PREMIERSHIP contenders Lorne and Simpson can reward their pre-seasons of toil when they launch heavily hyped Colac District Football League campaigns.

The Tigers will make the longest road trip in Colac district football to take on the Dolphins at Stribling Reserve in a challenging test for both sides.

Lorne and Simpson met in last season’s first semi-final and both have managed to hold on to the bulk of their lists during the off-season, while adding class and depth.

Luke Norton, Joel Tipping and Jarrod Middleton will have their first competitive hit-out in Dolphins colours since returning, while recruit Ross Waters will make his debut.

Steve Oliver will play for the first time since breaking an ankle in June last year, but Lee Hollmer and Shane Tricky will miss the season opener.

The home-ground advantage could play a role in the result, with new Simpson coach Jason Cartwright adamant the Dolphins were “a four-goal better side down there”.

Simpson will unveil Panmure big man Simon Schrama and returned Tiger Joel Hayward, as well as Cartwright, in the clash.

The opening round of the season features only four games, with Imperials, Alvie and Forrest having the bye.

IRREWARRA-BEEAC coach Khan Beckett says his team will be wary of taking on last season’s wooden spoon winners Apollo Bay.

The Bombers meet the much-improved Apollo Bay in tomorrow’s season opener – a team that has not beaten Irrewarra-Beeac for the better part of a decade.

PAST success will have no bearing on future glory when Birregurra welcomes Otway Districts for tomorrow’s season opener.

The Saints will unfurl their 2011 under-14.5, under-17 and senior flags ahead of their clashes against the Demons at Birregurra Recreation Reserve.

SOUTH Colac heads into tomorrow’s season-opener against Western Eagles buoyed by the news teenagers Zac Hammond and Shaun Harrington will remain with the Roos this season.

The pair played with Colac in the Tigers’ opening round of the Geelong Football League season against Geelong West-St Peters but will be in Roo colours at Joiner Reserve.

For full previews, see the current edition of the Colac Herald.

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