Now at 20, the Warrnambool Special Development School teachers aid is preparing to lead the Panmure's senior side in its first game of the 2019 Warrnambool and District league season against Timboon Demons on Saturday.

"I've always seen myself as a leader and coming up in under 14s and and 17s I've captained both junior sides at Panmure so I'm looking forward to captaining the senior side," the right-footed midfielder said.

"I'll try to lead form the front and hopefully get the boys to follow on from my lead."

Kew, who moved back to the club in 2018 after two years with Hampden league club North Warrnambool Eagles, said consistency was the key for the Bulldogs. 

"Hopefully we can get a few more wins and be a lot more consistent than what we were last year," he said.

"We are coming off one win and the bottom of the ladder last year so we are going to improve but it just depends on how much we do. Personally I believe we are going to improve a fair bit."

The Allansford resident said the host of changes which came with the arrival of new coach Chris Bant had refreshed the entire playing group.

"The energy has been unbelievable, training has been fairly good and the intensity has been up from the get go," he said. "It's a really good vibe at the club at the moment."

READ MORE: Bulldogs ready to bite back after rock bottom WDFNL finish

Paddy Mahony, who is playing his 100th game for Panmure, is one of 10 changes for the Bulldogs away clash against the Demons, which will have four new faces in Marcus Hickey's side.

Hickey, who will be entering his first year a coach, said the new-look Bulldogs' side would challenge his Demons.

"I'm expecting a tough hitout," he said. "We have't really had a proper practice match.

"We played Simpson and had a few boys miss it due to work and it was hard to organise a second one. We have done some match sim and we are pretty right to go."

Dennington also has 10 changes to its side as Mick Phillips prepares to take the coaching reigns for the first time this season against Kolora-Noorat.

Phillips said 10 of his senior players were unavailable for selection this weekend.

"We will be a little undermanned but faith in the ones I have picked as they are capable of playing senior footy," he said. 

The Power enter their opening game at home with seven familiar faces returning to first-year coach Ben Walsh's senior side with Brad Johnson, Brodie Edge, Nick Bourke, Ben Reid, Joe O'Sullivan, George O'Sullivan and Harry O'Sullivan all named.

The school teacher said it was difficult to pick a side with competition for spots high early in the season.

"I think we had about 60 on the track tonight, which is something we haven't had to deal with too many times," Walsh said.

"With that comes some challenges certainly at selection and the one thing we spoke about was how we handle it. 

"Guys that miss out how do they handle it, boys in the senior side how do we get around those might be a bit disappointed. It's a challenge we will face but its certainly a good problem to have."

Walsh also confirmed defender Jake Richardson will captain the club in 2019. 

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