For others, it was a chance to take stock.

A winter that could be spent righting wrongs and cleaning the slate.

In 2019, Horsham missed finals for the first time in 18 years.

The Wimmera league's most successful club, with 26 premierships to its name, half of which came since the turn of the century, was in unfamiliar territory.

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"Having that full year off probably made missing the finals in 2019 sting a little bit less," co-coach Jordyn Burke said.

"But that's a good thing and a bad thing.

"We essentially start with a new group, and it's a new era, so to speak.

"But 60 per cent of our older boys were a part of that (2019 season), and it still stings significantly.

"They're very competitive and proud players so I don't think they'll need much reminding."

The Demons weren't lucky during that fateful campaign.

Goalkicking force Josh Mibus, new co-coach Rhona Conboy, ruck Sid Hernon and multiple premiership winner Burke - who has since hung up the boots - were all sidelined by injury for large portions of the season.

Former premiership coach Deek Roberts has departed for Kalkee, and like all clubs, Horsham has lost numbers to people's shift in priorities.

"The feeling amongst the group is really good," Burke said.

"It's a mix of old and new, and with the new blokes being predominantly young, I'm just trying to get them out of their shell.

"Some of these kids have jumped to straight to senior footy without getting their final year (of 17s) due to COVID, and it's been a long time.

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"The abandoned season has stopped the development significantly for some of these kids.

"But, everyone is in the same boat.

"It only impacts you as much as you let it and you've probably got to be a little bit more understanding with some of the young boys transitioning through."

Burke was making no apologies about his lofty plans for the club.

"100 per cent finals is the goal. It's where we want to be as a club continually," he said.

"Our reserves made the grand final in 2019, and we blooded some good youngsters through that. So, we want to follow on from that as well.

"(2019) was the first time in a long time we missed finals, and it's as simple as that.

"We don't make any excuses for that. It wasn't good enough.

"We want to be back in finals, whatever that looks like. Finals is 100 per cent of our top two or three goals for the start of the year."

With a young group at his disposal, Burke was crafting plans to attack the season.

"We want that run and gun style of football," he said.

"We've got some genuine pace and some genuine ball-users. It's just going to be about them in the right positions.

"It's going to be a bit of trial of error, but it will be really good.

"It will be enjoyable to coach and enjoyable to play.

"My style as a coach I've always made sure that we win or break-even at the contests and we've got to cover all the bases in that regard.

"The rest will take care of itself."

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