TRINITY Old Scholars will be the first local football club to officially take the field when it’s A-grade men head to Gilles Plains on Saturday to take on St Paul’s Old Scholars.
TOSer captain Dylan Winning admitted the first few weeks may be tough on the body, but with everyone in the same boat, it feels like a real season.
“A lot of people didn’t think the season was going to get up, and then all of a sudden we’re training again, and it’s like we flipped the switch and things got real again,” he said.
“It does still feel like a real season even though it’s shortened – it’s still going to be super competitive.”
The TOSers, who will be competing in division six of the Adelaide Footy League, are coming off a rough season that saw demotion from division five.
Despite the league barring all promotions and relegations based on the results of this season, Winning said a good showing would go a long way towards crawling back up the divisions.
“We obviously want to put ourselves in a position to win the premiership,” he said.
“Winning this year would hold us in good stead going into 2021, and could be important in helping us hold onto some of our young players.
“Last year was a very down year, but we know how important it is to bounce back quickly, and being towards the top of the ladder goes a long way. If the boys at the club are happy, and winning games, then maybe they get a few mates out to next season, and we’ll keep getting stronger.”
Winning acknowledged Trinity will likely have one of the younger sides, but said in this kind of season, it could turn into an advantage.
“Some of the young guys have come back out to training after a long layoff, but they’re still so naturally fit, and quick,” he said.
“The energy around the group has been really good this year, and I feel if we can put ourselves in a position to take the game in the fourth quarter then we’ll have a leg up when all our young blokes’ natural fitness kicks in.
“After last year, I feel a win would mean a hell of a lot more to those returning boys, and because of that I think this team is built to hold-on and fight, even if the skills and touch aren’t totally there the first few weeks.”