Romsey hopes to close the gap on the top sides in the Riddell District Football League.
The Redbacks finished fifth last season, knocked out in the elimination final against Riddell, after a strong first half to the season.
Redbacks coach Corey O’Sullivan said they know they need to keep stepping up if they are to put pressure on the top sides.
“We understand we’re a long way off,” he said.
“Riddell towled us up twice and we played Macedon once and they beat us.
“We have to take massive strides and we know they will be taking strides too.
“Riddell, Rupo, Diggers Rest and Macedon aren’t going anywhere.
“We know our best is capable of beating the best sides – we need to do it more consistently.”
The Redbacks will take a similar side into this year’s season, with little movement during the off season.
O’Sullivan said their key focus was re-signing the playing group they had.
“It was a major focus and we were able to do that,” he said.
“We’ve got some good juniors coming through even though we only have a small number of juniors.
“We’re going to work with what we have.”
He said they thought they had a good mix of young players with some experienced players around them.
Brayden Feltham won’t play because of work commitments, while 2013 Bowen medallist Darren Goodwin has retired.
His brother Matthew Goodwin has signed with the Redbacks.
Matthew, who was with Macedon, missed last season with a back injury.
Ricky Wood, who has come back to the club after spending the past few years in the Western Region Football League, is the other main inclusion for the Redbacks.
O’Sullivan said Wood was a player they wanted.
“He’s just turned 21 and is a good user of the football,” he said.
“He wins his own ball and adds pace.”
The Redbacks won’t have any time to ease into the season.
They face Diggers Rest, which finished third, under lights in round one on April 14.
They then take on last year’s runner-up Rupertswood in round two.
“It smacks us in the face straight away,” O’Sullivan said.
“We’ll find out where we need to improve early on.
“It’s the way you want it and if you want to play finals you have to play the best sides at some stage.”
While the Redbacks don’t start until April, six teams get their seasons under way this week.
Riddell hosts Macedon on Saturday afternoon, Sunbury Kangaroos host Rupertswood in the Sunbury derby under lights on Saturday night, while Lancefield does battle with Woodend-Hesket on Sunday.
The netball match-ups are the same, with the exception of A-grade netball.
Riddell and Macedon will play each other as planned, while Rupertswood will face Woodend-Hesket, with both Lancefield and Sunbury Kangaroos not having A-grade teams this season.
