The Hamilton Highway combine opens its Mininera and District league campaign against Penshurst at Derrinallum Recreation Reserve today.

Sinnott, entering his fourth season as coach, was upbeat about the Demons’ prospects as they seek to improve on an elimination final exit in 2014.

Their recruits include Creswick pair Michael Lockyer and Gary Knights, Avoca’s Brad Schiltz and Ararat Eagles’ Jacob Morgan.

Grant Place, a member of Camperdown’s reserves premiership in 2013, has also joined the Demons after a metro stint with University Blues.

Sinnott said the list was “by far” the best he had coached during his time at the club.

“The last three years — this is my fourth year now — we’ve worked into it over a period of time. You couldn’t do it in two minutes and they knew that,” he said.

“We thought this year, having an older group, it’s our last opportunity while we’ve still got a decent group around.

“Don’t get me wrong, quite a few kids are coming through the ranks and they’ll be good footballers later on.

“Straight away there are three or four who can step up. But to get that real experience into the side is a real bonus.”

Sinnott said he was eager to get the season under way. 

He was pleased to see the Demons in a position of strength after an inauspicious start to his tenure.

“The last time I coached before I went there was interleague sides, you’d get 40 or 50 at training,” he said.

“I get up here and the first night of training (in 2012) there’s three. You start to think ‘what have I done’. That was even after Christmas.

“Last night we had 44 or 55 at training. Since November last year we haven’t had under 20 at training.”

Sinnott believed the MDFL would be an even competition, as it was for much of last season.

In other matches, Hawkesdale-Macarthur meets Tatyoon at Macarthur, while Caramut hosts Woorndoo-Mortlake. 

Glenthompson-Dunkeld welcomes Wicklife-Lake Bolac to Dunkeld, Great Western plays SMW Rovers and Moyston-Willaura encounters Ararat Eagles.