Last year: 9th - 1-17

Arrivals: Stewart Crameri, Lachlan Butler, Ash Humphrey, Lachlan Crameri, Matt Bilton, Daniel Vadala, Liam Latch.

Departures: Jack Hayward, Will Sultana, Miles Mirada, Ethan Grech.

Player points: 47

Last flag: 1999

First month:

R1: v South Bendigo (a)

R2: v Castlemaine (h)

R3: v Eaglehawk (h)

R4: v Sandhurst (a)

Past five years:

2018: 9th - 1-17

2017: 10th - 1-17

2016: 10th - 0-18

2015: 10th - 0-18

2014: 8th - 5-13

Last season's MVP top 5:

Jacob Long - 49

Luke Bucknall - 48

Coby Perry - 40

Lachlan Bond - 36

Brady Neill - 32

Last season's top 5 goalkickers:

Jordan Fraser - 22

Jayden Templeton - 18

Lachlan Bond - 12

Mitch Kennedy - 12

Jake Postle - 8

Q and A with coach Ben Lavars

Do you feel as though you've made steady improvements in game style and fitness in the off-season?

"In pe-season training last year we were averaging about eight guys to training. This pre-season we've consistently had at least 15 to 20 at training which has made us do some structured game style drills at training.

"We've been able to work on how we want to play and how we want to move the ball. You get extra fitness from doing those drills as well.

"That extra work showed in our practice game (against Harcourt) at the weekend. We were more advanced in the way we played this year compared to the same game last year."

Has the extra numbers at training been built largely around the strong recruiting and the return of Stewie Crameri.

"I think that's part of it and I think the other part of it is the culture of the club.

"We haven't always had the best of names in the Maryborough area. You talk to a lot players now and the way they talk about club now is far different to when I first came in.

"Even though we didn't win many games last year, when people came to watch they saw the results weren't blowouts like previous years and they're starting to see that change and they're starting to come back to the club."

On the back of the recruiting, what expectations do you put on the team this year? Is there a certain number of wins you'd like to reach or is it more about competitiveness on a week-to-week basis?

"It's an interesting one. Obviously, we do want to improve and we don't want to be on the bottom of the ladder anymore.

"In-house we'll talk about those goals, but it's not probably I want to promote outside of the club at this stage.

"We want to win as many games as we can, but we'll set goals in-house that we'll try and meet."

Stewie Crameri's body was pretty sore at the end of his AFL career. How has he handled the pre-season and do you have an updated figure of how many games you expect him to play this year?

"I've left it up to Stewie about how much he wants to train. he's saying he feels really good. Not having to do the amount of training he had to do at AFL level has helped him.

"We have an idea of how many games he might play. Maybe he might play more if his body holds up, but we'll leave that up to him."

Summary

For the first time in many years there's genuine excitement at Princes Park.

No, the Magpies won't be finals contenders, but what they will be is far more competitive.

Stewie Crameri's return to his home club from the AFL couldn't have come at a better time for the club.

His playing ability is an obvious plus, but just as importantly he gives the club a profile in the community it's sorely lacked.

On top of Crameri, the arrival of VFL-experienced duo Lachlan Butler and Ash Humphrey and the return of the classy Matt Bilton will take the pressure off the likes of Luke Bucknall and Coby Perry.

Last year the Magpies produced good quarters and/or halves of football against every team in the competition, but in the end the lack of depth was telling.

This year the Pies will have some depth through the midfield which will help them stay in games for longer.

Bendigo Pioneers graduate Connor O'Shea and 2019 Pioneers-listed player Liam Latch are two teenagers who have the potential to be quality senior footballers.

The Magpies play South Bendigo at the QEO in round one and Castlemaine at Princes Park in round two.

A win in at least one of those two games would lay the foundation for a more competitive season.

Practice matches - v Harcourt (March 23), North Bendigo pre-season carnival (March 29-30).

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Coach: Deb Symes (second year)

Last year: Sixth

Arrivals: nil.

Departures: Tori Chandler.

Coaching panel: Deb Symes (A-grade and B-grade); Stacey Russell (B-reserve); Ella Tranter (17-and-under).

Last five years: Sixth (2018); eighth (2017); fifth (2016); sixth (2015); fifth (2014).

Q and A with coach Deb Symes

It's no secret you were struggling for numbers early on. How has that panned out?

"I am disappointed we don't have an A-reserve ... really disappointed. But if you haven't got the numbers, there's not much you can do. We have filled our other teams, which we are happy with. I'm really happy with our other grades, they will be competitive. B-grade was close to making finals last year, but has changed a lot this year having lost a couple of strong players, though we have recruited another goaler."

You were competitive last year, maybe even a bit unlucky not to snare fifth sport. With the same group of players at your disposal, how do you think you will stack up this year?

"Being a similar team, I feel things won't be as hard for us. Last year they were a lot of young girls thrown in together, but I feel with that experience they will mature into a nice little team. That experience from last year is something I am sure we can build on. I guess bringing Kyneton into the mix - and I imagine South Bendigo has recruited well with young Chloe (Langley going there - those teams have to be in contention (for a finals spot)."

Obviously the youngsters have a wonderful mentor in Alicia Cassidy. It must be great to have her on-court again?

"She is a great role model for any junior. And she is still an amazing player - so talented."

SUMMARY

Maryborough's hopes of forcing their way up the ladder will rest largely on the natural improvement of its talented crop of youngsters.

The Magpies, under second-year coach Deb Symes, will head into the new season with one of the league's most settled line-ups and with practice matches under their belt against Harcourt and Maldon.

Their A-grade player losses have been capped at promising midcourter Tori Chandler, who has headed interstate to pursue her university studies.

The nucleus of the side, which finished the season in sixth place remains, with young guns Keely Hare, Ella and Maggie Tranter, and Bella Westbrook, joining league games record-holder and Magpies 350-gamer Alicia Cassidy, reliable goaler Jordan Macilwain and Chloe Egan.

The Magpies only narrowly missed a spot in the finals, finishing level on four wins (from 14 games) with Golden Square (fifth) and South Bendigo (seventh) in a tight-battle for fifth spot. A one-goal loss to South Bendigo in round 12 ultimately caused their downfall.

The Magpies had their chance up until round 18, but despite a gallant effort against Eaglehawk, which finished the minor round season in third, the Magpies came up short.

Depth might be an issue, with the Magpies heading into the season without an A-reserve team, but if their youngsters can take another step in their development, finals remain a possibility.

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