REIGNING premier Thomson has lost some of its firepower over the off-season, but is expected to remain a strong competitor in the Geelong and District league.

The Tigers have lost young ace Brent Macleod to the Geelong Falcons, while a number of other key players have retired or moved on since last season's flag.

But backman Adam Vaughan, recruited from St Joseph's, will help boost the Tigers' stocks, along with Michael Kaye from the Yarra junior league.

Runner-up Bell Post Hill has picked up Justin Tate, along with young guns Ross Gemmill and Darcy Johnston, and is expected to play deep into September.

The Bannockburn Tigers have lost last year's league leading goalkicker Tom Mullane-Grant to the Lexton Plains league, but have signed Aaron Flanagan and Aaron Lucas from Football Geelong.

Anakie has recruited Aaron Norton from the Loddon Valley league and Tom Parsons and Ben Quick from Football Geelong, but is expected to remain a middle-of-the-table side this season.

Corio, under formidable coach Ricky O'Toole, has secured the services of Clint Bamford from Football Geelong, Ricki Lazzarich from Anakie, Shane Rogan from the Central Highlands league and Daniel Tellentyre from the Colac competition.

O'Toole won't be satisfied with last year's finals appearance and will be keen to take his charges further this year.

League pundits predict East Geelong will be the team to watch, with Adam Skrobalak back at the helm.

The Eagles have recruited well and retained the core of last year's playing group, which should set them up for a consistent season.

North Geelong and Werribee Centrals are expected to gain a finals berth, while Geelong West might fly under the radar with a swag of new recruits, including brothers Aaron and Ryan Torpy.

Winchelsea has scored the recruiting coup of the year by signing Dean Pound from the Ovens and Murray league.

Pound is 210cm tall and should be the dominant big man in the league, but will have his work cut out scraping the Blues from the bottom of the ladder, where they finished last year.

The season begins on Friday.