The shorter off-season is designed to allow the Sharks to hit the ground running next year, bucking the trend the club has followed in recent times.

President Colin Ward said reappointed first grade captain/coach Troy Brose has reinvigorated the club, saying the players are keen to prove they deserve to be title contenders next year.

“We have been known for the last few years as having a pretty lacklustre build-up to the season, Ward said.

“But we’re starting training on Friday (tonight) and with Troy back in charge things are shaping up pretty well for next season.”

The Sharks have been circling several players since the end of the season, but Ward hopes to keep the likes of rising stars Nathan Morris and Jaiden Kelly.

Ward admits knowing the pair have been courted by other clubs, particularly in Group 9, but hoped the club spirit that has been built there will keep them there.

“He’s (Brose) has been pretty active in the player market in the off-season and he’s been really trying to bring a couple of locals home from Wagga,” Ward said.

“We’re looking for a centre and a front-rower but so is the rest of country football I guess.

“Hopefully we can keep Nathan and Jaiden, but there is still talk of other Group 9 clubs talking to him (Morris), I mean he’s 19 or 20 years old just had a great year, so hopefully he’ll stay.”

The future looks very bright for Morris no matter what jumper he decides to wear next season, after he created history to be named the 2008 Group 20 first grade player of the year and the rookie of the year.

A lack of jobs and the subsequent economic downturn during years of drought has always been a problem for the Sharks in snaring signatures, but Ward said the club was in a stable position financially.

“There is always a player that arrives in town late, but we don’t want to rely on that, we want to be ready early,” he said.

“It’s been 36 years since we won a premiership and although we don’t want to buy one, we want to try and get some players to the club so we can give something to the fans that have supported us for so long.”

The Sharks will also be involved in several pre-season tournaments next year in a bid to not be left behind at the start line when the Group 20 season kicks off.