South-west fans will get a taste of the sports in two blockbuster clashes scheduled for Good Friday before the season proper resumes Saturday week.

The Standard has five of the key talking points - from both the Hampden and Warrnambool and District leagues - analysed and broken down.

External expectation is buzzing around South Warrnambool after a strong recruiting drive in the off-season for both footy and netball. But the club is under no illusions of the work its facing to become a bona fide powerhouse. On the football side of things, former AFL player Ricky Henderson is among the ins, while Josh Saunders, Louis Herbert, James Hussey and Joe Dalton have also come in. How the Roosters will shape up is still anybody's guess. All eyes will be on selection.

Koroit fans will remember Tim McIntyre as one of Koroit's premiership heroes. He departed to play at Barwon Heads but announced this past year he'd return to Victoria Park for 2021. McIntyre, who spent the bulk of 2020 recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, will add immediate class to the Saints' lineup. How big an impact can he have in his first season back in the Hampden league?

Carly Watson might just be the recruit of the season. South Warrnambool managed to secure the gun defender's services after she decided to leave Port Fairy in March.

Coach Leesa Battistello spoke of Watson's "humble" character and expected the former Hampden league best-and-fairest to help the Roosters' young talent develop as they take the step into senior netball.

Watson and fellow recruit Annie Blackburn are expected to play key roles as the club looks to push for a finals berth under Battistello.

Many spent the coronavirus-impacted 2020 working on their fitness in private but keeping an eye on the first few rounds of action will be interesting.

Will there be more soft-tissue injuries than prior seasons as players adjust to the pace and physicality of contact sport? Or will the fitness work many put in while in lockdown pay dividends?

Reigning Hampden league premier Koroit has shown previously it's had no issues getting sustained success while rotating coaches.

It has another new mentor this season in Danielle McInerney as the Saints pursue a fourth-straight flag.

Ironically, the club's biggest challenger could be South Warrnambool - the team it'll meet in its season-opener.

Former Merrivale coach and WDFNL 2019 leading goal-kicker Jason Rowan has switched back to Hampden club, Warrnambool.

New coach Josh Sobey said the Tigers had worked hard on finding other avenues to goal this pre-season.

"Jase is an amazing player and a good person too and he has been great for the footy club," Sobey said,

"We've gone and recruited some guys who we think can hit the scoreboard, we probably have been one-dimensional for a while.

"And that's nothing against Jason, he's just such a focal point and such a good player we often looked to him sometimes too much.

"So having that mix and variety down there can give us another attack to goal."

Manny Sandow, Jack Gleeson and Nathan Krepp are among the recruits Sobey believes can contribute on the scoreboard.

Mentor Nick Sheehan says his new-look footy side will be quick and exciting.

There's a host of youngsters to look out for including Harry White, Elijah Dawson and Jonah Bowles.

Experienced recruits such as Michael Pritchard (West Brunswick), Marcus Bunney (Koroit), Joe Kenna, Nick Alexandrou, Jacob Lacy and Matthew Petherick (Russells Creek) will help provide leadership for the young brigade.

Old Collegians A grade team has lost some big names but gained some too.

Consistent goal defence Emily Porra will be joined by former Koroit player Grace Bell (wing defence) and former Timboon Demon, Emily Jansen Van Beek (goal keeper).

The latter says she has had a fantastic pre-season.

"I feel like the break was really beneficial and I've had a lot of time to improve and work on my fitness so I'm actually more excited than I was last year," Jasen Van Beek said.

The Tigers are the A grade netball reigning premier and will challenge again with the recruits they've gained.

Goalie Jess Haberfield has taken on the vice-captaincy after crossing over from Dennington where she won flags. Jess McKenzie (North Warrnambool Eagles) and Brooke Thompson (returning) are other acquisitions to keep an eye out for.

The Tigers have two new faces in charge of their top-grade teams. Husband and wife Josh and Elisha Sobey will lead Merrivale's senior sides for the first time on Good Friday.

Josh took on the reins from Jason Rowan while Elisha replaced 2019 premiership coach Carly Peake.

Old Collegians' Jess Toleman is the sole A grade coach this season after being co-coach with Meagan Forth in 2019.

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