COUSINS John Buchanan and Nick McCormack will experience another special sporting achievement together when they run out for Riverina League at Robertson Oval on Saturday.
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McCormack, 19, will get his first taste of senior representative football when he takes his place in the Riverina League team to take on AFL Canberra.
Buchanan will make his third appearance for Riverina League and has been rewarded for his commitment with the vice-captaincy.
Buchanan and McCormack enjoyed a senior premiership together at Tigers last September, followed by a fourth grade cricket premiership in March.
Representing Riverina League together will be another special moment for the cousins.
“I’m absolutely stoked to play. It’s a pretty good opportunity, especially to play alongside a couple of the Tigers boys,” McCormack said.
“To play with my cousin is pretty special as well.”
Buchanan is proud of what his younger cousin has been able to achieve in a short amount of time.
“Absolutely, I was pretty stoked for him,” Buchanan said.
“At such a young age, to get a go, is awesome.”
McCormack has been named in a back pocket for Riverina, while Buchanan, the competition’s leading goalkicker for the past two seasons, will start in a forward pocket.
Buchanan, 24, said he was shocked to be handed the vice-captaincy by coach Guy Orton.
“It was very surprising,” Buchanan said.
“I don’t know what to think, but it’s good. I’m pretty quiet and don’t really have too much to say. I told (Wagga Tigers coach) Shaun Campbell and he had a laugh, and thought it was pretty funny.”
McCormack said representative selection is something he did not expect, heading into the 2017 season.
“I would have been pretty shocked, I suppose,” McCormack said.
“It’s a pretty big step up, given only a couple of years ago I was playing 17s. Now to be playing in the rep team is pretty special. Whether it’s raining, or sunny, it should be a good day.”
McCormack has overcome his share of battles. He ruptured his kidney and suffered broken ribs in just his second senior game back in 2014.
Now with a premiership under his belt, and heading into his representative debut, McCormack could not be happier.
“I’m happy with the way my footy’s going at the moment,” he said.
“I’m playing with some confidence, especially playing at Tigers alongside 21 of your best mates, that helps a lot.”