FARRER LEAGUE
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THE Rock-Yerong Creek coach Michael Mazzocchi is yet to decide which Magpies defenders will get the chance to play on AFL legend Michael O’Loughlin in April’s Anzac Challenge.
O’Loughlin was last week announced as a cameo signing for Marrar and will make his one and only appearance in the Bombers jumper at Robertson Oval on Friday, April 19.
TRYC is the club lucky enough to line up against the former Sydney Swans power forward and Mazzocchi says his players can’t wait for the opportunity.
But he is unsure who will get the tough job of trying to limit O’Loughlin’s influence on the game.
“When you’re talking about AFL footballers they don’t come much better than O’Loughlin,” Mazzocchi said.
“It’s a fantastic thing for the league.
“I would love to have him on our side instead, but all our blokes are looking forward to it.
“I’m assuming he will play deep forward and we will have to talk about winning the footy out of the middle so we don’t give him any opportunity.
“I’ll probably look at trying one or two blokes on him.
“I’ll do some homework, find out how fit he is and how much footy he has been playing before we decide what we are going to do.”
TRYC would have been an early favourite to beat Marrar in the opening game of the Farrer League season but O’Loughlin’s arrival is likely to even out the market.
Key Magpies defender Mitch Glasgow’s availability for the game is up in the air after indicating he will not play this season due to work commitments in West Wyalong.
Mazzocchi is not sweating on the decision just yet and says he will worry about his team before thinking about O’Loughlin.
TRYC last week unveiled its newest addition to Victoria Park with the signing of Albury footballer Casey Hillary.
Hillary has followed good mate Tom Yates to the club and Mazzocchi says he will slot into the Magpies’ first grade team nicely.
“I haven’t seen him play, but I know he played at Holbrook and last year he played seconds at Albury Tigers,” he said.
“I rate that O&M second grade pretty highly and he looks like he will be handy for us.
“His fitness is good and he his skills look good.”
Hillary played on a wing in Albury last season but, standing at over six feet tall, Mazzocchi says he may use him across the half forward line.
Hillary joins Yates, Tim Mathieson, Ted Fellows, Zac Woods and Luke Brooks as TRYC’s gains this off-season.