The Rats have a handful of players undecided on plans for next year, none more significant than 2002 Toohey Medallist and rover Matt Jackson.

Jackson, one of the outstanding on-ballers in the region, is hot property at the moment and is pondering an offer from North Adelaide in the SANFL.

Word from the Rats is that club veteran and league representative Allister Williamson has taken on the coaching job with Mininera and District League club Ararat Eagles and former league captain Tim Shea is contemplating retiring from the game.

The club is also unsure of the plans of talented midfielder David Oliver who returned to the Rats from Adelaide this year.

But Rats president Garry Todd said the club expected only a few changes to an imposing playing list.

``We're expecting most people to hang around. A few of the older guys might be hanging up their boots. It's all up in the air at this stage,'' Mr Todd said.

Mr Todd said the Rats were keen to appoint a coach as soon as possible after an annual meeting today.

``We hope to move as quickly as possible, to move on quickly rather than sitting still,'' he said.

Applications for the coaching job closed yesterday.

Michael Hosking coached the Rats into the grand final this year.

Ararat has considerable player depth and is likely to successfully cover any significant player line-up changes next year.

Ararat, Stawell, Dimboola and Warrack Eagles are the only Wimmera League clubs yet to announce coaches for 2003.

Warrack Eagles joint premiership coach Matt Walder remains unsure of plans for next year but revealed yesterday that he would make a decision within the next fortnight.

He said while holidaying in Brisbane that he had `many things' to consider.

And fall-out remains from the grand final between the Eagles and Rats with an investigation continuing into an incident which left Ararat defender Sam Pitman with a broken jaw.

Wimmera League football manager Barry McTaggart said he could not comment on the issue until after the investigation.

Wimmera League officials have also asked people keen to fill vacancies on an independent board to fill in nomination forms before an annual meeting on November 28.

Mr McTaggart said nomination forms were available from him.