Upper Murray 2021 season preview: Can Bullioh make it three straight?

Coach: Joe Bolton, Kelvin Wallace and Josh Walters

2019: Premier (12-2-1)

Gains: Jacob Curran (Holbrook), Jack Wilson (Mitta United), Nick Arnetti (Henty), Shane Price

Losses: Hamish Clark, Ash Murray (Howlong), John McCabe (retired), Ben Parker, Brendan Smith, Daniel Phillips (Mitta United), Michael Sims (Dederang-Mount Beauty), Dustin Moffat (Warners Bay), Jake Fisher-Curnow (Braybrook)

Prospects: The Bulldogs have a strong chance to claim three consecutive premierships, but will have to do so without star midfielder Hamish Clark and the league's top goal-kicker from 2019 Ash Murray.

Comment (Joe Bolton): "We've gone back to making sure we've signed a lot of blokes we already had. Ryan Brown has stuck with us and we're excited with those blokes to be improving from within. Obviously Hamish and Ash will be pretty big losses, but we hope we can be a little more varied in our approach as forwards now, rather than going to Ash. We haven't picked up another big forward that can kick 160 goals like Ash, but I don't think any club is going to get one of them. The motivation is there to win three in a row."

Prediction: 2nd

Coach: Mitch Harris

2019: Fifth (4-11)

Gains: Sam Cross (Thurgoona), Alex Cables (Caulfield), Matt McNamara (Barnawartha), Matt Findlay (Murray Magpies), Ryan Nicklaus, Bryce Johnstone (Beechworth), Ben Kemp (Lockhart), Michael Bishop (Kiewa-Sandy Creek), Mark Boyle (Mitta United), Tom Clayton (Border-Walwa), David Nelson, Kirk Holden (Howlong), Josh Zuljevic, Steve McDaid

Losses: Danny De Marte, Dylan Nowak (Barnawartha), Jordan Palmer (retired), Jayden Price (Cudgewa)

Prospects: New coach Mitch Harris has recruited well and should have the Demons back in the finals hunt. Have landed one of the signings of the off-season with the return for key forward Sam Cross. If he's fit, Corryong can push the top sides.

Comment (Mitch Harris): "From our perspective as a club, we're really excited about the season. We've got a really enthusiastic and committed core playing group and we think we'll build throughout the year. We're excited to see Upper Murray footy back and we're looking forward to making the most of it with the other clubs. I don't want us to go out and win by 20 goals every game, I'd like to see strong clubs and anyone can win every week."

Prediction: 4th

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Coach: Brayden Carey

2019: Runner-up (14-1)

Gains: Kylin Morey (Brock-Burrum), Jake Vinge (Dederang-Mount Beauty), Robert Phibbs, Steve Phibbs (Chiltern), Tom Noonan (Barnawartha), Sam Harrison, James Whiteley, Darcy McKimmie, (Tallangatta), Jayden Price (Corryong), Max Houston (Border-Walwa), Joseph Bone (Wodonga Raiders), Lachlan Brown (Federal), Mitch Brown (Henty), Michael Voight (Tarrawingee), Jay Dale, Riley Petts (Beechworth), Flynn Kirk (Wahgunyah)

Losses: Richard Worcester (Beechworth), Nathan Woods (Murray Magpies), Jake Hill, Adam Healy, Ethan Riddington (Tallangatta), Kade Small (retired)

Prospects: The Blues will be hungry to go one better in 2021 after they dropped just one game all season prior to the grand final loss in 2019 against Bullioh.

Comment (Brayden Carey): "I think most clubs have a few players who come and go, but it all looks pretty good so we should be thereabouts again. I've heard that everyone has picked up pretty well. It should be pretty good for the league. It means a lot for the community up there to have footy back."

Prediction: 1st

Coach: Gerard Midson

2019: Third (7-7-1)

Gains: Haydn Cook, David Hansford, Mark Fabris, Jonathon Campbell (Wodonga Saints), Jarrod Thomson (Beechworth), Travis Bandy, Jack Miller (Tallangatta)

Losses: Steve Fouracre (Howlong), Stephen Bradshaw, Ben Jones (Barnawartha), Bradley Clough (Newcomb), Daniel Hales (Mitta United), Lachlan Brown (Cudgewa)

Prospects: Haven't attracted bigger names like their rivals but the young list should be competitive throughout. May just lack the depth to play finals.

Comment (Gerard Midson): "Finals is something every club wants to push for, but we're just happy to be back playing footy getting that mateship going again. We'll probably have a fairly young list, so it will be more about education for a lot of the younger guys. We'll probably end up with 25 to 30 new guys, not all senior footballers, but guys who want to go up and enjoy the last few years of their footy."

Prediction: 5^th

Coach: Quinn Rooney

2019: Fourth (7-8)

Gains: Harry Nunn (Henty), Hunter Clayton, James Waters, Jacob Read (Lavington), Tristan Golding (Murray Magpies), Zac Eyers (North Albury), Cal Brooksby (Albury), Finn deBono (East Wagga-Kooringal), Steve Hoffmann (MCUE), Matt Fraumeni (Leeton-Whitton), Jack Vogan (CSU), Lachlan Vogan (Coleambally)

Losses: Mitch Fennessy, Ryan Kirkwood, Wayne Bryon (GGGM), Reece Borg (Coleambally), James Crozier (Northern Districts), Wayne Rolla (East Wagga-Kooringal), Jai White, Drew Mitchell (North Wagga), Tom Bennetts (Queensland)

Prospects: Made finals in 2019 and have brought in players with Ovens and Murray experience which will only improve the Roos. Should be right in the hunt.

Comment (Quinn Rooney): "Everyone is pretty keen to get back at it after the year off. We were wondering what would happen to the league after this. We've got big numbers now, it was pretty slow to start off with but it's coming together now, which is good. We've got Bullioh and Cudgewa straight up so we should know pretty early how we'll shape up. The aim is to play finals again."

Prediction: 3rd