Lancaster’s quest to avenge last year’s grand final defeat will be a key storyline throughout the new Kyabram District League football season.
Lancaster’s pursuit to reclaim the Kyabram District League senior football premiership from Murchison-Toolamba begins this weekend, with a host of other local sides also in action across round one.
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The Wombats fell short of the ultimate success in 2025, being defeated by M-T in the grand final, with the Grasshoppers securing a second straight premiership.
Lancaster only has to go back to 2022 and 2023 to find its most recent flags, the 2022 success won by defeating M-T in the decider, with the duo likely to lead all comers at the summit of the ladder.
Wombats coach Nick Ryan hopes his side can make the pointy end of the finals once again in 2026, and he feels that improved depth will be the key to any success Lancaster has.
“We had quite a few injuries last year but were able to blood some guys sooner than they would’ve originally, so now we have a big squad with senior experience, and we’ll figure out our other strengths once we get the make up of the best 22 right,” he said.
Lancaster’s first opponent will be Girgarre, the clash taking place this Sunday from 2.15pm at Girgarre Recreation Reserve.
The Kangaroos have failed to make the finals over the past three seasons, though they have incrementally improved their ladder position, and are seemingly buoyed by having the opportunity to face a perennial contender first up.
“Over the last few years, they have been one of the teams to beat and in previous years we have been going in expecting to lose, but this year, we will definitely have a mindset of winning,” coach Tyler McNamara said.
Having ended up five wins adrift of the top six last year, claiming a big early scalp in Lancaster could go some way to helping Girgarre break its current finals drought in 2026.
Finishing just below Girgarre last season was Undera, which begins its new campaign with a trip to Longwood on Saturday, that action also taking place from 2.15pm.
The Lions have experienced a few lean years on the field, including a wooden spoon from a winless 2024, though they did improve with three victories in 2025.
Building on that minor progression is the name of the game for coach Glenn Hart in 2026.
“We can’t afford to go backwards — whether that’s just one or two more wins, that’s still a step forward,” he said.
That ambition is being shared by Merrigum, which is aiming for improvement after a similarly challenging few year, the latest of which saw the side fail to taste victory and finish bottom of the ladder.
The club has slowly slid down the standings over the past four years and given the challenges experienced over that period, coach Jason Verhoeven is not focused on any one measure of success in 2026.
“A couple of wins are always good to get the club up and about and for the people that come to watch. Realistically, if we have four or five wins for the year that will be a big bonus,” he said.
The Bulldogs are facing arguably the toughest test possible to begin their new campaign, facing reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba this Saturday at home, with the action beginning from 2.15pm.
But clubs such as Undera and Merrigum only need to look at the example of Rushworth to see how quickly fortunes can change.
Rushworth are looking to build on a 2025 season that saw it overachieve.
The Tigers are looking to build on an incredible 2025 that not only saw them make the post-season by finishing sixth, but progress all the way to a preliminary final.
The impressive year came just two seasons removed from the club not fielding a senior football side at all, though coach Mark Wheatley is keen to ensure such highs are regularly achieved.
“We want to keep improving so it’s sustainable way into the future and not just a flash in the pan over the last couple of years,” he said.
Rushworth’s opponent this weekend will be Stanhope, the action taking place on Sunday from 2.15pm at Stanhope Recreation Reserve.
Stanhope hosts Rushworth in a round one clash between two top six hopefuls.
The Lions finished just below their round one opponent in 2025, meaning they missed out on finals football with a record of seven wins and nine losses.
Though Stanhope has now been absent from the post-season in consecutive years, coach Matt Butler stopped short of stating that a finals return would equate to success in 2026.
“We have not even spoken about that and have no willingness to because the sky is the absolute limit and who knows what will happen this year,” he said.
Elsewhere in round one, 2023 premier Nagambie hosts Violet Town and perennial finals contender Shepparton East welcomes Tallygaroopna to Central Park Recreation Reserve, while Avenel will serve the opening round bye.
