After a 2009 season that produced a winning division3 women's side, the club has gained two new coaches, promotion of its women's team to division1 and, for the first time, a women's youth side.

Leading the changes is the arrival of premiership coach and reigning MVP Sharon Grieve, from Werribee, as head coach of the women's side.

"It's been fantastic coming to the club," Grieve said.

"Everyone is so friendly and there's so much support from everyone around the area."

Making Grieve's move easier was her former teammates who joined her.

They include 2009 rising star Stacey Barr.

"We have managed to get a number of new players to play with those who were part of the division 3 side last year," she said.

"Having the guys come from Werribee with me has made the job a lot easier as they know how I like things and the way that things are done."

Having won the premiership last year, Grieve knows what it takes and believes her new team can have a similar influence.

"I definitely think we can make finals and be in with a real shot."

Like the women's side, the men also have a new coach, Darren Davey.

Davey will take the reins after spending time at Darebin.

He has had a tough start with an interrupted preseason

through injuries to several players.

"We are only just starting to get everyone together and able to get some court time into them," Davey said.

Unlike the women's team that recruited heavily, the men have a similar side to last season.

"We have only recruited a couple of players from other teams, including Rowan Bishop, who's returning to the club.

"The two guys we have got are both dominant fast guards."

Despite an interrupted preseason and new game plan, Davey believes that his side is in finals contention.

"There have been big changes in our game plan. I'm a lot more direct with them than some of the other coaches they have had," Davey said.

"I'm still looking at challenging for finals, as it is a very even competition so you don't know what will happen."

Both coaches were able to put into practice their hard work in the recent preseason competition.

But it was the men's youth league division 2 side that shone by taking out the title.

After winning three of its four preliminarily matches, Altona progressed through to the finals where it defeated arch-rival Werribee in the semi-finals.

Altona was able to avenge its loss to Keilor in the preliminaries, taking out the title 59-52.