Adelaide: Brett Burton to come back and grace the skies once more and with Jason Porplyzia also roaming the forward line after shoulder surgery in the off season they will look like a different team down forward, Kurt Tippet can continue to grow into a much needed marking target down forward. Nathan Bock needs to continue his dominate form from 2008 in the backline and Chris Knights to continue his stellar form in the midfield, should be hoping to play finals again this year.

Brisbane: Need Jonathan Brown to remain injury free ALL YEAR, continued development of young midfielders Brad Dalziell, Michael Rischitelli and Rahn Hooper, with Michael Voss now at the helm he will be looking at building on this list that Leigh Matthews began to groom, should aim to play finals after missing out last year.

Carlton: Matt Kruzer to develop into an ‘A’ class ruckman, Gibbs and Murphy to continue to grow and make the midfield of Judd and Co the best in the league or at least rival that of Geelong and Hawthorn, Simpson, Betts, Carrazzo and Grigg to continue their solid improvement. If they can get their backline right then look out this side could be dangerous. Looking at figuring in September for the first time in years.

Collingwood: With the loss of key backline players they have taken a gamble on Leigh Brown, Nick Maxwell to also step it up in the backline. Injury free seasons to Rocca, Rusling and Dale Thomas could be handy in the quest for a top 4 spot, the forward line looks good with Medhurst and Cloke at their best, Chris Dawes will be pushing for selction also. The Pies blooded lots of youth last year with great success, look for Jack Anthony, Nathan Brown, Sharrod Wellingham and Ben Reid to figure in the side more this year, Brad Dick returns from a season ending knee injury early last year and Steele Sidebottom may yet make an impact.

Essendon: Matty Knights attacking game plan to reap some rewards after some real touchups in 2008. Scott Lucas and Matty Lloyd to get through the season unscathed. Alwin Davey and Leeroy Jetta to turn the midfield/forward line into an electrifying excitement machine. Prismalls arrival from Geelong will also bolster midfield stocks once he returns from a serious knee Injury. Mid-table would be respectable.

Fremantle: Lost many games by small amounts last season, if the results had of fallen the other way Mark Harvey would find himself in a lot different position, Captain Fantastic (Pavlich), Aaron Sandilands and Rhys Palmer all need big years if the Dockers are to find themselves back in the top 8, Des Headland also needs some serious output and Chris Tarrant has failed to deliver since his move from Collingwood, Fremantle would love nothing more than the big marking forward having an impact this year.

Geelong: Tom Hawkins to cement a place in the senior side, midfield of Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Ling and Ottens to continue to be the best in the league, If Harry Taylor has another year like 2008 he could be the best 3rd backline player in the comp and hopefully Matthew Egan getting back on the track at some stage. Should be looking at reclaiming their premiership crown.

Hawthorn: Trent Croad to be back at full fitness for round one after a serious foot injury and Tim Boyle to push for senior selection again. The Hawks will be looking at back to back flags.

Melbourne: Two very important players Jarrad Rivers and Aaron Davey must stay injury free, Maloney will also be welcomed back to the midfield by Brock Mclean and Nathan Jones, Robbo will also be a lively inclusion to the forward line. Hopefully Jack Watts can get some game time and all of a sudden there is some light at the end of the tunnel although it still may be some time away. A finish outside the bottom three or four would be very respectable

North Melbourne: Hamish Mcintosh and Aaron Edwards to shake off injuries from ’08. Campbell, Thomas and Urquhart to continue the youth movement at the Kangas. North should hope to play finals again this year, they cannot afford to bottom out in their current financial position.

Port Adelaide: Josh Carr to come back home and pick up where he left off, Justin Westhoff needs to continue to grow and take more of the load off Motlop and an older Warren Tredrea down forward. Mark Williams would be hoping to play finals again this year however it’s a long way back for an ageing list.

Richmond: Do I really need to comment here? Obviously Benny Cousins set the MCG on fire with other midfield guns Foley and Deledio. Hopefully Richo and Riewoldt will wax down forward. Other young guys coming through such as Cleve Hughes, Jake King, Trent Cochin and Andrew Raines, lot of pressure on Terry Wallace now as nothing less then a finals birth will impress anyone this year.

St.Kilda: Injury free seasons for Matt McGuire, Luke Ball and Justin Koschitzke. Lots of players with question marks over there head at St.Kilda and this year is there chance to take the next step, players such as Gwilt, the Clarke brothers, Leigh Fisher, McQualter and new recruit Farren Ray. Established players such as Goddard, Riewoldt, Gram and Dal Santo must perform this year if the Saints are to reclaim the top 4 spot they snuck into in 2008. Steven Baker and Sean Dempster returning from injury will not hurt.

Sydney: Can an ageing Sydney list prove the punters wrong in ’09? If they are to feature in September Barry Hall must get back to his match winning form, Michael O’Lochlan needs to steer clear of injuries, Adam Goodes needs to play at full fitness and some of the younger guys like Kieran Jack and Jarrad Mcveigh need to be at full flight. Playing finals would be a good result.

West Coast: Naitanui will be a welcome addition to a midfield already boasting Cox, Priddis and Kerr, some good young players on the list who will hopefully have an impact this year such as Le Cras, the Selwood brothers, Josh Kennedy and Beau Waters. Obviously big Quinten Lynch holds the key to the forward line and must make himself the main target. It’s not all bad for the Eagles, will be looking at climbing back up the ladder towards the top half this year.

Western Bulldogs: Tom Williams to avoid injury and step into a full time centre halfback role to support both Dale Morris and Brian Lake in the doggies defence, also Andrejs Everitt to develop further as a key forward. Players such as Addison, Harbrow and Higgins will look to build on the past couple of seasons, still one of the best users of the ball by foot in the competition with Gilbee, Murphy and Co. should be looking at another top 4 finish.