Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve is in great nick for the standalone fixture, with fish and meat options available for patrons and the event to support the Good Friday Appeal.
The main game kicks off at 2.15pm with Cats president Greg Lumby expecting “six or seven” new faces, including Ovens and Murray recruits Dylan Van Berlo (Wangaratta Magpies) and Reed Bonat (Yarrawonga), to take the field.
“Dylan will definitely be playing,” Lumby told the Free Press.
“Although he was one of the best backmen in the O and M in the last few years, I’ve got a feeling he might play forward.”
The Cats faithful will also get a look at new assistant coach Bonat (Yarrawonga), co-coach Jamie Seymour (Lucknow and Corowa-Rutherglen) and Jarryd Hatton (Yarrawonga and Corowa-Rutherglen), the latter two former players.
“We’re very excited to have Reed Bonat. Jamie Seymour is a huge inclusion for our squad and it’ll be interesting with ‘Hatts’ after the cricket grand final,” Lumby said.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the new guys gel but everyone’s just very keen to see an actual game of footy after a long preseason.”
Wahgunyah president Darryl Hore said 70 per cent of the Lions’ line-up could be fresh faces, after returning coach Chris Willis headed a recruiting drive over the offseason.
“(New assistant coach) Riley O’Kane has been a drawcard, and he’ll probably play centre for us,” Hore said.
“In 2022 we were in a position where we didn’t know if we would be able to field a senior team and 2023 was also a struggle, so it’s good to have numbers now.”
While the club lost a few players over the off-season, too, Hore said reserve numbers had been “great” and the club would field juniors – both under-17s and under-14s – after a two-year absence, providing a volunteer and financial boost to the club.
“To have juniors back is massive for the club,” the president said.
Wahgunyah endured a tough year last year but produced one of their best performances in the derby clash.
“It’s the biggest game of the year whenever we play Wahgunyah and there’s no reason why it won’t be big again and a good way for both clubs to get a start to the season,” Lumby said.
“A lot of the guys work with each other and are mates with each other, but come Saturdays it’s always a different story!”
The reserves kick-off at 12.30pm while the A Grade netballers commence at 12.20pm.
