MANGOPLAH-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes will use their first foray into Sunday football for years this weekend as a road test for more potential games in the future.
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The Goannas have viewed same day football as an ideal option going forward, and president Jesse Cunningham hopes it enhances an already strong relationship with the juniors.
"Without experiencing it yet it's tough to know (the benefits), but talking to Coolamon and Ganmain they only have big raps on how it's run on the day, especially in the volunteer space.
"Not only that, it's important to have that transition of juniors going into seniors, and having familiar faces when you transition from netball or football makes it a lot easier.
"The junior parents who haven't been involved in senior footy, they see how it's run."
Cunningham said the lessons learned from the day will be used to make the transition more seamless.
"We'll learn from Sunday and only get better," he said.
"At the moment we have such a strong relationship with the juniors, and we'll be working over the next few years to get a few more Sunday games.
"We've got a buddy program with the first graders we've been doing with the under 15s for a while now, I know it gives the kids a bit of a buzz.
"Hopefully watching first graders inspires them to want to be one in five or six years' time."
The Goannas community will dig deep for a family close to their hearts in their football and netball clashes against Coolamon.
Club stalwart Jeff and Carly Millar's young children, Charlie (seven) and Zara (five) have Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T), a rare and incurable disease that generally confines them to a wheelchair between the ages of eight and 10, and rarely survive beyond their 20s.
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All junior and senior teams will wear special socks, with socks and beanies available for purchase at the game.
Other donations can also be made directly to the MCUE Fundraising Account, BSB 633 000, account number 149 196 016.
"Footy clubs are unbelievable in raising awareness and funds, whether it be for big or small charities," Cunningham said.
"We've done it for a couple of years and it's pretty overwhelming really how generous people are."
The unbeaten Goannas welcome back several key players for the clash against the third-placed Hoppers.
Full forward Trent Castles, who has 48 goals in seven games this year and booted his 1000th career goal against Wagga Tigers returns, as does ruckman Sam De Sousa and on-baller Christian Palombi.
After snapping a run of two straight close losses against Leeton-Whitton last week, Coolamon has made changes with Tom Besgrove and Patrick Bray to debut, while Jeremy Sykes is back after a battle with blood poisoning.
Hoppers ruckman Ben Edyvean will also set a new club first grade games record when he runs out for the 276th time.
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