With the addition of Wimmera coaching legend Stuart Farr, a man who had a hand in 10 Horsham Demons premierships, as co-coach to Hamish Exell, and a host of new signings, Kalkee will be a team on the up this season.

Kalkee have lured Horsham Demons 2018 best and fairest Simon Hobbs to the club, while have also signed handy players in Lachie Exell, Alex Smith and Mitch Delahunty from Minyip-Murtoa and Jayden Kuhne from Dimboola. 

“Stuart and I probably think the side in general is in for a big year,” co-coach Hamish Exell said.

“We're hopeful Simon Hobbs and Lachie Exell can play some really consistent football for us. The leadership has been fantastic from a lot of players in setting the training expectations during pre-season.”

Exell said with the addition of more than half a dozen new recruits, the side will be able to move the ball quickly and freely this season.

“Ultimately like most sides we want to move the ball as quickly as possible so we can give our key forwards those really good one-one opportunities,” he said.

“Having been able to recruit several players to fill areas where we were perhaps a little undermanned in last season means we'll be able to move the ball differently.”

The Kees start their season at home against Laharum on April 7.

Who do you expect to take a step up this year?

I'm looking forward to see Jayden Kuhne and Baillie Batchelor who've both switched from Wimmera League clubs. Jasper Gunn had a fantastic year for us last season and will have some bigger bodies to help him out so I think his efforts and results will stand out a lot more.

Are there any losses you will have to work hard to cover?

We've been extremely lucky on this front, I don’t think we have any departures that we haven't been able to replace at this stage.

Who will be the teams to beat?

Some of the additions to most sides make it very interesting and it will probably be a tightly contested season. I do think Swifts and Jeparit-Rainbow will be the teams to beat.