On Good Friday the Stawell Warriors looked sharp and clinical as they completed a 77-point win over the undermanned Ararat Rats, and the club is hoping to carry that momentum into the season.
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Stawell Warriors coach Tom Eckel will be leading the way with football department managers Blair Hart and Shane Field by his side.
After their strong round one performance Hart said he was pleased to see the club implement their defense-first brand.
"We are really just pushing that defensive mindset first," he said.
"If you watched against the Rats, we were always the first team back in defense and we were always setting up our structure and that is what we are looking at doing all the time.
"That's what we are looking at, in terms of setting defence first and when we defend well, that can make it easier to turn it into attack.
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"And when we get the footy we want to shift the oppositions defence a bit and move the ball across the field and open up the space."
Hart also said through a group of similar age players and player retention, the club has developed a strong bond.
"I think just the bond we have between everyone at the minute is going to be a really major factor," he said.
"The way we all want to be around each other and play footy together is great.
"We have such a young list, which is exciting and we want to play for each other and you can see that with the way players are sacrificing for the team," he said.
The Warriors have lost several key players since 2019, with Tom and Jack Taurau, Naish McRoberts, Damian Joiner and Aiden Graveson all no longer with the club.
But Hart said the Warriors have bolstered their ruck stocks with Toby Oakley from Portland.
He is also excited to see the improved Paul Summers, Jack Walker, Riley Ika and Tom Walker go up against the league's best in 2021.
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"Minyip are going to be the benchmark we believe, the Giants are going to be pretty strong and Dimboola have recruited a couple as well," Hart said.
"I would be saying those are the three, but that's not taking anything away from Horsham Saints and Horsham (Demons) as well and they are probably going to be the teams pushing for it.
"But Tom (Eckel) is doing a great job, he has got everything set up and he is doing a great job and he is determined to see us have a great year."
"And I think we are all in it for the same thing, we all want to see some good success at the club."
The club will return to Central Park for its round two clash against Nhill on Saturday, April 24.
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