After losing around 11 players from their 2019 premiership squad - including Zach Burt and Jake Pearce - captain Brad Cox-Goodyer said this year was all about developing a new team.

"This year we have a completely different group which is going to be fun," Cox-Goodyer said.

"There's going to be a new learning curve so we're not setting any expectations for ourselves, we're just going to see how it goes early on and hopefully by the back end of the season we'll have gelled as a team.

"They're (former players) obviously going to be pretty hard to replace but we've just got to look at our leaders to step up and to get guys up to speed as quickly as possible."

New faces to the team include NTFA stars such as 2018 South Launceston best and fairest winner Jordan Tepper and league-leading goalkicker Ben Elmer from Rocherlea.

Cox-Goodyer said the Northern Bombers were used to doubters after last year's campaign, so this year would be no different in proving them wrong.

"I'm pretty sure we were told last year we weren't as strong as the previous year and we still managed to do it [win the grand final]," he said.

After an uneven 2018, the Blues are ready to iron out their issues with a few new players of their own.

Blues coach Mitch Thorp said with two new captains and a new coach, the team was hoping to use this year as a chance to re-brand.

"We just need to become more consistent," Thorp said.

"The knock on us has been our ebbs and flows during the season and even during games we've been inconsistent, we need to tighten that up for longer periods of time."

"The boys have trained pretty hard during the preseason, and as with all the clubs we're pretty excited for the season to be starting."

Blues legend Tim Bristow is a standout returner among the new players joining the team.

Bristow recently finished a stint with East Fremantle in the WAFL and was the 2011 Tassie Medal winner.

"Tim's been fantastic for the group both on and off the field," Thorp said.

"To have someone of that calibre and more so as a person around the group is very important to me as a playing coach to have a leader on the ground."

Thorp said the team was ready to adjust to the changes to TSL rules and regulations to align with the AFL.

"We all know the rules, we've all practised and there's no excuses, we just need to hope that our guys in the heat of battle can think clearly from those situations," he said.

A date for Blue Jay Blackberry's return has not been set after rupturing his ACL last year.

"That will be when I'm confident that my body can hold up, so probably a few months away," Blackberry said.

The Blues will face off at home against Glenorchy for their season opener at 2pm on March 30. The Bombers first bout will be against Kingborough at Kingston on March 30 at 6pm.