In round three of Murray League action, the Deni Rams will travel to play the Finley Cats in their twilight Good Friday clash with added fanfare.
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Finley’s favourite AFL sons, Tom Hawkins, will suit up for the Cats in a clash partially named in his honour - the Leo Barry/Tom Hawkins Trophy.
The addition of the former Geelong Cats star adds some additional interest to the always heated contest between Deni and Finley.
The recently retired AFL player will have to face an in-form Rams senior football side, on a roll with a 53-point win over Barooga and a stirring 29-point win at home against Nathalia.
The Deni Rams had to come from behind against Nathalia trailing the Purples at the half-time and three-quarter time breaks, proving some of how good they can be.
Featuring a talented young squad, the Rams are looking to continue to build this season, after making the semi-final visit last year after a 16-point comeback win against previous premiers Mulwala before a 14-point loss against preliminary finalists Moama.
Deniliquin Rams senior football team manager and football administrator Faye Park said the team’s youth will be added to this week, but it has helped so far as the Rams look for three wins in a row in the twilight game.
“We are a young talented side and we have 18 year-old Luke Todd making his senior debut,” she said.
“Jai Park is also playing his third game of seniors this week. The opposition has been getting into him, but he has done well, kicking three goals in his first game.
“Doug Billings is the sub this week for the first time this season, as he has been out playing under-18s Pioneers - so impressive for a bottom-ager.
“He’s so tall, they usually take a bit longer to develop, but he is very skilful already.”
The Rams are not lacking star power of their own, with brothers Cooper and Sam Willoughby playing superbly in tandem and the team ready to face Hawkins and the Finley side.
“The Willoughby brothers really do play like the Daicos brothers; they’ve been amazing.
“Mick Barnett, our captain, has the job this week and will get the first crack at playing on Tom Hawkins.”
Both sides have had many changes from last season, but Park said the vibrancy of fresh young players is working in the Rams’ favour.
“They’ve had a few out since last year, but so have we.
“For us, it’s been good and it’s been a real changing of the guard. But it’s given players like Darcy Cullenward, Kai Hillier, Brock Redden and Ben East, our ruckman, a chance to perform.
“If you’ve heard of ‘Hokball’ - the brand of football the young Hawthorn team have at the moment; in honour of that the boys have even started an Instagram page called ‘Romball’.
“It’s been awesome and there’s a really good vibe around the club.”
Meanwhile, Finley have been struggling to adapt with losses from the senior football squad which made the Murray League seniors grand final last year, going down by one point to Congupna.
Admittedly, the Cats have faced difficult opposition in their first two rounds, suffering a 35-point defeat to Cobram and a 170-point loss in the grand final rematch last weekend.
However, the team will be hoping the addition of a former AFL full-forward can bring a change in that form for tonight’s match.
There has been a lot of anticipation building for Tom Hawkins, making his return to country football for the first time following his retirement from the AFL.
The former premiership AFL player retired in 2024, playing his last AFL game in round 16.
The big Cat played 359 games across his professional career, kicking 796 goals, playing in three AFL premierships across his career.
Returning to the Finley Cats where he played his junior football, Hawkins will also be a part of a ticketed ‘Lunch with Tom’ event at noon at the start of the match day at the Finley Clubrooms.
During the seniors game, Finley will have a ticketed VIP Marquee, premium viewing, food, drinks and atmosphere with Blacksmith Kitchen and all proceeds supporting the Finley Cats Football and Netball Club.
With a large crowd expected at the match, there is no parking inside the grounds. Spectators can bring chairs, but the club asks there be no gazebos.
Finley Cats Football and Netball president Matt Clarke said having the Good Friday twilight game with Tom Hawkins returning meant a lot to the club.
“We’re all excited,” he said.
“To have a recent AFL champion returning to play is obviously a big story in itself.
“We’ve got the games on, and we’ve got a few functions as well.
“We’re expecting 100 to 120 people for the lunch and VIP Marquee, which is pretty exciting.
“And we’re also expecting a crowd of upwards of 5000 people on Friday. If we get that, we’ll be very happy.”
And while the events are important, Clarke said the club’s senior football side were still focused on playing well in the big game.
“At the end of the day, there’s a game of footy to play and to win.
“We certainly want to put our best foot forward.
“Having Tom, it’s definitely not going to hinder us, it’s going to help us.
“It’s always a great rivalry with Deniliquin. They are the last remaining traditional rivals still in the league.
“Then throw the Tom Hawkins factor in, like I said, there’s a fair bit of fanfare.”
“We’re preparing to go out there and win and the juniors and netball players are all up and about, which is great to see.”
The Rams and Cats played twice last year, with the Finley senior footballers getting the best of the result on both occasions.
They won by 42 points in the Good Friday twilight match at Deniliquin last year, and by 10 points at Finley in round six.
The seniors’ match up is set for 6pm start under lights.
The reserves match is set to take place at 4.15pm, the under-17s at 2.45pm and the under-14s from 1.15pm.
The netball under-11s and under-15s will play from 11.45am, under-13s and under-17s at 12.45pm, C-Reserve and B-grade from 2pm and C-grade and A-grade from 3.30pm.