With silly season having well and truly started, it is time to look back on the Goulburn Valley League season that was and select the Shepparton News Team of the Year.
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The sports team at the News has decided on the overall 23 players who had strong seasons for their club, but not specifically the best players in the league.
Outgoing Kyabram mentor Paul Newman is the coach of this year's outfit, with the three-time premiership coach steering his side through the 2019 season undefeated and capped off with last month's stirring grand final victory.
Echuca playing-coach Andrew Walker takes on the role as captain in this side, with his coaching leadership on the ground no doubt a smooth transition into the skipper role.
Walker was superb this year for the Murray Bombers and, along with Simon Maddox, helped steer his side to the grand final.
But he has been selected in the midfield for his playing ability and he certainly displayed his natural talents this year, finishing runner-up in the league best-and-fairest.
Following Kyabram's dominance in the league this season, it would be of no surprise to see six players from Bomberland feature in this year's edition.
But Kyabram's dominance truly reigns supreme in attack in this side.
Kyle Mueller, Brad Mangan and Kayne Pettifer slot into this year's forward line, with the league's leading goal-kicker Mueller (75 goals) in the forward pocket as a dangerous attacking option.
Pettifer (62 goals) takes a position on the forward-flank and, despite his veteran status, oozes quality, while Mangan (48) fills the centre-half forward role.
Tom Holman's versatility and shut-down defensive work sees him named on the half-back line, while AFL Victoria Country medallist Pat Wearden was unable to crack a strong midfield, named on the interchange.
Echuca was the next best represented club, with four players, including Walker, in the line-up.
Defensive duo Peter Faulks and Cam Valentine are on the backline, were rewarded for their impressive seasons for the Murray Bombers.
And Echuca bigman Kane Morris was the first-choice ruck option due to his athleticism and ability to hit the scoreboard, beating out the likes of Shepparton's Ash Holland, Kyabram's Zac Norris and Shepparton United's Shane Neaves.
Even though Kyabram's Jake Reeves was awarded the Wilf Cox Medal on grand final day, Morris fits the overall make-up of this side.
Roving to Morris is Rochester's Nathan Marrone, with the tough onballer rewarded for a season that saw him play interleague football and become one of the best midfielders in the competition.
Marrone's Rochester teammate James Gledhill gets a nod this season for his superb one-on-one defensive skills and ability to play big or small and slots in the back pocket.
Tatura's Brad Ryan takes the other back pocket, with the reliable defender rewarded for another sublime year in defence for the Bulldogs.
Silky Euroa mover JD Hayes rounds out the backline, named at half-back for his precision kicks and rebounding run.
With Mattingly on the wing, Seymour co-coach Jason Cole occupies the other, while Tatura's Nick Fothergill, who could easily drift forward after kicking 35 goals this year, takes the centre.
Fothergill could see himself with former Tatura coach Jamason Daniels, after he was picked on the forward flank for a strong start to the season before suffering a knee injury.
Alongside forward maestro Mueller was towering Mansfield full-forward James Lawton (49 goals), while Shepparton wizard Anthony Andronaco (45) finds himself in the other pocket.
Benalla's Will Martiniello and Seymour's Zac Keogh fill the remaining interchange positions and were both major influences for their respective sides' onball brigade.
Martiniello's teammate Dave Mennen was very unlucky to miss out, along with Mansfield onballer Brett Mahony, Echuca forward Angus Byrne and Kyabram midfielder Brad Whitford.
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