French and footy a winning combination

A SEASON of change for Bendigo Thunder has started with the appointment of Leah French as club captain.

The class midfielder takes over the reins from 2016 season league best and fairest Emma Grant, who has departed to Collingwood and the AFL Women's league.

French, who won the Thunder's best and fairest in her rookie season in 2015, will lead a new-look Thunder team, minus Grant and Carlton AFLW quartet Bella Ayre, last season's vice-captain Jess Kennedy, Sarah Last and Hayley Trevean.

She said she was looking forward to the challenge of captaining, alongside key defender and ruck Jac Loutit, who has been named vice-captain.

"I'm really stoked to be captain of the club ... it's big shoes to fill because we've had great leaders in the past," she said.

"I'll certainly be talking to Emma and JK (Kennedy) for their advice.

“I'll also be leaning on Jac."

Despite the loss of five key personnel, French said training numbers had continued to be strong, averaging between 30 and 40 each session

"Of course we are going to lose people every year, that's going to happen at clubs, but it's fantastic for those stepping up to AFL clubs," she said.

"We had 34 players at training last night. having a second side this year will be absolutely fantastic.

"We want our club to be great going into the future and for that to happen we need to bleed people through our development side and bring people up to the firsts.

"You don't have to be the best at footy, you don't even have to have played before.

"The thing about coming to our club is we are very inclusive and we cater for all different abilities."

Louttit, who won the club's most determined award last season, was equally thrilled with her appointment and the club's prospects in 2017.

"The feeling around training is amazing. Everybody's up and out about and there's been great numbers" she said.

The announcements continued to flow for the Thunder on Tuesday, with Grill'd Bendigo revealed as the club's new naming rights sponsor for the next three seasons.

Franchise partner Richard Nash said it was an exciting time for women's football and Gril'd was keen to offer its support at local level.

"The fact that there is a genuine pathway for women to compete at the highest level in AFL is really exciting," he said.

The Thunder will this season be chasing their first premiership since winning the second of back-to-back premierships in 2013.

They finished second in the former Victorian Women's Football League Premier Division last season.