NYAH-Nyah West United co-coach Corey Daniels couldn’t have picked a better weekend to make his return from a hamstring injury.
Not only is his team needing the four points to remain in the top five at the end of the round, but family bragging rights will also be on the line when he lines up against the Mallee Eagles co-coach Harry Allen — Daniels’ brother-in-law.
Although the pair have faced off against each other many times over the years, tomorrow will be the first time they will oppose each other as coaches of their teams, with Daniels returning to take the reins of the Demons alongside Jason Murphy this season.
It’s a fixture that both coaches always look forward to according to Allen, with Daniels return from injury making it extra special tomorrow.
“It’s nice that he’s come back for this game having been out for the last couple of months and I’m sure he would have had this game circled on the calendar,” Allen said of his brother-in-law this week.
“We always exchange a few nice words and have a nice hug after the game, but we’re both competitive and neither gives an inch during the match.
“Once we cross the white line, there’s always a little bit of banter and a few jokes, but I’m usually pretty straight arrow and the focus is always on getting the four points first and foremost, and then we can muck around after that.
“We don’t tend to play opposite each other all that often, but I might have to move myself forward at times tomorrow, I reckon.”
Having not played since round 1, Daniels is keen to get out and pull on the jumper he won last year’s Central Murray premiership in again, and the fact that it will be against his brother-in-law and good mate is just an added bonus.
“I’m looking forward to having a kick, I feel like I haven’t really played this year as I did it 20 minutes into the first quarter, so it’s been like an extended pre-season really for me,” Daniels told The Guardian this week.
“I would have played last week if we had a game, but the extra week’s been nice and I’m ready to and keen to go.
“I’m always pretty interested to see how Harry’s going and he’s probably pretty similar as well.
“We enjoy playing against each other and there’s always a couple of good one liners here and there, they’re good days when we do play against each other as we get on really well.
“I love playing against him, he’s had a super career to date and I’m looking forward to another great game this weekend like what we’ve had over the last couple of years.”
The fact that tomorrow will be the first time the two clubs have met since last year’s preliminary final only adds an extra layer of intrigue to the must-win match for both teams.
It was an ending that could have gone so differently for the Eagles, who after beating the Demons by four points in the qualifying final, would go on to lose their next two matches after being in winning positions.
It’s a finish that has undoubtedly motivated the blue and gold army over the pre-season, but is one that hasn’t been discussed so far this week according to Allen.
“As a team, we haven’t really touched on what happened at the end of last year,” Allen said.
“I wouldn’t say we have a rivalry as such with them (NNW United), it’s just the way it worked out last year and well done to them on winning the flag.
“They (NNW United) are the reigning premiers, regardless of the start they’ve had to the year and they’ve always been a challenge, especially on their home deck.
“We’re expecting a good hit out and it’s always been that way against them for the last couple of seasons, but we’re just trying to keep doing what we’re doing and worry about us.”
As for what happens if Allen does sneak forward and finds himself opposed to Daniels across half forward….
“We both joke that we’re both as slow as a wet week,” Allen laughed.
“If it’s a ground ball, it’s probably going to be a pretty even contest so we’ll call it an even draw.
“It’d be nice to kick one on him, I won’t lie, but we’ll see how we go.”
