For Billy Tydd, 2020 served as the table for the Tamworth Rooster's football smorgasbord.
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He got a taste of first grade football, premiership success with the Roosters and was a part of the Northern Heat set-up for the first time.
The Heat wrapped up training for the year on Saturday in cool conditions in Armidale.
After the on-field training on Saturday, the players went indoors for a session with former Sydney Swans strength and conditioning coach Matt Pine.
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He gave the juniors a program to do over the summer months and Tydd was looking forward to getting stuck in.
"I think it'll be good. I have been looking to get a bit stronger and faster and with this'll be a good step in the right direction," Tydd said.
The Farrer student was exposed to a range of different styles of footy through the Northern Heat program.
But one style in particular stood out to the 17-year-old who wants to play a running brand of football as he makes the step up to first grade for the Kangaroos in 2021.
"The team [Heat] tries to play a running style of footy. Trying to handball more than kick. It's a cool style of footy," Tydd said.
Tydd said to have a successful running game "you have to work hard" but he was ready to put in the work.
"If I kick the ball, I just need to try and follow it up and stay in the contest," he said.
The year 12 student played five senior games in 2020 for the Kangaroos who he'd back up for after playing under 17s.
He was looking forward to focusing on one game of footy at a time next season.
"Playing two games straight after one another was tough on the body," Tydd said.
The teen graduates to seniors after playing junior footy with the Roosters under Greg Vallender.
Tydd said Vallender had played a massive role on his career to date.
"He's got a good footy brain and some of the stuff he teaches us, I'll definitely carry into senior footy," Tydd said.
The Northern Heat will resume training next year.