After the off-season shock of losing former coach Sam Darley, Groves is engineering some excitement among their young list even before 2021 was behind them.

"We've had really good numbers for pre-season, before Christmas. As good as I've seen since I've been associated with the club," Leeton-Whitton president Tim Carroll said.

"So we're hoping that can generate a bit more interest early in the year and bring a few more others out of the woodwork. Most of the players we think might play first grade have been doing some sort of training along with plenty who have been on the periphery."

Carroll said the Crows will lose more than hoped, not least former coach Darley, who's abrupt departure halfway through his two-year deal led to Groves coming across from Coleambally.

"He's really got the younger kids going well. They seem to be motivated and that's what we need. We had a good crop of 17s coming through last year so we're grooming some of them to play a fair bit of first grade this year."

Groves is signed for a year with an option for two. He could well be an inaugural premier league coach in 2023 if he meets the Level 2 coaching requirement and the Crows meet their ambition of securing a spot.

The Crows finished seventh last season, with vast improvement in the back half of their season.

The won their last three games for five wins and 10 losses from 15 games, as well as pushing Wagga Tigers, Coolamon and Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in the second half.

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