Four-time Doug Strang Medal winner Adam Prior will miss the first two matches.
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In fact, Lavington won’t have any of last year’s three-pronged forward line-up for Saturday night’s season-opener against Wangaratta.
Prior is working in Adelaide until Easter, Andrew Dess is unavailable with growing work commitments, while Justin Koschitzke has joined Brock-Burrum Saints.
Speculation has been strong that Prior would remain in South Australia and play with a non-SANFL outfit.
“I’ve heard all that but he was at training a few weeks back, so he’ll be OK,” coach James Saker said.
Saker admits the club will introduce a different style, which it needed after years of preliminary final and grand final losses.
“Yeah, I think we did need to change,” Saker said.
“We’re probably not going to have a reliance on big, tall forwards to take marks.
“We’ll be a lot more nimble across the ground and up forward.”
The Panthers have seven new players, with four debutants, including former Rutherglen star Marty Brennan.
Wangaratta has named three new players, including former North Melbourne midfielder Ben Speight, for its home match.
... we did need to change. We’re probably not going to have a reliance on big, tall forwards.
- James Saker
Meanwhile, Albury has named Jake Page for his debut, the son of multiple best and fairest Glenn.
Wodonga Raiders have named their son of a gun, Jackson Kelly, whose father Paul captained the Sydney Swans, as an emergency.
North Albury has selected Richmond VFL’s Shaun Mannagh for its home clash against Corowa-Rutherglen.
Yarrawonga’s Connor Hargreaves hasn’t been named against Myrtleford, but Carlton recruit Mark Whiley has, while the bulk of Wodonga and Wangaratta Rovers’ new faces will play on Saturday.
