While stopping short of declaring the club will throw off the shackles, Saker admits it will be more exciting as the club moves away from a dependence on big forwards.

“You need to have a few different layers up there, you can’t just have guys who kick and mark,” he said.

“You need high pressure and keep the ball in there.

“Jack Nunn and the John-Roy Williams of the world, they’re very good with that.

“John-Roy Williams, we haven’t had someone that exciting in our club for quite a while.

“I think we’ll play a more attractive brand than perhaps in the past.”

The lightning-fast Williams will face a major step up in class though, after playing in the Brock-Burrum Saints’ premierships in the Hume League.  

Lavington’s game under Saker has been built on meticulous preparation and defensive discipline.

“We’ve bought in the two Holmans (Kris and Nick), for example, and they kick the ball so well so naturally they’re going to take more advantage of situations that present,” Saker said.

“We’ll have a similar framework, but the guys will bring their own talent to the table and that might be a bit more exciting.”

Lavington has been a perennial finalist, but Wangaratta is looking for a return after a six-year drought.

Former North Melbourne player Ben Speight will spearhead the midfield, with support from Daniel Sharrock, Brad Melville, Daniel Boyle, Ben Douthie, Matt Kelly and veteran Daine Porter.

“We’ll certainly run Daine through the middle at one point, but he won’t play massive amounts of time through the middle,” Pies’ coach Dean Stone said.

“We’re just looking after him and making sure he gets through the season.”

Along with Speight, who’s spent recent years at Werribee, the Pies have also signed team-mate Josh Porter, while Stone says the impressive Sharrock is a pseudo-recruit.

“He played the majority of the year with the Bushrangers, so we didn’t really have him at all last year, so he’s like a recruit for us,” Stone said.

The Pies are tipped as one of the big improvers after signing the Werribee duo.

They fell to Wodonga in the final round by a point last year to miss out by half-a-win.

It’s round one’s only night match, with a six pm start at Norm Minns Oval.