Darcy Lewis – who was unveiled as coach of the senior footy team on Friday alongside another Dennington identity in Katie Burt, who will lead the senior netball team – said there could be some top-quality additions to the core that has carried the WDFNL through its previous campaigns.

“Everyone knows a few of the obvious recruits that have come into the league this year, a few really good forwards and things,” he said. “If we can get them putting on a WDFNL jumper, it’ll be really exciting for us.

“Over the last few games with interleague, we’ve had a fairly consistent core of who’s played each year, but this year we’ll see a new wave of players come through, which will be really good, and hopefully we can put a fairly exciting side on the track.”

Lewis said the league would look to take a different approach this year, with selectors going out to regular club games in the early rounds to reduce the impost on players.

“If we can pick our squad of probably only 30 players, try to just work with that, then we may only have to have two training sessions leading up to the game and then that’s it,” he said.

“If they’re doing all the work at their own clubs and everything, we just want to make it an easy choice to come and play for us on their week off.”

The community championships clash against the Maryborough Castlemaine District league will take place at Reid Oval on May 13.

The day will include youth girls, under 17.5 and senior football matches and 15 and under, 17 and under and senior netball games.

Ben Jenson will coach the under 17.5 boys’ football team, while Cloe Pulling has been named 17 and under netball coach and Steph Townsend the 15 and under netball coach.