LAST YEAR: 7th

PREDICTION: 8th

X-FACTOR: Aaron Gough

GAINS: Tristan Ivanku (injury), Dave Woodall (Melrose)

LOSSES: Lionel Masudi, Angus Kelly (Murray United); Luke Davison, Stefan Galanakis (Diamonds)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: We have added some much-needed experience to the squad and the younger guys now having played senior football are fully aware of what is needed to be competitive. Everyone has been working hard in the pre-season, learning a new system and style of play with positive signs shown on the training track. If we can keep players fit and consistently on the park and sticking to the team plan, the confidence will grow and positive results will follow.

WHAT WE SAY: Gough’s influence can’t be underestimated. Last year he disappeared early in the season and returned late as the club mounted a belated challenge at finals. His skill and strength are vital at the back. But the losses of Kelly and Masudi will be a major factor. City are a young side, have been for several years, but as we said last year at some point they need to deliver.

COACH: Javi Martinez

LAST YEAR: 8th

PREDICTION: 10th

X-FACTOR: nil

GAINS: nil 

LOSSES: Ryan Giles, Alex Eggleston (Murray United); Luke Drummond (retired)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: We have had to start from a long way back this year. We have had to find players within our juniors who have not been given opportunities and give them the skills, knowledge and belief that they can be part of the senior playing group. Unfortunately this has put us a few weeks behind where we want to be and the season has come a little too early for us. We want to be a team that continues to improve from one week to the next and hopefully with consistency, a solid adaptable formation, hard work, belief in ourselves, our teammates and a little bit of luck, we will be there come finals.

WHAT WE SAY: Spurs losses are massive — a former AWFA star player and club legend in goals. Last year Hotspurs were in and out of form and that lack of consistency could repeat itself as Martinez looks to blood a young side.

COACH: Matt Campbell and Dave Smith

LAST YEAR: 6th

PREDICTION: 5th

X-FACTOR: Ben Hughes

GAINS: Matthew Gibson (Polonia FC-Blacktown), Alex Murrell (Myrtleford), Tyler Carey (Returning), Nick James (Dubbo), Brad Poynter (Returning), Nathan John (AFL)

LOSSES: Simon Flower (Family); Josh Mulcahy, Sam Graetz, Sam Brosolo, Gradi Masudi (Murray United); Kieran Murphy (Moved), Luke Nicholls (Moved), Shane Anderson (St Pats)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: The players attitude has been first class during pre-season with everyone showing an improved commitment and application. The squad is looking well-balanced with a good blend of youth and experience. We’re looking to raise our standards on recent years and if we can settle and play for each other then the sky is the limit.

WHAT WE SAY: Last year’s AWFA star player Mulcahy is among a host of key player departures but the addition of Murrell, who was a standout in limited appearances for the Savoys last year will help overcome that.

COACH: Andrew Grove

LAST YEAR: 2nd

PREDICTION: league winners

X-FACTOR: Pieter Noordewier

GAINS: nil

LOSSES: Melkie Woldemichael, Shane Ellwood, Harry Drummond (Murray United); Decha Saisanid, Julian Clements (work)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: Losing five of our best 11 last year will be tough to replace. Our reserve players and juniors have stepped up to the challenge through the pre-season. With the core group still intact we will look to play the same game style. I’m expecting Pieter Noordewier and Jordan Crawford to lift this season and take on more responsibility through the midfield and forward. Hard to compare with other clubs at this stage with the amount of changes but early signs are promising.

WHAT WE SAY: There is no doubt the losses to Murray United may have robbed Boomers of generation next but with a spine that includes Grove, Noordewier, Dustin Patten and Matt Mildren they’ll still be a force. Their possession football is instilled in the Glen Park production line.

COACH: Chad Thomson

LAST YEAR: 4th

PREDICTION: 7th

X-FACTOR: Morgan Payne

GAINS: Nick Mussara (Hotspurs) Jamie Piltz (football)

LOSSES: Josh Fluss, Sean Pye, Ben Chaffey, Adam Waters (Murray United); Dylan Gavel (Diamonds), David Woodall (ACFC)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: Will be tough to maintain our standing with the quality of the losses to MUFC, however we believe we still have a core group of talented senior players and upcoming juniors who can be competitive. Our front third will be as good as anyone with Evan Rawluk and Morgan Payne flying in pre-season while down back Amr Hassan looks to step up from being Reserves star keeper to full time senior gloveman. Pete Donaldson has been one of the best midfielders in the league the past couple of years and him and Dylan Howe will be a formidable combination in the middle of the park. 

WHAT WE SAY: After Twin City probably the club hardest hit by the creation of Murray United. Rawluk in form is a quality striker and Donaldson featured heavily in the star player vote count last year. Two tough games to start the year will be the best guide on how Melrose will fare this year.

COACH: Joe Artavilla

LAST YEAR: 5th

PREDICTION: 6th

X-FACTOR: Lewis Holloway

GAINS: Jayden Vescio (year off), Nick Murphy (Shepp South), Stevan Ilic (Williamstown), Arron Redman (Cobram Victory), Dan Kelly (Guildford City Uk), Arron Cappellari (promoted div 3), Vinnie Paglia (promoted div 3)

LOSSES: Conner Caponecchia (npl), Will Keenan (University), Alex Murell, George Taylor (uk)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: After being competitive in 2014 and Nathan (Mirt) exposing a few of the youth players to senior football, with the blend of experienced players that I have signed to complement the core group that is already there, I’m confident that we will be up in the top half of the competition.

WHAT WE SAY: Injuries derailed the Savoys chances last year, a mid-year slump also making a mockery of their home ground fortress reputation in the Ovens Valley. Caponecchia is quality but didn’t have much of an impact on the senior games he played last year but Murrell is a big loss. On the upside the return of Murphy and keeper Vescio is a bonus. Expect a similar year to 2014.

COACH: Alex Vaskovic

LAST YEAR: wooden spoon

PREDICTION: 9th

X-FACTOR: Shane Anderson

GAINS: Leigh Merchant (Bendigo), Shane Anderson, Daniel Grubisha (Melrose) Zach Grubisha (Diamonds)

LOSSES: Curtis Iverson, Oscar Bell (Murray United); Chris Mitchell (retired), Aaron McGlynn (injury)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: It has been hard to recruit this year due to Murray United but I’m sure all the clubs will say the same, We are looking to build on the experience that the new coaching panel brings and consolidate ourselves back in the finals race. Shane Anderson’s return to Patties as assistant coach-player is huge. The younger players will be much better after a full year last year and we expect the new players to boost our depth. There will be other clubs that will be struggling this year and these are the games we must win to return to finals.

WHAT WE SAY: Patties never died wondering in 2014 and the result was a far more competitive unit that played a lot better but still ended up on the bottom of the ladder. The return of Anderson is a big plus but it may not be enough to have them playing finals.

COACH: Harry Wilhelm

LAST YEAR: League champions

PREDICTION: 3rd

X-FACTOR: Gene “Tommy” Sanhaboa

GAINS: Jason Gilbert (London), Gene Sanhaboa (Mauritius), Mex Mgisho (Congo), Kerty Godon (Cambeltown), Horatio Ingles (Brisbane)

LOSSES: James Coutts, Zac Walker, Alex West, Jayson Ferguson, Mat Hasler, Harry Flanagan, Tyler Scott (Murray United); Matt Gray

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: We have complemented our promoted cup winning reserve team with some experienced players. We may not be as fast as last year’s league winning side but skillfully we are just as good and will be there abouts. With leadership from Joshua Zito, the return of Jason Gilbert midway through the season and a new style of football we should not be underestimated.

WHAT WE SAY: The exodus from Kelly Park to Murray United would decimate most clubs but Wanderers depth, the return of 2012 star player Gilbert and its ability to attract players will still leave in as one of the league favourites. Keeper Rohan Pearce is outstanding and kept a clean sheet as Twin City waltzed through the recent Andronicos Cup.

COACH: Mario Antonello

LAST YEAR: 9th

PREDICTION: 2nd

X-FACTOR: Elliot Jones

GAINS: Ivo Madeira, Ray Dirramacca, Nick Mantovanni, Joe Ballarini, Joe Grillo, Mitch Franco, Jesse Nicosia (Cobram); Ahmet Ay, Anthony Molinaro (Year Off); Stoycho Ivanov (Germany), Adam Burchell (Shep South), Nick Sherratt (Nottingham), Raff Molinaro (Injury)

LOSSES: Jake Giannakis, Damien Albertson

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: We have had the best preparation the club has had for the past decade and picked up some quality players in the off season. Ivo Madeira has been fantastic as assistant coach thus far and looks to be a standout player at AWFA level. The boys has listened and adapted a game plan throughout the pre season that we hope will keep us in matches for a lot longer this season. We are not talking championships — we just want to compete with the best.

WHAT WE SAY: The Red Devils might want to talk themselves down but with Englishman Elliott Jones now based in Wangaratta and the influx of Cobram players off the back of the creation of the merged Cobram Roar they will be disappointed not too play finals and be a factor in the title race. Big improvers.

COACH: Jamie Marcuzzi

LAST YEAR: 3rd, Cup champions

PREDICTION: 4th

X-FACTOR: Andrew Wallace

GAINS: Dylan Gavel, Jesse Marcuzzi (Melrose); Stefan Galanakis (Albury City); Andrew Wallace

LOSSES: Dan Millynn, Jesse Stephens, Darcy Pawlik, Ben Russell (Murray United)

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: We have seen a few off-season changes in personnel largely to do with the creation of Murray United. But that gives some of the junior talent a chance to step up, something the club has a proud history of doing. A good pre-season with plenty of enthusiasm should make for the Diamonds of old in the year ahead.

WHAT WE SAY: The return to the club of the speedy Gavel and defender Marcuzzi will help offset some significant losses to the NPL. Diamonds’ depth was a key to their cup win last year and expect that they will still have plenty of talent to draw on for the senior side in 2015. Like Boomers a club with an established football culture and will be thereabouts again.

COACH: Andrew Hughson

LAST YEAR: n/a

PREDICTION: 11th

X-FACTOR: nil

GAINS: nil 

LOSSES: nil 

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: Not entering the first grade competition last season was only a temporary situation for us and we are pleased to rejoin the competition this year. While the loss of our coach two weeks out from the season has created a significant issue for the team to overcome, we believe the commitment and improvement shown by the players in the past month will be enough for us to be competitive this season. Through the pre-season, the players were subjected to and embraced a positive attitude with high levels of determination and discipline. With these qualities already established and an average age within the senior ranks at 22 we have a young team with a lot of potential ready for another coach to take the reins and develop what is an already eager and capable squad.

WHAT WE SAY: It is great to have Heart back in the competition. But after a year on the sidelines you would expect them to struggle. Depth will be a factor even in an NPL diluted competition and a couple of wins would be a major milestone.