There is no doubt the Young Cherrypickers First Grade side can put up a solid fight in the Group 9 competition, but what happens when they come up against former Cherrypickers?
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Well we are about to find out.
Former and current Cherrypickers will descend on Keith Cullen Oval at 5pm on Saturday, February 15 where they will go head-to-head against a team called the Presidents at an Invitational Day organised by team officials and committee members.
The Presidents will comprise of former local players now playing football elsewhere in the state. The boys will travel back to their home town from Newcastle, Canberra, the South Coast and more to show Young what they’ve got.
And with years of experience under the belts of the Presidents players, First Grade Cherrypickers captain/coach Luke Branighan believes it’s going to be a tough game but he has faith in his boys.
“I expect us to go alright,” he said.
“There’s some quality players there who have played at a high level at Sydney and surrounding areas.
“You do go into every game wanting to win, so I’m expecting nothing less.”
“I expect everybody to rip into each other and then in the afterwards part of the day have a social get-together back at the Young Services Club,” Branighan said.
The Cherrypickers will use this match as a way of determining where they’re at in terms of fitness and skills, and will welcome their three imports Saul Lealaitafea, Perry Whitley and Thomas Bush onto the paddock.
“I’m excited to have Saul and Perry back in town - they were our two best players last year, and I’m also pleased to have Thomas Bush arrive,” Branighan said.
“He’s a quality player that’s played at a high standard over in England.
“I’m also looking forward to playing with all the local boys again who had a fantastic back half of the season last year.
“They’re all a year older and a year wiser so I expect some more quality football from them.”
And just like the season to come, Branighan hopes the town will get behind and support the Cherrypickers.
“I’d like to have a crowd – hopefully we get a culture into the place that we have consistent crowds all the time that get behind the boys,” he said.
The Cherryatrics will also be making an appearance on the day when they go up against a representative second division combined team made up of players from Burrangong, Koorawatha and Monteagle at 4pm, also at Keith Cullen Oval.
The whole family will be catered to on the day with a barbecue, canteen and bar facility available.
Another date to mark on the calendar is the Cherrypickers dinner to be held on Saturday, April 5 with special guests Alan Langer and Alan Robinson.
“It should be a fantastic night so I hope the town gets behind it,” Branighan said.
Presidents
- Lucas Miller
- Pete Manion
- James Woolford
- Daniel Greaves
- Simon Greaves
- Simon Woolford
- Matthew Campbell
- Mitch Casey
- Thomas Woolford
- Nick Miller
- Steve Woolford
- Sean Casey
- Darren Cooke
- Lucas Miller
- Pete Manion
- James Woolford
- Daniel Greaves
- Simon Greaves
- Simon Woolford
- Matthew Campbell
- Mitch Casey
- Thomas Woolford
- Nick Miller
- Steve Woolford
- Sean Casey
- Darren Cooke
Young Cherrypickers
1. Thomas Bush
2. Riley Scelly
3. Perry Whitely
4. Ross Hewitt
5. Jake Veney
6. Warren Aiken
7. Luke Branighan
8. Saul Lealaitafea
9. Shawn Brown
10. Jake Dawe
11. Drew Arabin
12. Luke Sneddon
13. Kyle Mcgovern
14. Kris Scelly
15. Blake Douglas
16. Jarrod Maxwell
17. Benny Norton
18. TBC
President photos submitted by Trish Evenden and RS Williams.
