Adam Bourke: Well, Westy, all the talk in the HDFNL off-season has been about two clubs - Colbo and White Hills.
Both have recruited strongly, with White Hills creating the most waves by signing former Carlton pair Sam Kerridge and Jed Lamb.
There's plenty of premiership talk at White Hills, but history shows it's mighty hard to go from the bottom three to premiers in one season.
Luke West: Both teams have certainly brought in plenty of top-line talent into what shapes as a ripping 2019 in the Heathcote District league.
The Demons do have quite a bit of ground to make-up off their three wins of last year, but a significant leap forward looks ahead for them. I've gone Kerridge for the Cheatley Medal and Lamb for the goalkicking and picked the Demons in my top three.
My flag tip is Colbinabbin. The Grasshoppers have been around the mark for the past four years and look to have recruited with a sense that this is the time now to take the next step.
Hopefully, for the sake of the Grasshoppers one of their star recruits, Daniel Connors, can have far more luck with his hamstrings than last year at Sandhurst.
While I've attached myself to the Colbinabbin band wagon, it wouldn't surprise me to not only see North Bendigo back on the grand final stage for the sixth year in a row, but winning the flag.
Adam Bourke: Not much between the top four in my opinion - Colbo, LBU, North Bendigo and White Hills.
Love the way the LBU Cats have gone about their rebuild and this year they've added some quality to compliment their young players. I might be going off a year early, but I like the Cats to push for a grand final berth.
I've gone against the grain a touch and added Mount Pleasant to the finals mix just ahead of Leitchville-Gunbower.
What do you make of the reigning premier Bombers?
Luke West: There's certainly some star quality out of the Bombers team - Matt Perri, Tim Lincoln and Jack Gleeson to name just a few.
You'd expect the Bombers to be coming back to the pack this year, but given the level they and North Bendigo have been at in recent seasons - a class of their own - I've still got them a top-five side.
Despite Perri gone, the likes of Daniel Coates, Jake Vandongen and the returning Tyler Jones still gives the Bombers' front half a dangerous look and we know they are blessed with a great group of young players, plus have one of the competition's biggest home ground advantages.
The only top five change for me from last year is White Hills in and Huntly out.
Adam Bourke: Come September we'll either look like geniuses or mugs. Here's our footy and netball season predictions for 2019.
FOOTBALL
ADAM BOURKE
Premier: Colbinabbin
Runner-up: Lockington-Bamawm United
Top five: Colbinabbin, Lockington-Bamawm United, North Bendigo, White Hills, Mount Pleasant
Wooden spoon: Heathcote
Cheatley Medal: Sam Kerridge (White Hills)
Leading goalkicker: Ben Weightman (Mount Pleasant)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: HDFNL to change from under-17s to under-18s in 2020
LUKE WEST
Premier: Colbinabbin
Runner-up: North Bendigo
Top five: Colbinabbin, North Bendigo, White Hills, LBU, Leitchville-Gunbower
Wooden spoon: Heathcote
Cheatley Medal: Sam Kerridge (White Hills)
Leading goalkicker: Jed Lamb (White Hills)
Headline: Number of blowouts greatly reduced as competition tightens up
KIERAN ILES
Premier: Colbinabbin
Runner-up: North Bendigo
Top five: Colbinabbin, North Bendigo, White Hills, Lockington-Bamawm United, Leitchville-Gunbower
Wooden spoon: Elmore
Cheatley Medal: Sam Kerridge (White Hills)
Leading goalkicker: Ben Weightman (Mount Pleasant)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Elmore stuns premiership contender
ANTHONY PINDA
Premier: North Bendigo
Runner-up: Colbinabbin
Top five: North Bendigo, Colbinabbin, Leitchville-Gunbower, Huntly, Lockington-Bamawm United
Wooden spoon: Elmore
Cheatley Medal: Nathan Bacon (LBU)
Leading goalkicker: Daniel Connors (Colbinabbin)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Elmore triumphs with first round victory over Colbinabbin
NETBALL
ADAM BOURKE
Premier: White Hills
Runner-up: Colbinabbin
Top five: White Hills, Colbinabbin, Elmore, Mount Pleasant, North Bendigo
Wooden spoon: Heathcote
League best and fairest: Ruby Barkmeyer (Elmore)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Demons, Hoppers go to extra time to decide premiership
LUKE WEST
Premier: Colbinabbin
Runner-up: White Hills
Top five: Colbinabbin, White Hills, Elmore, Mount Pleasant, Huntly
Wooden spoon: Heathcote
League best and fairest: Anna-Grace Close (White Hills)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Chasing pack closes the gap on power teams White Hills and Colbinabbin
KIERAN ILES
Premier: White Hills
Runner-up: Colbinabbin
Top five: White Hills, Colbinabbin, Elmore, Huntly, Mount Pleasant
Wooden spoon: Leitchville-Gunbower
League best and fairest: Danni Wee-Hee (White Hills)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Heathcote breaks long finals drought.
ANTHONY PINDA
Premier: White Hills
Runner-up: Mount Pleasant
Top five: White Hills, Mount Pleasant, Colbinabbin, Elmore and Huntly.
Wooden spoon: Lockington-Bamawm
League best and fairest: Kym Bell (Huntly)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Back-to-back crowns for White Hills
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