Mathoura’s head coach, Tim McCormick, said it should be a great hitout, with the club having built steadily over the pre-season.
“We’re excited. We’ve had a long build-up, but we’re ready to go,” he said.
“It has come around quickly, and we added a few key signings and only lost a couple of players, which happens, so we think we are looking good.
Without having played a match yet, McCormick said the side was optimistic.
“I would say we’re feeling hopeful ahead of the season and looking forward to the Easter game, which should be a tough contest.
“We’d like to make a couple of improvements and win as many games as last year, if not more.
“The last couple of years have been seen as rebuilding years, but I’d be lying to you if we said we weren’t aiming to play finals, which is the long-term goal.
“We’ll see how the team goes and reassess it after the first few weeks.”
The Easter Saturday game between Picola United and Mathoura has been a blockbuster fixture for Mathoura both on and off the field.
“As a club, we’ve been really trying to build up the day and try to set up the club financially in a good position ahead of the season,” McCormick said.
“Hopefully, we get spectators from both sides of Mathoura, Deni, and Echuca as we’re the only game on Saturday in our league, and the Echuca and Deniliquin teams from the area will be playing on Good Friday.”
McCormick said securing former AFL player Stephen Milne as a one-off play for this weekend added something to his team, and another reason for spectators to come and watch.
“We noticed with Dane Swan (who played with the club for a showcase match last year) people want to come see a former AFL level player.
“This year’s marquee AFL signing Stephen Milne kicked more than 600 goals at AFL level, played for 13 to 14 seasons and was one of the best players at his position ever in the AFL.”
After a close encounter last year in the Easter Saturday fixture, where the Cutters went down to United by six points, McCormick said this weekend could go either way.
“It’s exciting for the team and the club.
“Last year was a cracker of a game, so hopefully, it’s similar to last year, but we’re on the right side of the ledger this time.”
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