With Josh Hamilton taking charge of the team and fellow former Griffith Swan, Tom Groves, signed as assistant, the Blues will boast a team with plenty of leaders, and one which the former coach believes is set for big things in the near future.

“I’m really excited and everyone had that same feeling that we were starting to gel pretty good,” Carroll said.

“Hopefully over the next few years there’ll be some success, and I hope to be a part of that.”

Carroll took the Blues to the second week of the finals in both of his seasons in charge and is looking forward to playing without the responsibilities of coaching.

“It’ll be good, not always having the whiteboard under your arm,” he said. 

“Friday nights, you can sit down and watch the footy, not having to do you’re homework.”

He considered a return to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong but the desire to see out what he’d helped create convinced him to stay at Coleambally. 

As well as retaining experience, the Blues have added some speed to their midfield, snaring talented Narrandera wingman, Shaun Light.

Still only 18 years old, Light was part of the Eagles’ 2012 RFL premiership team. 

Last season the Blues narrowly scraped into the finals when they finished with eight wins and eight losses, beating out Marrar and and the Northern Jets by percentage points.

They played Temora in the elimination final and got up 10.12 (72) to 9.12 (66), but then lost in the next round to the North Wagga Saints 6.7 (43) to 15.8 (98).

The season before they reached the same stage without winning a playoff game.

They lost in the elimination final against East Wagga-Kooringal in 2014 before going down a week later to Marrar.

In the two seasons prior to his appointment as coach, Coleambally struggled mightily.

They finished second-last in 2013 and last in 2012, each season with three wins.