After not having a contest in the TAC Cup in Mildura for a few years, the Pioneers played last year against the North Ballarat Rebels at Sarah Oval.

The success of the day was cause for optimism for AFL Victoria - Sunraysia Development Officer Trevor Ryan of another game being played in Sunraysia in 2012, but it was not to be.

The only country match the Pioneers will play is against the Calder Cannons in Echuca/Moama on May 5.

“It disappointed me a little bit that we couldn’t tie in with the club to come up here,” Ryan said.

“The Rebels are the best suited team to come up here but the draw didn’t allow them to this year.

“Playing a match in Echuca, it’s always on the cards to play it in a different region.

“After getting it last year I thought we may get another year to host it but it isn’t the case.

“We are not doing anything at this early stage, but we will look towards getting it for 2013 later in the year.”

The Pioneers began the season with a practice match last weekend between a Sunraysia side and a combined Central Murray/North Central Mallee side in both under 16s and 18s.

The squads will be slashed to two squads of 30 and will play a combined Bendigo and Echuca side on February 12.

Ryan said there were three standouts in the under 18s match; Sam Clyne, Jacob Chisari and Gene Palazzo, who was in Adelaide but will move to Bendigo.

“I am (confident Sunraysia kids will fare well), after another strong showing,” he said.

“I’m hoping to get eight players plus in the squad.

“If we could get 10 that would be fantastic.

There will be more trials held before the final squads are announced later this month or early March.

The Pioneers’ season will begin on March 31 in Ballarat against the Geelong Falcons, in coach David Newett’s first game in charge.

After winning just one match last season, Bendigo will be looking for a much stronger showing.

This article appeared in Saturday's Sunraysia Daily 4-2-2012.