Magpies will lift for Mazzocchi
TRYC captain-coach Michael Mazzocchi (pictured) will play his 200th game for the club on Saturday and Pieper said the Magpies would be motivated to ensure the milestone was a winning one for their inspirational leader.
“It is a big game, second versus third on the ladder so the boys shouldn’t need any extra motivation but if they do all they need to do is have a look at Mick (Mazzocchi) and that will give them a big lift,” Pieper said.
“Playing 200 senior games for your hometown club is a massive achievement.
“I would say he would be the number one son of the club and is hugely respected by everyone.
“It will be a massive day for Mick’s 200th and we want to win it for him.”
Pieper has played several seasons with Mazzocchi and the two have formed a close friendship over recent years.
Pieper was effusive in his praise for Mazzocchi as a player, coach and a person.
“He has done a wonderful job coaching for the last three years,” Pieper said.
“He had a tough role at the start of this year and he rucked for the first six or seven rounds when we didn’t have a ruckman.
“He is a 35-year-old and is hardly a ruckman (height-wise) but he put the hard yards in and did it for the team.
“The footy club is like a second home for him and he always puts a lot of time and effort in.
“Even before he started coaching he was always involved with the running of the club.
“Footy-wise his best asset is his hardness over the ball and his ability to win it in close.”
One of the most respected players in the Riverina, Mazzocchi had two separate stints with Riverina Football League powerhouse Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong but has played the majority of his career at his home club, TRYC, where he has become a legend.
He coached TRYC to the Farrer League flag in 2011 and he also led the team to the grand final last year when the Magpies were defeated by Temora.
While Mazzocchi’s 200th appearance will add flavour to the game on Saturday, it is already being billed as an early-season final and the two teams will play each other twice in the next three weeks in an unusual twist to the draw.
With only four rounds remaining until finals, TRYC and Northern Jets are also considered a fair chance to square off in the opening round of the finals series on August 24 in the qualifying final.
Pieper said TRYC would welcome the opportunity to play Northern Jets this week and again in a fortnight before the finals series.
“The Jets are a really good side,” Pieper said.
“We only have four games left and to be able to play a top team like the Jets twice in that time is something we are really looking forward to heading into the finals.
“The boys are looking forward to this weekend and we see the chance to play them twice in the next three weeks as a positive and a real test for us before the finals.”
TRYC managed to edge past Northern Jets by 15 points earlier in the season but Pieper said the Magpies would not be resting on past performances.
“We beat them over there (Ardlethan Sportsground) but that was early on and both sides have changed and improved since then so we are expecting a really good tussle,” Pieper said.
“We have the advantage of being at home, and we haven’t lost many games at home over the last few years, but we know we will need to play well to win.”
Farrer League – round 13
Saturday
EWK v Marrar at Gumly Oval
CSU v Coleambally at Peter Hastie Oval
TRYC v Northern Jets at Victoria Park
North Wagga v Temora at McPherson Oval
