The league, which recently had Coates take over from NAB as principal sponsor, will have girls and boys teams play the same number of games for the first time this year.
Bushrangers regional talent operations lead Mick Wilson said after months of preparation everyone involved with the program was thrilled to start the new campaign.
“Effectively we’ve been building into this for over five months now,” Wilson said.
“We had our trials the weekend after the AFL grand final and we’ve been training almost since the beginning of October.
“It’s been quite a long build-up, there’s a lot of positive anticipation going into round one; this year the girls and boys play the same number of rounds which is very exciting.”
Wilson said a number of district bottom-age prospects had been training the house down in recent months and looked primed for a big year in Bushies colours.
“We have a really strong bottom-age group this year,” Wilson said.
“That includes Ollie Warburton, who gained Vic Country experience last year and looks set for another big season for us.
“Matt and Jack Whitlock are tracking along really well, Jack’s coming off a serious injury and he’s jumping out of his skin to get started.”
On the girls’ front, the Bushies welcome former AFLW and cycling star Emma Mackie as their first full-time head coach of the girls’ program this year.
Across its four age groups, Wilson said they had assembled a formidable list, with a number of well-known names making a statement ahead of round one.
Holly Egan, Ellie Armstrong, Atong Dang, Amani Issell, Payten Johnstone and Charlise Ogilvie make up the Shepparton Swans contingent, with Shepparton United’s Charli Guppy, Matilda Henderson, Olivia McGie and Euroa’s Leila Creevey making up the remainder of the GV-based under-18 players.
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