General News
9 April, 2021
Camperdown excited for Bloods challenge
EXCITEMENT is brewing for Camperdown’s football return tomorrow (Saturday).
EXCITEMENT is brewing for Camperdown’s football return tomorrow (Saturday).
Magpies coach Neville Swayn said his playing group had been counting down the days until footy made its long awaited return to Leura Oval.
His side is set to face Terang Mortlake in its opening Hampden league clash, albeit under lights at Ridley Recreation Reserve, some 595 days since it last played.
“There’s a real buzz around everyone that we’re finally playing,” Swayn said.
“After doing a full pre-season last year it’s a relief for everyone that we are finally going to play.
“When we started (pre-season) in mid-October basically everyone was wanting to get back to some normality, but the boys have just trained hard and worked together.
“We’ve had good numbers at training which is a good indication of the direction we were heading from the previous pre-season, so I think within the whole group that excitement has been building from October to now.”
The Magpies and Bloods have often squared off in the opening round of the season in past years.
Camperdown has taken the chocolates in the first game in 2018 and 2019 but this week’s match comes following a preparation like no other.
With no football last year, the two sides last met in June 2019 and played their most recent games in August the same year before COVID-19 struck on the eve of the 2020 season.
With no play possible that year, Swayn is expecting most sides in the league to take time recalibrating to competitive football.
But he is expecting the Bloods to give his side a strong test first-up, particularly on opposition territory.
“I think both sides won’t play their best footy early because of the break,” Swayn said.
“With the year off it will probably take us time to find our feet and Terang Mortlake will be in the same boat so we’re expecting it to be a little scrappy and depending on the conditions at night it might be a little slippery.
“I think the first two to three weeks could be like until everyone gets settled to the pressure again.
“Terang Mortlake has been fairly quiet over the pre-season, similar to us, so they’re a little bit of unknown which makes us really wary of what they’re like. The first round will be a great test for the group to see where we’re at.”
The Magpies will unveil familiar and new faces, with Cameron Spence, Jesse Gallichan and Isaac Stephens all returning to the club after departing in either 2019 or 2020.
Swayn was rapt to welcome the trio back.
“It just shows how well the club is tracking for those guys to want to come back,” he said.
“I think it speaks volumes for the club andthe group.
New recruits Brayden Draffin and Judah Dundon will play their first games for the club, while a couple of others could also potentially be in line for debuts.
Swayn said young defender Josh Place was one in contention for a spot.
“Josh has had a big pre-season and is one of many who has impressed during the practice matches and has put his hand up for selection this weekend,” he said.
“Draff doesn’t really feel like a new face because he did last year’s pre-season with us but both him and Judah are quality players and quality men which fits the mould for us.
“Hopefully they become long-term playersfor us.”
Round one football game times:
11am – Under 12s
12pm – Under 14s
1.30pm – Under 16s
3pm – Under 18s
4.30pm – Reserves
6pm – Seniors