Orange Tigers coach Dale Hunter isn't full of the normal bravado you expect ahead of round one of the AFL Central West.
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While most clubs will be talking up their chances and be raring to go, last season's premiership-winning coach is taking a different tack after a very different off-season for the club.
"You wouldn't think we're a side that's come off a triumphant premiership win," he said, summarising a profoundly difficult off season.
It still feels a bit empty and it's been really hard to snap back into that [football mindset].
- Dale Hunter
The premiership-winning side has had a significant overhaul, with Michael Rothnie, Tim Barry, Dan Sadler, Dylan Johns, Lucas Kelly, Tom Gibbons and Ben McKenna, who didn't play the finals series but played a key role in defence in 2018, all moving away or departing the club.
Each of those are significant losses, but none were as significant as Chris Rothnie's death in February which shook the club.
"It feels like it's been an eternity for us since the grand final and with all the stuff that's gone on with the club and the tragedy with Chris, it's made for a very trying off-season," Hunter said.
"It's hard to say we're excited because until we run out there it's hard to know that feeling ... it still feels a bit empty and it's been really hard to snap back into that [football mindset]."
He said the pain was still raw for a number of players, but running out on Saturday was another important part of the healing process.
He said "you'd think you'd be buoyed" heading into the season after a thrilling three-point win in the grand final, but Hunter said the club has realised "life is bigger than footy".
"Once we focus on playing again and getting Saturdays around each other and ease that pain."
With so many players from the premiership side missing, Hunter will be turning to experience heads such as Callan Hunt and Joel Crosswell to lead the backline, with Andrew Henry and Mick Evans to lead the midfield brigade, while three players will make their debuts.
Henry and Evans will also be the side's co-captains for 2019 after most of last year's leadership group left Orange, with Henry missing the first three rounds of the season.
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