Harkin was the final Melbourne-based player to ink an extension with the Power after Ben Fraser and Jason Moloney signed new deals post Christmas.

Kolora-Noorat mentor Danny Finn was “delighted” to name the former Cobden utility.

The premiership coach also spruiked the team’s young talent, with six junior graduates named in the Power’s round one bout against Dennington.

“I think all but Joel Dillon, who is playing his first game, have had a fair taste with five to 10 games in the last few years,” Finn said.

“They’re not in there as token players – they’ve earnt it.”

Kolora-Noorat also named recruits Nick Marshall and Corey McDonald to take the field.

Dennington named three new faces for the fixture – with Leigh Evans, Matt Hausler and Sam Curtis all to play.

Dogs mentor Jake Rhodes said big man Billy Keane – who was a key fixture during Darcy Lewis’ coaching tenure – had been reinvigorated as a backman.

“He sort of missed the middle part of last year – it’s a bit like having a new recruit,” Rhodes said.

“We’re looking forward to having him down back. He’s traditionally been a ruckman-forward. 

“We just put him down back in the practice games and we were really happy with how he went.”

Panmure coach Tim Condon has named his deputy, Nick Butters, to debut, while Louis Kew is also set to take the field against South Rovers.

Heath Moloney’s Russells Creek is set to unleash several new recruits in its season-opener against Merrivale. 

The Kangaroos have named Dylan Keane, Harry Hall, Ryan McElgunn, and Dan Boyle to play.

Allansford, meanwhile, has named players of old and new to tackle its Old Collegians assignment on Saturday.

New mentor Ben Price has handed debuts to brothers Robbie and Dylan Hare, while Sam Alberts, Brad Edge, Ben Mclean, Chris Clarke, and Brent Fedley have been picked.

Jeremy Ellis (Heywood) and Jason Wilson (North Warrnambool Eagles) have also returned to the club.

“We’re nearly at full strength. We’re one or two off with a couple of guys coming through the reserves,” he said.