A fresh start for Dragons

Strathfieldsaye has the 2014 premiership safely tucked away - nothing can be done about that now.

Rather, Friday night’s grand final rematch against the Storm at the QEO is the beginning of a fresh start for the Dragons and nothing more than the chance to bank an early four points.

“As we found out last year, wins early give you momentum and set you up in a comfortable position at the end of the season if you’re able to maintain it,” Fitzpatrick said on Thursday.

“So that’s the main motivation on Friday night... to get an early win on the board.

“The fact we played them four times last year and they beat us in three of them means we have to find some improvement in our game and how we go about things.

“They were a physically bigger side than us last year, but our players are six months older and have done a lot of work on their strength and now have a taste of just how hard they need to work to take the next step.”

With dual Michelsen medallist Tim Martin to miss much of the first half of the season because of commitments with the Melbourne Fire Brigade, Tom Calvert has been named in the ruck.

“They are obviously big shoes to fill, but he’s competitive and has a crack, so it’s a big opportunity for him,” Fitzpatrick said.

As well as Martin missing, the Dragons will also be without livewire forward Mitch Dole (shoulder), while Ryan Haythorpe and Albert Weddell, who played in last year’s grand fina,l will start the new season in the reserves.

Strathfieldsaye will be without reigning Ron Best medallist Stephen Milne, who will be in and out of the Storm side throughout the season, playing games at various clubs.

“Milney will play the bulk of his games with us, but there will be times throughout the season we won’t have him and we understand that,” Storm coach Darryl Wilson said.

“This is one of those games.”