Load multiple instances of a prefab through code

Hello,

I'm trying to load multiple instances of a prefab in my script, it works if I put one instance of the prefab on the scene and assign the variable "playerClone" and then run this code:

     public Circle playerClone;
     public List<Circle> players;
     void Start () {
         players = new List<Circle>();
         for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
         {
             players.Add((Circle)GameObject.Instantiate(playerClone, new Vector3(i * 1, i * 1, 0), transform.rotation));
         }
     }

But I don't like to have this dummy instance on my scene I think you can imagine why, after all there is a reason why I wan't to instantiate using code.

I thought I could work around this by using "Resources.Load" so I wrote this code:

     public List<Circle> players;
     void Start () {
         players = new List<Circle>();
         for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
         {
             players.Add((Circle)GameObject.Instantiate(Resources.Load("circle"), new Vector3(i * 1, i * 1, 0), transform.rotation));
         }
     }

Now I don't need the dummy instance anymore, but instead of getting 10 circles there is only one on the screen and also only one in the Hierarchy tab (at run-time, otherwise there are none)

Do you know any way to instantiate multiple prefabs without the need of dummy instances on the scene?

Thanks in advance!

Jelle,