It has perhaps not been an easy job leading the Picola District Football League across the past handful of seasons.
The pandemic-enforced challenges that plagued all levels of sport subsided, only to be replaced with the headaches of a messy saga involving Tocumwal’s status within the league.
Entering 2024, though, the Picola league heads into a new era with far fewer off-field distractions.
Tocumwal’s return does mean an odd-numbered competition once again, but the Bloods will get a jump start on the league by hosting a Good Friday season opener against Berrigan.
Mathoura and Picola United complete the AFL-style truncated opening round the following day before the rest jump in from April 6.
Waaia would be heavily favoured in its quest for a premiership hat-trick, having converted its 2022 and 2023 season-best records into grand final successes.
That said, top ruck Ash Holland was one of many lured back into Shepparton’s mini-premiership reunion, heading to the Bears for 2024.
Coach Mitch Cleeland is bullish about his club’s credentials with a three-peat on the table.
“We’re hoping that we’re much the same in terms of our personnel and it’s pretty constant for us,” Cleeland said.
“We’re hoping we’re ready for what’s to come, and we have no doubt we’re going in with a target on our backs.
“(Holland) will leave a hole and it’ll take some adjusting, but we’re confident guys can replace him in that capacity.
“We’re hoping we aren’t too reliant and that everyone can step up to play their part.”
Speaking of gold-plated homecomings, 2023 runners-up Strathmerton has pulled in a big fish of its own with former premiership skipper Matt O’Kane among the Bulldogs’ inclusions.
Sporting dominant PDL leading goalkicker Tim Looby among its ranks, new senior co-coach Nic Hoban believes his side has the injection of pace it lacked in 2023.
“Three of the four guys we brought in have previously played at Strathmerton, and they’re all ex-locals,” Hoban said.
“I think last year we were a bit slow at times, so to add a few quicker locals will add plenty to the side.
“The fact we haven’t lost anyone at all shows where the club is at; it’s a good place to be, and we’re all on the same page.”
There is certainly more turnover at Tungamah, which harbours aims of going a step beyond its preliminary final exit.
The disappointment of 2023, by the admission of coach Sean Johns, was largely self-inflicted - but the side has since corrected course.
“We sort of reaped what we sowed last year with our input during pre-season. That wasn’t there, and it showed in finals,” Johns said.
“We had a chat about what we needed to address, and I think our off-field standards have really risen.
“Hopefully that can set us up for a good year, but the premiership is what we’re aiming for.
“We’re very happy with where we’re at, but now we just have to go and do the work on the field.”
Also falling a week short of the big dance was Katunga, which has been busier than many outfits since its preliminary final exit.
That change empowers new co-coach Nick Flanagan to believe his side is closing in on the upper crust.
“With guys like Nick Pirrie (Doutta Stars), Dan O’Loughlin and Bailey Thomas (both Bentleigh) coming in at 25-26 years of age from a high level of footy, we think they’ll bring a fair bit to the team,” Flanagan said.
“I’ve got every confidence that there’s enough quality on the list to close the gap with Waaia and Strathmerton.
“There’s enough there, but it’s a matter of how much the guys want to apply themselves.“
Katandra is another finals side with acquisitions front of mind.
Despite losing 59-goal forward Luke Smith to Shepparton, Kats boss Jason Whittaker believes his side can achieve more in 2024.
“We’ve done a power of work, and we could have up to 11 senior players come into the side this year,” Whittaker said.
“We’ve got a game plan and a structure, plus the personnel, to make us competitive against the top sides.
“The playing group has matured by 12 months since I arrived, and we’re confident we’ve got the capacity to take the extra one, two or three steps.”
Katamatite finished comfortably inside finals but off the pace; that said, coach James Hazelman is pleased to deal with much less turnover this year than last, though the loss of Will Gorman to Mulwala shapes up as a detriment.
“There hasn’t been a heap of movement, but we’ve had a couple of under-17 kids come up and stick around, which is great,” Hazelman said.
“This time 12 months ago, we’d lost 14 from the year before.
“I’d like to think that with a bit of luck and keeping everyone on the park, we could push a little bit further.”
Jerilderie did enough to earn knockout football in 2023, but has supplemented its list with two incomings from the Demons’ glory days of the mid-2010s.
The arrivals come in the form of 2012 and 2013 premiership players Lachlan Taylor-Nugent and Christopher Lockhart.
Jerilderie shared its 7-8 record with Deniliquin Rovers, but the latter may have some work ahead on the defensive end after ranking 11th for points conceded in spite of its eighth-placed finish.
Picola United also takes a generally similar core into 2024, looking to consolidate on a 6-9 record that, despite the lopsided ledger, also produced a percentage over 110.
Rennie has made a change at the top in pursuit of a more competitive year, appointing past premiership captain Jarryd Fountain to the top gig.
The Hoppers will surely rely on the recommitment of one of country football’s more renowned forward-50 forces in Chase Strawhorn.
Mathoura has work ahead after finishing two games adrift of Rennie despite near-identical scoring figures, and the Timbercutters have turned to Bundoora small forward Riley Hillyear as one of a handful coming in.
Berrigan has reclaimed Matt Heazlewood from Geelong West after two seasons away from the Saints, picking up another western recruit in the process by signing Pascoe Vale forward Jordan Bird.
The move aims to address offensive issues that saw Berrigan notch just over 40 points a game in 2023.
After just one win last year, Yarroweyah has taken an aggressive stance with its incomings, assembling a raft of signings with a focus on the Murray Football League.
Yarroweyah also regained 2022 Collingwood development squad member Chris White into its forward line for 2024.
As for Blighty, there is surely only one way to go after a miserable 0-15 campaign, and the Redeyes will need the likes of Dane Leyden, hailing from Echuca United in the Murray League, to galvanise the struggling outfit.