IN six short months, from when Gerringong won the 2018 Bolden Blackmore Shield, the Shoalhaven District Football Association landscape has significantly changed.
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After winning the premiership, the Breakers decided to move their club out of the Shoalhaven competition and into the Football South Coast leagues.
On top of that, a number of the competition's top stars have followed their footballing dreams and taken their talents to Wollongong - something all players should aspire to do if they do indeed want it.
With this being the case, the first grade men's competition looks vastly different than it did 12 months ago.
No Gerringong.
A completely unrecognisable Bomaderry side, with the likes of Scott Fagerlund, James Eldred, Jordan Haddow, Nick Evans, Dale Russell, Brad Bailey, Daniel Frew, Dave Hampston and influential coach Nathan Aldridge all moving on.
As such, that leaves the competition the most open it's been in years.
Meaning Saturday's kick-off becomes even more intriguing.
The opening round of five matches, is headlined by the 'match of the round' between Shoalhaven United and Huskisson-Vincentia from 6pm at Ison Park.
While the host have enjoyed a busy pre-season full, headlined by their FFA Cup run, Rob Hawker's Seagulls have been working hard to try and assimilate their new players - after Alex Boardman, Josh Hawker and Zac Hawker all moved to Wollongong.
That star trio have been replaced by players such as Cain Mooy, Corey Ryan, Gary Masterton and Braiden Campbell, as well as Sam Duffy making the step up from reserve grade.
"Despite all the changes to our squad, I still think it's as strong as last year, especially once we all get on the same page," Rob Hawker said.
"With plenty of new players at the club, across all grades, Im' sure it'll take a few weeks to find our feet."
Once they do find their feet, the Seagulls want to go one step further than last year's controversial preliminary final loss to Gerringong.
"Our style and approach to the game won't be any different to what we've done the past few years, as it's been successful," Hawker said.
"As a team, we like to get the ball forward as quick as possible and put pressure on their defender -it's a style that suits the players we have at the club.
"Obviously the goal is to go one step further than last year but we all know you need a little bit of luck to get to a grand final, I just hope it's our turn to get some of that luck - because I know the boys deserve it.
"But the first goal, as always, is to get all three grades into semi-final football and from there, anything can happen."
On the flip side, Alex Dicker's Shoalhaven United Bears are just looking to build off their strong FFA Cup showing.
"The club have taken plenty of positives from this whole [FFA Cup] experience, which we will look to build on starting in round one," Dicker said.
"Having six very competitive pre-season matches, including two FFA Cup fixtures, have put us in a strong position to push for finals this season - the whole club can't wait."
Other games to headline this weekend's kick-off include Culburra hosting St Georges Basin at Culburra Oval.
This game sees the return to the sidelines George Kulcsar, who will coach a Cougars side led by Kasey Kulcsar, Tom Matthews and Mitch and Dale Blundell - and without the services of Stephen and Doug Gray and Harrison Ellem.
While their opponents, the Dragons, have a new coach at the helm too, in Craig Holden - who'll coach a side that has added Jake Schutz and Tim White and only lost Jake Moffatt from last season.
Elsewhere, Andrew Timbs' Illaroo, who had a year to forget, will travel to Zealand Oval to face Mark Murray's Shoalhaven Heads-Berry, who added Scott Culey, Jarryd Lowe and Kim Leonard, while losing Steve Ellington, Nathan Goulding and Raf Lombardo.
New boys to first grade Callala, coached by Steve Monsalve, will travel to the Thompson Street Sporting Complex to play their first game in the top grade against Sussex Inlet.
While Milton-Ulladulla, who will have 2017 SDFA player of the year Zane Wilson at their disposal, host Manyana in the southern derby.
The 2017 premiers Bomaderry have the bye in round one.