As we head into our 20th anniversary season, this preseason has been about one thing: rebuilding.

We've welcomed plenty of fresh faces, retained the core of our playing group, strengthened our community, attracted incredible partners, and laid a strong foundation for the season ahead. While there's still plenty of work to do, the direction is clear, and the future of the Blues is bright.

By the Numbers

 50+ athletes introduced to Australian football

 10 Blues attended to Team Canada camp

 2 exhibition tournaments (Ottawa and Montreal)

 3 practice matches at our home ground

 1 Team Canada selection match

 30 registered players

 10 rookie debuts during preseason

 7 club partners backing the Blues

 1 new training home

The Line Up

This winter and spring gave our group every opportunity to grow. More than 50 athletes came out to have a kick and learn the game, while 30 players committed to the 2026 season. Of those, 10 rookies have already played their first games, with more debuts still to come.

Just as importantly, 17 returning players are pulling on the old navy blue again. Their experience, leadership, and willingness to mentor newer players have helped raise the standard at every training session and created an environment where everyone can improve together.

Across six competitive opportunities—including tournaments in Ottawa and Montreal, three practice matches at our new home ground (including that legendary monsoon slog), and the Team Canada selection match—our group gained valuable match experience, tested themselves against quality opposition, and built confidence heading into the season.

In a testament to the continued development of our playing group, 10 Blues participated in this year’s Team Canada selection camp in Montreal. Another standout moment of the preseason came in our second trip to Montreal, where Myers was named Rookie of the Tournament. It was a well-deserved recognition and a reflection of the exciting fresh talent emerging at the club. Watching our newest players back themselves, attack the contest, and grow in confidence every week has been one of the highlights of the rebuild.

In exciting news, two much-loved teammates will miss most of this season as they welcome new additions to their families. We're incredibly excited to support them through this next chapter and look forward to welcoming both back to the Blues when they're ready.

More Than Footy

The best clubs aren't built on training nights alone. This preseason brought our community together through plenty of opportunities away from the footy field:

• - 2025 Awards Night and Kangaroo Kourt

• - PWHL at Scotiabank Arena

• - Toronto Tempo at Coca-Cola Coliseum

• - Blue Jays Loonie Hot Dog Night

• - Floating Sauna at Harbourfront

• - Winter Shred workout with 1,500 life athletes

• - 2026 Jumper Presentation Night and Preseason Kourt

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These moments are where teammates become lifelong mates, and they're a big part of what makes community footy so special.

Growing Our Partnerships

One of the biggest wins of the preseason happened off the field. As the club continues to grow, so has the support from businesses that believe in our vision and want to be part of the journey.

We're proud to have Portia Physio return for another season and upgrade their commitment to become our first Platinum Partner. Joining them as a new Platinum Partner is Freya Athletic Therapy, whose expertise and support will be a fantastic addition to the club this season.

We're also excited to welcome Something in the Water and Nice Slice as new our Gold Partners, adding to a growing network of local businesses investing in community sport and local places to host our socials.

Rounding out our partnership team are our valued Silver Partners—Nadège, Harmons, and City Shred—whose support uplifts the club by rewarding our players for all their hard work.

A special thank you also goes to our Preseason and Awards Night Partners—Impact Kitchen, Othership, Strong Liberty Village, and Kula Yoga—whose generosity helped fuel our athletes, support recovery, and create memorable experiences throughout the preseason.

To every one of our partners, thank you for believing in what we're building. Your support creates opportunities for our players, strengthens our club, and allows us to continue growing both on and off the field.

A New Home

This preseason also marked the beginning of a new chapter. After many memorable years of Monday nights at Cherry Beach, the Blues officially moved our training base to Thursdays at College & Bathurst.

Cherry Beach will always be part of our story. It's where friendships were built and training sessions were filled with hard work and laughter. While we'll always look back on those memories fondly, our new home is more central, easier for players to access, and provides the perfect platform for the club's next chapter.

Thank You

Before the season begins, we'd like to thank everyone who helped make this preseason possible. To our coaches, committee members, volunteers, sponsors, photographers, supporters, and everyone who gave their time behind the scenes… thank you. Community clubs thrive because people are willing to pitch in, and the Blues are no exception.

A special thank you also goes to our injured players, who continued to show up, encourage teammates, and contribute to the group despite being unable to take the field. Your commitment has been invaluable.

Looking Ahead

Six months ago, we set out to continuing rebuilding our comeback. Today, we're a stronger, more connected club than we were when we started. Fresh talent has injected new energy into the playing group, experienced players have continued to raise the standard, our partnerships have grown, and we've found a new home to continue writing the next chapter of the Blues.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary season, we're proud of how far we've come and even more excited about where we're going.

Here's to the start of the next 20 years.

Go Blues Go!