Collingullie’s Crossroads Oval will play host to a pre-season double header featuring some of the strongest clubs in NSW-ACT.

The Demons will take on Gungahlin at midday before NEAFL club Canberra Demons face Ovens and Murray club Lavington at 2pm.

Collingullie-GP will be without a number of senior players, including the three Klemke brothers and Dan and Nick Kennedy. 

Collingullie-GP captain-coach Luke Gestier has issued a licence to his players to play with freedom.

“I won’t throw too much at them, just to enjoy it,” Gestier said.

“I want them to look to get a bit of form individually and work on a few things we’ve worked on through the pre-season where they see fit.”

Gestier will line-up at centre-half-forward for the Demons. He plans to play in all three of Collingullie’s trial games in a bid to be ready for round one after undergoing minor knee surgery post the grand final.

Coolamon will also be missing a swag of players when they kick off their campaign with a trial game against Ovens and Murray League club North Albury at Kindra Park on Saturday.

A combined reserve grade and under 17 team will play at 11.30am, with first grade to follow at 1.30pm.

Coolamon will be without about 13 players due to representative football, cricket and other commitments.

First year Hoppers coach Connor Neyland hopes to get as much out of the game as possible.

“Just a few things we’ve been working on at training, a bit of a game plan and what we want to try to do,” Neyland said.

“We’ll be lacking quite a few players so it will be about getting a touch of the footy and game fitness as much as anything.

“We’ve had a lot of fringe first graders, reserves and 17s at training so it will be good to give them a feel of it and get a good look at a higher standard of opposition.”

Canberra-based recruits Nick Pleming and Jack Baker will watch from the sidelines.

Leeton-Whitton will also travel to play Lockhart at 5pm on Saturday.

Meantime, Mitch Sykes has returned to Turvey Park.

Sykes, who coached the Bulldogs last year, had signed with Hume League club Lockhart but has had a change of heart.

The travel involved in playing at Lockhart meant Sykes was unable to commit to the upcoming season.

Turvey Park captain-coach Truman Carroll was pleased to welcome Sykes back.

“Sykesy is really well liked at the club and is a great teacher,” Carroll said.

“He has a really good knowledge of the game and having someone of his experience to help teach the young guys coming through will be a real boost to the group.”

The Bulldogs beat Corowa-Rutherglen in a trial game last weekend and play Farrer League club Temora at Maher Oval on Friday night (March 16).