Key personnel and new recruits on board for Div 1 promotion

Hinterland Blues Captain Callum Mann, Coach Phil Birchmore and President Bruce Bell lift the trophy after winning the QFA North Div 2 Grand Final.

Grand Final Best on Ground Nathan Spring is returning in 2023 for the Div 2 Challenge.

Hinterland Blues AFL club’s key personnel have said they are staying at the helm in order to help guide its promotion from QFA North Division 2 to Division 1 next season.

The announcements came straight after the club’s resounding grand final victory against Alexandra Hills on Saturday.

Grand Final Best on Ground Nathan Spring and seniors captain Callum Mann both signalled their intentions to play on. Meanwhile, coach Phil Birchmore said he’d like to stay at the helm as did president Bruce Bell.

“We've moved up a division so that's a challenge,” said Bell. “But you always want a challenge, so you move up and keep working. That's all there is to it.

“We do get a bigger salary cap next year. That means it will cost more to field the team that we're building. But we've got a business model that we're working to, and expanding on that. And it's coming together well. We’ve already got a few recruits on board from inter-state.”

Mann said most of the existing squad were keen to hang around for next year’s Div 1 challenge. “I’ll be there for sure,” he said.