Wagga Blaze will begin their premiership defence under no illusions about opposition teams' desire to apply the blowtorch. But they're confident they can handle what's coming.
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The reigning women's division one champions head to Goulburn on Saturday for the opening round. Coach Peter O'Leary has warned his players about what to expect.
"As I said to the girls, we're going to be the dog now, everyone will want to knock us down," O'Leary said.
"Last season we might have taken a couple of teams unaware but this year, for sure, everyone will be gunning for us. But we'll take whatever they've got. It should be a good season and we're looking forward to it."
Some handy additions have helped confidence including former Shoalhaven and Coffs Harbour star, Hannah Ryan, who has moved to Wagga for medical studies.
"She's a good find for us, she's played state league at both of those clubs. She's a centre, about 6'2, so a pretty handy person to have.
"And she can take care of our medical woes because she's a doctor," O'Leary said with a laugh.
They've also picked up Abbey Favell, a quick and promising young guard from Griffith, who is showing talent in women's AFL.
While Caren Hugo, a 2016 premiership player, is back at the Blaze following an injury-enforced break, and will be hoping to help the club to a third title in four years.
"This year we've got something we haven't had for the last couple of years and that's a good mix of bigs and guards," O'Leary said.
"Now we've got a few more tall players and we'll have some good targets inside as well as outside."
Apart from Jess Somerfield and Olivia Fawns, who head to university, the rest of the Blaze squad returns, including US imports Khiani Clark and Shakera Barnes.
The biggest change is to the draw, with long road trips to the north of the state eradicated.
Wagga will play in a southern conference including Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Shoalhaven who they'll play at home and away.
Twice during the season they will travel to Sydney and play Dubbo, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour in a weekend, to make for a 14-game season.
O'Leary said it's a welcome adjustment to the draw after some nightmare road trips last year.
"They've changed the set-up from what it was last year, thank God. Last year was the season from hell," he said.
"We had two away trips. One to Coffs Harbour and then on to Tamworth and back, that was three days and flights and two bus rides and so on. It cost about $8000 to do the trip.
"The other was Newcastle and Maitland.
"This way, in effect, we will play everyone in the whole competition twice still. With the four games in Sydney on two weekends, we have 14 games for the season.
"But I'm happy we don't have to do that travelling that we did last year. It was very, very expensive and it took it's toll on the girls. This is a much more sensible idea."
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