Head coach Reece Potter put about eight potential academy players through some on-court drills in the morning before some of the Torns’ senior squad joined them for an afternoon session.

‘‘The big focus was on skill development and implementing some basic concepts and things we will be working on with the older group to create that pathway so these kids can become part of the senior SEABL squad in a couple of years,’’ Potter said.

‘‘We’re still working out exactly how our academy program will work and what we want from it so we’ve left it fairly open at the moment.

‘‘The youngest player we had was 14 and the oldest was 21, so we had a fairly wide age gap, which is good in a way, and a lot of 15 to 16 year-olds in between, which we want to target.

‘‘They worked hard but there is a lot of work to do to get them to improve and be ready for SEABL level.

‘‘Their attitude and effort was good and if they stick with it they will get better.’’

Potter said he would finalise the senior Tornadoes squad after the expression of interest deadline for intending players expired yesterday.

‘‘I will be here for tomorrow to start the first official training of the preseason ahead of our first game on April 11, before I head back to Sydney with my WNBL commitments.

‘‘We will have an assistant coach in Michael Johnson running the preseason with other Torns support staff until I can relocate permanently at the end of the WNBL season.’’

Potter said there were five WNBL matches left and the University of Sydney Flames, where he is an assistant coach, were still a chance of making play-offs.

‘‘It could be done on February 14 and I will be down here or it could be a bit later,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m a bit torn really because I’d love for it to be over and get down here and get into it – but I also would like to see the girls get their rewards because they have put a great year together.’’

Potter said interstate import Lauren Mansfield would be back in Launceston in mid-February along with  US import Emily Harmon, which will boost the intensity of preseason training.