WEDDERBURN faces a tough task in the opening round of the 2025 North Central football season, travelling to face premiers Sea Lake Nandaly on the Tigers’ home turf.
Boort is also playing away in round one on April 5 against St Arnaud.
The two Loddon clubs, who share a fierce rivalry, face each other in round seven at Wedderburn and round 14 at Boort.
The Redbacks finished third in 2024 under Tom Metherell and will look to make an early statement of intent against the competition benchmark.
Wedderburn has lost star ruckman and 2021 Feeny Medal winner Jordan Hargreaves to North Bendigo in the Heathcote District league, but there are hopes that rugby convert Mark Robinson can help fill the gap.
The Redbacks have also recruited experienced brothers Zach and Jake Palpratt, and Footscray VFL premiership player Mitch Jensen from Diggers Rest.
Natte Bealiba skipper Jye Mortlock, who captained his side to the flag last season in the Maryborough Castlemaine District league, also joins Wedderburn, along with Ben Bacon, who played with Jake Palpratt in White Hills’ Heathcote league premiership last season.
Boort finished sixth last season and has kept intact the core of its playing group.
Midfielder and best-and-fairest Jhye Baddeley-Kelly has re-signed in a coup for the Magpies, who have also signed former Calder Cannons onballer Carlos Egan and East Keilor forward Peter Barbopoulos.
Wycheproof Narraport and Nullawil have merged to create Calder United Lions, with an eight-team competition meaning no weekly byes this season.
The Lions will make their debut under non-playing coach Darryl Wilson and playing coach Jordan Humphreys, both of whom were with Nullawil last season.
The new club is expected to be a strong contender in 2025, combining players from fifth-placed Nullawil and seventh-placed Wyche.
Among the Lions’ new signings are Eaglehawk key defender Oscar Maddern, Old Carey key forward Darcy Munro, and Balranald midfielder Kobe Lloyd.
The Lions begin their season away at Donald, which finished fourth last season and will have a new coach in Daniel Pearce. 
Veteran Josh Potter was to lead the club but has stepped away from coaching for personal reasons.
The biggest coaching change is at last year’s runner-up, Birchip Watchem. 
Ash Connick, the co-coach of Sandhurst, the Bendigo league’s premiers in 2024, will lead the Bulls as they strive to go one better this year.
The season begins on April 5, with league byes on Easter weekend, May 17, and King’s Birthday weekend, July 12.