More than a fresh lick of paint has been applied to Western Jets over the summer.
The primary squad has undergone a total makeover and is largely unrecognisable to the finals side from the past season.
The coaching group has evolved and so has the composition of the playing list after the TAC Cup introduced a new rule allowing for up to eight 19-year-olds per list in a competition traditionally for under-18 players.
Jets coach Torin Baker told Star Weekly there would be a bit of the unknown early in the campaign as he takes a much younger squad into the new season.
“We have a whole new group. A lot of our top-agers have left, so we’re heavily bottom-age now.
“Who knows what it [the season] might be?
“The whole competition is up in the air because there are probably not as many strong Metro teams as there were last year.
“It was a year when we knew Metro teams were going to dominate, whereas it’s going to be more open this year.”
Baker is looking forward to starting a two-year cycle with a squad that is predominantly bottom age.
Of the 45 players on the list, 27 are in their first season of the TAC Cup, caused by the graduation of the bulk of the last year’s side to the AFL, VFL or local leagues.
“Our list has more bottom-agers than top-agers, which is rare,” Baker said.
“I’m looking forward to working with the bottom-age players as you get them for two years and there’s a chance to right the wrongs from the first year and get it right for the second year.”
The only hindrance for the Jets in their finals aspirations is a lack of experience.
With only two players – captain Jaycob Hickey and Daniel Foley – in Vic Metro’s squad, they will at least have most players available for the mid-season period when other teams see their best players set off for the national championships.
The Jets will carry six 19-year-olds, including last year’s best and fairest, Brayden Monk, Mitch Norton, Lachie Knight, Liam Carter, Anthony Daw and Mitch Palma.
The choice of Hickey as captain was a no-brainer.
“He’s a super competitive, hard-at-it player, who is really respected by his peers for the way he goes about it,” Baker said.
Hickey is a candidate to move into midfield after spending last season as a small defender.
The Jets have lost experience across the board and are crying out for players to fill the voids.
“It’s a new midfield, it’s a new forward line – it’s new all over the place,” Baker said. “It’s exciting to see who will step up.”
