OXLEY Vale-Attunga may have several new faces taking the field for their season-opening clash, but new captain James Bailey believes they will have the "same old Mushies attitude".
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After having a bye in round one of the Premier League season, the Mushies will be looking to open their account when they take on East Armidale on Saturday.
Bailey told the Leader the new-look Mushies side was eager to begin the season in winning style.
"We have had a really good pre-season and I know all of our boys are really looking forward to it," Bailey said.
"The feeling around the group is really positive at the moment and having a few younger guys in the team, who are looking to make their mark, should hopefully keep the positive feeling high."
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While 2019 marks Bailey's sixth season with the club, it will be his first as a captain, a role he is eager to do well.
"Given that we have done a little bit of rebuilding over the past year or so I think it is really important for our group to have the right attitude," he said.
"What I want to really enforce on the group is the traditional Mushies attitude, that 'never give up right to the final whistle' attitude.
"It's what we have had in the past and I'm sure something we can get back to again this year."
East Armidale will be out for revenge after being on the receiving end of an 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Tamworth FC in round one.
"To be honest, we don't put a lot of thought into our opponents, especially this early in the season," Bailey said.
"We are going to be more focused on what we can control and how we want to play.
"With having several younger players in the side, too, it is really important we focus on how we want to play. I'm quite lucky in that respect as captain. I have a lot of experienced guys around me who are more than willing to help the younger guys improve."
Saturday's action begins in Armidale at 3pm.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
