AARON Donnelly might have got the chop from his butchering employment but he’s hoping to slice up the West Lions on a special weekend for him and his family in Gunnedah this weekend.
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Donnelly, 23, finishes his time as an apprentice butcher today, the same time his job finishes.
He’ll attend tonight’s “Night With Dallas” at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club and then hope to use those memories and emotions to fuel what will be a tough Group 4 first grade clash with the Lions at Kitchener Park tomorrow night where the 2004-erected John Donnelly stand will be freshly painted in the black and white colours of his Sydney club, Western Suburbs.
That Saturday morning painting spree will be followed by a big day at Kitchener also including the Wee Waa/Oxley Diggers second grade and ladies league tag matches.
The first grade game between Gunnedah and West starts around 6pm.
It should be a big game, Donnelly said.
He is buoyed by the fact he not only represented Group 4 for a second year at Scone Park last weekend but also made the Greater Northern Tigers side to play in the Country Championships.
“It’s pretty exciting.
“We don’t know what to expect really,” he said.
“Western (Greater Northern’s opponents in the opening round at Bathurst’s Carrington Park on May 30) will be tough, big and strong.
“We don’t know anything about them.”
He’s been picked in the centres but plays his club football at fullback.
And tomorrow night’s clash with West will be another challenge as well.
He saw what Wests stars Matt Nean, Chris Vidler and flashy fullback Dylan Lake can do when he played with them in the Group 4 side.
It was a change to last year, he said.
“We got beaten 40-nil in both games last year,” he said.
“This year everyone wanted to be there, wanted to play.
“We trained well too.
“Matty and Vids were great down there (at Scone).
“I don’t know how they pulled up.
“They will be tough on Saturday,” he said.
“West have a good kicking game –they’re going to make me work hard at the back for sure.
“Matty can kick long or short and you really can’t pick him.
“I’m going to have to watch him hard.
“He’s such a natural talent. Great to play with.”
And something of a nightmare to play against.
But Nean won’t be the only person of interest for the Bulldogs.
Lake’s speed is a feature too.
“He’s small and fast but hard to tackle, hard to get down too,” Donnelly said.
“And they have some good forwards apart from Vids.
“Tom Hine and Kyle Cochrane go well too.
“It’s going to be hard.”
Made harder by the fact he will attend tonight’s memorial ball in honour of one of Gunnedah’s legends.
“It’s unfortunate it’s on the same weekend,” Donnelly said.
“I’ll be going for a while and then sneak off and try to have a quiet night.
“But it’s great to see them have this ball.
“I know a few people are coming home for it.”
He’s also hoping for good crowds at both the ball and tomorrow’s game and then maybe start looking for a job.
“I finish up on Friday,” he said.
“That’s all right. I knew that when I started.
“I might have a couple of weeks off and then start looking hard. Don’t care what I do.”
Butchering would be handy but finding a job after living on meagre apprentice wages for four years is going to be a test.
Putting into play some of the memories and talents of the Donnelly clan into tomorrow night’s West Lion clash may be even tougher.
North Tamworth and Narrabri match up in the other Group 4 game this weekend, a Sunday clash at Narrabri’s Collins Park.
