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They add to the departures of captain Lech Featherstone, Anthony Mellington, Luke Bell, Marc Harrap and midfielder Jedd Wright.

Defender Wayne Sanders has been a consistent presence in the Saints line-up in recent years and he will be missed after his expected move to Macedon in the Riddell District Football League.

David Thompson, who is moving to YCW in the Loddon Valley Football League, did not have much senior game time last year, but was a key contributor in 2009, while regular reserves player Jason Reddin will play at Bears Lagoon Serpentine in the LVFL this season.

Combined with the departures of Featherstone (Pascoe Vale), who was named in the team’s best 14 times in its 19 games last season, Bell (South Bendigo), Wright (Katamatite), Mellington and Harrap (both retired), it will be a completely different Saints side which lines up in 2012.

Featherstone, who led the club on a 28-game winning streak between August 8, 2009, and May 21, 2011, winning the 2009 and 2010 premierships on the way, is the biggest loss for Heathcote — but it is not all bad news for the club.

Heathcote coach Brent Chapman’s brother Luke, a key defender, Michael Hare (on-baller), Luke McCluskey (key defender) and on-baller Lochie Dornauf — a best and fairest winner last year with division two amateur club La Trobe University — are expected to join.

Heathcote Football Netball Club president Andrew Conforti said he also expected Heathcote player Daniel Carroll’s brothers, Luke and James, who played in a premiership-winning side with Romsey last year, to join the Saints in 2012.

‘‘They’re both good-sized footballers,’’ he said.

Conforti said it was always disappointing to lose good quality footballers, but he respected the players’ wishes to try to further their careers.

‘‘Wayne’s been at the club for about nine years and he’s gone closer to home,’’ he said.

‘‘He’s joining Alistair Meldrum there, who was a past coach with us.

‘‘He’s been great value for us and we wish good luck to Wayne.’’

Despite the player departures, Conforti remained optimistic for the club.

‘‘We’ve lost seven players from last year’s grand final list but, in saying that, we’ve recruited seven new players and we’ve got a couple of local kids coming through,’’ he said.

‘‘It gives the young guys a great opportunity.

‘‘I think Daniel Russell will play a good part for Heathcote this year. He has been training well and is very fit.

‘‘Darcy McLean has also been training well, while Jesse Thelen has been training with the Bendigo Pioneers and Heathcote.’’

The club also remained hopeful of signing a player from a family who had just moved into town, who had been playing with Gordon in the Central Highlands Football League, Conforti said.

‘‘We’ve been pretty happy with what we’ve recruited,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve lost a couple of our local stars in Luke Bell and Lech Feathersone — who was the best big man in the league — but we’ve got to move on from that and wish them well.

‘‘They want to play in a better competition of footy and I think Heathcote should be proud to have produced them.

‘‘It will be interesting to see how we go this year.’’

Pre-season training numbers have been consistently above 25, while many activities will be held in the coming weeks, with a golf day, mixed cricket day and camp.

The club’s first practice match will be on March 10 against Euroa at Heathcote.

Games are also set for March 17 and 25, away at Murchison and home to Wallan respectively.

The Saints’ first game of the season will be away against Elmore on April 7.