Reigning premiers Heytesbury Rebels will start its title defence against Mortlake, a team that also knows all about winning premierships.

Mortlake won four flags in a row from 2011-12 to 2014-15 before being ousted as champion by the Rebels last season.

The Rebels home-ground clash with Mortlake will be one of only two matches played on the opening day of the season.

The other will be at Pomborneit where the home side will take on Noorat.

Bookar, Cobden and Terang will have first round byes.

The division one competition has dropped from eight teams to seven after Camperdown decided to step down to division two.

Both the division two and three competitions will begin on October 22.

The under 16s will start on Sunday October 23. 

This junior competition will feature eight teams.