It's hard to talk about the Wimmera league without mentioning the dominance of the Horsham Demons, and the belief among followers of the league is that the side heads into 2019 strong favourites again.
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Horsham haven't missed the finals in the past 15 years and is in line to claim its third-straight premiership this season.
Wimmera interleague coach Guy Smith believes both last year's grand finalists - in the Demons and Southern Mallee Giants - remain the teams to beat.
"I think the two top teams from last year, in Horsham and the Southern Mallee Giants ... they're still going to be strong," he said.
Ryan Kemp's move to the VFL left a big hole in Horsham's forward line. As a background member at the club, Smith said the Demons were looking internally for his replacement.
"A Toohey Medallist and a leading goalkicker in one player - that's obviously a huge loss. We will never, ever be able to replace him," he said. "The best we can do is hope some younger generations are rising up through the ranks who can follow his example."
The departures of Brock Orval and Nicholas O'Farell hampered the Southern Mallee Giants' off-season, but coach Coleman Schache's focus on recruiting depth will likely leave them in good stead.
"We're really looking forward to our next lot coming through and we've had some young guys put their hands up, which is good," Schache said.
Horsham Saints elevated young stars Jacob O'Beirne, Sam Clyne and Sam Jasper to leadership roles and the move left coach Luke Fisher excited about his team's potential.
"These guys have been the better footballers - not only in the club, but among the league - and it's been good as the older blokes start taking a step back just to enjoy their footy," Fisher said.
Warrack Eagles are hoping to make finals again, buoyed by the return of ruckman Scott Adams and Jayden Werner.
Smith earmarked Minyip-Murtoa and Stawell as outside contenders, while warning Ararat could be a "smoky" under coach Shane Fisher.
"I think we are targeted differently now. In recent years, teams might have come to Ararat thinking they would take an easy four points, but we want to keep developing to change those mindsets of other clubs," Fisher said.
The Rats bolstered their midfield stocks with the signings of Callum Mendes and Dylan Shelley.
Dimboola and Nhill are re-building after disappointing campaigns last year.
The Roos remain an unknown quantity under new coach Justin Beugelaar, who has used his Northern Territory connections to recruit exciting players like former NEAFL star Matthew Rosier.
Both sides will be looking forward to what promises to be an exciting, competitive season ahead.
KEY MOVEMENTS
ARARAT: In - Callum Mendes, Aaron Pianta, Todd Smith, Dylan Shelley. Out - Jake Robinson
DIMBOOLA: In - Matthew Rosier, Ash Clugston, Tom Clugston. Out - Nigel Ashton, Allistair McKinnon
HORSHAM: In - Samuel Vincent, Ambrose Launder, Allistair McKinnon. Out - Ryan Kemp, John Wood, Cooper Price
HORSHAM SAINTS: In - Angus Martin, Daniel Ervin. Out - Fergus O'Connor, Kieren Priestley
MINYIP-MURTOA: In - Tim McIntyre, Ben McIntyre, Tim MacKenzie. Out - Pat Purcell, Damian Cameron, Matt Coleman
NHILL: In - Frederick Stephan, Nick Linton, Jordon Gurry. Out - Jake Pilgrim, Jordan Zeitz
WARRACK EAGLES: In - Scott Adams, Jayden Werner. Out - Travis Lawson, Joshua Bibby
SOUTHERN MALLEE GIANTS: In - Mitchell Gleeson, Blake Marshall. Out - Brock Orval, Jackson Fisher, Nicholas O'Farrell
STAWELL: In - Jay Moody, Charlie Nield, Tom Eckel, Jamie Bach. Out - Ben Leong, Jakob Salmi, Todd Matthews