While the NTFA season will see no football played before at least May 31, teams are still mentally preparing for their shots at glory.
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In the second of a series of previews across both divisions, The Examiner looks at Old Scotch and their playing list and aspirations for 2020 as they regain some big names to help further their development.
Co-Captains: Alec Fotheringham and Jonty Swallow. "Tom Pedley has decided to step down from a leadership role to focus on his business and his recently born first child," Coombes said.
"He's going to be a great mentor to Alec & Jonty and still will be giving his usual 100 per cent to the group, he just wanted to wind back on the commitments of being captain of the club."
2019 finish: Ninth - two wins, 14 losses
Ins: James Lee (year off - cricket), Tom Allison (St Pats), Ryan Worn (Canberra), Charlie Eastoe (Victoria), Lachlan Edmunds (New South Wales), Hamish Lockett (Bridport), Oscar Hunt, Harley Cross, Will Elliot (Launceston), Jeremy Tuson.
Who's impressed: "Alec Fotheringham has been working fly in fly out work for the last few years and only been playing a handful of games.
"He's made the commitment to return to the state and the footy club for the year, which is disappointing for him that we aren't getting away as scheduled as he's flying on the track.
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"Jonty [Swallow] also hasn't missed a beat and is super fit.
"I have also been super impressed by the level of commitment from the entire playing group and their willingness to learn."
Coach says: "We are pretty realistic that we've had a lean couple of years and we've worked really hard on trying to reinforce our strong culture to encourage the return of players but we realise that a quick jump isn't necessarily just going to happen so we've been working hard on developing a brand of footy that will be hard to score against," Coombes said.
"Lee, Allison and Worn will bring a wealth of experience as well as quality leadership off the field. From a structural point of view: Ryan Worn is a key backman, James Lee is a hard-running utility and Tom Allison is one of the best midfielders in the competition.
"It's been a fairly seamless transition. Shaun Muller, our departing coach, had it tough from a player number point of view, but did a good job in developing our young kids, they are only going to be 12 months older.
"I've witnessed first-hand the hard work that's gone into them and we are only going to bear the fruit in the coming years.
"I'll be well supported throughout the year by two club stalwarts in Stuart MacDonald and Nick Hughes as co-coaches of the reserves. Nick coached the reserves in 2017 to a premiership and he's had a couple of years setting up a new business venture so it's great to have those two guys in that role."
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