The numbers may be better, the pre-season performances may have been strong, and there's a real injection of talent into the playing group at the Dubbo Demons this year.
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But the biggest thing for the side in this season's Central West AFL competition is attitude.
While the side suffered a round one loss to the Bushrangers Rebels at Bathurst last weekend, the mood in the camp since that game has been hugely positive.
Midfield stalwart Mick Daly said he can barely remember a time in the past decade when a Demons side got within 20 points of a win when traveling to take on a Bushrangers side, but the effort and promising show all stemmed from a more professional approach and one where players are keen to take responsibility for their actions.
"Attitude is a big thing. Some people can be scared to give it everything and fail because they feel that can make them look silly," he said, adding that's not the feeling within his side this year.
"That approach of going all in can look a bit try-hard, for lack of a better term. But this group really wants to put the work in, talk about things, and set that expectation not only on the field but off it in terms of discipline and things like that which will help the team grow."
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The Demons head to Cowra this weekend and while on paper a game against the battling Blues seems like a perfect chance to score a first win of 2019, Daley has urged caution.
As is always the case with Cowra's first home game against Dubbo, the Popeye Memorial Plate goes on the line.
The match honours Jason 'Popeye' Petty, who played over 100 games for the Cowra club and was a great clubman.
That occasion alone has Daly expecting the Blues to perform better than they did in last week's 128-point loss to the Bushrangers Outlaws.
"They always play with a heap of passion and that can get you across the line," Daly said.
Making the trip a little more tricky for the Demons is the absence of key leader Chris Bell as well as Harley Bye and Malachi Dutschke.
We don't want to get a couple of wins and then rest on our laurels.
- Dubbo Demons' Mick Daly
Despite that, this season's Demons side is building a culture of confidence and high expectations.
"We've got to live up to those expectations," Daly added.
"We've got to work every quarter to get the win.
"Last week in the first quarter we were up and in the second quarter I think we just rested on our laurels a bit.
"On a bigger scale, we don't want to get a couple of wins and then rest on our laurels. We've got to keep working hard."
Adding to the Demons' desire to earn a victory is the fact after this week the side has two weeks off due to the Easter weekend general bye being followed by another bye.
Forward Bevan Charlton-White will again be key in Saturday's match at Cowra after he kicked six goals in round one.
Saturday's match at Cowra's Mulyan Oval starts at 2.30pm.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
