Club president Todd Basham said when it became clear the team would need to look internally for a new coach that Drum was the obvious choice.

“Chris was a major factor in our success last year and his experience has already helped us out a lot,” Basham said.

2015 will be Drum’s third season for the Blues but he brings a lifetime of experience to the squad.

Growing up in Wagga, Drum came through the youth team and went on to play for the Wagga Tigers from 1997 until 2009, and then spent three seasons with Sydney’s Western Suburbs Magpies.

He joined the Blues in 2013 and was runner-up for the best and fairest award in his first season before taking out the coveted prize last season.

Drum was also assistant coach last year and said he would not be looking to make too many changes to the side’s winning formula.

“It’s not every year you win a premiership but we want to keep being competitive,” Drum said.

“The main thing I want is to encourage young people in Coota to play good Aussie rules footy.”

Basham and Drum agreed the Blues are blessed with a lot of young talent, with many players also emerging as leaders on the pitch.

In looking for a new captain a few names were thrown around, including Joel Pearson, Mick Knagge, Toby Johnston and Phil Bird.

“The boys have improved a lot in the last two years and there is still a lot of improvement to come,” Drum said.

He also named Dylan McDermott, Luke Johnston and Jarryd Cook as players to watch this season.

Changes to the competition structure will ensure the Blues need all the energy they can muster this year against stronger opposition and with fewer breaks.

The season will see the boys play eight games home and nine away against six opposition sides, with luck of the draw dictating which teams will clash for a third game.

Basham predicts that home ground advantage will be a bigger factor this season as the Blues look to new opponents including ADFA/RMC Rams, ANU Griffins and UC Magpies, who are associated with Belconnen.

With a lot of away games the club is also happy to announce that Andrew Lieschke will continue to support the Blues for their Canberra meets.

Lieschke is still recovering from an injury that saw him unable to compete in last season’s grand final but will assist with running the bench when the boys compete in Canberra.

The club is keen to accept help from anyone who wants to support the Blues, as well as encourage new players to have a go.

Training will officially start on Tuesday February 3rd at 6pm, with two weekly sessions throughout the season.

The second training session will be held on Friday evenings until touch football finishes, at which point it will move back to Thursday.

The club is also in talks with Young and Tumbarumba for preseason trial games, with at least one date likely to be secured soon.

The first game of the season will see the Blues take on the UC Magpies at Clarke Oval on Saturday April 11.