First grade is this year being led by Troy Preston and Andrew Smith and the pair are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities for their side in the coming season.

Pre-season started for the Hawks about a month ago. 

Numbers started off slow, but have been building each week to have around 50 players now turning up. 

For both Preston and Smith this will be the first time they have officially led a first grade team. 

"I'm really looking forward to the challenge, I think it's going to be really good," Preston said. 

"Last year (coach) Nicholas Puntoriero basically had to start from scratch with the side, but by the end of the season we were a good unit. 

"We're just hoping to build on that and the work he put in."

Yanco-Wamoon have retained most of their side that made it to last year's Group 20 preliminary final and will also likely pick up some Fijian recruits in the coming weeks.

Smith was looking forward to sharing the coaching role with Preston. 

"Getting to do something like this with one of my best mates is pretty cool," he said. 

"We'll definitely be doing a lot of work together and bouncing things off each other. 

"I'm down in Albury, so at the moment I'm only getting up to training once or twice a week, so Troy has been good that way. 

"It will be all systems go in the next few weeks."

The coaching role for reserve grade at the Hawks remains under discussion, while Monique Higgins will take over the league tag side from her father Craig Higgins. 

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Matt Coelli is at the helm of the under 18s and Eric Ingram will again coach the under 16s. 

As with any season, first grade's major goal is winning a premiership.

However, in order to get there, the two coaches will be implementing smaller goals throughout the season. 

That is starting now at pre-season and Smith said there was one particular element of his team that he wanted to achieve from the get-go. 

"We definitely want to have a good bond between all of the boys because they are the ones out there on the field with you," he said. 

"Obviously we're doing a lot of fitness work, but that does come. 

"You've got to have a strong bond within the team to be able to play well together."

While fitness has been one of the main focuses at pre-season training, this week the side has been looking at more ball work and setting up their structures for the year ahead.

First grade are hoping to organise a trial match in the coming weeks, but will also compete in the annual Group 20 knockout. 

The Hawks will face a tough round one competitor in reigning premiers Waratah Tigers, but before they get to that point, the two co-coaches know there is still plenty of work to be put in. 

Preston was also interested to see how being a playing coach for the pair would play out.

"Obviously you probably see more from the sideline (as a coach) then maybe when you're out there playing," he said. 

"I think having the two of us out there will really help with that. 

"There's going to be a lot of discussions between the two of us and probably a lot of going back and reviewing videos from the games." 

The Hawks will host their annual season launch after their first round of the season at the Yanco All-Servicemen's Club.

Usually the event is held during pre-season, but the club decided to change it up in 2019. It will feature dinner, live entertainment and the traditional players' auction. 

The Hawks are currently training twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm and new players are welcome to attend. 

More details can be found on the club's Facebook page.

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