The Magpies will hold their second round of selection trials tonight with several A grade positions up the grabs following the departure of Chelsea Marks, Bianca Ely and Micaela Larkings to North Wangaratta.

Xanthea Dewez is weighing up her national cross country skiing commitments and is yet to decide her playing future at Norm Minns Oval.

Coach Louise Byrne said the Magpies hoped to be competitive in all grades.

“The opening is there for the young ones to push through,” Byrne said.

“That’s what we will be working on.

“I would imagine we would be similar to last season.

“We still have our core group.”

Byrne will coach the A grade and 16 and under teams with Shara Knobel and Loren Gathercole in charge of the B and C grades.

Selection trials will continue tonight, followed by Tuesday and Thursday next week.

Byrne has been encouraged by the response.

“It was a good roll up on Tuesday and we had year 11 exams on, so I think the numbers will pick up again,” she said.

“We will then train until December 18 before having a break for Christmas.”

Byrne said Wangaratta would look to field two teams in Shepparton regional state league, believing the club had benefited greatly from the pre-season match practice it delivered this year.

The Magpies’ A grade team finished in eighth spot this year with six wins and 12 losses.