The Standard's GUS McCUBBING gets you ready for the 2019 Hampden league netball season.
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Check out who's arrived and who's left at your club.
Can Koroit continue its dominance of the open grade without a number of premiership stars as it bloods a younger side in 2019?
Camperdown
Coach: Brooke Richardson
2018 finish: Sixth
Ins: Narelle Marsden (Allansford/Port Fairy), Jess Cameron (Woorndoo-Mortlake), Danica Clough (Timboon Demons), Amanda Gilbert (Wickliffe-Lake Bolac), Grace and Georgia Lucas (returning).
Outs: Amy Morssinkhof (moved), Emma Wright (travelling) and Ashlea Spokes (Woorndoo-Mortlake).
Coach's comment: "Taking over coaching is daunting. But I'm really looking forward to the challenge of pushing all the players to be the best they can be for the girls around them. We're very hungry for success."
Players to watch: Young gun Chelsea Baker, who won the league's 17-and-under best-and-fairest in 2018, will capitalise on playing only senior netball this season.
Our prediction: Fifth
The Magpies completed a huge recruiting drive over the off-season and should break back into the finals.
Cobden
Coach: Melanie Starr
2018 finish: Second
Ins: Jessica Wheadon (pregnancy), Rebecca Dendle (division one)
Outs: Sophie Barr (Newton-Chilwell)
Coach's comment: "I'm very much about strong one-on-one defence, so that will be a big focus for us."
Players to watch: Nadine McNamara, Amy Hammond, Alicia Blain, Molly Hutt, Emily Finch and Remeny McCann - the Bombers' class runs deep.
Our prediction: First
Cobden fell nine goals short of the flag last year and will really miss Barr, who was joint league best and fairest in 2018. But the return of Wheadon, a former league MVP, is a boost.
- Read more: Bombers back with new and old faces
Hamilton Kangaroos
Coach: Kelsey Lewis
2018 finish: Eighth
Ins: Rhianne Lewis (ACL injury), Aly Smead (returning), Madeline Casey, Beth Wilson, Sophie Robertson (under 17s), Chloe Uebergang (division one)
Outs: Amanda Douglas (pregnancy), Eve Duckmanton (Glenthompson Dunkeld), Tayarrah Morris (Heywood), Chloe Tuffnell (Edenhope-Apsley), Aleisha McDonald (study), Rhi Davis (South Rovers).
Coach's comment: "I want to get them back to enjoying playing netball. If the wins come then that's a bonus."
Players to watch: Eighteen-year-old centre Emily Pertzel is learning quickly and never gives up.
Our prediction: Ninth
The young Kangaroos might struggle with so many outs until team chemistry is fully developed.
- Read more: Kangaroos go back to the future with new coach
- Read more: Lewis girls bounce back for Kangaroos
Koroit
Coach: Stacey O'Sullivan
2018 finish: First
Ins: Emily Batt, Bridget Roache (pregnancy), Zahli Adams (Port Fairy)
Outs: Jessica O'Connor, Jacqui Bowman (retired), Carly Pulling (Merrivale)
Coach's comment: "It's really important we teach the juniors about club culture and professionalism so they understand what it takes to be successful."
Players to watch: Youngsters Zahli Adams, Belle Baker and Nessie McLaren will look to earn a regular spot in Koroit's champion open side.
Our prediction: Third
New-look Saints outfit will miss the experienced trio of O'Connor, Bowman and Pulling but can push for a third straight flag.
- Read more: Culture the key to success for Koroit
- Read more: Teen Seagulls earning their top-grade wings
North Warrnambool Eagles
Coach: Jamie Barr
2018 finish: Third
Ins: Rachael Batten, Indi Morrison (returning)
Outs: Georgia Corbett (study)
Coach's comment: "We're really keen to have a squad for as long as we can - it probably caught us out in the finals last year."
Players to watch: Sisters Jordyn and Skye Billings will take care of the on-court leadership with Barr stepping back to focus on coaching.
Our prediction: Fourth
Corbett is a major loss, but former under 17 players Zoe Bussell, Phoebe Wittmann and Ash Ferguson have the chance to step up.
- Read more: Eagles ready to soar under Barr
Port Fairy
Coach: Rhiannon Cuomo
2018 finish: Fourth
Ins: Sarah Moroney (returning), Erin Andrew, Kristy Ludeman (Nirranda), Regan Luhrs (Hamilton Kangaroos), Courtney McClelland (Kolora-Noorat)
Outs: Sarah McCorkell, Carly Thomas, Narelle Marsden, Emily Forrest
Coach's comment: "Our defensive pressure has to work from goal keeper right through to goal shooter - it's a team responsibility."
Players to watch: Moroney won the league's MVP in 2015, when just 20 years old, and will be a game-changer for the Seagulls.
Our prediction: Second
Cuomo is a defensive-minded coach, so Moroney will be the perfect fit for her game-plan.
- Read more: Seagulls looking for ticket to big dance
- Read more: Port Fairy elevates successful coach to top job
Portland
Coach: Lauren Hockley
2018 finish: 10th
Ins: Remy Grant, Maddie Nash (Tyrendarra), Tonaya Bannam (pregnancy), Taylor Morley
Outs: Breanna Bensch (ankle injury)
Coach's comment: "I think everyone aspires to play finals, otherwise you wouldn't be in this competition."
Players to watch: Grant will inject some speed in to the Tigers' mid-court.
Our prediction: 10th
New recruits and returning players will make the Tigers more competitive, but it remains to be seen whether they can get off the bottom.
- Read more: Tigers enjoy mid-court resurrection
South Warrnambool
Coach: Mandy Van Rooy
2018 finish: Fifth
Ins: Isabella Rae, Jess Hardiman, Hannah Loveday, Meg Sutherland (under 17s)
Outs: Liz Byrne, Alexandra O'Connor (retiring), Ruby Wilson (Dennington)
Players to watch: Rae was joint-runner-up in the under-17s best-and-fairest in 2018 and will look to make a name for herself in the open competition this season.
Our prediction: 6th
Some huge outs but plenty of young talent to complement 2018 Hampden league most valuable player winner Eliza Dwyer.
Terang Mortlake
Coach: Lisa Arundell
2018 finish: 9th
Ins: Melissa Burt (Dennington), Emma Lucas (Kolora-Noorat), Aimee Moloney (returning), Faye Clarke (Kolora-Noorat), Jessica Davis (division one)
Outs: Johanna Glennen (work/study), Libby Moloney (study), Samantha Couch (div one), Georgia Martin (work)
Coach's comment: "We are very much an untested team and I'm looking forward to finding out where we sit."
Players to watch: Arundell said Burt would be an "absolute bonus" to the Bloods, bringing some serious upper body strength and netball knowledge.
Our prediction: 8th
Terang Mortlake has a solid mix of youth and experience with the new recruits to be bolstered by the developing Maddi Chesshire, May Suhan, Grace Wareham and Alice Tanner.
- Read more: Bloods crave rebound
Warrnambool
Coach: Raewyn Poumako
2018 finish: 7th
Ins: Danielle Keilar, Taylah Antonio, Kelsey Perry, Jenna Graham (returning)
Outs: Lainey Miller (moved away), Sarah Higgins (injury)
Coach's comment: "Dani [Keilar] is really valuable to us with her height, knowledge and ability to play both ends of the court."
Players to watch: Co-captains Amy Wormald and Sarah O'Keeffe will be key to the Blues' fortunes this season, along with Sinead Finck.
Our prediction: 6th
The side's core group has had plenty of time to gel and will be boosted by the possible return of Keilar in goals, along with the ongoing development of young gun Jessica Thwaites.
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