EASTERN Wanderers defender Ben Mavor is adamant the new team is ready for the "challenge" of toppling powerful Yoogali Football Club at Gissing Oval tomorrow night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite little knowledge of the strength of YGC, Mavor admits the Wanderers are not expecting to play any easy games in the Griffith competition.
"We know they'll all be hard," Mavor said yesterday.
"I guess that's the challenge for us every week."
With the Wanderers fresh from a stunning first-up 2-0 victory over West Griffith in the first round last weekend, the Wagga-based team is set to step up a grade - or two - to play YFC.
In a booming opening to the Griffith premiership, YFC thrashed Hanwood Juniors 3-0 to emerge as a serious contender for the Griffith title.
YFC lost the preliminary final last year to miss a place in the Griffith grand final, but has bolstered its ranks with a group of Fijian players, including several internationals.
Heading into the daunting clash with YFC, Mavor is definitely upbeat following the breakthrough success against West Griffith.
"It was good to the first win," Mavor said.
"They (West Wagga) were as good as one of the better teams in the old Wagga competition."
Formed by a group of Football Wagga players who became disenchanted by the competition, the Eastern Wanderers have made fabulous progress in a short time.
In a matter of months, the Wanderers have established a bulkhead in the Griffith competition and are intent making it even stronger as the season unfolds.
"We're in this for the long haul," Mavor said.
"The aim is for one day to have a Riverina competition involving teams from Albury, Griffith and Wagga."
In a bid to showcase the advantages of the move to Griffith, Mavor is banking on the Wanderers attracting a substantial crowd tomorrow night - even pulling in some of their former rivals.
"That'd be a great," he said.
"We're hoping players from old Wagga team will come along to have a look."
For Mavor, the move to the Griffith competition was aimed at achieving a "higher level" of competition.
He is adamant the Football Wagga competition had "gone down hill" before the decision was made to form the Wanderers.
The Football Wagga premiership was reduced to five teams last, but has expanded to nine teams this year.
Mavor, however, says there is a gulf between the top "three or four teams" and the others.
He is also patently aware tomorrow night's game will give the Wanderers a perfect chance to make a statement in their new football home.
"It'll be a test for us, but we're all looking forward to it," he said.
SHOWTIME
Eastern Wanderers v Yoogali FC
When: 5pm tomorrow
Where: Gissing Oval
