A PAINFUL 315-day wait between games finally comes to an end for Port Macquarie Magpies when they host Sawtell-Toormina at Wayne Richards Park on Saturday.
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The last time the Pies took to the field, the greatest prize of all awaited - and for three quarters of the match they looked like ending a six-year premiership drought.
Then it all went wrong.
They now have to start again despite uncertainty surrounding whether the entire AFL North Coast season will be completed with the COVID-19 pandemic cloud hanging overhead.
Coach Blake Nelson is optimistic about his team's chances in a shortened campaign where they must navigate 11 matches before the finals.
"It's very exciting; we're all keen for Saturday to come around and to put on that black and white jumper again," he said.
"It's Christmas in July, that's for sure."
With Northern Beaches Blues being added as the competition's fifth team, the 2020 season will be one for the history books.
"The competition will be a bit unpredictable this season because we don't know how some of the teams have shaped up," Nelson said.
"But we've got a good squad of players and I'm optimistic at this point, but we'll get a good gauge of where we're at this weekend."
Nelson is looking forward to seeing Kye Taylor continue to develop while the Magpies welcome back president Michael Rolfe.
"He might be a surprise packet for us this year so it will be good to see him out on the park."
First bounce is at 2pm.
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