THE Boggabri Kangaroos will be looking to put a disappointing 2018 season behind them with a new atmosphere in 2019.
The club is hard at work in expanding its ranks to include a new reserve grade side to compliment it’s current first grade, league tag and under-18 teams.
Kangaroos vice-president Jason Kemp said he was confident the club could “bounce back” in 2019.
“Our pre-season training has been pretty good so far,” Kemp said.
“It is still very early days yet but the numbers have been pretty good and there has been some new faces about.
“I reckon we will know a bit more in terms of player numbers as the season gets a bit closer.”
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Picking up just one win in first grade in 2018, the Roos league tag and under-18 teams had a more successful year, earning a grand final and preliminary final birth respectively.
“There are certainly a lot of positives for us to build on for next season,” Kemp said.
“Both our league tag and under-18 teams were competitive and we will have about six or seven of those under-18 guys entering senior football next season.
“That will be great to see and from what I am hearing there are a few girls around the traps who are keen to join us for next season as well.”
Kemp said creating a “family atmosphere” was key to the club’s recruiting strategy.
“I think encouraging more families to get involved through the league tag and under-18 teams is the best way to encourage more senior players,” he said.
“By having more wives and girlfriends involved with the league tag team we can hopefully see a few guys get involved as well.
“That will really help us get a reserve grade team off the ground, which will help us turn game day’s into a family activity with something for everyone.”
Kemp said a reserve grade side would have many benefits to the club.
“As well as being a back up for the first grade side in case of injuries, a reserve grade side also adds a lot of depth,” he said.
“It helps create competition for spots in first grade which hopefully leads to better performances for both individuals and the side as a whole.
“As well as that, it also gives a place for those six or seven under-18 players to gain some experience.
“While I expect a few of them to step straight into first grade, there are a couple that would really benefit from the experience of playing in reserve grade first.
“Forming a reserve grade side is a priority for us that’s for sure.”
The club recently completed its pre-season training for the year with a session at the newly renovated Gunnedah Memorial Pool.
“The final session was a lot of fun and something a bit different,” Kemp said.
“It’s been a promising start and given that it is a later start to the season next year we will be looking at taking part in a nines competition in Coffs Harbour in February, before the Woolaston nines in March.
“For now though, we’re just wishing everyone all the best for the holiday season and picking things up again in late January.”
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
