After beginning pre-season training during November last year, coaches and players are now focusing on the beginning of their 2019 campaign. Smith and the coaching staff led by Roy Jewitt have been hugely encouraged by numbers at training so early in the pre-season.

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“We’re averaging nearly 30 people at each training run, that’s including a few of the girls but mostly first and second grade,” Greg Smith said. 

“Everything is shaping beautifully, everyone’s super excited and there’s a good buzz about the club.”

Smith said most players from last year have re-signed for 2019, but an element of youth and the addition of Fijian flyer Boro Navari has the Cherrypickers confident of a return to finals footy. Smith couldn’t confirm whether the make-up of the first grade team had been settled for 2019. 

“We’ve got a large contingent of last year’s squad re-signed and we’re hopeful of welcoming back some juniors who have gone elsewhere in recent years. Our new signing Boro has settled in really well,” he said.

“There’s a couple more [signings] in the pipeline, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

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 The West Wyalong Knockout is fast approaching in late February ahead of the opening round of the Group Nine season opener between Young Cherrypickers and Wagga Kangaroos on Saturday, April 6 at Wagga. 

The club has put a call out for all ladies players interested in playing league-tag in 2019. The women’s training begins on January 23.