Marrar will head into 2021 confident in their playing group after a relatively quiet recruiting program but coach Shane Lenon believes there's a clear-cut Farrer League favourite already.
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The Bombers have picked up a Christmas gift this week in the shape of former Nowra Albatross Vikings forward Liam James.
James kicked 10 goals in nine games in the AFL South Coast competition and was in their best in five of the games, including their grand final loss to Figtree.
"He's a young bloke who's a key position player. It's not the strongest league but the side he played in got beaten in the grand final," Bombers coach Shane Lenon said.
"He's young, he's still got his best footy in front of him and he's keen to hook into it. He's got a couple of mates out at Marrar and we're rapt to have him on board."
Their off-season (after a non-season) is otherwise highlighted by the return of AFL Riverina Championship players including Rhys Mooney, Zach Walgers and Jack Reynolds (Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes), Drew Beavan (Wagga Tigers) and captain Jackson Moye (Turvey Park).
Lenon's excited about the room for improvement in players like Jed Jenkins and Toby Lawler.
They've also added depth, picking up Josh Connellan and Mitch Ivey (Osborne), Brodie Neville (Collingullie-Glenfield Park) and Jack McPherson (Coolamon).
"We haven't recruited any real big names but our improvement is going to come from our young blokes. We've got some really good young players and that's the exciting part," Lenon said.
Marrar have lost assistant coach Cal Gardner, who's moved to Queensland, as well as Brad and Tyler Moye (Temora). The playing plans of key forward James Lawton, who had signed for 2020, are uncertain at this stage.
Lenon hasn't ruled out late recruitment as they aim to remain in the top three.
"We're still keen to pick up a couple of high quality blokes and we're talking to a couple... and we'll need to, because there's three or four clubs that are looking pretty good," Lenon said.
Coleambally's recruitment has been strong while 2019 premiers North Wagga expect to be thereabouts but it's the team they beat, East Wagga-Kooringal, that Lenon is wary of.
"Let's be honest, East Wagga are tomato sauce odds," he said.
"They're definitely the favourites."
The Hawks had recruited well for 2020 and hope to thrive on the back of that with Alex Rogers, Tim Smith, Nathan Scott and Dan McCarthy all committed for 2021, and now McCarthy's brother Kieren also on board.
Marrar have retained ruckman Nick Molkentin and centre-half-back Nick Cooper. The Bombers will begin their pre-season training on January 12.
