*ARRIVALS*

Nico Sedgwick (Brock-Burrum), James Oeser (Culcairn), Kai Davies (South Warrnambool), Drew Beavan (Marrar), Samuel Hopper, Coopa Steele (Leeton Whitton), Jack Harland (Moama), Nathan Cook (Billabong Crows), Ben Ashley-Cooper (Finley), Isaac Lampe (Holbrook), Neil Smith (Henty), Cody Mannagh (Thurgoona), Callum Auldist (Ellinbank), Darcy Hennessy, Aidan Cook (Figtree), Sam Harrington (Albury JFC)

*DEPARTURES*

Brad Carman (Camden), Elijah Amery (Wangaratta Rovers), Liam Ross (UNSW Eastern Suburbs), Logan Hamilton (Holbrook), David Goodwin (Chiltern), Hayden Singe (Thuringowa, Q'land), Harry Weaven (Brock-Burrum), Bailey Philips (Culcairn), Matt Robertson (RWW Giants), Nick Perryman (Osborne), Matthew Pendergast (Rennie)

THE LATEST:

WILL LAVINGTON BE THE FIRST TEAM IN YEARS TO FINISH AS PREMIERS AND THEN MISS FINALS THE FOLLOWING SEASON?

History says no. When you win the comp, you have wiggle room and it's hard to see the Panthers missing the top five. That said, if it was ever going to happen this would be the year. Most of the teams below Lavington have picked up top quality players and the Panthers have been the quietest of the likely contenders in the recruiting stakes.

THE PANTHERS TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE PRE-SEASON IN THAT THEY ONLY PLAYED ONE PRACTICE MATCH, WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE HAD AT LEAST TWO GAMES. WILL THAT COUNT AGAINST THEM?

In rugby league circles, there's a famous banner at games which follows supercoach Wayne Bennett. In Benny We Trust. In the O and M, it's In Simon We Trust. After guiding the Panthers to that shock win over a red-hot Wangaratta in the 2019 decider, you can't argue with anything coach Simon Curtis has done. An element in the club suggested an extra practice game, but Curtis was happy with the one. In Simon We Trust.

HOW LONG BEFORE WE KNOW IF IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION?

The Panthers play four finals contenders in Wangaratta Rovers, Yarrawonga, Wodonga Raiders and Myrtleford in the first month, so we'll know straight away if the club has hit the ground running. Still, given a year off footy, the lighter workload early could mean the Panthers are flying at the end of the year. In Simon We Trust.

HAS MARTY BRENNAN JOINED THE A-LISTERS AT LAVINGTON?

Absolutely. You can count him alongside coach Curtis, Nick Meredith, Aidan Johnson and Shaun Mannagh (he might play only a few games). In the grand final, he started on a wing, played deep forward and on-ball. Also, had a match-high 27 touches. Brennan was recruited from Rutherglen in 2017 and won the best and fairest, but he's better now.

Q: You played both Aussie Rules and rugby league up until 16, how difficult was that when you live in Tumut?

A: It was tough, I played Harold Matthews Cup for Canberra in 2018 and was also involved with the GWS Academy. Harold Matts (the NRLs under 16s) was a Wednesday night training and Friday night captain's run with the game that weekend. The Giants were on Tuesday and Thursday nights, so that worked out well. And the Harold Matts are all over early in the season before the Giants got any matches in. Playing the two was a massive training load on the body and I didn't have time for schoolwork or to see my girlfriend or my friends.

Q: Why did you choose Aussie Rules over league, where it's the bigger sport in the town?

A: Probably my body is more built for Aussie Rules (Beavan is 181cms and 82kgs) and I enjoyed the game more.

Q: What commitments did you have with the Giants in 2019?

A: I played under 18 level and also played two reserve grade games in the NEAFL.

Q: You live two hours from Lavington Sportsground, yet still travel up consistently for training, why is that?

A: I want to play the next level I can and was coached by Tim Sanson at school level. I'll mainly play for the Giants in the under 19s to start, but there's only five games.