With champion goal-kicker Mark Meyland in charge, the Bombers have assembled a quality list packed with depth as they attempt to improve on their 2019 fate, when they fell in the grand final to powerful Strathmerton.
The Bombers remain without 2019 best-and-fairest winner Mitch Cleeland, but have packed the side full of talent with a plethora of recruits, headlined by Shepparton premiership star ruckman Ash Holland who appears poised to dominate his new competition.
Meyland said enthusiasm was rife after missing the 2020 season, but added his Bombers were not using their recent grand final loss as motivation.
“We're shaping up well, we just hope we're not missing another season. We started before Christmas with a few sessions in December, it's been really good and everyone is pretty keen to get back on the field,” Meyland said.
“The group has changed a fair bit from that, we're more just trying to work with what we've got in front of us.”
Along with Holland, the Bombers gain Nathalia's Brayden Summerville and Tallygaroopna duo Austin Tricarico and Jayden Goodwin, while Will Foster and Noah Scott return to their former club, adding depth to a side with no shortage of top-end class.
“I'd like to think so, but the competition appears pretty strong,” Meyland said when asked if his side would remain near the top of the ladder.
“From what everyone's been reading, it sounds as if Katamatite is going to be pretty strong and Strathmerton will definitely be thereabouts.”
FAST FACTS
NETBALL COACH: NIKKI FOSTER 2019 FINISH: SEVENTH (9-1-6)
FOOTBALL COACH: MARK MEYLAND 2019 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (17-2) 2019 BEST AND FAIREST: MITCH CLEELAND 2019 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: MARK MEYLAND (62) GROUND: WAAIA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: BOMBERS
PLAYER CHANGES
IN: Jayden Clarke (Shepparton Swans), Ash Holland (Shepparton), Jayden Goodwin, Austin Tricarico (Tallygaroopna), Brayden Summerville (Nathalia), Will Foster, Noah Scott
OUT: Mitch Cleeland (Shepparton United), Connor Brown (Nathalia)