IT HAS been a strange old ride for the Ballarat Red Devils in the lead-up to the 2016 campaign.
But the off-field dramas will be swept aside on Saturday when the club’s National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 season gets underway at Morshead Park.
The Ballarat boys had their final training run on Thursday night in preparation for the round one home clash with Moreland Zebras.
Manager James Robinson, who quit the post in November last year only to sensationally return to the role last month, has revealed the squad that will take the club through the 28 rounds this season.
The list of 20 includes a handful of additions to the team that finished fourth under Robinson in the west division standings last year.
Of the inclusions, Englishman Adam Ranson will start playing once his commitments with East Ballarat Cricket Club come to an end, former Red Devils player Tristan Romein is back after a season away with Bendigo City, while Michael Trigger has returned to the club after originally planning to play for Hume City in the NPLV competition this year.
Nelson Salvatore is also back after a mid-season transfer to Dandenong Thunder in 2015, while Isaac Ellis and Carl Frankson have joined from Sebastopol Vikings.
Last year’s under-20 players Pietro Angeli and Jake Francis have been promoted to the senior squad.
Robinson, who has been in charge for the practice matches against St Albans Saints and Sebastopol this term, said promotion was always the goal each season.
“You go into every game to win it,” Robinson told The Courier.
“We’re not hiding about what’s happened in pre-season and where things are. We’re building, we’re continuing on.”
