“After being so close last year to starting, doing the full pre-season and everything, everyone is just keen to play some footy,” Traianidis said.
“I had some good times with Kane co-coaching, but he's got a bit going on with work and everything, so we'll just let him focus on playing.
“We've got a few names coming in. We were obviously third-last in 2019, so we had to do something and a fair few of them are coming back to the club.”
Peter Hood, Allan Norris and Corey Wanganeen will line-up at Mercury Dve after last playing for the Fitzroy Stars, with Dylan and Nathan Kerr also back on deck.
Rex Taylor was heading elsewhere in 2020, but will stay at Rumba, while Steve Stallion is an important inclusion from fellow MFL club Cobram.
“I'm really excited about getting him across from Cobram,” Traianidis said.
“A few boys have been playing up in Darwin too, so they're match fit.
“The break has gone a bit both ways. A few have struggled to get back into the routine of training and whatnot — myself included at times — but others have been there since day dot of pre-season again and haven't looked back.
“The boys that are coming back to the club obviously know most of the faces already, so they're slotting back in well, it's a good mix of old and new.”
And when it comes to setting expectations for the looming campaign, the bar is high for Rumbalara.
“The thirds and reserves made grand finals in 2019, it's something the club is very proud of and something the seniors want to be able to match as well,” Traianidis said.
“I know I'll get more out of the team if they're having fun and enjoying themselves, so that's the aim.
“But we're not there to make the numbers up, we're there to go all the way.
“We know it's going to be a lot of hard work and it's been a positive pre-season, but premierships are won in September, so we've got a long way to go yet.”
FAST FACTS
COACH: JASON TRAIANIDIS MFL PREMIERSHIPS: 2014 2019 FINISH: 12TH (5-13) 2019 BEST AND FAIREST: ASH MILLER 2019 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: CLAYTON McCARTNEY (34) GROUND: MERCURY DRIVE SPORTS COMPLEX NICKNAME: RUMBA
PLAYER CHANGES
IN: Peter Hood, Allan Norris, Corey Wanganeen (Fitzroy Stars), Steve Stallion (Cobram), Dylan Kerr, Nathan Kerr (Deniliquin Rovers).
OUT: David Smith, Jerome Sorgel.
31°C