AFTER missing the finals last season, the Naracoorte Demons are primed for an assault on the top five in 2013.
Coach Dean Woosnam said he expected the side to be playing finals footy.
"I'd be disappointed if we didn't make the five," he said. "We're aiming for top three and the double chance."
Helping Woosnam out will be non-playing assistant coach Tony Atkins and new playing assistant coach Josh Cother.
Cother has returned to the SE from Queensland after previously playing for Border Districts.
Familiar faces are the order of the day at Demonland, with Cother and Adelaide Hills recruit Jacob Gschwandtner the only players not to have experience in the Naracoorte system.
Rob Jones, Matt Gill, Ross Pinkerton, Michael Parker, Luke Munro and Brad Henderson all return to the club.
Woosnam says their experience will be valuable - especially as they have played in finals and numerous premierships for the Demons.
"They know what expectations I put on them," he said. "And what standard the club expects of them."
Woosnam also praised his club's good core of older players such as Brett Gould, Simon Cox, Sam Logan, Nic Boon and others who have been around for a long time and are the leaders of the club.
Despite having a solid group of older players and some key recruits, Naracoorte still expect big things from their talented youth.
With players away last year some younger kids stepped up to senior footy and Woosnam expects them to be around the mark again.
"We are looking for a big year from a few of of our kids who played seniors last year," he said.
Names like Drew Myall, Keenan Jacobs, Jamie Bettoncelli, Sid Patterson, Jake Gilbert, Sam Willson, Todd Hindmarsh, Brodie Foster and Jamie McDonald have been training well and will push for regular spots in the seniors.
The main focus during the pre-season for the red and blue has been fitness and ball movement.
"We've been conentrating on quick movement and getting the ball forward quickly," Woosnam said.
"Because if you kick more goals in footy you'll win games...our aim is to win the inside ball and control the corridor, but most coaches say that."
He was impressed with the club's first hitout for the year against Edenhope Apsley recently.
With 10 regular senior players out Woosnam put a lot of responsibility on the younger brigade.
"The kids showed a lot of potential," he said. "It was exciting for the fans who came out and watched."
Equally pleasing was the form of big ex-AFL forward Cox, who had an injury-interrupted 2012.
Cox, who is also Naracoorte's reserves coach this year, kicked six goals and looked to turn back the clock and make his mark as the premier big forward of the competition.
