He is confident his all-conquering side of last season could be even tougher to beat again when the new Goulburn Murray Cricket season starts on Saturday.
‘‘I think with our recruits and no departures we should be stronger,’’ Learmonth said.
The recruits, Tyler Jones and Bailey Goodwin, are expected to make a presence in their new competition.
Jones is a hard-hitting opening batsman and wicketkeeper from Gunbower and Goodwin is an opening right-handed bowler from Bendigo with a reputation of being able to swing the ball prodigiously.
Learmonth said he also expected promising teenagers Charlie Barnett and Bohden Learmonth to be applying plenty of pressure for spots in the side.
Barnett is a promising right-arm fast bowler and Bohden a top-order batting prospect who can also bowl spin.
Echuca, under new non-playing coach and former Fire Brigade flag-winning skipper Jon Varcoe, is tipped to be the big improver this season, so facing The Flames first-up will be a genuine test.
Former star all-rounder and competition Player of the Year winner Taylor Beard has returned to Echuca along with another proven ex-player in Brendan Moyle, so there is genuine optimism surrounding the border town.
● Last year’s finalist Tongala, which hosts Bamawm-Lockington United in the opening round, has picked up a likely all-rounder in Rory Knight from Waaia Cricket Club.
A middle order batsman and change bowler, Tongala is hoping Knight will fill the void left by the loss of all-rounder Josh Thurston, who is the club’s only departing player.
Daniel Coombs, the competition’s reigning Player of the Year, who made 661 runs at average of 50.8 last year, has added the captaincy to his role as club coach.
But the captain he is replacing, star all-rounder Darin Ohlsen will be lining up again although his twin brother, all-rounder Matt, won’t be available until after Christmas.
Tongala will also be looking for further improvement from emerging younger players Elijah Gillies and Clayton Watson in particular to take them deeper into a finals series. .
Young footy talent and cricket all-rounder Harley Reid and Tristan Watson, a quick bowler, are teenagers expected to be in the mix pressing for senior games.
● Cooma, which hosts last season’s grand finalist Rochester in Saturday’s opening round, will be depending mainly on stalwarts to show the way again.
All-rounder Liam Barrett has taken the captaincy role from Michael Hill and Zane Thorn, an all-rounder, from Katandra is a welcome addition.
Aaron Hayes may also play for the entire season which would be another bonus.
In Liam and Steve Barrett, Michael Hill and younger players Sam Langley and Ethan Palma-Ludeman, both of who the club expects to make further progress in their careers, it is no wonder Cooma is hoping to play finals this year after being denied a spot in last season's finals in the last home-and-away round.
● In the other game Moama takes on Echuca South.
Moama will be keen to amend last season’s straight sets exit from the finals series after being the minor premier.
Wooden spooner Echuca South will be striving to make further improvement on last season when it was competitive in several games.
● The home-and-away season will consist of 14 one-day games in all grades with a white ball to be used in A-grade and a red ball in the minor grades.
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