Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong have switched their round one home game to away at Narrandera as a long, dry summer takes its toll just as clubs ramp up pre-season preparations.
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The Lions have also moved next Friday's annual hit-out against Marrar to Gumly Oval with neither Ganmain Sportsground nor the Bombers' Langtry Oval suitable to host football yet.
"Like a lot of people, we need the rain but no-one more so than the farmers," GGGM coach Christin Macri said.
"We've got our first month of training in Wagga because our ground just won't be ready for a while yet. We need to get it right first. And round one will be at Narrandera."
He said the Eagles' venue is looking an absolute picture. They will travel to Ganmain in round 10.
AFL Riverina says it will monitor conditions and stay in touch with clubs in coming weeks ahead of the Farrer League's first round on April 6 and the start of the Riverina League the following Saturday.
GGGM had their first run on Thursday night against Osborne at Maher Oval, going down by about 20 points.
Macri wasn't overjoyed with what he saw but pleased that they improved throughout.
"We were a bit standoffish to start with and they used the footy pretty well, but we let them dictate a bit," Macri said.
"We certainly got better as the game went on. And that's what you play practice matches for. There's a few things to work on."
A head knock to Lachie Parker and a sore Jesse Lander weren't ideal outcomes either but neither is expected to be in doubt for the start of the season.
The Lions took the opportunity to road test some options up forward, where there's a Riley Corbett-sized hole to fill.
"We tried a couple of blokes, including quicker smaller guys. And we've got some tall backmen so we'll try to find the right mix and the right one to go forward at this stage," Macri said.
"It's more about us getting the footy in there the way we want to get it in there."
Jethro Peck, who kicked four goals in last year's preliminary final, is an option. He didn't play against Osborne.
The Lions also got their first look at Dylan Cook who joins the club from Pambula on the south coast.
"He's a tall back and one of the ones we'll try through the ruck and forward and back. He played all three last night," Macris said.
"And he's certainly been good with his voice and that, which is something we've been trying to get more out of the boys."
