The Swans fell 11.16 82 to 5.10 40 in the opening game of the 2014 TAFL season but Donohue believes he is in a much better position than when he took over last season.

Lack of numbers in 2013 made it a tough gig for the club stalwart.

However this season he has had a much better turnout at pre-season training.

“We’ve picked up a couple of good young players out of the blue too,” Donohue said.

“We had 27 to pick from last Thursday night and that was with four already ruled out.”

It’s a healthy problem Donohue didn’t have last season when he cobbled together teams each week.

Now he’s able to spend more time working on the combinations and the style he wants to play.

“We’ve got a good side considering where we’ve come from,” he said.

“It’s totally rebuilt and I think we’ll be a lot more competitive.

“Our aim is to win two games in the first round and then make the top four.”

It’s a reasonable target given the young and inexperienced Swans made Inverell Saints earn every point of their 11.16 82 to 5.10 40 win last Saturday.

Today the Swans have their toughest task of the season.

They tackle Armidale’s New England Nomads in Armidale.

The Bellevue Oval game will present a huge hurdle for the Swans after the Nomads began with a 19.18 132 to 6.9 45 thumping of the re-instated Narrabri Eagles last week.

The Eagles travel to Tamworth today to tackle the Tamworth Kangaroos, who had a 16.15 11 to 6.8 44 first-round win over Gunnedah Bulldogs last week.

The Bulldogs hope to bounce back at home today when they host the Nick Baird-coached Inverell Saints.

TAFL TABLE: New England Nomads 4 (293.33%), Tamworth Kangaroos 4 (254.27%), Inverell Saints 4 (205%), Tamworth Swans  0 (48.78%), Gunnedah Bulldogs 0 (39.44%), Narrabri Eagles 0 (34.09%).