Kyneton coach Luke Beattie wants to build on his side’s Bendigo Football League finals appearances of the past two years.
The Tigers finished fifth the past two seasons, but didn’t progress past the first week of finals.
Beattie said while the focus is on continuing to improve, success in finals is something they are aspiring for.
“For us, it’s about the consistency in football, and the results will take care of themselves,” he said.
“My pre-season desire is to improve on the situation of the last two years, which has been outstanding, given our recent history.
“We’re looking to win a finals game this season. I think we are capable of doing it.”
Beattie said there had been encouraging signs during the off season.
“It doesn’t seem to have gone as slow this time,” said Beattie, who took over coaching midway through 2015.
“It will be an interesting season. I’m certainly happy with how they’ve trained, and especially happy with the new players.”
The Tigers side this season will be a younger set to what they had envisaged.
Former skipper Michael Rainey, Ryan Carafa and former AFL forward Nathan Thompson have retired.
Jarrod Andreatta, Nick Higginson, Leigh Warne and Jarrod Witnish – who spent last year at the Tigers after coming across from Mitcham – have moved to Phillip Island.
“We didn’t plan to have a younger list, it just evolved that way. It will have a range of benefits – there’s a lot of enthusiasm and intensity across the board,” Beattie said.
“There will be some indifferent football though, but we will try and limit it.”
Michael Clancy, Billy Mahony, Harrison Mulqueen, Kevin Clark and Nick and Fintan Brazil all joined the Tigers, with Beattie saying they have settled in so well they don’t feel like new recruits. Several under-18 players will also get opportunities in the senior side.
Beattie said there would be a six-man leadership group, with the skipper to be decided in the lead-up to round one, which was on Friday.
The Tigers started their season against local rivals Gisborne on Saturday. The Tigers came out on top winning, 16.16 (112)- 15.14 (104).
Beattie said before the game that playing the Bulldogs on Good Friday was one of the biggest days of the season.
“It’s good to have Good Friday football back … we can showcase the game in the Macedon Ranges.
“The game is normally entrenched in the schedule, and we missed that last season,” Beattie said.
“A lot of people from all parts of the community come to watch.”
On the netball side of things, the Tigers will have only two netball teams, A and B reserve grades, competing this season.
