Big V state championship rivals Whittlesea Pacers and Diamond Valley will do battle on Good Friday to help raise money for sick children.
The match between the men’s sides will be the only Big V game to be held on this day. Pacers men’s coach Ross Moll is hoping it will become a regular fixture between the clubs.
All money raised will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.
“Many years ago, when I was at a different club in a different competition, we played one game and it was a success, but once I left the club it didn’t continue,” Moll said.
“I had the idea to bring it back this year and approached Diamond Valley as they are just around the corner. I know Alan [McAughtry, Eagles coach] and had a chat to him and he was interested.”
Moll said the committees of both clubs had got behind the idea.
“With no AFL on that day, it’s a good opportunity for people to come down and enjoy some local sport.”
The Pacers have had a tough start to the season, losing their first four games.
“We had a couple of heartbreaking losses against Ringwood and Hume City Broncos,” Moll said.
“Against Ringwood we let it slip. We were up by 15 points in the third period, but their experience was a bit better … in the last quarter, they made better decisions.
“It was the same against Hume where we were up for the whole game – except the last 30 seconds. They made a couple of threes in the last minute-and-a-half to win the game.”
Despite the poor start to the season, Moll still has his sights on finals thanks to a number of big inclusions in the off-season.
“We’re in a similar starting position to last season and we were able to dig ourselves out of it,” he said. “We have lost Matt Dirkx, who has gone to play football, but we have kept most of the squad together.
“Jermaine Williams has returned after hurting his achilles early last season and has come back well.
“Lincoln Garfirth, who played with us two years ago when we won division one, has returned, as has Steven Dahlstrom, who played with us about three years ago. Gavin Mitchell has joined from Sunbury.”
Whittlesea Pacers and Diamond Valley play from 7pm on Friday at Mill Park Basketball Stadium.
