With key players Mark Butters (Beechworth), Jarryd Hatton (Northcote) and Grant Gardiner (Henty) moving on, Arendarcikas said every chance would be given to second grade players and recruits to step up.

“It’s a bit of a changing of the guard,” Arendarcikas said.

“We are still pretty well placed though.

“We know what players like Jon Shaw, Dean Nicholson, Nick Flood and Luke Restall can do so it’s going to be a case of how quickly the younger guys can grab their opportunity.”

St Patrick’s has injected some youth with Kori Stevenson and Luke Brunow (Wodonga Raiders), Tyler Young and Cooper Page (North Albury) and Sam Stewart (Rutherglen) set to make their mark.

Andrew Dess is back after five years in Canberra, while Cameron Furze, James Ellis and Karl Jacka are set to play at various stages.

“We won the flag in second grade last year and opportunities are going to be there for the likes of Tom Ellwood, Matt Crawshaw, Sam Hollis, Ben Lloyd and Ryan Lade,” Arendarcikas said.

“There are couple of really good new players coming to the club as well.”

Butters lives at Beechworth and shapes as a huge coup for the reigning Wangaratta and District Cricket Association premier after taking over 100 wickets in the past three seasons.

Former St Patrick’s premiership player Peter Evans has taken over as head training co-ordinator at Xavier High School.

“Pete is going to work with the juniors and help bring them along,” Arendarcikas said.

“We think he’ll be really good in that position.”

St Patrick’s bowed out of the premiership race this year when they lost to Tallangatta in a tight preliminary final.