After finishing ninth last season, the club has made 16 changes to their list in a hope to get back into the top eight but didn't loss many of its senior players.

"We only lost Nathan Thompson, who is focusing on his media career, and Michael Barlow who was rookie listed by Fremantle," Atkins said.

"For Barlow, it is a great opportunity for all the hard work his has put in, and lucky for us we don't have to play against him."

Thompson will remain at the club to help out with some coaching and will have a few players with AFL experience to work, in a new-look forward line.

"Normally we have had the big power forward, first with James Podsiadly, then Nathan," Atkins said. "This year we have recruited Mitch Thorp from Hawthorn and Matthew Laidlaw who played one game for Sydney, who will both play key forward roles. Throw in Cameron Wight from the Bulldogs who can play at either end and that allows us flexibility and something different from previous years."

The club also recruited a number of youngsters from the TAC cup, who missed out on being drafted.

"All the young guys we got would have been looked at during draft time, and were unlucky to miss out," Atkins said.

Those players include Matt Notman, Scott Sherlock, Gabby Denton and Farren Priest.