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Swanpool Football Club

After finishing the 2012 season in 12th, three places higher than 2011, Swanpool is aiming to continue to improve and climb the ladder.

They’ve brought in a lot of new blood to the club during the off-season and are still in talks with a number of players ahead of the Easter weekend opening round.

Jack Mathieson, Damon Cox and Mathew Williams will strengthen Swanpool’s back line, while former Murray Magpies player Aaron Nankervis will join the midfield as an on-baller.

Taylor Arnold will help strengthen the previously deficient forward line, and Tim Kolodzieg and Warren Finness will provide experience across the ground.

Swanpool has retained a number of its key players, but is sad to lose Warwick Foreman and Ben Cook.

Swanpool heads into the season with a strong pre-season, having been focusing on constructing a game style that is based around quick ball movement to give the forwards the best opportunity at goal.

‘‘Obviously that quick ball movement will allow a number of avenues for goal rather than focusing on just a sole forward,’’ coach Darby Morrison said.

‘‘Really trying to work on spreading our forward capacity and on ball.’’

Morrison said the aim for this season is to continue the team’s improvement, aspiring to finish at the bottom of the finals teams.

‘‘We won four games last year and realistically if we don’t achieve more than that then I think we’ve failed,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re on the way up.’’

Goorambat Football Club

Goorambat had a relatively strong 2012 season with an 11th position finish and is hoping to improve on that with the the recruitment of quality players.

Shane Webber joins the club as the reserves’ coach, as well as former Violet Town premiership player Sean Horsborugh as the assistant coach for the seniors.

The on-baller will be a key player in the centre, replacing former assistant coach Jackson Charles, who moved to Shepparton Swans.

Goorambat has also secured three former Dookie United players — forward Liam Hernan, on-baller Michael Robb and Stuart Sutherland.

During the pre-season Goorambat has focused on getting more experience into the players, and improving the training and fitness of younger players.

Like all teams, Goorambat’s aim is to improve on its previous form.

‘‘This is our fourth year in, we’ve just moved forward only slightly each year and we want to keep doing the same,’’ football operations manager David Hernan said.

‘‘The key for us is to improve from the previous year.’’

Tatong Football Club

After finishing 13th last season, Tatong is looking to improve with a list of new players.

They have recruited strongly, notably bringing Dallas LePoidevin and Shane Newman back to Tatong after time away, recruiting Jack Frampton and Daniel Hickey from the All Blacks, and welcoming Lachie Mackenzie from Avenel and Daniel Vihn from North Wangaratta.

Nick Hill, Simon Smith and Anthony Welsh were all key departures during the off-season, however coach Andrew James is confident that recruit Shane Newman will help fill the void of key ruckman left by Welsh.

The off-season has seen Tatong working predominantly on fitness, and trying to improve its structures and defence.

‘‘Definitely our defensive side of the game,’’ coach Andrew James said. ‘‘We sort of leaked a lot of easy goals, so we’ll try to work closely with the boys ... strengthen that up, turn our defence into attack as much as possible.’’

James said finishing the season between sixth and 10th would be ‘‘a pass mark’’ for Tatong.