Newly appointed coach Graeme Jennings said the club’s mixture of experience and enthusiasm will make for a strong line up as the team attempts to build a family friendly atmosphere.

“I’ll really just be trying to build on success of 2009,” Jennings said.

“My number one aim is to make sure the players enjoy themselves.

“But make sure they are aware that when they put on the Hawks’ jersey they are representing our community and the club. We want to ensure that the club is something for the community to be proud of because we do have the most parochial supporters out of anyone. Our away games always have large numbers.”

This season will see the return of some talented juniors such as Luke Ackroyd to the nest after he left the area in 2004 to play in Sydney.

Talented halve Tom Freeman will also return after heading off to Newcastle for University studies in 2006.

Former Group Three Player of the Year Mick Manning has also returned and will add a valuable level of experience to the team. While Dean Basham the Group Three Representative Player of the Year will put the icing on the cake blended in with the already talented group of local players from last season, many of whom tasted representative success in 2009.

Jennings said off the field there will be a strong emphasis on forging links between junior and senior players, with plans to have a senior player adopt a junior team and support each of their games.

“It’s been two separate identities for a long time and it really should all just be one thing,” vice president of group three and president of junior league Aaron Temple said.

Having just returned from a West Tigers training camp with former greats Tim Sheens and Roy Simmons, Jennings said tackling techniques are one skill earmarked for improvement in looming training sessions.

“Whoever has the best defence will win this year’s comp. We can all score goals but it’s about understanding that those defensive lines have got to be together.”