ALBURY co-coach Anthony Miles has no shortage of contacts in bringing him up to speed with the Ovens and Murray.
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As well as drawing on the Tiger hierarchy, Miles has several former AFL teammates who have also found their way into the competition.
The feedback is similar - the premiership race is wide open.
"From what I hear it's going to be very even," Miles said at Albury's sponsors day on Friday.
"I'm good mates with Yarrawonga's Mark Whiley after living with him in Sydney and I played with Taylor Hunt at Richmond who is now at Myrtleford.
"They think it's going to be a really good competition.
"My brother-in-law Tim Haines is at Wodonga Raiders and he says they are going well too so there are a lot of sides who will be up there.
"Then you have the two sides who played off last year.
"I think there are six or seven or even more sides who think they can play off in it."
After an 88-game AFL career, Miles returned to the Border from Queensland last week and is looking forward to Albury's first training run next Thursday.
Miles will miss the start of pre-season after recently undergoing minor knee surgery.
"It was just a scrape and clean out so I won't miss much," he said.
"It's probably more common to have clean outs than not these days.
"Our planning has started and the boys seem keen to get into it which is good."
With Albury having little wriggle room with points after signing Miles and Jeff Garlett, the former Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and Gold Coast player said the Tigers would look at one-point recruits.
"The club recruited well last year with Jeff and players like that so we are just looking to get locals likes Fletcher Carroll home," he said.
"Fletcher will be really good."
While the former Howlong and North Albury junior's AFL career is over, he will take a keen interest in watching Gold Coast star Matt Rowell.
Asked if he'd seen a better youngster, Miles replied: "Probably not"
"Obviously I didn't see Dustin (Martin) when he was younger but he's just a total professional.
"He's an 18-year-old living in a 25-year-old's body.
"The way he prepares and the extra work he does is incredible."
