Harpley's Coolamon debut delayed due to knee swelling

The dual Farrer League flag winner with Temora experienced knee swelling in Coolamon's first trial and has been on limited duties since.

He ruptured an ACL in late 2015 and again two years later before completing a full season with the Kangaroos in 2019, but it is the opposite knee causing discomfort.

"I played the first trial and pulled up pretty sore from that, and haven't done much since then," Harpley said.

"It'll be right, it's probably just another couple of weeks off and I'm starting to get back into training now.

"I'm getting a scan (on Wednesday night) just to be safe. I don't think there's anything majorly wrong with it, it's just sore and swells up so I'm just resting it at the moment."

The 27-year-old said he may have to miss the odd game to ensure he makes it to the business end of the season, especially after not playing at all last year.

"I think that will be the plan, to make sure I'm there at the end of the year instead of the start," he said.

"I hate sitting and watching and want to have a run, especially being at a new club."

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The Hoppers would have been encouraged by their season-opening win, where they were seriously challenged by the new-look Bulldogs in the third quarter before triumphing by 19 points.

Joe Redfern bagged six goals while small forward Braeden Glyde (one goal), Jeremy Maslin (two) and Mark McGowan (two) were also dangerous.

"I'll be up forward, probably full forward or centre half forward," Harpley said.

"They've got a good forward line and it will be nice to jump in and be a part of it. It definitely worked pretty well in the trial match I played in."

Redfern is confident the forward set up will be lethal once everyone is on deck.

"It's a slightly different team and it will take a few weeks after having last year off to get in the swing of it again," he said.

"We've got a couple of new boys. Matty (McGowan) and I have played together for a long time and we're putting a couple of small forwards in the mix."

Redfern said Coolamon did well to adjust to what Turvey Park was throwing at them, and predicted them to have a strong season under new coach Michael Mazzocchi.

"To their credit they were really good. We were a bit sloppy in that third quarter and they got a run on. We had to get a bit tighter defensively and play smarter, just hold onto the footy a bit more.

"I was very impressed with how well they (Turvey Park) were drilled. They're going to do some damage this year, they're a good young side."

The Hoppers will look to continue their strong start to the year when they play at Kindra Park for the first time in over a year and a half against Collingullie-Glenfield Park on Saturday afternoon.

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