MANGOPLAH-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes coach Jeremy Rowe believes the quality of the AFL Riverina Championship is making up for the lack of quantity, declaring it arguably the best standard the competition is ever likely to enjoy.
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The Goannas host the Tigers in a blockbuster round four clash on Saturday, with both teams among four sides with a 2-1 record, while each club's netball teams are unbeaten.
Talent from Canberra and the Border has boosted the player depth of the six teams competing, with Rowe having the luxury of waiting until this week to include former VFL player Jacob Smith in his side.
The midfielder is a massive boost for the Goannas, while fellow prime mover Harry Collins has also overcome a quad injury to take his place.
"Without a doubt we're getting the best version of Riverina footy we've had in a long time, and one we may never see again," Rowe said.
"That may seem a dramatic statement to make, but I'm looking at the sides getting picked at the moment and in two year's time we're not going to have the depth of quality we have at the moment.
"It's exciting for our club and our competition, the standard is higher and the top four is in a traffic jam at the moment. You can't go to sleep any week."
Rowe was prepared to reward the incumbent players performing before finally granting Smith a debut.
"We would have loved to have rushed him in, he's that quality a player but I had no hesitation in backing in the guys who had got the job done the week before," he said.
"We're really happy with the type of person and player we have brought in external to our main group since COVID.
"The great thing about our group is they've embraced them. When we named Jacob last week there was a great sense of excitement, and when we named Trent (Castles) the week before it was the same.
Our group is seeing it as an opportunity to up their standards as well, because they look around at reserves and see numerous first grade players there that would normally walk into our side."
Tigers ruckman James Scott will miss the match with a cork, with Chris Willis to shoulder the ruck duties.
Wagga Tigers forward Jesse Manton is confident a haul of goals isn't far away after booting one in three games thus far.
I couldn't buy a goal last week, but at least I'm getting myself plenty of opportunities," he said.
"It's definitely an important game and we're both coming in with some good form.
"We've had a lot of avenues to goal this year which is good, and hopefully that continues on the weekend."
Angus Durnan returns to the Tigers' forward line after he was unavailable last week.
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