Training needs to be sharp, players need to be committed, and coaches need to be able to bring the best out of the roster.

For the last seven seasons, Jeremy Wallace has played a key hand in all of those factors.

The long-time Emus' conditioning coach has literally been a tower of strength at the club but in 2021, the reigning champions will press on without him.

While he still plans to chip in here and there, Wallace will drop his official title and take a step back from the greens this winter, leaving the likes of Nigel Staniforth and Pete Bromley with increased responsibility.

The latter was the head coach throughout the side's exceptional run towards the premiership and this year, Staniforth will be his right-hand man as the Emus' legend will take on the assistant coaching role.

This leaves Staniforth with a decision to make: will he play or not?

"At this stage I'm leaning towards playing but I'll make up my mind in the next week or two," Staniforth said.

"Jez (Wallace) has done a lot of the back play and a lot of the styles over the years.

"We're not really that big on titles, here. He's done as much as anyone over the years. Last year he helped the backs out a lot while Pete worked with the forwards."

While the schedule hasn't been officially released, Staniforth is expecting a longer season and thinks sides will have the chance to square off with each other three times as opposed to the two-round format last year.

The men in green haven't returned to the training paddock as of yet but after Australia Day weekend is when the squad plans to start running around together again.

"We'll go back to training somewhere around there," he said.

"That should give us about a 10-week pre-season. Most of the boys have been keeping pretty fit anyway."

The club has also announced its second grade and under 18s coaches for the looming winter.

Al Hattersley and Matt Campbell will lead the second-division side into action, while Stu Brisbane, Mick Wallace and Andrew Hayden will handle the youngsters.

While the schedule hasn't been officially released, Staniforth is expecting a longer season and thinks sides will have the chance to square off with each other three times as opposed to the two-round format last year.

The men in green haven't returned to the training paddock as of yet but after Australia Day weekend is when the squad plans to start running around together again.

"We'll go back to training somewhere around there," he said.

"That should give us about a 10-week pre-season. Most of the boys have been keeping pretty fit anyway."

The club has also announced its second grade and under 18s coaches for the looming winter.

Al Hattersley and Matt Campbell will lead the second-division side into action, while Stu Brisbane, Mick Wallace and Andrew Hayden will handle the youngsters.