The Blues, smarting from their grand final loss to Koroit, returned from their Christmas break a week earlier than usual and are hitting the track three nights a week.

Warrnambool coach Scott Carter said the Blues were in top shape, with many players drawing inspiration from boom recruit Tim McIntyre.

Carter said the former Adelaide Crows small forward, who is likely to run through the midfield, had been “a terrific addition to the group”. 

“His fitness is very impressive and he has had a few boys jump on board with him and they are doing a few extras,” he said.

“He’s got the boys fit and he was always going to do that coming from the highest level.”

Carter said McIntyre had added new drills to the Blues’ training regime.

“It’s not been a drastic overhaul but he’s added a bit of freshness to the group,” he said.

“And we’d have been looking for that had we won the grand final or lost the grand final.”

Carter said McIntyre would work alongside former North Ballarat Rebel Thomas Ludeman, who was among the TAC Cup’s most consistent performers in 2014, and Jackson Bell next season.

“You look at those three guys who didn’t play in the grand final last year and maybe at times they can be our three starting midfielders,” he said.

“Corey Gallichan is having a super impressive pre-season too and he’s won our past two reserves best and fairests and played five or six senior games last year.

“The Turland brothers (Jed and Jye) and Liam Hoy — their fitness levels now compared to this time last year are superior.”

Carter admitted the sting from the grand final defeat was a big motivator.

But he is also wary of letting it become too big a focus.

“There is a fair bit of fire in the boys’ bellies, to use a cliche, but we have to be careful,” he said.

“We have to look at what is ahead of us — the 2015 season is not all about Warrnambool and Koroit.

“A few sides will jump up.”

Carter said it was important the Blues remembered the standard they played for the bulk of the 2014 season.

“We’re looking to improve, no doubt about that, but at the same time we only lost two games as well, so what we were doing worked for the majority of the year,” he said.