Katanning Wanderers appear set to have a number of inclusions but will have to cover the loss of star utility Josh Bootsma

Katanning Wanderers Football Club appear set to have a number of inclusions for the 2020 Upper Great Southern Football League season as they enter their final month of preparations for the shortened competition that begins next month. Second-year Wanderers coach Ryan Flugge confirmed that since restrictions were eased, numbers at training had increased and excitement among the group was building with just 23 days until the season starts. Laurence Collard will return to Quartermaine Oval along with cousin Callum Collard, who has been playing for Centrals in the Peel Football League, while Caleb Gill from the Great Southern Football League and Kyle Sinclair will also be additions to the 2020 squad. The Wanderers will have to cover the loss of star utility Josh Bootsma who was part of their 2017 premiership team. The former Carlton defender will be back playing for Peel Thunder in the WAFL competition. Flugge said he is excited for the unusual season ahead and hopes that his team can improve on last season, where they finished fifth. “Numbers have been a bit light on but hoping in the coming weeks that we will pick up,” Flugge said. “When we started training with the restrictions the players weren’t that keen but now with the restrictions easing we have seen the enthusiasm in the players pick up and we are getting more numbers to training. “We still have a pretty young group.” James Laurino, Mitch Banks, Billy Collier and Khallon Zilm are expected to be key players while Flugge mentioned youngster Caleb Keley could step up if he doesn’t play for South Fremantle colts. Wanderers president Michael Kowald said it had been a difficult couple of months. “With players and volunteers not knowing if the season was to go ahead it’s been difficult to keep the interest up as other things have become more prominent in their lives,” he said. “Now that a start date and fixtures are in place, the players are gathering at training but our numbers need to be more consistent so we are good to go. “The club needs to be fully operational without the restrictions in place and with the new announcement (Monday) this will make things a lot easier to manage.”