From a team striving to be the best, the Demons now have 17 Central Highlands Football League clubs chasing their title. But the new Bungaree coach is up for the challenge and says his side has prepared accordingly.

“We’ve gone from hunting sides to being the hunted. We need to be ready to go right from round one,” Pyke said.

“Make no mistake, that first month of football is probably our most important month of footy for the whole season, excluding the run home and finals.”

The Demons get no time to ease into a new campaign, rather hitting the ground running with a rematch of last year’s preliminary final against Gordon.

Saturday’s unfurling of the premiership flag will be a reminder of the 2014 success, but also signal the start of its back-to-back mission.

Three off-season recruits have been named for Bungaree, with on-baller Chase Morgan, key position player Tristan Simons and half-back Luke Mangan to debut.

The Eagles, meanwhile, have kept almost the entire senior team from 2014.

PREDICTION: Gordon to reverse last year’s result.