The battle for a starting position in the midfield for the season opener against Sydney has already begun according to assistant coach Mark Harvey.

Harvey has taken charge of the midfield group for the upcoming season following the departure of Simon Goodwin from the club.

“They are a very experienced group and we have 12 or 14 players that have to fit into a six man midfield,” Harvey said.

“That group needs to rotate through the forward line so that is all a part of the jigsaw puzzle moving forward,” Harvey said.

“It will be a very interesting period of training and then to see who finishes up in the midfield in that first game of the season.”

Following a heavy running period prior to Christmas the focus at training has turned to more competitive drills with a football focus.

“We start to get into an area where we can train a lot more together so the players can be a lot more familiar with roles and understanding what is required in the midfield,” Harvey said.

“There will be some subtle changes made from the way we played last year so they will have to get their head around that.

“I am starting to find out a lot more about the players particularly in trying conditions.”

Harvey said he was enjoying his return to the club but still had plenty to learn about the current playing group. 

“For me personally I am about to find out a lot more about the players individually, when they start playing on each other and how competitive they are,” he said.

“I will find out what sort of football smarts they bring to the table, the way they think about the game and the way they actually play the game.

“For me personally I have a lot to learn over the next two or three months from our players.” 

The addition of Adam Cooney to a midfield group already boasting Dyson Heppell, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis and Brendon Goddard is enough to excite any Bombers fan.

Harvey said the group would have to work hard over the next few months to be prepared for the start of the home and away season.

“We certainly have the experience but we have to have the smarts and the understanding of working for each other and how that all works.”

“Naturally as we know with midfielders they have to be able to carry the fitness and strength load which is a demanding part of the game.”