OUR Good Friday tradition has arrived.
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Two states, two towns, two clubs come together in battle to honour three locals.
No question need be asked about the rivalry between Echuca United and Moama and how much it means to the men and women who pull on their club’s colours.
Close friends become bitter rivals as one community is split by the mighty Murray.
The Three Jacks Trophy — named for Echuca South’s Jack Hay, Echuca East’s Jack O’Neill and Moama’s Jack Eddy — will be contested for the first time this season at Moama Recreation Reserve.
In the two sports, the tale of the tape couldn’t be more different.
In one you have the masters and the bucks trying to prove they can hang.
In the other, two sides miles apart on the ladder.
In netball, the Moama juggernaut remains unstoppable.
But United is closing.
Moama is obviously the Murray Netball League premiership favourites, but United looks like a contender.
And their start to the season has put them in good stead according to the opposition.
‘‘They’ve had two really tough games to start the year,’’ Moama co-coach Alex Daly said.
‘‘I think it has probably prepared them better. They’re in great form which will make a big difference.’’
Daly said the relationships between the players of both clubs made the match more interesting.
‘‘There’s definitely a rivalry,’’ she said.
‘‘Both teams have friends playing for the opposition, so it adds excitement to try and get one over each other.’’
For United, overcoming Moama’s fitness is key.
‘‘It’s definitely one of their greatest strengths,’’ United coach Lisa Drysdale said.
‘‘It’s a real challenge for our team to match against them in that area.’’
Drysdale said it was an opportunity to see where her side sits in the league.
‘‘We still don’t really know how our side matches up against them,’’ she said.
‘‘We can’t learn anything based on other teams’ performances, we can only see where we are at based on how we play against them.’’
Both sides have a lot of positives, but it remains hard to see any side getting past Moama just.
■ ON THE football front, we have polar opposites in form and ladder position.
Guy Campbell has led the Eagles to two straight wins, their latest an 80 point drubbing of Rumbalara.
Moama weren’t as fortunate — it felt the wrath of reigning premier Nathalia who got its first win of the season in a 124-point football lesson.
‘‘It’s quite harsh to be judged after two games, but that’s footy,’’ Campbell said.
‘‘If we don’t show them the respect they deserve, it will come back to hurt us.’’
If Moama is to salute in front of its home crowd, stopping United forward Josh Mellington will be a key.
The former Fremantle listed player enters Friday’s clash having kicked 8.8 against Rumbalara.
The 26-year-old created opportunities in the air and on the ground as the Eagles launched wave after wave of attack.
The Magpies’ midfield can go a long way to ensuring that doesn’t happen again.
They may be young, but they have the ability to break even with United’s bigger bodies.
If they can sustain pressure up the ground throughout the afternoon, the team’s defence may get a bit of respite.
But as we’ve seen in the opening two games, the young legs have faded away.
Here’s hoping the Moama bodies are beginning to adapt to the pace of regular senior football.
“We have to start well and maintain it,” Moama coach Luke Eldridge said.
“When we play our best footy it can be fast and exciting and if we maintain it we can produce some great footy. The problem is maintaining it throughout the match.”
Many are tipping a convincing victory for United, but local rivals do tend to throw up surprise results.
We’re tipping United to come away with the four points in a 40-point victory.
With the full club competition, both Moama and United have the opportunity to make a statement for their clubs.
Overall, on early form, we think United may be a bit better across the whole competition.
At the end of Friday’s play we’re expecting United to retain the Three Jacks trophy.