Jake Whitley hoping to cap enjoyable season with a reserve grade premiership for Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes

Whitley, who lives across the road from the Goannas' home ground and whose family does plenty at the venue, is a veteran of MCUE's painful first grade grand final losses of 2014 and 2015.

He was only a teenager for those and MCUE haven't been back to the last day of the season in firsts or reserves since.

The Goannas lost their last five reserve grade grand finals (from 2010 to 2014), after going back-to-back in 2008 and 2009 (the latter by a point against Coolamon).

For all that, 2020 has simply been about enjoyment for Whitley who, after 59 first grade games, has scooped up the reserve grade league best-and-fairest honour in an exceptional short season.

"It's been good fun this year... work got real busy and I couldn't commit to training early on so I found myself in the twos but I've enjoyed it because my brother (Harrison) plays there and a few of my good mates," Whitley said.

"It's been a good standard of footy. I'd almost say not quite as good as firsts in previous years but it hasn't really been a step down."

Tigers represent a serious challenge though. They're unbeaten through their seven games, including two wins against MCUE.

"We'll just have to be smart when we've got the ball and not cough it up... if everyone turns up ready to play I think we'll be right. Everyone's really excited too, which is good," Whitley said.

MCUE coach Nat Davis is confident they can overcome the favourites.

"They've pipped us a couple of times this year and they're a quality side but we're training well and we're looking forward to the game," Davis said.

Nullifying Shannon Terlich (11 goals in two games against the Goannas) is crucial but Davis said that will start with closing down Tigers' run through the middle of the ground.

Whitley will lead MCUE's midfield and Davis has been rapt in his season.

"He's a hard nut old Jake. He puts his head over the ball no matter where he is and he definitely leads from the front. He's a bloke that we look up to and he provides a lot of drive from that midfield," Davis said.

Elliot Winter has been another key midfielder for MCUE while Mitch Scott's pace, Stu Carey's consistency and Will Murray's versatility have also been important.

He said the rash of talent in the league has meant plenty of first grade standard players dropping back.

"That's the beauty of it for us, that's the season we've had - if there are guys who haven't been able to train or whatever for firsts, we get them for seconds. It's been a huge lift for us," Davis said.

Davis played seniors in 2009 when MCUE last had success, then played in two of their defeats. Coaching the club to a premiership after the year that's been is the stuff of dreams.

"It would be huge. From being asked to do it at the start of the year, and I wasn't quite sure. Then COVID hitting I didn't think we'd get anywhere. But the committee has put in plenty of work as has AFL Riverina to get to where we are," Davis said.

"It would mean a lot to the club. It would mean a lot to the committee. It would mean a lot to the boys and hopefully we can get there on the weekend."

Under 17s: Leeton-Whitton v Osborne (9.30am)

Reserves: Wagga Tigers v Mangoplah-CUE (12noon)

Seniors: Wagga Tigers v Leeton-Whitton (2.45pm)