By DANIEL SAVILLE

O&K FNL league operations manager

IT still feels like summer, but we’re only days away from the opening pass and bounce of the BankWAW Ovens & King Football Netball League season.

The 11 clubs will fill five grades of netball and two football sides in 2025 in what could be the most even season we have witnessed for a long time.

The A grade netball competition is getting better every year, with Bonnie Doon establishing themselves as a league powerhouse and are ready for another premiership tilt.

Greta and Milawa will undoubtedly be looking for redemption and these experienced outfits have been waiting six months to show the league what they can do.

Big things are expected in Whorouly as the club hopes to build to something special, while Tarrawingee can never be underestimated on the court and will be hoping to reclaim their usual booking in September.

A seventh premier in as many seasons of senior football could well be a possibility – Whorouly, Bright and Goorambat sure hope so.

The Lions are ready to explode with some significant off-season additions, lead by home-grown superstar Michael Newton.

After reaching the big dance in the last two years, the Mountain Men will be desperate to take the next step up on to the dais, while the Bats will be expecting to progress even further than a semi-final defeat after taking some big scalps.

There is genuine optimism at the Kennel as Tarrawingee set their sights on a big season with plenty of fresh faces, along with Benalla All Blacks, who will meet in a mouth-watering round one contest.

King Valley and North Wangaratta battled it out for a finals spot last year and will be around the mark once again, while Moyhu and Milawa have recruited well to give themselves the best possible chance to rocket up the ladder.

Bonnie Doon will be hurting from their preliminary final exit and will believe that their premiership window is well and truly open.

Reigning premiers Greta, who smashed a 25-year premiership drought, have no intentions of stopping at one and are primed for back-to-back flags as player retention and a sprinkle of new recruits should hold them in good stead.

The hype and excitement is building as we get ready for another incredible season of football and netball – make sure you get out to support your clubs that give so much to our local community.

See you at the game!