Slip on a little Aussie Kosi

Shannon Stocco and his Nar Nar Goon team mates were a step ahead of Cora Lynn in their most recent clash at the Cobradome in Round 18 last season. 125292 Picture: ROB CAREW

By RUSSELL BENNETT

THE build-up to Saturday’s massive EDFL season-opening blockbuster between arch rivals Cora Lynn and Nar Nar Goon is about to hit fever pitch.
Just a week after the close of the local cricket season, footy is back – and back with a bang.
Former St Kilda star and new Cora Lynn coaching director Aussie Jones will make his return to the field on Saturday night, lining up alongside former Saints’ team mate Justin Koschitzke – who will make a one-off appearance for the Cobras prior to the start of his season for Lavington in the Ovens and Murray league.
Cora Lynn coach Travis Marsham said his side was “tracking well” in its preparation for the season opener, adding: “Our preparation has been awesome and our training has been really strong.
“There are no excuses (for us).”
Ominously for the rest of the competition, Marsham struggled to identify any particular stand out players from throughout the Cobras’ pre-season.
“A lot of the boys came back in great nick and we’re much fitter than we were this time last year,” he said.
“I think I counted 27 blokes who missed two nights or less of training all summer.”
The Cobras didn’t have any mandatory training sessions prior to Christmas – opting instead to hold voluntary skills sessions.
But the trade off to that was the players having to come back ready and raring to go in January.
“We averaged 43 players on the track over summer,” Marsham said.
“A couple of the boys had little niggles along the way, but nothing major.”
Marsham said Jones was particularly impressive over the pre-season.
“Aussie has been great at the club from a skills improvement and technical standpoint,” he said.
“He’s in charge of our development group, and also an elite group of players potentially set for bigger things.”
Marsham, like Jones, said he couldn’t understand those knocking the Cobras for bringing in Koschitzke for a one-off appearance for the season-opener.
“Our players are 100 per cent supportive of it,” he said.
“We spoke to the leadership group about it first and they were really excited by the idea.
“It’s a big thrill for our players to be able to play alongside guys with AFL experience, and it will be for Nar Nar Goon too – someone gets to play on Kosi and Aussie.”
Marsham said he was expecting “a grand final-type crowd” on Saturday night, adding the biggest problem he’s had over the past couple of weeks was telling Ryan Gillis he’d likely have to vacate the goal square for Koschitzke.
The opening bounce for the senior game this Saturday will be at 7pm at Cora Lynn, with the reserves preceding it at 5.15, the under-18s at 3.35, and the under-16s at 2.30.
No anti-social behaviour will be tolerated, with security on hand throughout the day. All cars will be searched for alcohol prior to entering the ground.
A minute’s silence will be held prior to senior game in honour of both Barry Scanlon and Junior Hunt.