SCARED of gruelling time trials? Worried about lengthy cross-country runs? Would you rather get your hands on the footy?

Mernda’s new coach Nick Smith wants you.

The playing coach who has signed on to lead the Demons in 2009 said his alternate approach to pre-season which sees the players doing skill work from day one in addition to fitness work, has paid dividends.

“I do the whole training from the start with balls,” he said.

“It doesn’t take long for guys who are scared of road runs and that sort of thing to come out of the woodwork.

“We’ve had a full pre-season and I am rapt with the numbers. We never got below 40 which for a club like ours is great.

“Starting round one I will have at least 30 quality senior players to pick from which is a good problem to have.”

Smith, a physical education teacher at Plenty Valley Christian College, sees himself as more of a development coach which is why the younger Mernda side was the perfect fit.

“We have got a very young team, there would only be two or three players closer to 30 than 20.

“For me that’s exciting because there is lots of development to go.

“Every coach says it but they are a great bunch of guys.

“They have been open to learning. They have that enthusiasm they are eager to learn and because of that I feel energized.”

The new coach who will be assisted by 2008 coach Rohan Doherty, has also picked up a couple of handy new recruits to bolster the Demons stock, including Matthew Vasilevski (Coburg), Michael Farrelly (Coburg) and Matthew Aquilina (Whittlesea).

Smith himself will also pull on the boots and run through the midfield.

“I am playing as well and even though I am getting a bit older and slower I can contribute with that on field leadership that you sometimes need.”

The Demons play their first match of the season at home on Saturday against Watsonia.