Five grades of competition will run this summer, with the make-up of the top tier adjusted to have more players involved.
GM1 matches will not start today with the rest of the association though due to a general bye.
“We've got our five grades up this season,” GMLTA president Mark Mills said.
“GM1 will have six teams, it's gone up to three men and two ladies in each team and we're looking to keep building that team size up again. We're all pretty excited about that.
“We've cancelled all the games this weekend for GM1, we're having a league-wide bye.
“There's a tournament on in Bendigo and a few teams would have needed to forfeit, so the league made a decision to start next week instead, everyone else will be playing.”
A new side has joined the ranks of GM1, with Shepparton-based teams reducing outfits by one.
“We're really looking forward to getting out there, it will be good to see the new Echuca-Rochester combined side in there,” Mills said.
“Shepparton is down from four to three sides, so that will really strengthen them up, and Rich River had a really young side last year so they will improve.
“Numurkah, well obviously we're the reigning premier so all the pressure will be on us and we'll try to go back-to-back.”
A large contingent of squads will tackle the GM2 competition, while three sections of GM3 will give plenty of players the opportunity to have a more social hit every weekend.
“There will be 11 sides in GM2, hopefully it's not too big of a gap between the top and bottom of the ladder,” Mills said.
“There's six teams each in GM3 East and West, those comps always work out well and with four men and four ladies on each team it really makes for a great social afternoon.
“GM3 Open has 10 teams, we tried to get GM4 up again this season but just fell short, so any sides that were going to play in that have been put in GM3. It ranges from Yarrawonga to Dhurringile, so it covers a big area.”
7°C