The fight for Murray League premiership points is back from this weekend, when the Deniliquin Rams Football & Netball Club begin their season tomorrow.
In a standalone Murray League clash, as part of an ‘Opening Round’ similar to in the AFL, the Rams will travel to play hosts Echuca United.
It will see a full match day, with four grades of football and seven grades of netball beginning their premiership campaigns.
Tomorrow also provides an opportunity for the Rams’ new senior football coach John Fitzpatrick to officially begin in the role with the 2026 Rams senior football side.
Fitzpatrick is taking over from long-time coach Gary Parsons, and was appointed to the role in October.
The new senior coach is a former premiership star, with the Rams having played in six consecutive senior grand finals, claiming four premierships.
As well as an illustrious career with Rams, Fitzpatrick also enjoyed success beyond the Rams.
He played in a senior premiership with Echuca and held assistant coaching roles with Mortlake and the Deniliquin Rovers, where he spent four years developing his coaching craft.
Most recently, Fitzpatrick has coached the Rams thirds and was an assistant coach for the Rams reserves, helping guide the side to a narrow grand final loss in 2024.
He will be assisted this season by Chris Mitsch, Tim Hillier, Mick Barnett and Matt Macdonald.
Rounding out the Rams’ football leadership group is Mick Barnett, Harry Hillier, Will Henderson and Cable Fitzpatrick.
With a senior football squad full of young talent, Fitzpatrick said overcoming the squad’s inexperience would be the main aim for the season ahead.
“It is going to be a challenge. There is a lot of youth in our side.
“It will be a year to develop and get some good experience into our juniors coming through.
“Whatever happens on the park, happens on the park.”
In terms of footballing identity, Fitzpatrick wants the team’s play to be fast moving, which may suit the younger dynamic of the team.
“I’m hoping for the team to play with a running, energetic and attacking game style.
“I really want the team to be free to take risks and take the game on.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s match against Echuca United, Fitzpatrick said anything could happen, especially due to player stocks being affected following a strong preseason.
“It is a bit of an unknown.”
“We’ve had practice matches against Culcairn and Coolamon and had a few different results.
“We tried a few different things, a few different guys in different positions it also allowed us to give some young guys more opportunity in different roles.
“This week we have a fair few, maybe nearly a dozen, out due to injuries and unavailability, which is going to make it a challenge.”
There are a few players to watch out for in senior Rams football this year, with Logan Leiper recruited from the Deni Rovers and Matt MacDonald coming back to the Rams.
“Young Andrew Smith coming up from the thirds also looks a good player.
“Will Shaw (Greater Western Sydeny VFL) is going to play a few games for us this year too.
“Logan Leiper and Matt MacDonald are returning, and otherwise it is mostly the same core young group.”
A few outs ahead of the season mean the side are very young, but Fitzpatrick hopes it will allow them to play freely, starting tomorrow.
“We are losing John Anstee, Todd Gallagher and Gus Durnan, and so the average age of the group is now probably around 21 or 22.
“There are no expectations, we are just backing them in, so they’re free to go out and play footy.”
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