When the four-time premiership player took the reins of the senior men side in January, Barry was adamant he wouldn't be running onto the park unless the side was short of warm bodies.

Fast forward three months of being locked at home, and Barry can't wait to get back onto the field.

"The shortened season probably helps an old wounded body so we'll give it a go and see what we can do," Barry said ahead of Saturday's round one clash with Dubbo.

"Probably being cooped up inside the house and not being able to run around probably spurred it on a bit but it's a bit hard to stay away.

"It means a lot to play for the Tigers, there's a fair bit of history over the last six or seven years so definitely excited to be back on the park."

That he'd be one of the first-picked across any club in the AFLCW didn't help Barry's quest to stay on the sidelines, either.

"If the club's best served by having me on the park then I'll do what I can," he said.

The spearhead won the league's goalkicking award in 2018 and kicked bags each week, but Barry said he's focus won't be on the goals - it'll be on developing the Tigers' young crop.

"Anything we can do for the younger guys I'm more than happy to see them grow and develop as footballers."

He said youth was a focus for the Tigers this season after blooding plenty of youngsters last year, with the red and black set to unveil a debutant in Angus Easey.

"Obviously you see him running around and he's pretty fit, he attacks the ball pretty well for a young fella and I think any amount of confidence he'll get will shine through," Barry said.

Easey will line up alongside fellow youngsters Zach Cullis and Ike Dean, with Peter Byrne missing round one, but it'll be the club's first competitive hit-out for the season after last week's scratch-match with Dubbo was canned due to the ground condition.

"We're probably chomping at the bit a bit more than usual to get them first round," Barry said.

"They're always a physical challenge so we'll be making sure we're ready for that."

First bounce is at 2.30pm at Tiger Park at Waratahs, with the Tigers' women and second division sides having a round one bye.