Country footy 2024: The Weekly Times predictions for every country footy league

The comings and goings of player personnel since the end of last season have been finalised and The Weekly Times 2024 predictions for every league are now in.

The summer slog of pre-season training is over, so let the games begin.

Country footy has already commenced in some leagues, but many more will bounce the ball for the start of the season in coming weeks.

The Weekly Times has kept close tabs on the comings and goings of player personnel since the end of last season and the 2024 predictions on the premiers, bolters, sliders and league best and fairest contenders are in.

BALLARAT

Brett Bewley has been a star for Darley in the Ballarat league since returning from Fremantle. Can he win another Henderson Medal in 2024? Picture: Andy Brownbill

Premier: North Ballarat

Bolter: Ballarat

Slider: Redan

Best and fairest: Brett Bewley, Darley

BELLARINE

Premier: Torquay

Bolter: Geelong Amateur

Slider: Modewarre

Best and fairest: Tom Gribble, Geelong Amateur

BENDIGO

Premier: Sandhurst

Bolter: Gisborne

Slider: South Bendigo

Best and fairest: Fergus Greene, Sandhurst

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Premier: Hepburn

Bolter: Daylesford

Slider: Bungaree

Best and fairest: Izaak Grant, Hepburn

CENTRAL MURRAY

Premier: Balranald

Bolter: Swan Hill

Slider: Lake Boga

Best and fairest: Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill

Ed Curnow has joined Colac District league club Lorne from Carlton. Picture: Michael Klein

COLAC DISTRICT

Premier: Colac Imperials

Bolter: Otways Districts

Slider: Birregurra

Best and fairest: Ed Curnow, Lorne

EAST GIPPSLAND

Premier: Boisdale-Briagolong

Bolter: Lucknow

Slider: Wy Yung

Best and fairest: Lachlan Channing, Stratford

ELLINBANK

Premier: Buln Buln

Bolter: Longwarry

Slider: Neerim South

Best and fairest: Kody Wilson, Neerim South

GEELONG

Premier: South Barwon

Bolter: Bell Park

Slider: Newtown & Chilwell

Best and fairest: Logan Wagener, Leopold

GEELONG DISTRICT

Premier: East Geelong

Bolter: Anakie

Slider: Bell Post Hill

Best and fairest: Andrew Boseley, Anakie

Who can stop Leongatha winning a third successive Gippsland league premiership? Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

GIPPSLAND

Premier: Leongatha

Bolter: Morwell

Slider: Traralgon

Best and fairest: Boyd Bailey, Morwell

GOLDEN RIVERS

Premier: Ultima

Bolter: Murrabit

Slider: Moulamein

Best and fairest: Justin Robinson, Wandella

GOULBURN VALLEY

Premier: Echuca

Bolter: Shepparton

Slider: Mansfield

Best and fairest: Mick Mattingly, Kyabram

HAMPDEN

Premier: South Warrnambool

Bolter: Port Fairy

Slider: Koroit

Best and fairest: Ben Cunnington, Warrnambool

HEATHCOTE DISTRICT

Premier: Heathcote

Bolter: North Bendigo

Slider: Mt Pleasant

Best and fairest: Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo

HORSHAM DISTRICT

Premier: Rupanyup

Bolter: Swifts

Slider: Edenhope-Apsley

Best and fairest: Jai Thompson, Harrow-Balmoral

HUME

Premier: Holbrook

Bolter: Jindera

Slider: Howlong

Best and fairest: Connor Galvin, Osborne

KYABRAM DISTRICT

Premier: Murchison-Toolamba

Bolter: Tallygaroopna

Slider: Dookie United

Best and fairest: Tom McCluskey, Shepparton East

LODDON VALLEY

Premier: Bridgewater

Bolter: Newbridge

Slider: Marong

Best and fairest: Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater

MARYBOROUGH-CASTLEMAINE

Premier: Harcourt

Bolter: Maryborough Giants

Slider: Lexton

Best and fairest: Todd Bryant, Carisbrook

MID GIPPSLAND

Premier: Newborough

Bolter: Stony Creek

Slider: Tarwin

Best and fairest: Joshua Pearce, Newborough

MILLEWA

Premier: Bambill

Bolter: Werrimull

Slider: Nangiloc

Best and fairest: Mark Thomson, Werrimull

MININERA DISTRICT

Premier: Tatyoon

Bolter: Ararat Eagles

Slider: Lismore-Derirnallum

Best and fairest: Tom Taurau, Ararat Eagles

MORNINGTON PENINSULA-NEPEAN- DIV ONE

Premier: Dromana

Bolter: Mt Eliza

Slider: Pines

Best and fairest: Josh Newman, Mornington

MORNINGTON PENINSULA-NEPEAN - DIV TWO

Premier: Edithvale-Aspendale

Bolter: Tyabb

Slider: Karingal

Best and fairest: Dean Kent, Devon Meadows

MURRAY

Premier: Congupna

Bolter: Cobram

Slider: Numurkah

Best and fairest: Mark Whiley, Finley

NORTH CENTRAL

Premier: Nullawil

Bolter: Wycheproof-Narraport

Slider: Donald

Best and fairest: Matt Wade, Nullawil

NORTH GIPPSLAND

Premier: Traralgon-Tyers United

Bolter: Cowwarr

Slider: Churchill

Best and fairest: Chris Williams, Churchill

Nathan Pollard, left, has returned to Lindenow South after a season with Maffra. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

OMEO DISTRICT

Premier: Lindenow South

Bolter: Bruthen

Slider: Swifts Creek

Best and fairest: Nathan Pollard, Lindenow South

OVENS & KING

Premier: Bright

Bolter: North Wangaratta

Slider: Moyhu

Best and fairest: Ben Clarke, Milawa

OVENS & MURRAY

Premier: Wangaratta

Bolter: Wangaratta

Slider: Lavington

Best and fairest: Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Wodonga Raiders

PICOLA DISTRICT

Premier: Tungamah

Bolter: Katandra

Slider: Katamatite

Best and fairest: Jake Ellery, Strathmerton

SOUTH WEST DISTRICT

Premier: Cavendish

Bolter: Dartmoor

Slider: Heywood

Best and fairest: Patrick Sinnott, Coleraine

Former Carlton player Sam Kerridge is coach of Sunraysia league club Mildura. Picture: Supplied

SUNRAYSIA

Premier: Mildura

Bolter: Imperials

Slider: Red Cliffs

Best and fairest: Sam Kerridge, Mildura

TALLANGATTA DISTRICT

Premier: Kiewa-Sandy Creek

Bolter: Rutherglen

Slider: Barnawartha

Best and fairest: Jack Haugen, Kiewa-Sandy Creek

UPPER MURRAY

Premier: Cudgewa

Bolter: Tumbarumba

Slider: Corryong

Best and fairest: Josh Bartel, Cudgewa

WARRNAMBOOL DISTRICT

Premier: Nirranda

Bolter: Russells Creek

Slider: Kolora-Noorat

Best and fairest: Louis Kew, Nirranda

WEST GIPPSLAND

Premier: Cora Lynn

Bolter: Cora Lynn

Slider: Tooradin

Best and fairest: Trent Armour, Nar Nar Goon

WIMMERA

Premier: Southern Mallee Thunder

Bolter: Stawell

Slider: Ararat

Best and fairest: Ryan Kemp, Horsham Demons