RDFL 2019: Nathan Blair relishing return to hometown club Romsey after five years in VFL

Key recruit Nathan Blair has backed Romsey to emerge as a genuine flag contender this season, having returned to the club after a five-year VFL stint with Coburg.

Nathan Blair pushes the ball clear of Essendon’s Josh Begley while playing for Coburg. Picture: Mark Wilson

Key recruit Nathan Blair has backed Romsey to emerge as a genuine flag contender this season, having returned to the club after a five-year VFL stint with Coburg.

The 23-year-old, who played more than 50 senior games as a defender for the Lions, is back at his hometown club due to increased work commitments.

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The uncompromising Blair will bring a hard edge to a Redbacks team which finished sixth last year before suffering an 81-point hiding against eventual premier Diggers Rest in an elimination final.

“Making finals, just on the edge, we’ve got expectations that we can go a bit further this year and finish a bit higher on the ladder,” Blair said.

“That’s all going to come down to hard work because we get along pretty well as a group.”

Nathan Blair flies for a mark during his VFL career with Coburg.

Romsey lost seven of its eight matches against top-five teams in 2018, but Blair hopes the continuity in the club’s playing stocks will help it bridge the gap.

Brayden Feltham (Hillside) and Josh Smiley (Rupertswood) are the only players who have requested clearances away from Romsey Park, while Blair and forward Joel Naylor (Northern Knights) have signed on.

“The more a team plays together, the better it can get,” Blair said.

“I think they have had the bulk of the team there for two or three years now and a lot of them are local blokes too.

“Even the young ones coming through training with us from the under-16s, getting them a couple of senior games is going to help everyone.

“As long as we can keep the bulk together like we have the last couple (of years), the improvement is just going to come.”

Nathan Blair will wear Romsey’s red jumper again this year in the RDFL.

Blair said his state league experience had been invaluable, but he had returned to Romsey to focus on developing his career as a builder.

“Each week we were playing against AFL players,” he said.

“You learn a lot of things playing on them as a backman, like I was.”

Blair said he hoped his “backline days are past” him but recognises that call will ultimately fall to coach Corey O’Sullivan.

He said a gruelling pre-season would have Romsey primed to make a flying start to its campaign, which starts on April 13 against Rupertswood.

“They have definitely taken a bit more professional approach with the pre-season this year,” he said.

“Getting a fitness bloke in to put us through our paces. It’s been tough, it’s been challenging, but the boys will benefit from it, no doubt.”

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