It's been a long wait for 24-year-old Archie Hall, but for the first time in his adult playing career the Cudal product will lace up the boots in the Central West.
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The prop is coming off a stint in Sydney where he played with Eastern Suburbs in the Shute Shield and on Saturday will start for Pete Bromley's men in the Emus' first Blowes Clothing Cup clash of 2020, an away game at Forbes.
He's thrilled to take the field for the men in green this winter but is particularly keen to pass on some of the knowledge he's picked up throughout a five-year career in the big smoke.
"I'm excited to bring my knowledge here and help Emus win another premiership," Hall said.
"It's obviously a step down in grade ... competition-wise but I'm just excited."
He's been flat stick at work but when he has been able to make training sessions he's been impressed with the number of players flocking to Endeavour Oval.
"They've been getting a lot of people there and it's looking like they've really jammed in the fitness," he said.
The Emus' second grade side is stacking with veterans, newcomers and ex-rugby league players and while Hall's position's safe for now, he thinks the massive numbers sitting in the next tier down will keep his teammates on their toes.
"When there's people pushing up for spots it makes everyone in first grade really commit," he said
"They are all trying to perform each week to save their spot. It's good for the guys below because it helps them perform better and their ability to win a comp becomes more open."
Coach Pete Bromley seconds Hall's notion, suggesting it's a great spot for a mentor to be in.
"It's a coach's dream," Bromley said. "There's the added incentive for the players knowing you've always got someone breathing down your neck."
"Everyone's fighting for positions and we'll hopefully never be short of numbers at training or on gameday."
The round one task at Forbes isn't an easy one at Bromley says it's just about the hardest assignment you could draw for a first-up contest.
"We went there last year and had a scrappy win and we got five points... I told the guys any time you get five points at Forbes you'll take it any day of the week, he said.
"The goal is definitely to start the season with a win, you don't have time to catch up."
The men in green will open their 2020 Blowes Clothing Cup account at Forbes on Saturday. Kick-off is 3.15pm.
- ORANGE EMUS: 1 Archie Hall, 2 Charlie Henley, 3 Cody Perry, 4 Simon Badgery, 5 Nick Hughes-Clapp, 6 Sam Greatbatch, 7 Jack Marchinton, 8 Scotty McLean, 9 Sam Green, 10 Carter Hirini, 11 Tom Joseph, 12 Lachie Harris, 13 Nigel Staniforth, 14 Harry Schleibs, 15 Jamil Khalfan.
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