Mount Isa AFL will have a new side in the competition when the season kicks off.
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The new side called the Dajarra Rhinos will join the current teams Buffs, Lake Nash Bats, Tigers and Rovers to make it a five-team competition.
Sides are set to lace up the boots at Legend Oval in a few weeks time but the new Rhinos team was training at Captain Cook Oval when the North West Star caught up with them.
Club president Michael Pritchard said name for the new club stemmed from a good friendship with the publican at the Dajarra Hotel.
“Her name is Shelly Ryan and her husband is known as ‘Rhino’ because of their name, so it came from there,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard said the nucleus of the new club was a bunch of good mates who over the last couple of years had played cricket together in Mount Isa for Panthers – newly crowned Mount Isa T40 cricket champions – and also played for various AFL clubs in town.
“We’ve also recruited a few new fellas in town we work with who were looking to get involved in an AFl club,” he said.
“We’re training twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, at Captain Cook Oval at the moment.”
Pritchard said the new team have a bye in round 1 and while the draw has yet to be formally announced they expected to play their first game on May 12 and he was confident of their prospects despite a lack of history.
“I expect good things from the team,” he said.
However they go, they are out to have fun and will ll be hard to miss on the field.
Taking their cue from the Panthers cricket team, the team will line out in pink and white hooped guernseys.
The club’s AGM and sign on is at 8pm Friday April 27 at the Dajarra Hotel, all are welcome. Keep in touch though their Facebook page.