Werribee coach Simon Atkins has signalled his intention to take the Tigers one step further in 2009.
The Tigers fell just short to eventual premier North Ballarat in last year's engrossing VFL preliminary final.
But with a batch of talented new recruits, a modified pre-season training program and the gutting 12-point loss fresh in his troops mind, Atkins told the Werribee Banner that a grand final appearance was in reach.
"I will tell you now - I want to win the grand final this season," Atkins told the Werribee Banner.
"If you are a coach and you said anything other than that the board would sit there and say I don't think we've got the right person."
The Tigers suffered the shock of losing reigning Liston Trophy winner James Podsiadly to Geelong in the off-season but Atkins said the club had to "move on".
"As a coach I had a bloke that would kick me 70 goals a year - guaranteed," Atkins said.
"To replace a life member, a captain and a Liston medallist is hard.
"I say this with all due respect; we move on."
The Tigers have added three capable replacements in ex-Hawthorn and North Melbourne power forward Nathan Thompson, ex-Brisbane Lion Marty Pask and former Northern Knights sharp shooter Tim Bongetti.
"I'm not going to match apples with apples, but Nathan Thompson is a pretty good replacement," Atkins said.
"What we've been able to do is get Marty Pask, and six of his seven games he played were as a hit-up centre half-forward with the [Brisbane] Lions.
"We've also been lucky enough to get Tim Bongetti - everyone thought he would have been drafted as a lead-up forward."
For more on the Werribee Tigers, visit www.werribeebanner.com.au
Last Modified on 23/01/2009 12:23