• LAST SEASON: 8th (W4, D2, L18)
  
• TOP SCORER: Chris Wademan (8)
• DEPARTURES: Chris Wademan (UK), Connor Hannes (Queensland), Josh Hannes (Queensland), Michael Monticchio (Devonport)
• ARRIVALS: Fletcher Fulton (Launceston United), Mitch Lockhart (L'ton United), Eric Barrientos (Devonport)
• CAPTAIN: Taylor Neilson
  
• PRE-SEASON GAMES: Clarence (L 1-3), South Hobart (L 1-2), Devonport (L 0-1)

Alex Gaetani

How's the squad?

Happy with both quality and quantity. There's been a huge improvement from last year, it's like they are different players. They have come back better and are starting to adapt to the level and I'm really pleased with that. We probably do need a regular goalscorer. Ryan McCarragher will provide a dynamic aspect but for Chris Wademan it was a bit too soon to come back from his life in the UK. We hope and expect he will be back.

How's training?

I've been very happy with it. The three games showed that the football we are playing is a lot more competitive. That will allow us to be in every game and know if we are at our best we can beat the best. Anyone watching the Devonport game would not have thought they had finished top and we were eighth last year. I've never seen this amount of talent at our club since the early 2000s. We have a very tough start but you've got to play them at some point so it is probably better early on when they might not have settled.

What have you learned?

We took a lot from the end of the year when we were starting to see changes of mentality and confidence. Players started to have belief that this was a long-term situation for the club and that has given me a lot of confidence.

Goals for 2020?

To get more wins than last year. If we could sit ourselves at the top of the bottom four, be mid-table and look to knock off a few of the big sides. Top four would be a huge achievement.

Player to lookout for?

Will Humphrey. Humpa is going to be a standout player this season. With the attention that Jarrod Hill and Liam Gilmore got last year, he went a bit unnoticed but he's got so much talent. He dominates training and is ready to become one of the best players in the competition.

Thoughts on new league?

The main difference is there is no game where you can take a breather. Every game is going to be very hard. Focus and mentality will play a big part. But I like it. They are eight clubs that deserve to be there and I know Riverside are at a level they can comfortably sit among. The challenge is not scary, it's exciting.