NEW Dungowan Cowboys coach Matt Wilson is confident his side will make considerable improvements during the 2019 Group 4 season.
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After finishing sixth on the first-grade ladder last season, Wilson hopes some new recruits will help push the side into finals contention.
"We have picked up a few new guys including Brett Jarrett," Wilson told the Leader.
"Brett took last season off but before that he was playing for Central Charlestown and reserve grade for the Newcastle Knights.
"As well as those new guys we have a few younger guys as well and it should be really exciting to see how they step up."
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Wilson said building the players fitness base was a key focus of his pre-season training regime.
"There are a lot of really fit teams in this competition," he said.
"While we are a pretty fit group, I think there was about four or five games where our fitness cost us the win last season.
"That's our focus at the moment and so far the boys have really improved."
In his seventh season at the club, Wilson said "the time was right" for him to take on the coaching role.
"We have a really great club and there is such a positive feeling around the club at the moment," he said.
"For me my work and family commitments were able to fall into place and this was something I always wanted to do.
"I'm really excited."
The Cowboys have impressed already this pre-season, finishing second in the inaugural Jack Woolaston nines competition earlier this month.
"I think our guys had a lot of fun during that tournament," Wilson said.
"Nines is a lot faster so they would have gotten a really good run out of it as well as some match play.
"From my perspective it was a good chance for them to continue that base-level of fitness before round one and to finish second was really pleasing."
The Cowboys will begin their 2019 campaign on May 4 when they clash with Kootingal-Moonbi for the Pepperell Shield, while the club's ladies league tag side will meet with Narrabri.
"Ladies League Tag is a big focus for our club," Wilson said.
"It has been so great to watch it grow for the last few years, it really helps add to the great atmosphere around our club at the moment."
In preparation for round one, the Cowboys will meet Scone and Parkes in trial matches on April 13.
"It's always good to have a run against clubs from another group," Wilson said.
"I think it will give us a good chance to see how those two clubs go about it, all the while giving us a good hit out.
"We have been training hard but there is nothing better than match-fitness, so I'm really looking forward to it."