Orange Tigers look ahead to AFL Central West season in 2021

Those are the words of Kass Ings, who has returned to Orange's Aussie rules club after five years, in the hope of turning things around after what was a tough year for the sport.

2020 saw a shortened AFL Central West competition, with just eight games played in the men's tier 1 season and seven for the senior women.

Results on the pitch weren't what the club had wanted either, with none of the three senior sides making the grand final.

"Last year wasn't good for any club, any sport or anyone," Ings, who has once again taken over the secretary role for the Tigers, said.

"The club brought me back as they were in a bit of need, to help with a bit of a restructure within the committee and to help utilise my knowledge."

Ings was part of the club from 2003 until 2016, at which point she left to take up a position within AFL Central West.

But while most roles at the club have been filled, two gaping holes remain, that of the tier 1 head coach and that of club president.

"If we can try and get the senior men's coach sorted as soon as possible, that will be a big boost," she said.

With the first bounce of the new season still months away, the club did recently receive a big boost.

The Tigers were one of eight clubs from around the country to share in $50,000 funding thanks to the Volkswagen Footy Assist program and the Sydney Swans.

$5,000 of that money was sent Orange's way to set up a net behind the goalposts to stop balls flying into the road.

"It will be a massive help," Ings said.

"This is something the club has been working towards achieving and this grant makes it happen.

"This really does mean a lot to our club and will make a massive difference come game day."

With the hopes of starting pre-season training shortly after Christmas, the club is hoping for a bit more normality come 2021.

"You have the core local players that you can always depend on playing," Ings said.

"But we also rely on the workers that industries around town bring to Orange.

"So it's fingers crossed that there isn't another Covid outbreak."

As for how you can support the club, she kept it simple.

"Just come along to games."