The Eagles host 2014 runner-up Tatyoon, which thumped them by 102 points in their qualifying final battle last season, at Macarthur tomorrow.

Second-year Hawkesdale-Macarthur coach Danny Chatfield said collecting wins early in the season was imperative. 

“We don’t want to drop games early in the year at home because they can come back to haunt you,” he said.

“We have a couple of tough rounds first up but will take it a quarter at a time as we did last year.

“You want to be finishing top three or top five at least.”

Hawkesdale-Macarthur, which suffered an 11-point preliminary final loss to eventual premier Moyston-Willaura, has kept the bulk of its list together.

Chatfield is hopeful Panmure ruckman-forward Daniel Roache will help offset the loss of Charlie Nield, who kicked 60 goals last season.

“Charlie is leaving this weekend to play cricket in England,” he said.

“We encouraged him to do that while he’s young.”

Russells Creek forward Hayden Harradine, former Caramut onballer Daniel Oakley and ex-Koroit wingman Joey Lewis have also joined the Eagles.

Teenager Luke Gow is expected to have an impact at senior level after undergoing a knee reconstruction last year.

“He’s a nuggety bloke. He’s only 16 or 17 but will help out in the midfield and rest forward,” Chatfield said.

Utility Dylan Herbertson has defected to Port Fairy and back pocket Tim Huglin is another departure, having opted to play for Skipton while he studies at university in Ballarat. Woorndoo-Mortlake will host Caramut at Woorndoo following a venue change. Lismore-Derrinallum hosts Penshurst, Glenthompson-Dunkeld meets Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, Great Western tackles SMW Rovers and Moyston-Willaura battles Ararat Eagles.