WODONGA

Pre-season so far: Army personal trainer Richard Holloway has a strength and conditioning background, so the youthful Bulldogs are as fit as they've been for a couple of years.

Who's running hot?: It will be an extremely young team and it's a handful of players from last year's under 18s who have been leading the way in Kade Nimmo, Isaac Cassidy, son of former player Damien, Liam Andrews and Casey Marr.

The burning question?: Look, everyone knows it's going to be a brutal year for the Bulldogs. They had the one win last year and have lost a stack of players, so if they win one game, that's a successful season.

Injured list: Brock Murray (knee). Nobody ever wants to see an injury, but to lose a certain round one starter to a season-ending ACL is just cruel.

New faces: Adam Jorgensen (Nathalia), Hamish O'Brien (Tallangatta).

What impact will Jorgensen have?: He kicked 55 goals in 21 games last year, including the club's grand final win over Tongala. Jorgensen is a medium-sized forward and has been added as the club searches to find more goal-kicking power. Wodonga averaged 52 points last year. Wodonga Raiders finished fifth, on percentage, with 88 points per game.

Wodonga has the longest finals drought (11 years), what can it do to break the cycle?: Get a big name. It doesn't matter if it's a coach or player, the Bulldogs need someone to get the buzz back. The club tried over summer to find that star playing assistant coach to help Zac Fulford, but it didn't work out.

Recruiting status: It's been a tough pre-season to find players, so there's no chance of any lobbing now.

Practice matches: Mooroopna (March 1), Wagga Tigers (March 14), Broadford (March 21).

YARRAWONGA

Pre-season so far: Mark Whiley is in his first year as coach, so it's a new experience for him and his players. Damian Sexton had coached the club for the past three seasons. Whiley has three assistants in Tyler Sprunt, Matt Dwyer and Marcus Cummins and he will need them too as any first-year coach will tell you, no matter how well you have trained and prepared off the field, there's always a handful of moments you can't see coming.

Who's running hot?: Harry Wheeler is the club's best trainer who never deviates from an insatiable work ethic. Youngster Bailey Frauenfelder has also been outstanding.

Whiley is in his fourth season after an AFL career and regarded as one of the league's fittest players. However, he's been dogged by injury in the past year and a half, so has he tried anything different?: Yes. The superfit midfielder is trying to time his run, so to speak. Admittedly his work in the building game has played a role in that, but he's been doing less k's on the training track as he searches desperately for a way to maintain full fitness for the year. Admittedly, the broken hand in mid-2018 was just bad luck, but if he stays fit, Yarrawonga almost has a 'new' player.

Injured list: Livewire forward Jess Koopman rolled an ankle, but should be available for most practice games.

ALSO IN SPORT:

New faces: Willie Wheeler, Leigh Masters (Williamstown), Sam Schulz (Culcairn), Nick Irvine (Murray Bushrangers).

How good will Willie Wheeler and Masters be?: On form, in the league's top three. They are VFL premiership players, club best and fairests and two-time VFL Team of the Year members. Wheeler is one of the State's best midfielders, while Masters reads the play as well as any defender. If they fire and Whiley has a better run with injury, the Pigeons will return to finals. The cherry on top would be 2016 Morris medallist Tyler Bonat back from long-term injury.

Recruiting status: The Pigeons would love one more late signing.

Practice matches: Norwood (EFL) (February 29), Therry Penola (March 7), Echuca (March 14), Wangaratta (March 21).