-coach with Sophie Patterson, what are some of the focuses you have in regards to goal setting and expectations for the girls this season?

In other sport news:

LM: The short term goal, I guess, is to try and win every game and enjoy the games as you're playing them. It's interesting because Sophie is an attacker and I'm a defender, so I'm quite passionate about making sure that you're defensive over every ball and I think that's probably a good quality to have in the team. I'd really like to see the team put as much pressure on the ball coming down the court as possible.

BO'C: Federal will take on Border Walwa in Corryong this weekend. Are there any things in particular that you as coach would like the girls to be focusing on heading into your first game?

LM: I think just gelling as a team, because we've got a couple of new players from other clubs that have come into our A-grade team this season. I think this first week will really just be about trying to play as a whole team. I guess that's probably the main thing, just gelling as a whole team in our first game of the season and trying to get a win.

The Upper Murray league round one draw of the season to be played on Saturday.

Federal v Border Walwa.

Bullioh v Cudgewa.

Tum-rumba v Corryong.