The Bombers have played two practice matches for two comfortable victories - by 61 points over Collingwood and 82 points over Coburg.

“You can’t really read too much into practice matches,” Grant said yesterday.

“Over the past couple of weeks both sides we’ve come up against have tried a lot of younger players who they are looking at putting on their VFL list, as we have done.

“Even though it’s encouraging in that it has been fairly positive so far, it’s important we realise where it’s at, and that is the real stuff starts in about a month’s time, so that’s certainly what we’ve been gearing ourselves towards.

“But there’s no doubt we’d really like to take this form into the season-proper.

“Having experienced players like Jason Cloke and Hayden Skipworth help us with the young group we have has certainly been great for us so far.”

Last Saturday’s win over Collingwood at Gosch’s Paddock in Melbourne included a number of players still vying for a spot on the Bombers’ 2010 list.

With the Bombers no longer having a reserves side, just 21 spots are available on the list this season, and 18 of them have already been filled.

Grant expects the full list of 21 players to be finalised by next Monday.

Of the 18 players already on the list, 12 are recruits, with only captain James Flaherty, reigning best and fairest Paul Scanlon, Blair Holmes, James Bristow, Lachlan Delahunty and Jack Redpath having been listed with the club last year.

“We’ve had a good group that has been training since the first week of November,” Grant said.

“A lot of the guys are putting a good case forward and there’s not much between them.

“So it’s the same old story of a few guys are going to be unlucky, but we’re certainly putting a good program together with our development squads in Melbourne and Bendigo where those players (who miss out) can continue to train with us and play with their local clubs on the weekend.