The Swans finished last on the Premier Cricket ladder and except for improved performances in the last four rounds that included an inspirational win against Dandenong, were perceived as the easy beats of the competition.

The club was derailed pre-season with the shock departure of president Graham Yallop, who left to coach Hawthorn-Monash University and was followed by several players including star pace man Lukas Hoogenboom.

Ridgway said that while the defections had a huge impact on the club's morale and its ability to be competitive, there was no escaping the fact that there were just too many "passengers".

"At the start of the season we carried too many passengers. It's the job of Connex to carry passengers and we are determined not to carry any [passengers] this year.

"If we lost a wicket we tended to lose another three quickly, we didn't bowl enough maidens and you can't get wickets if you don't build pressure.

"I thought I was coaching Edward Scissorhands when it came to our fielding. We dropped so many catches it was horrific.

"We put ourselves in a position to win seven or eight games but we lacked the experience and know-how to get across the line."

Ridgway said he club needed to regain the respect of the competition.

"From a results point of view it was pretty bad last season, but from a progression point of view from players understanding the game, we have improved out of sight. We need the cricket world to stand up and take notice."

Ridgway said the signing of Victorian wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade was a step in the right direction in restoring the respect, and developing its younger core of talented players.

"Our average age was around 22, but I reckon we've lost a generation somewhere of 25-32 year olds.

"Matthew may not play too many games for us but his real value is that he's 21 and we have a lot of kids his age and we need them to understand what it takes to be a good player like him at that age.

"I expect us to win eight games and finish just outside the eight this year. We are excited about this season and think we have exorcised those demons from last year."

It was a case of "all aboard" at the club's first training run last Monday that included young batsman Rohan Blandford from Bairnsdale.