THE Coota Blues are to embark on their 15th season of playing in AFL Canberra as they host Australian Defence Force Academy tomorrow.
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The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) team is a bit of unknown quality as their side changes regularly with intakes over the football season.
However, we do know they are the defending premiers in Division Three, defeating Woden Blues in grand final by 17 points.
The Blues also welcome back on-baller Mick Knagge, who last season played with Ganmain Grong Grong Matong.
- Pat Kerin
The Blues, who are up a grade this season in Division Three, have number of changes in their line-up.
Being in third grade this season, the Blues are expecting strong opposition week in week out.
Saturday’s match will be the first in the 18-round season.
While the Blues welcome back 2014-premiership captain coach Luke Webb, they also welcome back on-baller Mick Knagge, who last season played with Ganmain Grong Grong Matong.
Adding to the list is James Dallas, who looks forward to the season.
Like Knagge, Dallas is a Blues premiership player.
Also, keen to have a run with the Blues this season is Zac Oliver who last season played with Culcairn.
Oliver who is working in Orange will add plenty of bite to the backline.
Another player added to the Blues line-up Albaron Savannah. Known as Baazza, he has previously played in Sydney for Penrith.
With the Young Saints now disbanding, the Blues have picked a couple of players.
Again, the Blues have experience of four premiership players in Stephen Chant, Joel Pearson, Dylan McDermott, and Phil Bird.
All four players have trained hard in the pre-season.
The quartet has played nearly 500 matches for the Blues and I am sure all four will feature strongly as the Blues best players during the season.
On the debit side, the Blues will not have Haydn Slater and back pocket player Liam Frilay.
After team numbers have been a bit thin during the pre-season, numbers have gradually increased over the past week.
The Blues will have a full squad for tomorrow’s match.
The first bounce for the main game is at 2pm at Cootamundra’s Clarke Oval.