A changing of the guard has brought a newfound resurgence to Yackandandah as it enters a new season in the Tallangatta and District League this weekend.
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Dederang-Mount Beauty is its first opponent at home on Saturday.
The appointment of local products Jay and Lee Dale as senior coaches has seen a number of former juniors reunite back where it all began at the Roos.
Lee has previously played at VFL level with Werribee and spent time in the Ovens and Murray league with Myrtleford and Wangaratta.
They will be trying to take the club to the finals for the first time since 2010.
After spending last season at Beechworth, Lee said it has been exciting to have so many of the guys he and his brother played with growing up, back at Yackandandah.
“We’re all ready to go and we’ll have our full side in, so it will give us an idea of where we’re at,” Lee said.
“The last practice game we had a few senior players out which was unfortunate, but we moved the ball well.
“I think most people have had a solid pre-season and got time under their belts.”
Lee said he won’t know until a few games in how the side stacks up against the rest of the competition.
“We'll just try and do our best every time we go out on the ground and if we get into finals it will be great,” he said.
“I’ll primarily be through the midfield and I think Jay will start back and go through the midfield a bit.
“We’ve both got a bit of versatility which makes it pretty handy, but in saying that, we’ve got a lot of blokes that have versatility.
It will be Lee’s first time as coach, however Jay had experience at the helm of North Wangaratta in 2015.
“He’s probably better at talking to the group because I mix my words up a bit now and then,” Lee said.
“We’re trying to find our feet with where we’re both at (as coaches) and work through it together to get the best possible outcome.
“We both have high expectations of each other and want to make sure we can both play to the best of our abilities and get the best out of the group as well.
“We’ve clashed a couple of times, but if you had have taken it back for or five years ago we’d be fighting like cats and dogs,” he laughed.
While the Bombers have had a tough lead-in to this year’s season, Lee knows any side in the competition can’t be overlooked.
Reigning premiers Thurgoona face Mitta United in a rematch of last year’s grand final at Thurgoona, as it begins its flag defence.
Barnawartha has lost plenty of experience, including its leading goal kicker Jordan Wolff, in the off-season and will start underdogs at home against Rutherglen.
Tallangatta will have the tough task of taking down Kiewa away from home.
Wahgunyah and Chiltern also meet and have both brought in plenty of new faces during the off-season, with Swans coach Brent Newton a key man in the ruck.
Beechworth clash with Wodonga Saints.