ORANGE City welcomes back star halfback Nick Quinn in Saturday's round five Blowes Clothing Cup clash with Mudgee.
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Quinn played in Orange City’s 2012 and 2013 premiership teams, and returns to the top grade at the expense of the absent Tom Nell.
Lions coach Mick Gray said Quinn will bring much needed consistency to the number nine jersey.
“The guys who have played there have done well,” he said.
“But they’ve been a little inconsistent with their passing. Quinny will bring a wealth of experience back to the side.
“Normally he probably wouldn’t have played, because we don’t want these guys coming straight back into first grade, but Nelly is away anyway so it worked out.”
The Lions’ mobile and skillful back-row of Duncan Young, Billy Freeman and Josh Maley benefit from the selection policy, with 2013 Blowes Clothing Cup best and fairest Gus Brotherton forced to play second grade on Saturday.
Brotherton, who was travelling with Quinn, will be left to work his way into the top side via the Lions’ lower grades.
Orange City clipped the high-flying Cowra Eagles’ wings last week, and Gray’s fellow coach Steve Hamson said his troops head to Jubilee Oval looking to maintain momentum, and consolidate a top three position.
“It’ll be physical, it’ll be hard and we’ll have to be on our game,” Hamson said.
“We used to play up there (Mudgee) when I coached Blayney and it was the hardest game you played all year. You might beat them but, coming home in the car, there was a lot more moaning and groaning than there was going up.
“They were a physical team. Playing at home, they’re obviously a pretty proud club. We’ve got a pretty reasonable record and being last year’s premiers, they won’t be lacking motivation to try and knock us off.”
Mudgee host Orange City, with first grade kicking off at 3.15pm.
ORANGE CITY LIONS: 1 Scott Smith, 2 Chris Senior, 3 Josh Tremain, 4 Chris Barrett, 5 Mitch Pearce, 6 Billy Freeman, 7 Josh Maley, 8 Duncan Young, 9 Nick Quinn, 10 Mesui Lemoto, 11 Cameron Cole, 12 Jake Davis, 13 Tatafu Na’aniumotu, 14 Sam Powell, 15 Sam Dwyer.
