"It was one of those things, It could've went either way at the end of the game," Brien said.

"They really put in a good effort.... They were a little bit green."

It comes after a pre-season where Brien said plenty of Cowra people have got behind the under 18s team, with several players also under aged (17 years old), something that bodes well for the season to come.

"We've got great support in Damian Johnson... he's a school teacher up there at Cowra High... Brendan Tidswell... has also come over and done a little [bit]," the coach explained.

He added with the amount of under-age players in the team, it bodes well for the senior Magpies' future playing stocks.

"The main thing in my eyes is that a good football team has depth.

"There's a lot of 17 year olds there getting experience... so really it's a big bonus."

As for this Friday's clash against the Hawks, Brien was keen to emphasise effort as the team seeks its first win for the season on Good Friday.

"If the boys turn up and they're ready to play football... I'm sure they can come out and put on a really good show," he said.

"They're a really good bunch of kids."

While the season will be a long one, with several kids in the side having aspirations to take their footy to another level, Brien was also keen to emphasise a balance between seriousness and fun.

"There's a few players that could take that step further... they've obviously got to stay focused and play good footy week-to-week," he said, while making clear that his role was also to help his players enjoy their footy as much as possible.

"It's not the be-all and end-all to win football games... as long as they're showing up and having a bit of fun, I'm happy."

He added that the recent on-field success of the Magpies, with a grand final appearance for the senior men's side last year, had also helped to create a positive culture for the younger players.

"When you're at a winning club, it's always good to be a part of."