2017 best and fairest: Emma Brooks

Arrivals: Maddison Smedley, Ash Bennett (returning to netball), Aryelle Winchcomb (Calivil United).

Departures: Sarah Perry (travelling), Cara Bastian (retired but still coaching).

Coach’s comment: “We missed finals by the slimmest of margins, so absolutely, finals are what we are aiming for. Not just in A-grade, but across all the grades. We are very much looking forward with getting on with the season and actually playing round one. This year the average age of the team has actually gone down a few years.” – Cara Bastian

Last year: Fifth

2017 Best and fairest: Stacey Rothacker

Arrivals: Claudia Powell (Strathfieldsaye); Emily Barnes (Strathfieldsaye); Jessey Wilson (Strathfieldsaye); Anita Dorrington (Strathfieldsaye); Ellie Wilson (Strathfieldsaye), Casey Livingstone (Strathfieldsaye, previously Stanhope).

Departures: Stacey Rothacker, Ash Strachan, Keely MacDonald.

Coach’s comment: “Pre-season is coming along well and we’re all very excited to be getting towards the start of the season. The girls are coming together well. Having all our recruits join from one the club has certainly made things easier.” – Claudia Powell

Last year: Fourth

Best and fairest: Katie McGee

Arrivals: Christie Rogers (Eaglehawk), Lauren Rogers (returning), Lauren Miller (returning), Ebony Lawry (Mitiamo).

Departures: Hollie Allford, Katie McGee (Melbourne), Paige Ryan (Sandhurst).

Coach’s comment: “It’s been a slow start with so many players coming back from pregnancies and injuries ….. and a lot of the girls play tennis as well, so in the next few weeks we should see a lot more girls at netball training. The girls had a good season last year and played very well in the finals, so we certainly hope to build on last year and aim for top three.” – Karen Pascoe, who is joint coach alongside Teigan Redwood

Last year: Ninth

2017 Best and fairest: Taylor Forster

Arrivals: Shelby Thatcher (Harcourt), Chloe Broderick (Camperdown), Grace Broderick (Camperdown), Ava Broderick (Camperdown).

Departures: Eloise Murray (Elmore).

Coach’s comment: “There’s a really good feel around the club – the hardest thing for us is shedding the cellar dweller tag. Once we do that we will be flying. I know we didn’t win a game last season but we were decimated by injury by halfway through the season. Having said that, across the board we had a 70 per cent increase in wins, which is something you can’t take away from the club.” – Lizzie Wiggins

Last year: Seventh

2017 Best and fairest: Leisa Barry

Arrivals: Samantha Nelson (returning), Hayley Hogan (returning), Maddy Ingram (Tyntynder).

Departures: Maddy Combridge (Eaglehawk), Steph Donnellon (Elmore), Caitlyn Walsh (Mount Pleasant), Emma O’Rourke (injured).

Coach’s comment: “We have a good mixture of old and new players – and they will be a young group as well. We had a practice match against Eaglehawk and I was impressed with the way we went. We still have a little bit of work to do, but we’re definitely aiming to get back to finals.”– Benita Swatton

Last year: Eighth

2017 Best and fairest: Kym Dalton

Arrivals: Maddi Higgins, Dani Jeffery, Kate Weller, Katelyn Kirk, Cayla Grant, Amy Cox, Emily Moss, Sherridan Kinniburgh.

Departures: Lara Daly (North Bendigo).

Coach’s comment: “We’re a work in progress. We’ve been working hard in the pre-season and will obviously be striving to improve on last year, but with a big change in players there will be a need for some time at the start to work on coming together. I’m confident there’s a good deal of improvement in us.” – Linda Bickerdike

Last year: Second

2017 Best and fairest: Amelia Ludeman

Arrivals: Lucy Morcom (Golden Square), Georgia Anderson (Golden Square).

Departures: Laura Hicks, Chloe Whitfield.

Coach’s comment: “We are looking good – a return to the grand final is where we have our sights. Our two recruits (Lucy Morcom and Georgia Anderson) have fitted in really well.” – Jenny Clohesy, who is joint coach alongside Kylie Piercy

Last year: Third

2017 Best and fairest: Meg Jennings

Arrivals: Rachel Pettifer (returning), Emma McQueen (Yarrawonga).

Departures: Jane Reid (North Bendigo), Amy Jackman (Eaglehawk), Tara Henkel (pregnant), Gemma Steel (break).

Coach’s comment: “We will be competitive; pre-season has gone well and I think our fitness will be our key. Amy and Jane will be big losses; we’ll miss their height. It looks like most of the teams have had a bit of a shake-up.” – Rachel Pettifer

Last year: Premiers.

2017 Best and fairest: Zoe Kennedy

Arrivals: Delainey Holmes (Cohuna Kangaroos), Milly Opt’Hoog (Tooleybuc-Manangatang), Bec McKnight (Maldon), Danica McCahon (returning from interstate), Mikayla McMahon, Kelly Gould (returning from a year off), Milly Saville (Swan Hill), Isabelle Renner (Wangaratta), Lauren Barone (Nyah Nyah West), Eimer Draper (Robinvale), Alicia Harvey (Lalbert), Lisa Mitchell (Calivil United), Georgie Parkes (Swan Hill).

Departures: Gabby Kennedy (travelling), Gemma Scott, Jess Holdstock.

Coach’s comment: “We’ll aim for finals and go from there – it’s a bit of new-look team, so we’ll take some time to gel. The (three) players we have lost will be massive losses.” – Zoe Kennedy