Northern Blues prepare to face their toughest VAFA season yet after two flags in past two years

NORTHERN Blues expect to face a standard of football greater than anything they have previously encountered throughout 2015.

VAFA Division 3 grand final: Northern Blues V Richmond Centra at Garvey Oval Bundoora. Norththern Blues coach George Wakim Picture: Richard Serong

NORTHERN Blues expect to face a standard of football greater than anything they have previously encountered throughout 2015.

The Blues have secured back-to-back Victorian Amateur Football Association promotions over the past two years, climbing from Division 4 to Division 2 on the back of grand-final victories.

Northern Blues football operations manager Ian Parke said the step up in class this season would represent the club’s greatest challenge yet.

“We realise it’s going to be a much bigger step up than it was from (division) four to (division) three,” Parke said.

“We’re sort of buoyed by the fact that Kew did it last year, they went back-to-back like we did.

“It can be done. We’ve recruited reasonably well, we haven’t lost too many.”

The Blues will chase a hat-trick of premierships without reigning best and fairest James King, who has moved to Old Carey.

But depth should not be an issue for the club, with the addition of a group of players including ruckman Mark Humphreys, on-baller Daniel Mason and 2013 premiership winner Liam Carter set to give coach George Wakim greater flexibility at the selection table.

Best and fairest James King has left Northern Blues. Picture: Richard Serong

“We haven’t recruited any boom recruits, but depth-wise we should have 30-plus guys vying for senior selection each week,” Parke said.

“Which will be a bit different than in the past.”

Parke said the club had set itself three targets for the coming season.

“One is to stay up in Division 2, not to go straight back down,” he said.

“Number two is to make the finals and then we’ll take it from there.

“The third is to get promoted again, obviously.”

He said a heavy loss to West Brunswick in a recent practice match had been a reality check for the club.

“We got beaten comprehensively by West Brunswick in our last practice match,” he said.

“Which is maybe a timely reminder that some of the boys ... need a reminder about getting back on the track.

“It’s not going to be easy without a lot of hard work.”

Northern Blues host Old Paradians at Ruthven Reserve in their opening Division 2 fixture on Saturday, April 11.