When Kade Klemke took on the Canberra Demons coaching role, he thought it would take plenty of work to show the club wasn't just Eastlake with a different logo.
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The former Queanbeyan skipper recruited staff and players heavily from a range of clubs, and the buy-in to the concept of "Canberra's team" has been remarkable.
Klemke signed with the Demons for two years with the option of a third, and already believes the club can make "massive inroads" this season with an eye on matching it with the competition's AFL clubs.
It all begins with a clash against the Redland Bombers at Queanbeyan's Margaret Donoghoe Oval at 12pm on Saturday.
Canberra's future in the NEAFL is set to continue under the Demons banner for at least five more years after the club signed a licence extension with the league.
The Demons' future in the 10-team competition is now locked in until the end of the 2021 season after every club committed to a five-year licence extension agreement.
Eastlake were the last of five Canberra clubs standing in the competition and rebranded themselves the Canberra Demons in a bid to become a squad representative of the region.
"That's fantastic for me as a coach, to know that I've got a bit of time to spend [with the group]," Klemke said.
"I've got two years with the option of a third. It allows us to really focus, so we can build something really strong. That's why our focus has been the culture and really building up leaders in the team.
"If I leave the footy club in a couple of years, [I hope] that I can leave it in a better place."
The deal gives Klemke time to build the culture he is desperate to create at the Demons after the club won just three games in 2016.
"We knew we had to recruit well if we wanted to be competitive," Klemke said.
"Some of the recruits that we've got on board - Josh Bennett, Andrew Swan, Cameron Milne - have been really fantastic for the club."
Canberra Demons general manager Shaun Young says having one team that represents the whole Canberra region is "the right model" but work remains to be done in terms of building relationships with local clubs.
Young says extending each club's licence for five more years wasn't a gamble and it instead suggests the league has found the right balance.
NEAFL
Saturday: Round one - Canberra Demons v Redland Bombers at Margaret Donoghoe Oval (Queanbeyan), 12pm.
Canberra Demons squad
B: Matt Vardanega, Ben Halse, Jack BakerHB: Sam Martyn, Rohan McLachlan, Kade KlemkeC: Lucas Meline, Andrew Swan, Nick CollinsHF: Aaron Bruce, Jacob Turner, Mitch HardieF: Mitch Maguire, Josh Bennett, Ben FulfordFoll: Cameron Milne, Jordan Harper, Nick PlemingInter: Luke McKay, Isaac Taylor, Max Richardson, Billy Muir, Lachlan HarperEmer: Sam Askew, Joseph Tegart
Redland Bombers squad
B: Scott Miller, Jack Goodall, Brad HowardHB: Peter Yagmoor, Adrian Williams, Stephen MillsC: Soul Cormick, Clay Cameron, Aaron ChristensenHF: Sam Michael, Jackson Paine, Matt ThomsonF: Adam Boon, Jarrod Huddy, Darcy Cameron-ReevesFoll: Craig Malone, Damian Steven, Hayden Bertoli-SimmondsInter: Luke Rogerson, Oliver Ritchie, Kyle Walsh, Boyd Bailey, Mitch StallardEmer: Harrison Hunkin, Dylan Adkins, Isaiah Edwards
