DEFENDING champions Kildare Catholic College will open a new-look Carroll Cup competition against The Riverina Anglican College (TRAC) on Monday.
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Mt Austin High School's withdrawal from this year's competition will see just five schools vie for the prestigious schoolboy title.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a number of changes to this year's competition, the most notable being that schools will play only 60 minutes of football before the semi-finals.
Spectators will also not be allowed into Robertson Oval for games.
Kildare, TRAC and Mater Dei Catholic College will play each other once in 30 minutes contests, while Kooringal High School and Wagga High will meet for a semi-final spot over four 15 minute quarters.
Carroll Cup coordinator Heath Russell expects a tight competition.
"Some schools have been impacted on by the COVID a little bit more with some of their senior students leaving and finding jobs and stuff like that but I think it will definitely be a competitive comp," Russell said.
"I'm sure the boys are pretty keen to get out there actually because some of them might not be playing footy for clubs at the moment."
TRAC are expected to be among the frontrunners for this year's title and have named a strong team for Monday night's opener against Kildare.
Russell expects TRAC to be among the leading contenders.
"They've been strong in their 15s group for the past two years. Those boys would now be in year 10 and 11 so I think they should be fairly strong," he said.
"Mater Dei surprised last year, because they lost a lot of their older boys and weren't expected to be up there and they made a grand final still.
"Kildare have won in three in a row so they're definitely going to be up there. Kooringal and Wagga High are in Pool B but will be looking to cause an upset if possible."
KILDARE CATHOLIC COLLEGE v THE RIVERINA ANGLICAN COLLEGE
4.30pm at Robertson Oval
Kildare
Not submitted
TRAC
B: S McNaughton, C Burns, L Bruckner
HB: T Isaac, R Hunter, B Leary
C: L Hart, B Glanvill, B Lewington
HF: S Glyde, S Stening, L Fellows
F: R Collins, J Manly, E Weidemann
Foll: Gerard Okerenyang, M Hamblin, S McCready
Inter: (from) J Henney, H Thomas, E Wright, C Hamblin, T Howard, C Bourne, G Carn
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