The Werris Creek Magpies will hold a development day on Saturday as the club endeavours to field an under-18s side for the first time in decades.
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2020 first grade co-coach Ron Dellar says it was always part of the long-term strategy for the Magpies to try and establish an under-18's team.
"We had a couple of runs in late December and we've already had a few 18's to training, and they're looking good," Dellar said.
"There are some real solid footballers amongst them, but the real crunch will come when we have our open day this Saturday."
First grade player Cody Tickle has been appointed coach for the under-18's in a sign of continuing confidence in Tickle as a coach after he teamed up with reserve grade coach Chris Wilson in the recent women's 9's competition where the Magpies were undefeated.
"It'll be a get together more than a training run to see who's interested," Tickle said.
"We'll do some drills and other stuff, but I'm keener to see who comes and who's keen."
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"Cody is 100% committed, so are we, and so are our sponsors. If we can pull kids in from Werris Creek, Quirindi and Caroona, surely we can get enough for a squad from the three towns," Delllar added, confirming the club's commitment.
"This Saturday will be the day where we'll make the call on having a side or not. I'd really like to see it work, but at the end of the day it's up to the kids if they want it to happen".
The club has a long history of successful under-18 sides. Kangaroo representative brothers Peter and Graeme Wynn both started their junior careers at the Magpies as part of the undefeated 1975 side.
Dellar himself kicked off his coaching career with successful under-18's Magpie and Divisional sides throughout the '80's and 90's. Incredibly, he is now coaching third generation Magpies players.
Many juniors under Dellar's tutorage represented at Group, Divisional and even Australian Schoolboy level. Some, such as brothers Brad and Ben Smith, Queensland Cup and Tweed Seagulls star Brad Davis, and current first grade co-coach Matt Parsons who had a 164-game NRL career with South's before finishing his at Newcastle with two Dally M Front Row awards and a 2001 NRL Premiership, progressed to full-time professionalism.
The development day will start at 9am with a barbecue after.
