NORTHERN Beaches coach Rory Evans is excited about what he thinks the Blues can produce in their return to senior football in the AFL North Coast competition.

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“I certainly want us to play an attacking style of football and I think from what I’ve seen of the players we can certainly do that,” Evans said.

“We need some good structure there’s no doubt about that but I think with the way that the game is, the key elements for me are scoring from turnovers, scoring from stoppages and possession football.”

The Blues have recruited well so far in the off-season to implement that game plan with top line players Chris Frangos, Evan and Fraser Duryea and McKinlay Pearce committing to play for the Blues in 2021.

Evans said the club has also secured the services of a player from the NWFA in Tasmania and another from the VAFA in Victoria who has moved to the region.

“The early signs are good but as Coffs is, we need to keep that recruitment drive going,” he said.

“We certainly need to continue to strengthen the position because our intention is to run two sides (seniors and reserves) in the comp this year.

“So we’re still actively looking for both experienced and new players.”

The club will also be fielding a women’s team again after the girls reached the grand final in 2020.

Adrian Roberts will once again be taking the reins of that team.

Formal training will begin in the new year but the club has already started having a couple of training sessions on the beach which involve a bit of a kick and a run around.

The return to the fold represents a welcome return to senior football which was last played by Woolgoolga in 2005.

The club had a proud history of success playing in 16 of the first 17 AFL North Coast grand finals after the competition began in 1982, winning nine.

“It’s a rich history and I think everyone at the club is aware of it on some level but I think it probably needs to be celebrated and acknowledged a little bit more,” the new coach said.

By Brad GREENSHIELDS