The Rock-Yerong Creek upset East Wagga-Kooringal in season opener at Gumly

The Rock-Yerong Creek offered an early indication that they intend to be back among the movers and shakers this season with an upset 15-point win against East Wagga-Kooringal.

The 11.6 (72) to 8.9 (57) victory at Gumly was full of positives for the 'Pies: their three available Canberra recruits all showed they're going to offer plenty, and the energy and intent across their entire 21 was a big factor.

"We're really excited for the club and for the boys to do an 18-month pre-season, effectively, and then get some reward," TRYC co-coach Heath Russell said.

"We're well aware it's round one but it's good to get that belief that when we play good footy - and we did that in passages today - that sides are going to have play well to beat us.

"That's what we want to be. We want to be tough to play against and have a brand of footy that's identifiable and know what we're doing."

The Magpies made a flying start, dominating the first term at Gumly Oval. Controlling the clearances and moving the ball quickly, they kicked four goals in the first eight minutes for a 25-point lead against a stunned Hawks.

While EWK's only goal of the first term came after a 50m penalty, TRYC forwards Joey Kerin and Dean Biermann had kicked two goals each (and two behinds as well for Kerin) just a couple of minutes into the second, by which time the margin was out to 33.

But with the breeze behind them, the Hawks lifted.

Two quick goals to their own star signing Jarrad Boumann (who played full-forward after being named at centre-half-back) started it, and Alex Rogers across half-back and Ben Cadzow (half-forward) drove its continuation as they controlled the quarter to go to half-time just 11 points down.

But the 'Pies powered back after the break. Biermann booted back-to-back goals (as he'd done in the first) and a Scott Wolter snap to punish a Hawks error gave the visitors a critical 29-point lead midway through the third.

Goals either side of three-quarter-time to EWK brought them back into range but Jordy Kemp goaled on the run for the Magpies to make it a 24-point margin again for much of the last term.

That, and dogged persistence, proved enough as TRYC hung tough in the face of a flurry of Hawks' forward entries in the closing minutes. But they could only kick 1.3 with their last four scoring shots (just as they'd kicked 1.4 with their last five scores before half-time) and the Magpies savoured a rare Gumly win.

Biermann was superb in a good team effort for the Magpies, dangerous as a target up forward and also strong in the midfield. Riley Budd was a big presence in the middle too and, when the Magpies were enjoying passages on top, it was often courtesy of new captain Mitch Stephenson's efforts in the clearances.

The Hawks will expect to show significant improvement after they were caught half-asleep to start with and will want to lift their intensity for next week's grand final rematch at North Wagga. Ethan Andrews looked to suffer a shoulder injury but they should have Tim Smith back next week and fellow key defender Trent Garner in a month. Cadzow, Rogers and Nic Curran were their best.

It was a winning start for TRYC's new coaching partnership. Brad Aiken was proud of the effort and Russell said they were rapt in the way they stuck at the task when the Hawks mounted their second and fourth quarter fightbacks.

"They're a quality team and they're flag favourites for a reason so we knew they were going to come," Russell said.

"That's the other pleasing thing is that the boys dug in. It wasn't pretty the whole game and we had to hang on for that last quarter.

"But we had patches where we moved the footy well. We want to do that as long as we can and opposition sides aren't going to allow that. But when we do move it well, it's exciting."

The Magpies were missing midfielder Joe Hancock due to a family commitment and will look forward to adding him to the mix for their first home game next week against Coleambally.

Full-time:

TRYC 5.3, 6.4, 10.4, 11.6 (72)

EWK 1.1, 4.5, 6.6, 8.9 (57)

Goals: (TRYC) Dean Biermann 4, Joseph Kerin 2, Jordan Kemp, Todd Hannam, Jesse Coole, Scott Wolter, Cooper Diessel; (EWK) Jarrad Boumann 3, Ben Cadzow 2, Jarrod Turner, Alex Rogers, Luke Cuthbert.

Best: (TRYC) Riley Budd, Cooper Diessel, Dean Biermann, Jake Adams-Wright, Aiden Ridley, Mitch Stephenson; (EWK) Ben Cadzow, Alex Rogers, Nic Curran, Jeremy Piercy, Harrison Leddin, Harry Fitzsimmons.

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