By ADAM SMITH
An exodus of players saw the club struggle during the 2006 and '07 seasons before last year -- armed with the return of favourite son Justin Plapp -- Burnie again rose towards the top of the NTFL stakes.
History will show the Dockers lost the NTFL decider to Launceston but the intensity and experience of the match will be invaluable for a young group when the new Statewide season kicks off on April 4.
And former AFL and VFL star Plapp doesn't hold back when setting the bar for the season.
On paper, the Dockers' list is equal to, if not better, than the other nine TSL clubs.
Despite knee injuries ending his own VFL days, Plapp showed last year he is far from a spent force and proved to be a key target in the forward line.
Clinton Brown, Matthew Smith, Tim MacMichael, Elijah Taylor and recruit Zane Murphy all tasted VFL football in the past two seasons, while there is no shortage of experience in the big man department with former Western Bulldog Jesse Wells teaming with veteran Brad Davis to form a formidable ruck duo.
Then there is hard nut Luke Shackleton, virtually a new recruit himself after two seasons dominating the VFL, last year's NTFL best and fairest winner Kade Munday and recruit Matthew Stephenson -- a five-time best and fairest winner at former club Latrobe.
Throw in two of the most exciting teenagers in the state in Mav Weller and Luke Russell and every base appears covered.
While the loss of versatile tall Nick McKenna and talented junior Jacob Hislop will hurt, Burnie has the depth to fill the voids.
``Our main goal is to play finals football and I think we have got the group to do that,'' Plapp said.
``We want to make an impact early in this competition and we think we are good enough to be thereabouts.
``I'm setting the heights really high. If we continue on what we did last year, if we had a bit of luck we probably should have nearly won the grand final.
``We can certainly finish top three, and that's not being arrogant, that's just where I see us at.
``We have a group of about 30 players who can be in the mix for seniors for the first game . . . I don't think too many lists can boast that.''
While clearly confident with the group of players at his disposal, an even a bigger plus for Plapp is seeing the return of a statewide competition.
Back in 1996 the then 19-year-old stamped himself as a special talent, topping the goalkicking chart with 98 majors despite being in his first year of senior football.
And while it led to him being rookie-listed by Richmond, the memories of the great North-South rivalries still remain and it's something Plapp is keen to see spark again.
``I'm 31, and from a personal point of view I'm still keen to play at the highest level I can and this is going to give me the opportunity to do that.
``When I came back on board [last year], one of the key things was to get a group together who really enjoyed what they are doing.
``The average age here is now 22, 23, and it is a real vibrant joint to be around.''
Coach - Justin Plapp
Captain - Justin Plapp
Last Year - NTFL runner-up
GAINS
Matthew Stephenson (Latrobe)
Zane Murphy (Wynyard)
Darren Banham (Ulverstone)
Nick Walters (Wynyard)
Billy Jo Jackson (Wynyard)
Brayden White (Wynyard)
Rudy Barrett (Table Cape)
LOSSES
Nick Mckenna (South Australia)
Ben Fisher (country)
Jacob Hislop (VFL)
Robert Gilligan (NWFA)
THE DRAW
v N Launceston (Aurora) April 4
R1: Devonport (West Park) April 10
R2: S Launceston (Youngtown) April 18
R3: Clarence (West Park) April 26
R4: N Hobart (North Hobart) May 2
R5: N Launceston (Aurora) May 9
R6: Glenorchy (KGV) May 16
R7: Launceston (West Park) May 23
R8: S Launceston (Young Town) May 30
R9: Hobart (West Park) June 13
R10: Devonport (Devonport) June 21
R11: N Launceston (West Park) June 27
R12: Launceston (Windsor Park) July 5
R13: S Launceston (West Park) July 11
R14: Lauderdale (Lauderdale) July 25
R15: Devonport (West Park) August 2
R16: Bye August 9
R17: N Hobart (West Park) August 15
R18: Launceston (Windsor Park) August 22
PLAYER LIST
1 Jacob Grubb
2 Brendan Blizzard
3 Mathew Carrolan
4 Justin Plapp
5 Luke Shackleton
6 Maverick Weller
7 Mathew Stephenson
8 Clinton Brown
9 Darren Banham
10 Billy Jo Jackson
11 Luke Russell
12 Kade Munday
13 James Lovell
14 Nick Walters
15 Harry Walters
16 Matthew Smith
17 Tim MacMichael
18 Sam Edgerton
19 Tyson Weller
20 Mark Marriot
21 Tyson Mihocek
22 Rudy Barrett
23 Zane Murphy
24 Ben Grubb
25 Elijah Taylor
26 Todd Munro
27 James Plant
28 Casey Radford
29 Brent Archer
30 Kade Brakey
31 Nathan Peters
32 Zeke Gardam
33 Jesse Wells
34 Jye Reeves
35 Nathan Holohan
36 Craig Stretton
37 Sam Smart
38 Brayden White
39 Clinton Stretton
40 Claye Young
41 Alex Hartley
42 Xavier Williams
43 Michael McCulloch
44 Brad Davis
45 Jake Brakey
46 Tom Russell
47 Anthony Bailey
48 Sam Larcombe
49 Zach Mihocek
Last Modified on 17/04/2009 14:35