JONO Gleeson (Koroit) and David Corrigan (Kyabram) will make their debuts for Kolora-Noorat today as it begins its premiership defence against the team it defeated for its first flag.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The WDFNL season's opening round will see Kolora-Noorat and Timboon Demons reprise their grand final clash, with several stars missing from the sides which ran out on to Reid Oval last September.
The strength in depth of both clubs is highlighted in the sides promoting heavily from within, with Timboon Demons adding some vital experience in coach Brad Sholl, whose frustrating 2009 was hampered by injury.
He will start in the forward line with recruits Jarrad Cook (Nirranda) and 2009 under 17 best and fairest Brad Hallyburton, who will be looking to support Sam Hickey, who sat out the end of the grand final after being one of several players sent off in the heated last term.
Panmure star Matthew Schrama could be a late inclusion today, gaining a clearance back from his new club in South Australia this week.
The Bulldogs did not name Schrama in their 21, but he is home this weekend and almost certain to play against Dennington.
Coach Dave Conheady will miss but recruits Sam Mahony (South Warrnambool), Andrew Edis (South West District Football League), Hamish McKinnon (Terang Mortlake) and Scott Gedge (Northern Football League) will be looking to impress him.
Dennington has retained the majority of its 2009 line-up as it seeks to improve on its preliminary final appearance, with ruckman Brad Keilar (Wickliffe-Lake Bolac) and Nicholas Short (Koroit) adding some height.
Tom Nevill (Russells Creek) will bring some bite to the forward line that has the twin towers in Justin Nowell and Chris Keilar to stretch the Bulldogs.
South Rovers' productive off-season will be on show at home, with a few big new signings named to take on Nirranda.
Brad McCosh (Port Fairy) will start in the centre with Darren Cheeseman (Camperdown) named on the wing and Leigh Anderson (South Warrnambool) on a forward flank.
Frank Matthews and Julian Claridge (Central Highlands Football League) are set to miss the clash.
Tim Abraham (Warr-nambool) and Hamish Tamlin (Geelong Football League) will lead Nirranda's on-ball division, with teenager Morgan Van der Mark stepping up to seniors in a settled Blues line-up.
Russells Creek will unveil seven of its recruits when it hosts Allansford.
Justin Chalmers will lead the charge against his old side with Timboon Demons premiership player David Tatton and Port Fairy's Lowell Hunter adding some height and pace in attack.
The return from knee injuries of former captain Shaun McDougall and Jayden Askew will bolster Creek's defence.
Despite being appointed Allansford's non-playing coach, James Byrne will pull the boots on for his side today, being named in a forward pocket alongside 2002 J. A. Esam medallist Brad Sheen.
Recruit Ryan McCluggage (Mallee FL) has returned to a half-back flank, with Joseph Holloway (Riverina) named on the bench.
Deakin University travels to Reid Oval to take on East Warrnambool, with Ben Gray to play his 150th senior game for the Bombers in front of a home crowd. Geoff Clark-Ugle (Allansford), Ashley Sumner (Allansford), Adam McCosh (Mininera) and Michael Stacey (Sydney AFL) are among a host of new faces for last year's wooden spooners.
After the walkout of boom recruit Byron Pickett, Deakin will welcome in last year's reserves leading goalkicker Reece Cracknell (South Rovers), Jayden Tebble (Colac and District Football League) and the promising Josh Van Heughten (Portland).
