Last season's Girgarre senior best and fairest winner Byron Dryden and forward Ethan Palma-Ludeman at Monday's first preseason training session.
A two-time Kyabram District League premiership player and a former under-age goalkicking star who had a breakout senior season this year led their respective clubs in running sessions at Monday night’s start to preseason training.
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Sam Spedding, who has changed clubs after eight seasons in the same colours, was at the front of the pack for Stanhope under the direction of new co-coach Tom Hepburn.
Spedding was co-captain of Lancaster last season as it made an unsuccessful charge at three flags in a row.
He has joined premiership teammate from 2023 Jack Donnell, who was co-captain of the Lions in 2024 and won the club’s best and fairest.
Donnell and younger brother Luke, along with former best and fairest Jonathon Pearson and ruckman Daniel Flynn, were among several senior players on the track for the first training run.
Last season’s senior Stanhope coach, Adam Lovison, has joined Lancaster as assistant coach to Nick Ryan for the 2025 season.
While Stanhope and Girgarre started preseason on Monday, Lancaster had its first preseason session last week.
Lancaster premiership midfielder Sam Spedding (left) was at the front of the pack during the running component of Stanhope's first training session on Monday evening.
At Girgarre Kyle McLeod led all the running sessions, continuing on from his breakout season this year.
McLeod was a junior goalkicking star with the Kangaroos, kicking 78 goals with Girgarre’s under-18 team in 35 games in 2010 and 2011 before crossing to Lancaster for a third under-age season.
After failing to break into the Wombats’ senior line-up he returned to Girgarre this year and kicked 13 goals as a midfielder from 14 games — featuring in the best players in half of those.
Also on the track for the first senior training run was opportunist forward Ethan Palma-Ludeman and reigning best and fairest ruckman Byron Dryden.
New Stanhope co-coach Tom Hepburn (second from left) took a hands-on approach to preseason training on Monday.
The Kangaroos will be training every Monday and Wednesday at 6pm in the lead-up to Christmas.
New coach John Wilson, who has been senior assistant for the past three seasons, took charge of the session alongside pre-season fitness co-ordinator Zac Collyer.
Wilson won a premiership with the Shepparton women’s team in 2018 and also coached the Northern Country Women’s League representative team.
Kyle McLeod led the pack in the running at Girgarre’s first preseason training session.
His playing career included stints with Traralgon, Glengarry and Eastern Football League team Mitcham.
Wilson will have star on-baller and goalkicker Ryan Butler back in his team next year, the goalsneak returning after a season where he managed only six games due to injury.
Ruckman and key position player Jack Oogies has returned to the club.
Josh Marino, who finished runner-up in the club best and fairest, is also back in 2025, alongside KDL Team of the Year member Josh Temple and captain Harry Browning-Briese.
John Wilson (left) has taken over as senior coach of the KDL Kangaroos, with Tim Hancock as his reserve grade coach.
Girgarre’s senior netball trials are being held on three nights — November 25 and 27 and December 2. Players are required to attend at least two of these 6pm sessions to be considered.
Holly Nelson and Abbey Butler will return to defend the crown they won last season.
• Stanhope will also train on Monday and Wednesday in the lead-up to Christmas under new coaching duo Alec Young and Tom Hepburn.
On the netball court, the club has staged the first of its Fast Five competitions and will conduct senior trials on December 2, 9, 12 and 15.
