Wangaratta Rovers have a stack of gun recruits and talented juniors

The answers, a top three outfit and never.

The Hawks have a different approach to the player points system in that whereas most teams recruit to their individual limit, they are well over and will have to 'cut and paste' it make it fit in the 40-point limit.

Rovers have five VFL-listed players, so it will be interesting to see how many they play in the first three matches, prior to the VFL start.

Having too many players to fit within the points requires a tricky balancing act and places enormous pressure on co-coaches Daryn Cresswell and Jamason Daniels successfully implementing the jigsaw and keeping as many as possible happy.

However, if you're ever going to be in that position, you must have experienced mentors and the Hawks are in good hands in that area.

ARRIVALS (SINCE END OF 2019)

Ryan Stone (Heidelberg), Tyson Hartwig (Doncaster), Jamason Daniels (Tatura), Xavier Naish (Old Ivanhoe Grammar), Todd Grayson, Tyler Cornish, Thomas Thynne (Palm Beach Currumbin), Matt Jones (South Croydon), Nick Redley (Longwarry).

DEPARTURES (SINCE END OF 2019)

Will Christie (Geelong VFL), Chris Knowles (Moyhu/Wangaratta), Matt Medcraft (Unsure), Tom McCaffrey (Casey Scorpions), Nick Murray (Adelaide)

VFL-LISTED PLAYERS

Max Spencer, Nathan Cooper (Werribee), Charlie Thompson (Coburg), Sam Murray (Williamstown), Dylan Stone (Northern Bullants).

QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH JACK GERRISH

Q: Can you tell that story about playing on Lavington gun Shaun Mannagh in 2019?

A: I think he'd kicked five or six goals and he was right near the interchange near 'Crezza' (coach Daryn Cresswell), anyway 'Crezza's' telling me, 'stand goalside' so I stood goalside and Shaun Mannagh looked at me and said, 'are you actually going to stand there? Why not go goalside'? I thought I was tending goalside and I was, but he tricked me to stand back towards the middle of the ground and, sure enough, the ball got tapped down his throat and he ran into an open goal (laughs).

Q: What did you learn out of that?

A: Don't listen to Shaun Mannagh. I got dragged and 'Crezza' gave me a little spray, I told him what happened and he said, 'how stupid are you'? (laughs).

Q: You're a much-loved character around the club

A: I give a little bit out to the boys I suppose and, yeah, they give it back. We don't talk a lot of footy, we talk a lot of smack (trash talk), it's all a pretty serious environment, so we're pretty juvenile with jokes.

Q: What is the main area/s you want to improve?

A: I think I'm going to be a lot more consistent. In 2019 it was my first year out of thirds and every kick was a big deal, you were just really excited to get the ball. It's also my third pre-season so, physically, I'm the fittest and strongest I've ever been.

Q: You're not overly big at 76kgs, but you're very strong with a lethal palm, where did that come from?

A: I don't know why I've done it, they tell me to stop it a little bit, it's just instinctive, I think you either have it or you don't. I go for Richmond, so I love Dusty Martin, as a junior I did it because he does it, so it just comes out when I'm playing.

Q: You would be close to the quickest player in the league, but one of the disadvantages of that for so many players with blinding pace, is it's sometimes hard to keep your composure as you deliver the ball, is composure one of the areas you've worked on?

A: Yeah, 'Crezza' has put a fair bit of time into using my speed to more of an advantage, rather than just blazing away. I need to take two and three slower steps and still hopefully have the time to dispose of it and hit a target, whereas in 2019 I was all guns blazing.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

Naturally, the club's profile recruits like former Wodonga Raiders' player Todd Grayson and Gold Coast Suns' reserve grade midfielder Tom Thynne have attracted publicity, but who of the juniors could take the next step?

Ky Williamson. Seriously, it was hard to believe you were watching the same player in the last six weeks in 2019, he had improved that quickly. Coach Daryn Cresswell said his form in that period was incredible and that was never more evident than in the penultimate round loss to Wangaratta and the final round win against Yarrawonga. For a teenager, Williamson played with tremendous composure and his O and M Rising Star award was largely due to that coolness over the final weeks.

The club has picked up a host of recruits since the end of 2019, including Grayson and Thynne, but who will be the best?

It's a quality field, but the good news is there doesn't appear to be a standout. That's what you want when you bring profile recruits in because opposition clubs can't zero in on the obvious superstar. Tyson Hartwig can play either in defence or attack, Tyler Cornish will add grunt to the midfield, defender Grayson expects to get back to his best after missing 18 months with a broken ankle. Co-coach Jamason Daniels will be another strong contender. He's an outstanding stoppage player and polled in seven of the first nine games for Tatura in the Goulburn Valley's Morrison Medal in 2019 and finished in the top 15, despite missing the second half of the year with a knee problem.

ALSO IN SPORT:

What's a pass mark?

Finals. Anything short of that is a failure. The Hawks had their worst ever season with a winless wooden spoon in 2018, but under first-year coach Cresswell and a handful of recruits, the club started the rebuild in superb style, missing finals on percentage. There's more recruits this time and the club has always boasted strong juniors, so there will be no excuses.

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