The Magpies are in the infamous (and unfamiliar) position of being a ‘mathematical chance’ of playing finals but both parties believe they owe it to each other to go again.

“We wanted Tom to do the job,” TRYC retention committee’s Mick Mazzocchi said.

“We’re in full support of what he’s doing and just this year with how unlucky he’s been, with injuries and unavailability with some players, we’ve just been cruelled with sometimes between eight to 12 senior guys being out. 

“So we were really keen to have Tom back on deck next year and have a really good crack with what we hope will be a really good side.”

Yates has won the club’s last two best-and-fairest awards, including last year when he took the team to finals in his first season as coach. 

After three wins in 12 games this year, he is keen to take the club back to where they believe they belong.

“It’s been a tough year this year. The run we’ve had with injuries, the year hasn’t gone to plan. So to not go again would have been a bit of a disappointment,” Yates said.

“But you look at our list at the start of this year and you’d think we’d definitely play finals but when you have the injuries we’ve had during the whole season, it makes it pretty hard.”

The club lost ruckman Lachie Hunter (departed) and the returning Mitch Stephenson (injured) in the pre-season. While players including assistant coach Tim Sullivan, captain Aiden Ridley, recruit Ben Farrell and regulars Casey Hillary, Josh Meiselbach, Jordan Kemp, Aaron Meyers, Ted Fellows, Michael Coombes and Matt Murray have all played half-a-dozen games or less this season. 

Yates expects they’ll retain most of this year’s playing list and said he’s excited about what they can work towards next season. 

But he won’t give up on this year before it’s officially over, despite TRYC being three wins outside the five with four rounds to play. 

After a bye last week, their run home kicks off against Temora at Victoria Park on Saturday.