Brothers Nikola and Stefan Bukvic to clash for first time when Wangaratta meets Boomers

Nkiola, 26, is captain of Wangaratta and will take on younger brother, Stefan, 19, who is at Boomers.

The pair played around a year-and-a-half of senior football together at Wodonga Diamonds in 2017 and 2018, before Nikola made the move to the Devils.

Stefan crossed to Murray United in 2019 and didn't get the chance to play for Boomers last year when COVID-19 brought an end to the 2020 AWFA season.

Nikola has established himself at the centre of Wangaratta's defence, while Stefan plays up top for Boomers and is a good chance to match up on his brother in the contest.

"One of us has always got to be better than the other," Nikola said of the healthy sibling rivalry.

"We always like to tell each other who is better or worse with everything.

"I want to show him his place (laughs)."

Stefan is well prepared for the contest.

"There might be a few elbows early," he laughed.

"I've been playing up top and he's in defence, so he'll probably get me early.

"It's going to be physical. He taught me to be physical, there's not really any tactics."

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Nikola has enjoyed his time at Wangaratta and relished the role as captain for the past three years.

"It's a really good club, really good culture with good players and a good coach. It's all kind of lined up," he said.

"We've got a few good juniors coming up, so I've been trying to point them in the right direction.

"We had ins and outs throughout the off-season, so we're probably not as strong as the last couple of years.

"We're still thereabouts, but in saying that the loss to Albury City (in round three) could have gone either way.

"We missed some easy shots that could have changed the game, but we made two mistakes in defence and they buried them."

The chance to be coached by Andrew Grove was a major drawcard to get Stefan to Glen Park.

"Grove is really technical with all the drills and everything. His coaching and training is really good," he said.

"He got me across and I've got a lot of mates there around the same age like Kye Halloway."

Albury City will look to continue its good form at home to Albury Hotspurs, Cobram faces Twin City, Myrtleford hosts St Pats, Melrose and Wodonga Diamonds will both look to get off the mark, while Albury United has the bye.

In the women's league, Boomers take on Wangaratta, St Pats meet Albury Hotspurs and Albury United has the bye.

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