ELMORE coach Dylan Friedberger is hoping an increase in professionalism can help lead to the re-emergence of the Bloods in the Heathcote District league this season.

Friedberger was appointed coach of the Bloods in August of 2019, but hasn't had the chance to lead the club into action yet following last year's cancelled 2020 season.

While bitterly disappointed not to get the chance to play last season, Friedberger also believes the year off provided a chance for the club to take a breath and reset following a challenging decade where Elmore won the least amount of games of any HDFNL club from 2010-19.

Since their last game in 2019, the Bloods have added 13 players to their list for the 2021 season - Friedberger, Peter Harrison, Liam Gundry, Nick Kellow, Matthew Nettlefold, Anthony Friedberger, Tehumarie Callendar, Josh Flynn, assistant coach Dylan Gordon, Phil Hubbard, Lachlan McKenzie, Callan Wilson and Farran Priest.

Priest has a decorated football CV that includes winning the NAB League Morrish Medal in 2008, while he has also been on Werribee's VFL list and played in Benalla's 2016 Goulburn Valley league flag.

Hubbard is a former Echuca United captain and Murray league representative player, with both he and Priest to be two significant inclusions to the Bloods' midfield unit.

"We've tried to target players who have experienced a high level of finals football... someone like Dylan Gordon, who has VFL and Northern Territory football experience," Friedberger said.

"Lachlan McKenzie and Callan Wilson (both athletic, versatile talls) both have that NTFL experience as well, and then you've got Phil Hubbard and Farran Priest, who are both seasoned campaigners, so that's the direction we've gone in.

"Our goal is to play finals and we think getting in that experience to be able to nurture and guide our younger players will really help us to, hopefully, be a real threat."

Friedberger has taken over as coach from Danny Brewster, who is among several key outs from the Bloods' team of 2019 that won five games, along with Nathan Brewster, gun forward Romain Grenville, Rhys Healey and Darcy Laffy.

"We've had a big focus on trying to improve on the basic stuff in terms of on and off field... making sure everyone knows what it's going to take to go to the next level in terms of training, preparing to train and recovering from training," Friedberger said.

"We feel with our recruiting we've got good versatility, while we're really looking forward to seeing two young players in Mitch Cricelli and Bailey Boyack take the next step. We're well aware of where we've been as a club over the past decade and that's certainly in the back of everyone's mind; we want to make this decade ours.

"In a way it feels like a fresh start and in a way, with myself and Dylan (Gordon) being new, it has given the club a fresh approach and the chance for a new era."

The new-look Bloods will be immediately on show, taking on White Hills in the stand-alone Good Friday season-opener on April 2.

Season-opener - v White Hills (a)

Round 1 - v Colbinabbin (h)

Round 2 - v Mount Pleasant (h)

Round 3 - Bye

Round 4 - v LBU (a)

Round 5 - v Huntly (h)

Round 6 - v Leitchville-Gunbower (a)

Round 7 - v White Hills (a)

Round 8 - v North Bendigo (a)

Round 9 - v Heathcote (h)

Round 10 - v Colbinabbin (a)

Round 11 - v Mount Pleasant (a)

Round 12 - Bye

Round 13 - v LBU (h)

Round 14 - v Huntly (a)

Round 15 - v Leitchville-Gunbower (h)

Round 17 - v North Bendigo (h)

Round 18 - v Heathcote (a)

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