The Ararat Rats have revealed its return to pre-season dates ahead of the 2022 season for football and netball.
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The club announced the football side would be returning to training at 6pm on Thursday, December 2, with six sessions prior to Christmas before resuming on Tuesday, January 11.
In 2021 the Rats finished seventh in the Wimmera Football Netball League with five wins from 12 matches.
Rats coach Matt Walder said the playing group is raring to get back on the track.
"The anticipation is there, everyone is keen and ready to go," he said.
"Most blokes are itching to get back into pre-season.
"A lot of the group has been self motivated is doing their own little bits and pieces leading into pre-season."
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Walder said the side is injury-free and has been working hard over the break.
"As far as the group is concerned we are all fine and in tact," he said.
"A few of the younger blokes are working upper body strength, and some of the blokes are doing a little bit of running to stay fit before we get together as a group.
"The hardest part will be putting the reigns on the boys because once we start we won't stop."
Walder said the club looks forward to seeing their recruits hit the track in the coming weeks.
"The group is going to bolstered by some extra personnel for next year which is going to be good on the experience front," he said.
"It will balance out out list a little better."
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The Rats have also revealed that the club's netball sides will have three training sessions before the new year.
Ararat's A Grade netball side finished fifth, while B and C Grade finished second and the ladder in 2021.
Rats A and B Grade coach Lauren Armstrong said the three training sessions in December would be "a bit of fun".
"We just wanted to get everyone together," she said.
"Have a bit of fun, a bit of fitness and an opportunity catch up before the new year."
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Armstrong said new and returning players are welcome to the sessions.
"All new and old faces are welcome and we can all get together and have a couple sessions before Christmas and New Year," she said.
" It will be a bit of ball work and a bit of fitness.
"Not necessarily try outs, we will organise that next year with some dates to come."
Football 2021 pre-season dates:
- Thursday December 2
- Tuesday December 7
- Thursday December 9
- Tuesday December 14
- Thursday December 16
- Saturday December 18
Netball 2021 pre-season dates:
- Thursday December 2 at 6pm
- Thursday December 9 at 6pm
- Thursday December 16 at 6pm
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