The Redland Bombers will kick off their 2016 NEAFL campaign in Canberra this weekend when they take on the Demons at Gungahlin Oval. A new-look Bombers outfit will take to the field this season after six players were snapped up by AFL clubs in last year’s National and Rookie AFL Drafts. Best-and-fairest winner Josh Smith (Collingwood), Paul Hunter (Adelaide), Matt Uebergang (Fremantle), Ben Keays (Brisbane) and Wylie Buzza (Geelong) all had their AFL dreams realised. Sam Michael became the sixth AFL-listed player when Essendon signed the former Brisbane rookie as a top-up for 2016.
In better news for the club, defender Brad Howard has returned to Redland after a year off. The 28-year-old is back for his third stint at the club since making his senior debut in the 2006 QAFL season before being drafted to St Kilda. He returned to Queensland in 2011, making the NEAFL Team of the Year in 2013 and representing the league against Tasmania in 2014. After taking a year off from football last year, a refreshed Howard is excited to pull on the boots again.
“As much as I enjoyed my year off and how good it was for me, I feel rejuvenated mentally and physically and I'm really enjoying being back,” he said. “I haven’t missed a training session so far. Pre-season is always challenging and there is room to improve on the fitness base, but all is progressing as planned.”
As the oldest member of the squad, Howard hopes he can play a role in turning the club into a premiership contender before his playing days are over for good.
“Especially at this stage of my career, the drive for success is the main thing for me at the moment,” he said. “I haven’t played in a senior premiership yet. Once you get to this stage of your 20s it’s certainly a major priority.
“As the season progressed last year I began to get itchy feet and it made it harder to watch from the sidelines knowing I could still contribute. It (leadership) is a big focus for me I hope to help as some of the younger blokes as much as I can, and provide some more voice on the track and try and raise the standards in accountability.”
Redland has also recruited young talent Aaron Christensen, the brother of Brisbane midfielder Allen, during the off-season.
The competition is set to grow even further this year with 10 teams battling it out for the premiership. After Ainslie’s withdrawal from the competition last year, Eastlake renamed its NEAFL side the Canberra Demons.
The drive for success is the main thing for me at the moment.
- Bombers defender Brad Howard
Redland will battle the Demons from noon on Saturday. You can keep up with the live scores and Champion Data statistics by downloading the Official NEAFL App from the Google Play and Apple stores.