MOLONG is counting down the days to the start of the GrainCorp Cup Southern competition.
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The Southern division will kick-off on April 25, with defending champions travelling to Canowindra.
Molong coach Andy Hillan said the Magpies will field a vastly different team to the side which took out the 2014 Southern premiership.
“We have a lot of new players and a heap of guys retired after the grand final. It’s a new-look side,” Hillan explained.
“We had a squad of 30 players last year and 15 of them aren’t playing again. We’ve only got about five of last year’s starting line-up playing again.”
The coach admitted the team’s preparation had been disjointed with the Easter holidays, however they were keen for the opening round.
However, they will only have one game before the competition had a general bye on May 2 for the NSW Country Championships.
The Magpies will play two more games after this before having a bye in round five, followed by another week off for the June long weekend.
“I don’t think you’ll see the best of Molong until the second half of the season,” Hillan said.
Hillan said the side will focus on cementing combinations ahead of the season-opener, especially with so many new faces in the squad.
As for being defending premiers, Hillan isn’t putting any pressure on his side.
“Our own expectation is to get to the semis and see how it goes,” he explained.
“We’re not raising the bar too early because it’s just an unknown.”
In the other Southern round one matches on April 25, West Wyalong will host Condobolin, Blayney will take on Grenfell and CSU Orange has the bye.
