Abrams has started his fourth campaign in charge of the Towners, which he believes are still riding the momentum from a red-hot finish to 2017.

Dunnstown lost its opening eight games last season before winning the next eight to miss finals on percentage.

The team beat Daylesford in round 17 and then watched on as the Bulldogs won their elimination final against Waubra and lost the semi-final to Buninyong by less than a kick.

Abrams has already kicked off pre-season training and said his group of players is really driven to succeed in 2018.

“To have 25 on the track in November to do running sessions that they know are going to be hard shows to me that they desperately want to play finals footy,” Abrams said.

Abrams has also revealed five recruits that have been secured during the off-season.

Will Short and Joel Radlof have signed from Maryborough in the Bendigo league and shape as players that will be used mainly through the midfield, while Lachlan Poulter is back from a 49-goal season with Cairns Saints and will provide another forward target.

Former Dunnstown youngster Brayden Leonard is also back after spending time with East Point in the Ballarat competition and Matthew Bulluss has arrived from Riddell District club Broadford.

Abrams said Leonard would play half back or through the midfield and described Bulluss as an onball/key forward option for the side.

While there is some new faces around the club, one key figure that won’t be there in 2018 is top midfielder Aaron Sawers.

Abrams said Sawers, who returned to the club in 2015, had retired from football.

Sawers, the son of former AFL umpire Rowan, won The Courier footballer of the year award back in 2008 and has been a key player for the Towners in recent seasons.

Dunnstown has not played finals football since way back in 2011, when it finished eighth before being beaten by Gordon in an elimination final.

The Towners last won the Central Highlands Football League premiership in 1999.