TUMUT Blues co-coach Zac Masters is confident a feeling of unfinished business will make his job easy to retain most of the current squad for next season.
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The Blues confirmed Masters and Lachlan Bristow would return for their second and third years at the helm respectively late last week.
The 2019 premiers only lost two of 16 games this year on their way to a minor premiership, but like all football codes Group Nine was cancelled before finals could be played.
It means Tumut was denied a chance to avenge last year's grand final defeat to arch rivals Gundagai.
"Obviously it was a very disappointing way for the year to finish after the season we had. We feel like there's a bit of unfinished business there," Masters said.
"We want to get the team back together, and have another shot at it next year.
"I know all the local boys are really keen to go again. I think everyone will be pretty keen to get back on board. We didn't quite get the job done next year and we certainly had the team who could do it."
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Masters said he had given Canberra trio Jed Pearce, Ron Leapai and Tolo Aroha-Tuinauvai some time to digest the recently completed campaign before enquiring about their plans for next year
"I've given some of the guys who were travelling this year from Canberra a bit of space, because sometimes after a long year of footy it's the last thing you want to think about," he said.
"If we get the vast majority of our squad back next year, we'll be very tough to beat again.
"We had a few young fellas who either made their debuts this year, or played their first season of first grade. I think there's a lot of improvement to come in those boys, which is exciting."
Masters said he had learned plenty from his first season as a player-coach, and will take those lessons into 2022.
"It's a pretty big job. The biggest thing for us is getting the boys prepared next week with the right attitude," Masters said.
"As strong a comp as Group Nine is you don't want to be dropping games, especially against the weaker sides. You have to make sure the guys are up week to week.
"Before pre season starts when you're organising things with the club in regards to getting players, there's a bit to that.
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