Mt Pleasant coach Darren Walsh is wary of a slow start in Saturday's HDFNL clash with Elmore.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Blues are yet to play in 2021, while Elmore has played two games - the standalone clash with White Hills on Good Friday and the round one game against Colbinabbin last Saturday.
"It's not an advantage or disadvantage having the bye round one,'' Walsh said.
"It is an advantage for Elmore that they've played two games and we've played none.
"It's an extra two full games that they've played. What that means on Saturday, I don't know.
"Elmore had a real crack against Colbo and they've got some good players that can be dangerous if they get their hands on the ball.
"Potentially, Elmore has a really dangerous forward line with (Joe) Harney and young (Mitch) Cricelli."
Mounts are seen as a genuine premiership contender on the back of a trip to the preliminary final in 2019 and a strong recruiting campaign over the past 18 months.
Walsh said pre-season talk and hype counts for little once the ball is bounced.
"It's our first game and we've done nothing as yet, so we have to go out there and play our brand of football,'' he said.
"Hopefully, in terms of the four points that looks after itself.
"I'd like to think our preparation and recruits will have us in good stead, but it might take us until round five or six to click or it might take us to the second half of the year to click.
"We have seven or eight new players in the team from the 2019 preliminary final, so that's good for us."
The most high-profile of Mounts' recruits - BFNL Michelsen Medal-winner Adam Baird - is sidelined because of suspension.
His older brother, Travis, will play in round one against the Bloods.
Injury concerns hampered Travis Baird in his last few seasons at Golden Square.
"I had to tell Trav to slow down during the practice matches because he was going too hard,'' Walsh said.
"That's Trav for you, once he steps on the field he goes as hard as he can.
"We'll manage his body through the year, but right now he's feeling fresh and ready to go."
In other round two games on Saturday, North Bendigo makes the long trip to Leitchville, Huntly is at home to Heathcote and top three contenders Colbinabbin and LBU meet at Colbinabbin.
Tips - Adam Bourke: Mounts, North Bendigo, Huntly, LBU.
Luke West: Mounts, North Bendigo, Huntly, LBU.
Read more: Previews of a big weekend of country footy
ROUND TWO TEAMS
ELMORE v. MOUNT PLEASANT
Elmore
B: Z. Holmberg, C. Wilson, T. Oliver
HB: B. Makepeace, Z. Laffy, B. Boyack
C: N. Palmer, D. Oaff, I. Fuller
HF: S. Lees, J. Harney, N. Kellow
F: D. Friedberger, M. Cricelli, F. Priest
R: D. Gordon, M. Gilmour, L. Gundry
Int: M. Thomson, H. Grogan, J. Atkinson, J. Grogan
In: J. Grogan, Z. Laffy
Out: C. Beckmans, J. Harney
Mount Pleasant
B: F. Cole, D. Young, C. Moore
HB: T. Baird, J. Connelly, L. Marchesi
C: Z. Murrell, L. Collins, R. McNamara
HF: J. Roney, D. Davie, J. Hamilton
F: R. Deacon, J. Whiting, B. Weightman
R: M. Bennett, B. Mahony, J. Tuohey
Int: J. Teasdale, B. Dorrington, B. Hinneberg, M. Whiting
Emg: N. Edwards, D. Whiting
LOCKINGTON BAMAWM UNITED v. COLBINABBIN
Lockington Bamawm United
B: B. Phillips, R. Woodland, T. Eade
HB: T. Phillips, T. Holman, J. Mundie
C: J. Wolfe, L. Atherton, M. Angove
HF: T. Leech, P. Gardiner, J. Gardiner
F: J. Collins, J. Bacon, B. McPhee
R: J. Howlett, B. Collins, N. Bacon
Int: J. McPhee, S. Brentnall, L. Main, L. Collins
In: L. Main, B. Phillips, T. Phillips, T. Holman
Out: S. Wolfe, T. Bacon, D. Keath, B. Ventura
Colbinabbin
B: N. Knight, J. Lawless, H. McMurtrie
HB: T. Hill, D. Hill, P. O'Brien
C: S. Bromley, L. Fitzgerald, S. Vale
HF: T. Clarke, D. Price, S. Ryan
F: N. Fitzgerald, M. Riordan, J. Brain
R: L. Sirett, L. Ezard, L. Fitzgerald
Int: A. Van Ruiswyk, G. McMurtrie, S. Tuohey
HUNTLY v. HEATHCOTE
Huntly
B: S. Fiske, T. Miles, J. Harris
HB: J. Mcdonald, S. Kairn, J. Maher
C: J. Cordy, R. Semmel, J. Formosa
HF: F. Campbell , L. Jones, J. Greenwood
F: M. Jeffries, J. Burns, J. Semmel
R: A. Daniels, B. Ryan-Storey, J. Cowling
Int: B. Dimech, H. Campbell, C. Aldous, L. Semmel
In: F. Campbell
Out: L. Brook
Heathcote
B: W. Long, R. Bailey, B. Price
HB: D. Hardy, J. Langford, C. Price
C: K. Cavallaro, J. Condon, J. Shaw
HF: J. Cavallaro, B. Connelly, M. McLean
F: T. Pain, L. Piccolo, J. Jones
R: J. Marcroft, D. McLean, J. Paisley
In: J. Brooks, K. Cavallaro
Out: M. Mikic, J. Bailey
LEITCHVILLE GUNBOWER v. NORTH BENDIGO
Leitchville Gunbower
B: T. Duncan, H. Bussey, A. Keath
HB: B. Taylor, N. McLellan, X. Colvin
C: W. O'Shea, J. Hawken, T. Brereton
HF: B. Hawken, D. Elliott, Z. Ellwood
F: A. Windridge, A. Walton, C. Van Florestein
R: L. Pollock, W. Brereton, B. Johnson
Int: B. Gelletly, D. Bruns, H. Wright, M. McLellan
In: B. Taylor, W. Brereton
Out: J. Barrat, R. Bradley
North Bendigo
Not supplied
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News