As the Roys set their eyes on 2020, Senior Mens coach Luke Mahoney is keen to get the most out of the pre-season as possible and likes what he is seeing so far.

Ive been really impressed by the enthusiasm and intensity at training that the players have shown in their first couple of weeks. Numbers have been really solid including a number of new and returning faces. We finished the season with a real positive momentum and that is something we need to harness and take into 2020.

Pre-season kicked off on November 18 and has seen the coaches deliver a skills-focussed program to drive the team forward in the competition next season.

Training has been focussed on our skills and touching the footballs as much as possible. Players are also being split into their line groups (forwards, mids and defenders) and doing some more specific work with their line coach.

Of course, it wouldnt be a pre-season session without some conditioning, but it has been very much skewed to improving our football skills./p>

For the Senior Mens team, after retaining their place in Premier B, Mahoney is keen to learn from a challenging season in the grade to push the team further in 2020.

We will continue to work on our game plan and how we move the ball. Going up to Premier B we found out quickly what worked and didnt work so we are looking to refine and reinforce as much as possible.

2020 looks to deliver an exciting season with plenty of opportunities for the teams youth to step up and showcase their development.

The general improvement and development of our second- and third-year players will be very exciting to watch. A number of players in that younger group were exposed to important roles last season and have a taste for what is required to play against the best onballers and key positions players in the competition.

I am sure there is a first-year player or two out there as well that will force their way into the [Senior] team. The extent to which these guys improve will go a long way in dictating how the side finishes up next year. The club has never played Premier B finals and this group is hungry to rectify that./p>

Pre-season training is well underway but is very much open to players, women and men, who might want to join the Roys in 2020.

Training starts at 6.15pm on each Monday until 16 December at Olney Oval in Fairfield, with Wednesdays sessions each week on Victoria Park, Abbotsford at the same time. There will be some additional sessions on Saturday mornings. Post-Christmas training will start on Monday 20 January.

Mahoney and the club welcomes anyone who would like to come down to training to join and talk to the coaches.

We are always welcoming new players to the club, with seven sides there are plenty of spots that need filling! Our playing group is a mix of new locals that move into the Fitzroy area and graduates from Fitzroy Junior Football Club. The community feel of the club is huge, with a great atmosphere and location for games and training.There isnt much better than a Saturday afternoon at BSO, with the city skyline in the background, the smell of the best burgers in town and the club song blasting through the ground speakers.

We have an exciting group of players that are looking to improve on 2019 and we are always on the lookout for quality people that would like to join our squad especially if you are 6!/p>

So, if you or anyone you know wants to don the beautiful Roysjumper in 2020, just rock up for training or call our Director Player Recruitment and Wellbeing, Michael Pickering, on 0419 849 662. Even if you can only come down for one session, well welcome you with open arms!