Altona, Williamstown and Yarraville shape as genuine premiership contenders.

The As won't be lacking motivation after suffering a gut-wrenching loss to eventual VSDCA championship winner Melton in the grand final in the then north-west group last season.

In a blow, captain-coach David Wolfe has switched to arch rival Werribee.

But new non-playing coach Mark McAllion is celebrating the recruitment of top-order batsman/off-spinner Aaron Maynard from the Camberwell Magpies in Victorian Premier Cricket ranks.

One-time St Kilda and North Melbourne top-order batsman Christian Hewett is another prized signing and big things are also expected from Geelong second XI medium-pacer Aaron Randall.

Opening batsman John Varchione has been appointed captain.

Altona's line-up will be chock full of talent with the likes of big-hitting opening batsman and medium-pacer Tim Collins, spinner Matt Boglis and No. 3 batsman Adam Brown.

Experienced medium-pacer and middle-order batsman Gordon MacFarlane is playing on.

Lion-hearted all-rounder Glenn Sullivan and exciting paceman Charlie Kilpatrick will have key roles to play.

Up-and-comers like Liam Keating, Brad Comeadow, Stewart Wilson, Ben Davies, Josh Shiel, James Muirhead, Gus McIntyre, Alex Canals, Jamie Harvey and Kane Stoodley are expected to give their all this season.

Altona is scheduled to host Broadmeadows in a one-dayer at Frank Kirk Oval this Saturday, but it's more than likely the season opener will be called off. The As won't have it all their own way, though.

The Williamstown Seagulls and the Yarraville Eagles are pumped-up to fly high.

The Seagulls have appointed star middle-order batsman Brenton Hodges as playing coach with all-rounder Craig Sheedy retaining the captaincy.

Medium-pacer Rohan Obst arrives from Footscray Edgewater via Essendon.

The Eagles are delighted to have secured Footscray Edgewater's one-time captain Matthew Love. The top-order batsman and fast-medium pacer is expected to be one of the recruits of the season.

Lion-hearted paceman Paul Thomas returns after playing in three premierships in a row for Taylors Lakes in the North West Cricket Association's George Luscombe Shield.

Williamstown is scheduled to host the Kingston Saints at Point Gellibrand Oval and Yarraville to host Werribee at Yarraville Oval.