Three promising Farrer League footballers will test themselves in the Ovens and Murray League this season.
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North Wagga's Kane Flack joins The Rock-Yerong Creek's Jack Driscoll in signing on with Albury Tigers, while Marrar talent Drew Beavan is making the move to Lavington Panthers.
Driscoll and Beavan are both in the Greater Western Sydney Giants under 19 academy squad (along with another Lavington acquisition, Coopa Steele, from Leeton) but will play in the high-quality border competition when available.
"I love it so far. It's very intense and high-quality at training," Flack said.
"I trained for a few weeks before Christmas but hadn't made up my mind but I loved Albury and the level of it, the skills and fitness.
"I thought why not, just to test myself at a higher level."
The silky midfielder/flanker said he's ready to play any role that co-coaches Luke Daly and Anthony Miles offer and is looking forward to joining ex-Wagga pair Shaun Driscoll and Jake Gaynor there.
It was a tough decision to leave North Wagga, with whom Flack won a flag in 2019, and where he still lives.
"It was very hard. We train Monday and Wednesday (in Albury) and they train Tuesday and Thursday and it feels a bit weird when I can hear them round the corner," he said.
Driscoll and Beavan, also found it tough to leave The Rock-Yerong Creek and Marrar respectively.
"Parting ways with Marrar, and Sparks (coach Shane Lenon) who I've got lots of respect for, it was really hard. I got really emotional when I was telling him," Beavan said.
"I'm hoping it will be the best decision. I've enjoyed training and the quality, and I just want to play the best footy I can, when I can."
The Driscoll name is synonymous with TRYC but Jack's uncle, Graeme Terlich, won a flag with Albury Tigers and the 202cm ruckman hopes to make his own mark.
"Growing up I used to go the O and M grand final every year and I followed Albury a bit because my uncle was there. I'm keen to get in there and have a crack," Driscoll said.
"They get plenty of numbers to training. It's definitely a step up from the Farrer League and it's pretty professional I'd say."
For now, Beavan and Driscoll are concentrating on Giants and the NAB League and hopefully national championships after 2020's schmozzle.
"It was a strange year, we only ended up playing two games instead of six or seven," said Driscoll who was in the Allies squad last year.
"I think we've got three games just with the Giants and then hopefully nationals later in the year. The goal is to be in the Allies."
Both have had off-season ankle complaints so are focussed on fitness to get up to speed ahead of the Giants practice match against the Bushrangers in Albury on March 13, before the NAB League begins at the end of March.
"Just being back into footy is what I'm excited about," Beavan said.
"Last year, it was hard to get into the grind of the season because the season was a bit quick."
Beavan was impressive at Wagga Tigers last season but missed a couple of weeks close to finals due to Giants commitments and the eventual AFL Riverina Championship premiers weren't looking to change a winning team.
"I enjoyed my footy there, playing half-back and through the mid a little bit," he said.
He hopes to get a similar role at Lavington, where there's been some turnover of experienced players.