Coach: Peter McGuinness

Last year: 7th (25 points, +1 goal)

Arrivals: Dino Fajkovic, Denis Fajkovic (South Cardiff), Anthony Marenghi (Scotland), Blake Green, Joseph Temperley (year off), Tom Curran (Jets Youth), Nate Cavaliere (Edgeworth), Dave Hodgson.

Departures: Jarryd Sutherland (Weston), Scott Pettit (Jaffas), Marcus Duncan (Melbourne Knights), Tyler Warren.

First month: Charlestown (A), Weston (H), Edgeworth (H), Adamstown (H).

Formerly Hamilton Olympic, Newcastle Olympic will be hoping a revival of their original name translates to a change in fortunes under coach Peter McGuinness. They missed the finals by a point in 2018 in McGuinness' first season but slipped to seventh, 13 points off the top four, last year.

Olympic are accustomed to success, so how important is it to make finals this year?

It's very, very high on our list of goals to achieve this year. We've got a number of goals but there's a real desire to be in the finals this year.

What do you need to improve on most?

The two years I've been with the club, we've always had the ability to play good football, but I think the major factor that hasn't helped us in achieving our goals has been the lack of consistency in those performances. Early doors last year we conceded very few, but in the second part of the year we conceded a lot. So the consistency in performances were not week in, week out. They also became not consistent from the start to finish of games. That led to results that weren't what we were after.

Have you made any major changes in the preparation for this year?

Football-wise, not many changes at all. But I think in regards to bringing the group together so they are much closer and they have more of a team approach to what we do, that's very much a major focus. To make sure everything and every decision we make is for the team, so the team can actually be successful.

How important is the late signing of Nate Cavaliere in goals?

I think it gave the group a bit of a lift, and that's no disrespect to keepers who are at the club now, but to bring in an experienced keeper at this stage of the season is good for us. He's only been there a short period now but his communication and knowledge of how to be a goalkeeper is great.

Is there someone in pre-season who has stood out as a player to watch?

The last two years, the average age, apart from a couple of players, on our roster was very young. Now we're three years on with the majority of those players still there, so across the board it's time now for the youth to become men. And they are men, but they all need to produce. Last year we had a few players who got some time, in Jared Muller, Jakob Cresnar and Kane Treble, and they've all done exceedingly well in pre-season. They consider themselves very much part of that first-grade squad now, so it wouldn't surprise me if they contribute a lot to this season. They've performed really well in fitness and in matches. Dino [Fajkovic] has also come into the club and fitted in straight away with a great attitude and work ethic. He has ability and a lot of speed so I think he's in for a really good year.

Olympic were arguably the most under-performing side last season, based on squad strengths, and the club will be desperate for a turnaround.

The late addition of Cavaliere in goals is a major boost. McGuinness had already brought in a mix of new and old faces to try to spark his squad but the real test will be getting the best out of his established line-up, who were largely disappointing last season.

Many are still relatively young but have extensive NPL experience. A return to their best form will make Olympic finals contenders again, but they look to have plenty of opposition from the likes of Magic, Azzurri, Weston and Valentine in what shapes as a mid-table tussle.

SIGN UP TODAY: For the best coverage of sport in Newcastle and the Hunter, subscribe to the newcastleherald.com.au/lovesport for unlimited digital access.