Last year: 1st

Gains: Kade Stevens, Justin Koschitzke, Jordan Grimmond, Daniel Hitchins, Lachie Boyd and Luke McLellan (Lavington), Joe Boulton (Wodonga), Shannon and Dylan Boers

Losses: Nick Brockley (Wahgunyah), Kylin Morey (Beechworth), John-Roy Williams (Lavington), Dean Murphy (retired), David Oates

Prospects: Brock-Burrum won last year’s grand final by 33 points and will be the side everyone is trying to catch. The Saints have picked up some quality but losing Brockley, Morey, Williams, Murphy and Oates hurts. They are arguably in the club’s best 10 players and coach Kade Stevens will be looking to youngsters Josh Koschitzke and Eddy Ziebarth to step up. Should be cherry-ripe for round one after practice matches against TDFL heavyweights Rutherglen and Thurgoona. Aiming to become the first club since Osborne in 2000 to win three successive premierships.

Prediction: 1^st

Coach: Kerry Bahr

Last year: 2nd

Gains: Sam Myors (Melbourne), Tim Darcy (Echuca), Jesse Wellington (Tallangatta), Dylan Pettingill (Lavington), Ryan Speed (Newcastle), Rhys Preston (injured), Luke Holman (North Albury), Mitch Lawrence (Geelong), Hayden Hamilton (Culcairn), Dan Ladgrove (Barnawartha), Matt Osborne (Queensland), Mitch Dempsey

Losses: Josh Walker and Kirk Wilson (retired), Nic and Kris Holman (Lavington), Danny Warren (North Albury), Nick Dempsey

Prospects: While the Bulldogs have lost some heavy artillery, they are quietly confident of holding their ground with a midfield that goes deeper and the addition of towering ruckmen Tim D’Arcy and Mitch Lawrence. Sam Myors, Ryan Speed, Jesse Wellington and Dylan Pettingill will add some run to complement the likes of Sam Crawshaw, Julian Hayes and Andrew Wilson. Another focal point wouldn’t go astray but Jindera should be thereabouts in Kerry Bahr’s first senior coaching appointment.

Prediction: 2nd

Coach: Josh Maher

Last year: 3rd

Gains: Daniel Maher (Albury), Dale Lappin (Chiltern), Tim Ruaro (Whorouly), Daniel Mannagh and Matt Thorneycroft

Losses: Jesse Johnston (North Albury), Matt and Derek Murray (TRYC), Brad Thompson

Prospects: There was plenty of doom and gloom surrounding the Magpie camp after their straight sets exit from last year’s finals series. But coach Josh Maher has weathered the storm and kept his list strong as they prepare for another tilt at September. The Magpies gains and losses look to have nullified each other and, despite a tougher draw, it would be a surprise if they didn’t play finals again.

Prediction: 5^th

Coach: Jeremy Stevenson-Mick Collins

Last year: 4th

Gains: Rory Muggivan (North Albury), Shannon Broadbent (Kangaroo Flat), Nathan McLellan (Finley), Brad Goyne (Corowa-Rutherglen), Jack Payne (Berrigan)

Losses: Sam and Tyson Burdon, Cody Keenes, Cody Milne, Alex Wallis (Wahgunyah), Damien Wilson (Rutherglen), Kade Rowe (Tungamah), Damian Payne

Prospects: Along with Lockhart, the Power has undergone the biggest change to their list in the competition. They have lost almost half their side from last year’s finals series and desperately need youngsters Tom Webb, Andrew Phibbs, Kane Mills, Hayden Fisher, Jakob Hanrahan, Sam Haigh and Marc Playford to step up and fill the breach. CDHBU’s defence and midfield still looks sound but kicking winning scores could be a problem with Damian Payne moving on and young excitement machine Matt Walker set to be on Murray Bushrangers duty.

Prediction: 8th

Coach: Joel Price

Last year: 5th

Gains: Matt McDonald (Wodonga Raiders), Tim Brook (Tallangatta), Mitch Paton (Chiltern), William Farrer and Shane McAdam (Halls Creek, WA)

Losses: Hamish Clark (Bullioh), Toby Pargeter (army), Joe Pargeter and Steve Fouracre

Prospects: Howlong could be the X-factor. The Spiders appear to have covered their losses and it wouldn’t surprise if coach Joel Price landed another signing before the season opener on Saturday. Price is happy with his side’s depth. “I think we go a bit deeper with McDonald, Brook, McAdam and Farrer signing and Benny Baker being a year older,” Price said. Steve Fouracre has indicated he may retire. Watch McAdam turn it on.

Prediction: 3rd

Coach: Matt Rava

Last year: 6th

Gains: Andrew Clarke (TRYC)

Losses: Sam O’Connell (university)

Prospects: Osborne has been quiet on the recruiting front with the exception of luring Andrew Clarke back home. They also had a WAFL player signed before disaster struck and he returned to Western Australia due to employment reasons. Coach Matt Rava is happy to back in his youngsters. “We sort of had our hand forced last year with injuries and had to play a lot of kids,” Rava said. “They have some games in them now and we should benefit from that.”

Prediction: 7^th

Coaches: Matt Klemke, Simon Hillier

Last year: 9th

Gains: James Breen and Rhett Thomson (Tallangatta), Simon Hillier (Mitta United), Brent Ohlin (Federal), Dustin Rogers (MCUE), Josh Spencer (Rutherglen), Peter Winnett (Kiewa-Sandy Creek), Harry Nunn, Hamish Ross and John Wakefield

Losses: Hayden Singe (Lavington), Roy Jacques, Michael Atchison, Josh Singe and Joel Klemke 

Prospects: Expect the Swampies to rocket up the ladder after a big off-season. Co-coaches Matt Klemke and Simon Hillier have brought some quality into the line-up with James Breen and Dustin Rogers set to be major inclusions. Breen has proven himself in the Hume league before with his goal-kicking while Rogers will stiffen a defence which leaked goals last season.

Prediction: 4th

Coach: Jake Phillips

Last year: 7th

Gains: Zac Sheather (overseas), James Creasy (East Wagga-Kooringal), Jamie Clough (Belconnen), Jake Peters (BB Saints), Luke Hawkins (Tallangatta), Lachlan Gregurke (Wagga Tigers), Hayden McLaughlin (North Wagga), Daniel Smallwood

Losses: Mitch and Jeremy Sykes, Andrew Emery, Clint Shields and John Hoey (Turvey Park), Jesse Margosis, Jordan Matthews, Shannon Williams and Jackson Sanbrook (Marrar)

Prospects: Lockhart has been decimated by departures to the Riverina and Farrer leagues with new coach Jake Phillips facing a tough initiation to the coaching box. The Demons will need to claim a couple of scalps on their home turf to stay off the bottom of the ladder. Playing Murray Magpies, Brock-Burrum and Jindera in the opening three rounds won’t help their cause.

Prediction: 12th

Coach: Myles Aalbers

Last year: 10th

Gains: Todd and Jordan Miller (Thurgoona), Jayden Quinlivan (Chiltern), Brendan Simmons (injured), Josh Warren (Holbrook) Mitch Lauritzen (Culcairn)

Losses: Tom Plunkett (Port Macquarie), Pat Star (Melbourne), Charlie Williams (Thurgoona), Mason Collins (Wagga), Mick Hamilton (Billabong Crows), Jaxon Neagle (Wodonga Raiders), Justin Dickson

Prospects: The Giants should build on their four wins from last season after picking up a handful of recruits. Todd Miller and Josh Warren will bolster the attack, while Brendan Simmons adds starch to the defence. Another side which could finish anywhere between sixth and 12th.

Prediction: 9th

Coach: Danny Stevens

Last year: 8th

Gains: Harry Stonnill (Geelong), Mitch Lord (Corowa-Ruth), Sam Grant (Tooleybuc), Mick Hamilton (Rand-Walbundrie-Walla), Tim Austin (Geelong)

Losses: Will Haberecht (Albury), Brett Powell (retired), Alex Brooks (Rennie), Tom Conlan (Canberra)

Prospects: Can the Billabong Crows play finals for the first time? While the odds are against them, Danny Stevens has kept his list together and added a couple of handy types. Youngsters George Sandral, Justin Dore and Bryon Habermann will benefit from last season’s experience and John Simpson is set to play a full season after only managing a handful of matches last year. Depth once again looks the club’s biggest challenge if injuries strike.

Prediction: 10th

Coach: Brendan Way, Adam Eady

Last year: 11th

Gains: Jed Andrew (Albury), Tim Haines (Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka), Jamie Robbins (Prahran), Peter Cook (Barnawartha), Scott Fagan (shoulder)

Losses: Hayden Hamilton (Jindera), Simon McLeish and Norman Barlow (Wodonga Saints)

Prospects: The Lions appear to have recruited as well as anyone in the competition. Jed Andrew has played senior football for Albury, Tim Haines is a premiership player at Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka, Jamie Robbins and Peter Cook are proven goalkickers and Scott Fagan has plenty of runs on the board at Culcairn. But co-coach Adam Eady believes the Lions’ youngsters could provide the real improvement. “I think most of our improvement will come from the young blokes,” Eady said. “I’m really excited to see what they can do.” Nick Wright, Matt Hensel and Hayden Smith are leading the young brigade.

Prediction: 6th

Coach: Adrian Whitehead

Last year: 12th

Gains: Curtis Steele, Lachlan Parker and Travis Collison (Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong), Aaron Baker and Brendan Hanckel (Tallangatta), Charlie White, Harry White and Gus Keogh (TRYC), Ben Talarico (Wangaratta Rovers)

Losses: Josh Spencer (Rutherglen), Tyson Neander (Rutherglen), Josh Warren (Rand-Walbundrie-Walla)

Prospects: Holbrook will be desperate to climb off the bottom of the ladder and look well placed to climb a rung or two. New assistant coach Curtis Steele will be lethal on the big Hume league grounds with his blistering pace, while Aaron Baker’s presence will certainly be felt in the ruck. Wangaratta Rovers recruit Ben Talarico is a late bonus for the Brookers.

Prediction: 11^th

RELATED: Thurgoona takes hit but still team to beat for Tallangatta and District league flag