GMC crowns up for grabs

“We've made finals last year, and we think we can play finals again,” he said.

“It's difficult to know what every other club’s doing, but we focus on what we’re doing and have an aim to play finals in all grades every year.

“Last year we won the club championship, which is something we drive towards, and that’ll be our aim again.”

Kyabram is the reigning Bill Williams Murray Shield holder after winning the B-grade competition last season.

It was also the runner-up in the other B-grade competition, the Bill Williams Goulburn Shield, and made the semi-finals of the Peter Raglus D-grade Shield.

All the results heavily contributed to the club championship accolade.

But in A-grade, Moama is the team to beat as it prepares for a title defence.

All grades now have their draws available, including the John McMahon Shield, renamed the McMahon First XI, with the first action to be held on Saturday, October 10.

The Mowers recovered from a shaky 7-94 to post 190 and win the grand final by 60 runs over Bamawm-Lockington United.

Moama begins its title defence away from home at Windridge Oval, against last year’s fifth placed side, Rochester, which will be looking to return to the heights that saw it reach the 2024-25 grand final.

Elsewhere in round one, last season’s runner-up, BLU, takes on Echuca at home at Bamawm Recreation Reserve.

Echuca South will host Tongala, and Nondies-Cohuna will visit Leitchville-Gunbower in the remaining contests, while Kyabram sits out week one with the bye.

Hooper welcomes the first round bye as it gives the A-grade side time to ready a notable recruit.

Kyabram has been bolstered by the acquisition of Canadian Nick Manohar, who isn’t expected to arrive in Australia until October 17.

Hooper also said the club had signed Jayden Rosin, a wicketkeeper who averaged 33 in 21 innings last season for Echuca South.

Each side in the top grade will battle each other home and away, along with two byes, over 18 rounds.

The Christmas break will follow the December 19 round, before action resumes on January 9, and the regular season will conclude on February 20.

The top four will advance to the semi-finals on February 27, the winners to fight for the shield on March 6.

The schedule for the First XI T20 challenge has also been revealed, with eight of nine (excluding Tongala) top grade clubs again participating.

Rounds will be held on Thursday afternoons, beginning on November 12, with the grand final earmarked for February 4.

BLU is the two-time reigning champion, the Lions downing Kyabram in the final earlier this year.