Six clubs from across the Riverina will come together to contest the inaugural AFL Riverina Championship.

Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the world and the Riverina Australian rules community has not been immune to the chaos.

There has been a lot more downs than ups on the road to round one on Saturday, but it is a credit to all involved that we'll kick off a season on Saturday.

While it looks like we'll reach the start line this weekend, there is no guarantee that we'll reach the finish line on September 19 but a lot of enjoyment will be had in the meantime, all while adhering to the protocols that playing sport during COVID-19 bring.

There will be plenty of naysayers about the season. The COVID Cup it will be referred to and some will try to talk it down at every opportunity.

But with 13 AFL Riverina clubs having pulled the pin, only a small percentage of the footy population will get to be part of this unique season and the influx of quality footballers will ensure the standard is much higher than usual.

With only three games a weekend and increased interest from the border, there is likely to be more eyes on this season than there has been for a long time.

Some will say the AFL Riverina Championship title means very little. But in 10, 20, 30 years time, I'm tipping the majority of footy supporters will be able to tell you who won the 'COVID Cup' more than they will a premiership from any other year.

Bring it on.

Coach: Christin Macri (third year, second stint)

Last year: Fifth

Gains: Riley Corbett, Sam Martyn (Canberra Demons), Sam Murray (Collingwood), Nick Murray (Wodonga Raiders), Sam Terlich, Toby Murray (Henty), Curtis Steele (Coleambally), Matt Neagle (Central District), Louis Miller (CSU), Luke Walsh (North Wagga), Tom Quinn (VAFA), Angus Cumming (Wollongong)

Losses: Zac Wiencke (MCUE)

Player to watch: Sam Murray - Has not played since 2018 but was playing for Collingwood at the time. Will make his return in round two and will undoubtedly be one of the competition's elite.

The coach says: "Expectations are hard but I just know that I've got a group of players, a whole list of people, that want to play footy and they are absolutely jumping out of their skin to do that. I think when you've got that sort of energy and enthusiasm and keenness to play I think it can result in positive results on field. But once again, without knowing who the opposition is going forward, it's hard to know. We're just extremely happy to be playing footy and we've maintained all along that that's what we've wanted to do. Our philosophy was that we'd rather play and get three weeks down the track and get shut down, as opposed to get three months down the track and then have the we should have played, nothing's happened look. No one can predict the future so we just ran with that."

Verdict: The Lions have been building nicely for a couple of seasons under Christin Macri but there's no doubt, like other clubs, that the COVID-19 chaos has allowed them to bring in some high-end recruits that they would not have otherwise had. Suddenly a forward line headlined by Riley Corbett and Nick Murray is as dangerous as any in the competition, while a half-back line of Sam Martyn, Ben Walsh and Matt Neagle is all class. Throw in Curtis Steele and Sam Murray into a midfield that already feeds off the best ruckman in the competition and the Lions are cooking with gas. The continued improvement of Matt Hamblin, along with the addition of Louis Miller and others makes for exciting times at Ganmain Sportsground. The Lions are without doubt a premiership threat.

Prediction: Premiers

Coach: Daniel Muir (second year)

Last year: Ninth

Gains: Lucas Meline, Mitch Hardie, Jono Spina (Canberra Demons), Cooper Sharman (Coburg), Jeromy Lucas (Northern Jets), Jake Wood, Hugh Collins, Tyh Evans (Geelong West Giants), Nathan Tang (UTS Bats), Ben Fulford (Echuca), Jayden Lehman (Queanbeyan), Sam Hopper (Torquay)

Losses: Grant Commins (overseas)

Player to watch: Cooper Sharman - Was in the sights of AFL clubs last year after a spectacular 2019 season. Returns home to Leeton and look for him to make a big impression in attack for the Crows.

The coach says: "With the way 2020's gone this year, who knows what to expect. With our experience and the quality of footballers we've brought in, we'd like to think we're going to be pretty competitive but I suppose it's going to be a matter of everyone learning how to play together and gelling. It's pretty exciting, having all the guys at training, it's a completely different vibe. We've gone from having 20 guys training to 50 plus. It's definitely lifted the standard and these young fellas, they have the ability now to learn off these guys who have come home from the NEAFL or wherever else."

Verdict: Not many teams have gone from wooden spooners to premiers in the space of 12 months but it is a very real possibility for Leeton-Whitton. COVID has been kind to the Crows, as a number of the club's promising home-grown products have returned to spend the shortened season at Leeton. The Crows will now boast real quality on every line with Daniel Muir having a large number of talented midfielders to choose from. Muir will be like a new recruit himself after 12 months and will form a dangerous forward combination with Cooper Sharman, Jeromy Lucas and Jade Hodge. Jono Spina will stiffen up the Crows' defence, while Lucas Meline and Mitch Hardie will add some leadership to a relatively young list. Leeton-Whitton will have strengths across the park and expect them to be a hard-running, entertaining team that will be right there at season's end.

Prediction: Third

Coach: Jeremy Rowe (second year)

Last year: Fourth

Gains: Tom Keogh (Wagga Tigers), Harry Collins, Matt Collins (UNSW), Hunter Lloyd (Geelong West), Zac Wiencke (GGGM), Kieran Shea (Temora), Mitch Sykes (Turvey Park), Chris Willis (Henty), Rhys Mooney, Jack Reynolds (Marrar), Will Murray (CSU), Sam McGinn (Griffith), Connor Huthwaite, Stu Carey, Angus McLay, Jamison Bouffler (VAFA), Will Holmes (Holbrook), Alex Killalea (Wollongong)

Losses: Blake Chapman, Jacob Taylor (Belconnen), Andrew Dickins (year off)

Player to watch: George Kendall - Athletic centre-half-forward that won MCUE's best and fairest last season as a teenager. After a pre-season at Canberra Demons, look for Kendall to take his game to another level this year.

The coach says: "Although it's hard to know with the nature of this season, we certainly want to be competitive with the top end teams. I've been really happy with our preparation, I think it has been as good as any, if not better and I believe one of our strengths will be the continuity of our team. We won't have too many changes but the handful we're bringing in will certainly add something to the team. We're aware that the standard this year will be as good as the RFL has been in many years but we're hopeful that we can be very competitive."

Verdict: MCUE were as well-placed as any of the remaining clubs prior to COVID but have managed to adapt and keep the pace in the recruiting frenzy that has occured. Like other clubs, the Goannas have had to cut ties with their Victorian and border-based recruits, something that will hurt given the loss of a genuine full-forward in Trent Castles or Damian Cupido. The Goannas proved last year they weren't far off and again one of their strengths will be their depth, with not many weak links in their 22. The addition of Hunter Lloyd and return of Tim Smith and Matt Collins will give the Goannas' arguably the best defence in the competition, while their midfield gets some real potency with Harry Collins and Tom Keogh coming back. A finals lock and another premiership contender.

Prediction: Fourth

Coach: Joel Mackie (first year)

Last year: Hume League premiers

Gains: Joel Mackie (Osborne), Nick Perryman, Ed Perryman, Joe Perryman (Collingullie-GP), Jack Driscoll, Cody Cool (TRYC), Archie Howard (Marrar), Guy Ward (North Wagga), Harry Weaven (Lavington), Mal Douglas (Red Hill)

Losses: Sam Livingstone (Victoria), Mitch Wickham (Sydney), Brad Boots (retired)

Player to watch: Connor Galvin - A silky-skilled midfielder and half-forward who will impress plenty in the new competition.

The coach says: "We're going in with no expectations. We're just happy to be playing some sort of footy this year. I'm looking more towards using it as a stepping stone for next year for us. It's just a bonus to be playing footy at the moment."

Verdict: It will be great to see what Osborne can bring to this competition. There is no doubt the loss of their Albury-based players and recruits will impact the Ostriches' ability to genuinely challenge for the title but the club is the heavyweight of the Hume League for a reason and they will still prove more than competitive. It will be good to see the likes of the Galvin brothers, Marty Bahr, Duncan McMaster and Jamie Parr in action and how they fare against some of their Riverina opponents. If their Albury players remained sidelined for the season, making finals would be a big win for Osborne.

Prediction: Fifth

Coach: Josh Ashcroft and Chase Grintell (first year)

Last year: Sixth

Gains: Tyler Cunningham (Marrar), Alex Rogers (EWK), Troy Curtis (North Wagga), Cooper Irons (Narrandera), James Pope (Collingullie-GP), Riley Connor (Sydney), Jackson Weidemann (North Albury)

Losses: Nathan Byrne, Matt Ness (Melbourne), Jeremy Sykes, Ryan Shaw (year off), Mat Bailey (Newcastle), Clint Shields (Victoria), Mitch Sykes (MCUE)

Player to watch: Troy Curtis - Was pivotal in North Wagga's drought-breaking Farrer League premiership last year and it will be interesting to see how he goes at a new club in this competition.

The coach says: "It's going be tough given the preparation and the stop-start nature of things but we just want to enjoy it and play each week as if it's our last game for the year. I've got full faith in the young blokes and it would be good just to give them some reward, hopefully notch a few wins up and enjoy it. I'm backing the ability of our young blokes for sure, some of these kids turn my head every time I'm at training. I hope they bring that energy and belief to games."

Verdict: The Bulldogs had been building nicely under Mark Carroll and Jeremy Sykes and were set for a very interesting season before COVID hit. Both coaches had their own reasons for resigning and credit to Josh Ashcroft and Chase Grintell for putting up their hand to steer the ship. The Bulldogs have not been as active in the recruiting frenzy as other clubs and may struggle to match the power of the top teams. It still shapes as important period for the club as their long list of young talent get the chance to continue their development. The Bulldogs will be better-placed next year.

Prediction: Sixth

Coach: Troy Maiden (second year, second stint)

Last year: Premiers

Gains: Charlie Bance, Brad Graham (Maribyrnong Park), Shaun Flanigan (Wodonga), Jake Gaynor, Jim Grills (Albury), Angus Durnan (Avenel), Shaun Campbell (Melton), Justin Jenkins (Ellenbrook), Luke Gestier, John Buchanan, Harry Radley (Collingullie-GP), Sam Lucas (Sunshine), Drew Beavan (Marrar)

Losses: Dylan Morton (Glenelg), Jackson Kelly, Ben Kelly (Central District), Nick Ryan (EWK), Jake Mascini (rugby league), Tom Keogh (MCUE), Tom Osmotherly, Bailey Wileman (Victoria), Louis Beard, Sam Ryan, Pat Gaynor, Josh Gaynor, Scott Pearce, Jim McCullough

Player to watch: Charlie Bance - Left Tigers as a highly-promising junior and returns having played at a good standard in Melbourne.

The coach says: "First and foremost we're grateful to get the opportunity to be able to play when so many other areas aren't playing. Nothing really changes for us, I've been saying this for a while but our first aim is to be competitive and improve each time we go out and play, and to really enjoy it. An exciting thing for me is looking at our list, whilst we've had a big turnover of players, the majority of guys who will be playing for us this year have come right through our junior system through to senior football, whether they were playing with us last year or not, they've wanted to come back and help the club out and just play and enjoy their footy this year. That's a big plus for us, that we've got guys who want to do that. It speaks volumes for the club."

Verdict: Wagga Tigers will field virtually a new team to the one that led them to last year's Riverina League premiership. Around 14 of last year's first grade squad are now gone, but the club has been fortunate enough to welcome home a number of their talented former juniors, plus a few others that are more than handy replacements. Tigers will have a few more recognised forwards this year, and like last year, midfield depth that will be the envy of most others. There is more than enough top end talent on their list to take out the title.

Prediction: Runner up

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