The Pies lost three premiership players and, under the points system, we might never see a forward line like it again with two ex-AFL, a former SANFL and one-time VFL player in the line-up.

Bur Frazer Dent’s five goals against Yarrawonga could see him permanently fill the role alongside grand final star Michael Newton.

“We don’t really have the Tommy Whittlesea or the Josh Porter that we had last year, so we need someone to do that gut running,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of tall blokes but not a lot who’d played centre half-forward their whole career, we’re all trialling at the moment, we might chop and change.”

Dent played in the premiership, but admits his game in the four-goal win over the Pigeons was one of his best.

“Definitely, I’ve worked really hard, (former coach) Jonny Henry’s been good, he said the workrate, if you look at someone like Tommy Whittlesea and his game, he works hard, that’s a facet of any game that I’m really trying to work on,” he said.

The 27-year old is a unique player with possibly the best vertical leap in the league.

He’s capable of taking some wonderful marks and while he’s not the prettiest kick, like Newton, he’s effective.

“There’s been times during last year where he played that well,” Newton said.

“In our grand final we had him at centre half-back, he’s very versatile, he’s hard to match up because he’s a bit smaller, but he can play tall.

“He played exceptionally today (Saturday) and there’s a spot there for a taller forward, he’s grabbed it.”

The Pies will also hope Mitch Jensen continues to improve to add more variety.

The VFL premiership player showed glimpses of his class, particularly in the final term where he cleverly worked his opponent under the ball and took a one-hand mark.

But Newton is the key.

He leads the goalkicking with 18 from the four games.

The former Melbourne AFL player, who turned 31 on Friday, has now kicked six against one of the league’s best in Lavington’s Nick Meredith, and seven against the preliminary finalists.

He proved himself one of the best big-game performers last year, winning the Doug Strang Medal in the grand final, while he was also the difference in the O and M’s interleague win.

Nick Lawless made a bee line for him late, which resulted in a melee.

“It clearly wasn’t within the rules, but that’s footy,” he said.

“It’s good the boys came in and didn’t give away a free kick … but we still flew the flag.”