Allansford has welcomed returning coach Sarah Neeson back to its ranks, while Bridget Foster will step up to co-coach alongside her.

They have a swag of new players and are vying to climb back into finals after missing narrowly last season.

Foster said the Cats’ first challenge would be blood their new combinations on court.

“We probably just want to get wins on the board. We have so many new faces so it’ll be about getting those combinations right,” she said.

“We have about half a dozen new players overall. It’s been good because you tend to lose a couple with girls going to uni, but we’ve actually picked up a few.

“We tend to get a few nursing students as we do a bit of advertising up at the hospitals and stuff too.”

Foster said the club had an abundance of goalers and midcourters on its list as it approached round one against Russells Creek.

“We have a couple who probably should have played A grade stepping up to play this year and it’s all going really well,” she said.

Arrivals

Georgie Rooke (Deakin), Brooke Currie (Carngham-Linton), Sarah Robertson (pregnancy), Shaina Stewart (pregnancy)

Departures

Rebecca Hunt (pregnancy), Jess Rohan (South Rovers), Bec Rohan (year off), Stephanie Jamieson (Panmure), Sally Bond (Heywood)

Prediction

Nick Ansell says: Allansford has recruited well and appears to be rejuvenated on the back of new coaches, new courts and new players. It is battling hard to make finals and should give it a nudge. The Cats have an abundance of players and the guidance of former coach Kim Jamieson, who has stepped down to mentor the club's A reserve side, will be vital.