GANMAIN-Grong Grong-Matong will begin its campaign to climb back to the top of the Riverina Football League without premiership coach Mitch Carroll.

Carroll stepped aside from the top job at the end of last season after a tough year with the Lions and has decided on a change of scenery for the new year.

The 28-year-old will leave on Saturday for Darwin where he and his partner Jess will move indefinitely.

Initially Carroll was looking at a shorter term move where he would come back and join GGGM mid-season but he yesterday ruled out this season.

"We'll be going up there for at least 12 months, unless something drastic happens," Carroll said. "We're going up there indefinitely.

"We'll just see how it goes but we might be keen to stay on for another 12 months."

Carroll was an integral part of the Lions' record-equalling four straight RFL premierships.

He stepped up to coach GGGM for the past two years where he experienced grand final success in 2011, before the Lions struggled to finish outside the top five last year.

Carroll will join up with good mate and Lions premiership player Travis Carroll in Darwin.

Carroll is set to join him at Southern Districts for the summer season.

The tough ball-winning midfielder has been replaced by another good mate in Jayden Kotzur at GGGM.

Carroll predicts good things for the Lions this year.

"Kotz seems pretty keen about it," Carroll said.

"I think they start up training next week and I think everyone's looking forward to something a bit fresh.

"I think they've picked up a couple and with a few back from injury the club's in good stead for this year."

Carroll follows his brothers Luke and Nick, who have both previously spent summers playing in Darwin.