Royals prepare for season 2020 and remain confident despite losing flag stars

Reigning premiers Royals will be without key premiership quartet Steven Edwards, Tyrese Pickett-Miller, Corey Ward and Poch Amores as they start their title defence in less than 10 days. Lions coach Andrew Ruck is confident his side will still be hard to beat in the shortened 2020 Great Southern Football League season that begins on Saturday week. Pickett-Miller was a star in the Lions midfield as they won last year’s grand final by 41 points and Ward was one of the most damaging defenders in the competition. Edwards has returned to his WAFL club South Fremantle and Amores has moved up to play colts with Claremont. Ruck confirmed youngster Declan McNamara has returned to his junior club while they have also picked up Adrian Cinanni from Narrogin in the Upper Great Southern Football League. The Lions will look to blood more young kids in their senior team this season to help cover the loss of some premiership players, according to Ruck. “We haven’t picked up many new players but we have 15-16 players from the grand final last season so I think we will be very competitive again,” he said. “I’m not sure what every other club is looking like but we will be there at the end again. “We have a few good young kids that we will give a crack and I’m confident in the side we will put out.” Ruck said training numbers had been starting to pick up with the season only nine days away. “It’s been hard trying to get blokes motivated like every club,” he said. “All clubs’ numbers will be starting to pick up, we will see the ressies boys starting to come back down with the season drawing closer. “Numbers have started to increase, we have been getting about 40 but just trying to get those other 15 down. “Footy is so important, it just gives them to something to do other than work.” The Lions played Mt Barker in a practice game on Saturday and they will host the Bulls in round one to begin their premiership defence.