The Bombers came from the clouds to snatch the Coastal Premier League northern conference title off Coffs City United Lions last year.
Fast forward to a new season and they will have a new coach at the helm after Jon Ferguson relinquished the role to Troy Hearfield.
The two time A-League winner is expected to once again pull on the boots – more likely in the centre of defence – and when he does, the Bombers will have a formidable look about them.
But off the field is where the main changes will be with Hearfield to place an emphasis on the underrated skills a lot of players don’t spend a lot of time on.
“I want some individual techniques to be better,” he said
“Simple things like keeping the ball and using both left and right feet … all the little things people tend to forget about. When those individual techniques are better and we start to work together we can take the next step structurally.
“From there I can pass on my skills and the knowledge I have and then we can go from there; I want the whole club working together.”
Hearfield wants every player in the club to be able to play the same style – from first grade right down to the junior sides.
“I want to have confidence that if I need a young reserve grader to step up, they know their role because we’re all playing the same style of football,” he said.
“Ultimately I want the boys to enjoy their football.
“Of course I’ll be hard on them at times because you have to be, but I want them to walk off with a smile on their face.”
The 33-year-old admits he doesn’t feel any added pressure that comes from joining a successful club.
“I’m not out there to replicate what they did last year. I’m going to bring my own brand of football,” he said.
“It won’t be something where it all happens straight away … it might take half a season or a season.”
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