DURING their first season back in the Shoalhaven District Football Association's top grade, the Callala Brumbies turned plenty of heads.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In fact, they were the only side in the competition to defeat both of last year's grand finalists Huskisson-Vincentia and Bomaderry.
It's because of this, the club has plenty of optimism heading into the 2020 SDFA season - which has been delayed until the end of May due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Another reason the Emmett Street Oval based club is confident is the appointment of new head coach Bruno Politano.
"In 2018, I was called by Callala club president Jarred Horton, who I'd coached in juniors at club and representative level alongside his brother Blake, to come back and coach the club," Politano said.
"Callala hadn't had any success on the field or reached a final in 18 years, so I stepped up and coached the club's second and third grade sides.
"Behind the likes of Tom White, Brandon Politano, Joshua Tasker and Jarred, as well as a host of youth players loaded with potential, we made the second grade grand final.
"We also played finals in third grade, which marked the first time in history we'd made the finals in both those two grades in the same season.
"Unfortunately due to work commitments, I wasn't able to coach last season but I jumped at the chance to be involved again in 2020 - I'm really excited to keep building on the foundations we laid two years ago.
"I think with my experience, knowledge of the game's tactics and ability to motivate my players to play as a team, I'm confident we can make huge strides this season."
Unfortunately for Politano and his Brumbies, all their hard work during the pre-season was diminished due to the postponement of the campaign.
"Everyone has come together really well during pre-season and was on the same page, which is one of the main roles of a coach," he said.
"Although we haven't been able to train as a group, I know the boys, who the majority are young, have been doing their own work and staying fit.
"When we do return, it won't take long for us to click again, as I'll only need a few weeks to get the boys ready for the season."
When that does happen, Politano is confident his team can finish much higher than last year's ninth.
"We aren't going to change the way we've played in previous years too much," Politano, who's also coached at Bomaderry, Shoalhaven United and Southern Branch, said.
"We have strength across the field and it's up to us to take full advantage of that - every one of my players has the ability to win the match for us and it's important they go into each game with that mindset.
"I'm confident if we continue to work hard and improve each week, there's no reason why we can't make finals, if not better.
"Just like any other team, our goal is to claim that Blackmore Bolden Shield and we aren't going to stop working until we achieve that."