IF Barnawartha are going to improve on last year's preliminary final finish, it's the development of the Tiger cubs like Connor Wiffen which could prove the most critical.
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While coach Peter Cook, Cameron McNeill and Josh Spence are bona fide stars of the competition, it's often the performance of your bottom six players when the blowtorch is applied that decides finals.
Wiffen is in his second year of senior football since progressing through the clubs junior ranks alongside Jackson Low.
Jesse Blackham also made his senior debut last weekend after playing thirds with Wiffen and Low.
Wiffen only returned to the senior line-up last weekend after missing a month of football with broken ribs.
He said Cook was not afraid to back his developing youngsters and give them plenty of opportunities.
"I was a little bit surprised that I got straight back into the seniors because I wasn't performing as well as I had hoped before I got injured," Wiffen said.
"There is a bit of pressure on to hold your spot in the team.
"Cookie has showed a bit of faith in me and a couple of the other younger guys and now it's up to us to repay him."
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Wiffen rotates through the Tiger midfield as well as spending time up forward.
The emerging midfielder was among the Tigers' best in their heart-breaking five-point last in last year's preliminary final.
"I was gutted when we got beat," he said.
"To be so close for the whole match and then we had our chances in the last five minutes and just couldn't deliver the knockout blow.
"It hurt.
"Opportunities like that don't come around all that often, so you have to grab them with both hands when they do.
"I suppose you just have to learn from your mistakes and the loss has been a real driving force to improve this season."
Despite suffering their fair share of losses over the summer, Wiffen said the Tigers were a similar side to last season.
"If we are not on par, we are slightly better," he said.
"We obviously lost a few players over the summer but the recruits have gone a long way to covering those losses.
"I think our biggest strength is a willingness to work for each other and Cookie is big on just playing your role each week.
"It is a really exciting place to be and we know if we are willing to put in the hard-work we will get rewarded for our effort."
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