Mail Medallists since WW 2 - B Lokan 1959, C Gibbs 1961, G Lokan 1962, 1963, D Llewellyn 1973, J Rankine 1981, Z Ewer 2006.

Premierships since WW 2 - (11) - 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1984, 1986, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.

Position finished in 2007 - First

Player losses - Paul Meekins (NT), Bruce Hamiester (Kilburn), Scott Crouch (Gaza), Tyron Hill (Barooga NSW), Ben Pyman (Robe), Scott Baxter, Ben Woodhouse (doubtful)

Player gains - Jason Bayliss (Encounter Bay), Dale Blake (Karoonda), Ryan Bienke (Tailem Bend), Arnold Love, Tony Gibson, Kevin Sumner (Meningie), Jarrod Wohlschlager (Ramblers), Chad Beard (Happy Valley)

Imperials - Imperials look to go one better

NO Matt Seyers, no Chris Gerhardy, no Brad Shiell and it leaves a big gap in experience.

They have picked up Josh Charles from West Adelaide via country Victoria.

He is a big man who should hold down a key position.

Daniel Girdham, from Kadina, has had a run with Central Districts and looks a handy type.

Martin Baillie, from Tanunda, looks likely to slot into the full forward position vacated by Shiell and with Luke Harrowfield coming off a big 2007 they still have a potent forward line.

They have a host of young players ready to produce some quality football.

Sam Redden, Jason Puiati, Ryan Edwards, Ryan Eyre and Matt Gogel are as good as any young players in the competition and in 2008 we should see them emerge as the new stars in the league.

Imperials will be around the mark and so they should be because they enjoy certain natural advantages over their competitors.

Coach Tony Fielke has been patient and he is hoping Imperials will be patient with him.

He needs a premiership and 2008 is there for the taking.

They look to have covered their losses and if they can get Tyson Wait back half way through the season they will be hard to beat.

They have a lot of talent and they loom as the club most likely to break the stranglehold Jervois has over the rest of the competition.

The big concern about Imperials is that they continue to find ways to lose grand finals when they are in a winning position.

President - Shane Snell

Coach - Tony Fielke

Mail Medallists since WW 2 - N Weibricht 1947, 1948, R Hutchinson 1949, 1951, W Lipp 1950, E Smelt 1952, L Stone 1953, T Williamson 1978. G Zadow 1984, 1986, D Hicks 1988, B Lienert 1995, 1999.

Premierships since WW 2 - (14) 1946, 1948, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1999, 2002.

Position finished in 2007 - Second

Player losses - Matt Seyers (Peake), Matthew Hams (North Clare), Jason Leech (Payneham/Norwood), Alex Rochow (Tailem Bend), Chris Gerhardy (Nuriootpa), Dominic Meany (CY Cougers), Brad Shiell, Simon Dreckow, Tyson Wait (doubtful)

Player gains - Kane Tonkin (Happy Valley), Justin Charles (Walpeup/Underbool Vic), Brady Charles (Hervey Bay Qld), Robert Mathews (Central Augusta), Daniel Girdham (Kadina), Martin Baillie (Tanunda)

Mannum - Mannum Roos a club on the rise

THERE is an air of confidence emanating from Mannum.

Lee Adams, once the grumpiest coach in the competition, is walking about with a smile on his face.

The last time he was seen to smile was on his wedding day.

I would be smiling too if James Smith walked into the club and asked if he could get a game.

Smith is a star, in 2007 at the half-way stage of the season he was leading every award including the Mail Medal, but had to quit due to a SACA cricket contract.

He is a bigger version of Jonathan Brown from the Brisbane Lions and plays the centre half forward position beautifully because there is no one who can match up on him physically. He is the best junior player I have seen in the River Murray Football League in the past twenty years.

The Roos’ favourite son “Shovel” Maloney returns.

He comes from the blue singlet brigade, he is an in-an-under player and a hard worker.

The Roos have picked up Paul Sarno and Ben Lambert from Tea Tree Gully but at this stage we are unsure of how good they are.

The core group of 2007 in Matt Connolly, Andrew Warnest, Brad Wakefield and Ben Quinn are still there and Shane Harte is a tough defender who is very good in traffic.

With some young kids coming through the Mannum Roos are confident of a big year ahead.

Their Achilles heel is their defence as it looks a bit slow and cumbersome.

I see them as the big improver and with the return of Smith I reckon Mannum can crack the top three this season.

President - Jock Krause

Coach - Lee Adams

Mail Medallists since WW 2 - C Wakefield 1954, D Haythorpe 1967, L Adams 1990, D Buckley 1991, D Krollig 1994, M Marchetti 2001, B Quinn 2002, D Zadow 2003.

Premierships since WW 2 - (4) 1949, 1955, 1956, 2003.

Position finished in 2007 - Fourth

Player losses - Craig McGorman (Sedan Cambrai), Brad Rosensweig (Balranald), Nick Hunt (Brighton), Dylan Cooper (BSR) Matthew Cooper, Tim Cooper (McLaren)

Player gains - Chris Rudiger, Josh Rudiger, Steven Thiele, Todd Boughen, Justin Maloney (Karoonda), Daniel Thiele (Imperials), Josh Gould (Walkerville), Mitchell Stalenberg (Mypolonga), Daniel Smith (SHOC), James Kerin (Freeling), Paul Sarno, Ben Lambert (Tea Tree Gully, pending), Donald Andrews (Karoonda, pending), Mark Dearman (Blackfriars OS, pending)

Ramblers - Opportunity closing for Roosters

THE window of opportunity has closed on Ramblers.

I reckon Anthony ‘good guy’ Weyland has gotten too close to the players and they continue to come up with excuses.

Jervois and Imperials have got the wood on them in big games and now Mannum and Mypolonga are nipping at their heels.

They have a very good list with the burley midfielder Ryan Viney and the classy Ryan Morris the gun players who can rip games apart. It is virtually the same squad of 2007 and if James Dalwood does not line up as expected the two young ruckmen in Ty Pfeiffer and Mark Rumelow will be asked to step up.

The big forwards Clint Girardi and Adam Jackson are hard to match up on but they rarely tear a top team to pieces.

Ramblers have always smashed teams below them on the ladder but for the last 21 years they have barely fired a shot during the finals.

I don’t think the self belief is there, they make too many excuses for my liking and when you speak to opposition coaches they always say the chink in the Roosters’ armour is lack of mental toughness.

They have been content with mediocrity in recent times but if they can get their act together with their strong list they will be a very difficult opponent.

It is Anthony Weyland’s last roll of the dice, he has indicated that 2008 could be his swansong.

He has done a fair job of resurrecting the club but I doubt if he can win a premiership with this squad.

President - Stephen Wray

Coach - Anthony Weyland

Mail Medallists since WW 2 - R Liebelt 1974, B Cybulka 1975, B Paech 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, D Ridgway 1987, M Smart 1998, R.Morris 2007.

Premierships since WW 2 - (9) 1950, 1951, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987.

Position finished in 2007 - Third

Player gains- Eli Koch (Karoonda), Joel Matchoss (Nuriootpa), Thomas May (Pembroke OS), Jamie Gunther (Koonibba)

Player losses - Aaron Barney, Donavan Lindner (Peake), Simon Wanganeen (CY Cougers), Michael Holland (Callington), Jarrod Wohlslager (Jervois), James Dalwood (doubtful)

Mypolonga - Tigers unveil gun recruit Pedler

THE Tigers’ season is dependent on Joe Pedler.

Pedler is a premiership player from the Woodville West Torrens Eagles and Mypolonga needs his experience to guide their young players through the season.

Joe Pedler, George Pedler, James Pedler and Aimee Pedler, are there any other Pedlers in SA who are not playing for the Tigers in 2008?

They are all key players and if they all fire they are a real top three threat.

Mypolonga has picked up a couple of players from Woodville South in Brendan Corrie and Jed Dunbar.

They will be looking at Corrie to give them another forward option to complement Brad Martin.

New coach Damien Cross will be after early results. He has got no mates at Mypolonga.

He will pick his best team without fear or favour.

Graham Cornes learned his trade at South Adelaide then crossed to Glenelg, Cross is loading up his CV as he could be coveting the Rambler vacancy in 2009.

He will bring a fresh look to the Tigers but he has to change the culture.

They are the best people in Australia but they accept defeat too easily.

It’s their 80th year out at Tigerland and they have a few things in place to celebrate.

They always look very sharp in February/March but come September it’s the same old same old.

At their best they are very good but they tend to crumble under pressure. Their last two finals performances have been dismal.

They have the best playing surface in the competition and sometimes I reckon it worthwhile just to go out there and watch the grass grow.

This is a club that deserves some success but it all depends on the presence of Joe Pedler.

President - James Zadow

Coach - Damien Cross

Mail Medallists since WW 2 - W Martin 1951, J Klienig 1977, K Dinon 1978, G Wright 1979

Premierships since WW 2 - (4) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994.

Position finished in 2007 - Fifth

Player gains- Jedd Dunbar, Brendan Corrie (Woodville South), Sam McGrath (Collungullie NSW), Andrew Hughes (Ramblers), Daniel Murray (Border Districts), Shaun Madigan (West Whyalla), Kieran Jaensch (Peake), Josh Reichstein (Casino NSW)* Jason Morris (Karoonda/Tailem Bend)

Player losses - Scott Jolly, James Fiegert (Peake), Mitchell Stallenberg (Mannum), Kent Traeger (North Beach WA), Chris Webb (Murrayville), Corey Smelt (Kangarilla), Sean Oatway (doubtful)

Tailem Bend - Eagles begin slow climb back up

IT HAS been a long time between drinks for the Tailem Bend Football Club. Round 14 2006 was their last win.

The Eagles have had a fair influx of players in the off season and the quality of their recruits will be placed under the microscope very early.

This is a proud club with 14 premierships since WW II, a feat equalled only by Imperials.

The Eagles have produced 17 Mail Medal winners, by far the best record in the competition and it pains me and it pains a lot of their loyal supporters to see this great club struggling.

Mathew Dent has been given the job to resurrect the Eagles and if there is no improvement in his record he may be moved on.

I am a bit suspicious of their Macclesfield recruits.

Macclesfield is an unsuccessful club in Division 2 of the Hills Football league.

It is more famous for having more pubs than people and is not known as a fertile recruiting ground.

I hope they do improve, I think they can pick up three or four wins in 2008 and give the club something to build on for next season.

This club does not like losing and history suggests they will come back but it is not going to be easy.

They have kicked a few sides off the park in the past decade, these clubs have long memories and when they get a chance to return the favour they rarely let the opportunity slip by.

It’s a tough gig coaching Tailem Bend at the minute, they should be more competitive but finals football looks a long way off at this stage.

President - Lloyd Downs

Coach - Mathew Dent

Mail Medallists since WW 2 - A Skuse 1950, H Enthoven 1952, B Lokan 1958, B Cybulka 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, T Connolly 1976, N Hartman 1989, M Hunt 1991, R Wilson 1992, M Kartinyeri 1997, 2004, 2005, D Dumsney 2004.

Premierships since WW 2 - (14) 1947, 1954, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000.

Position finished in 2007 - Seventh

Player gains - Adam Robertson (Adelaide Lutheran), Damien Raidis (Penola), Ashleigh Bastian (Brighton), Derek Williams (Kimba), Alexander Rochow (Imperials), Noel Hartman (Callington), Ryan Cattle (Peake), Kenny Sumner (Meningie), Mathew Linke, Josh Herbert, Tony Lynch, Adam Wilkey, Steven Thomas (Macclesfield), Brad Tomkinson, Rohan Tomkinson, Sam Cross, Dwayne Zander, Hayden Zander, Nicholas Zander, Kyle Duell (Karoonda)

Player losses- Nathan Spry (Peake), Ryan Bienke (Jervois), Jed Northcott (BDT)

Meningie - Tough year ahead for Meningie

IT IS tough being at Meningie at the minute.

The lake is drying up before their eyes, the agricultural and dairy industries are going through tough times and it must get a bit depressing.

The Bears are geographically disadvantaged being on the southern end of the league.

For Meningie to achieve success they must win their home games.

They have a distinct advantage but they could not capitalise on it in 2007.

They have a lot of promising young players but that’s their problem, they have too many.

Tough, seasoned A grade footballers from opposition clubs have the body strength to bundle the young players off the ball.

The Bears have been able to go with most sides for half a game but the bigger bodies begin to take their toll in the second half.

They have a popular coach in Jamie Gibbs who is doing everything possible to fast track his young players into senior footballers.

Peter Reichelt and Andrew Cunneen are two that are progressing and the Bears have a few at Sturt and there is a chance they could return to bolster the ranks.

Laurie Rankine has given them something to aim at up forward and Gibbs will be hoping Neil Tee, Greg and Tim Saddlier, Evan Smith and Chris Lawson will all have good years for the Bears.

They have a couple of surprises up their sleeves and if they come off it will give the club a massive boost.

Player depth will test the Bears out but if any club wanders down to the lakeside and underestimates them they will pay the price.

President - David McKechnie

Coach - Jamie Gibbs

Mail Medallists since WW 2 - W Sanders 1958, 1960, D McKechnie 1989, K White 2000

Premierships since WW 2 - (1) 2001

Position finished in 2007 - Sixth

Player gains - Tim Applebee (POAC), Daniel Cybuski (North Haven), Josh Robertson (Border Districts), Robert Payne (Sturt U/19s), Richard Roberts (Lake Boga Vic), Troy Bettineschi, Adam Bettineschi (Brighton), Jack Lewis (GAZA, pending)

Player losses - Lee Stevens, Tommy Sumner, Adam Saliba (Paralowie) Shane Carmen (Birdwood), Matthew Keller (BMW), Peter Hurrell (Kooniba), Rhys Fischer (Roxby Downs), Kevin Sumner, Arnold Love, Tony Gibson (Jervois), Ash Stenner (Kingston), Michael Leese (Glencoe)

1. Ryan Viney (Ramblers)

A big barrel-chested midfielder who just brushes his opponents aside with his strength. Possesses a booming kick. He gave the Roosters a bit of grunt in the midfield, lacks a yard in pace but can read the game and when in full flight is an intimidating player.

2. Ryan Morris (Ramblers)

He is a game breaker and can win a game off his own boot. He is quick and can kick the ball a prodigious distance. A young player on the way up with his best football still to be played. Winner of the 2007 Mail Medal and looks set for a boom year in 2008.

3. James Jagodnik (Jervois)

Showed his class on grand final day when he concentrated on the football. Can play a defensive position, an attacking role and can rotate through the midfield. He is a nice size player with a lot of athletic ability. Hard to match up on, runner-up in the 2007 Mail Medal.

4. Luke Harrowfield (Imperials)

Very nice mover, lovely hands and a damaging forward who finished with 75 goals in 2007. Can chop up an opposition defence in a quarter, runner-up in the 2007 Mail Medal.

5. Sam Mahony (Jervois)

Loves the big games. He is a burst player who is physically strong, can stand up in a tackle and still get rid of the football. He also has an uncanny goal sense. The role of playing-coach will test him out in 2008.

6. Trevor Rigney (Jervois)

Spectacular player who thrives under pressure. Had a great game grand final day where he won the Patrons Medal for best on ground. Clean player who only has eyes for the ball, constantly plucks the big marks from impossible positions.

7. Tyson Wait (Imperials)

Very smooth mover who slotted nicely into the Imperials side. Only two votes off the pace in the 2007 Mail Medal. Currently down at the Port Adelaide Magpies at the minute but Imperials would be hoping for his return half-way through the season.

8. Zac Ewer (Jervois)

Kicked the winning goal grand final day with six seconds left on the clock. Very skilled player with hand and foot. Had a brilliant 2006, not quite as dominant in 2007 but a smart player who can lift for the occasion.

9. James Smith (Mannum)

Only played half a season in 2007 due to a SACA cricket contract. The same size as Jonathan Brown from the Brisbane Lions and plays the same position. He is an impact player like his father. He was leading all the awards before his forced retirement. The best young player I have seen in the RMFL in the past 20 years.

10. Brad Martin (Mypolonga)

Gave the Tigers a 75 goal forward. Give him decent supply and a bit of assistance and he could break the 100 goal barrier and become the first Mypolonga player in the club’s history to do so. When the supply line was stopped so did Brad - needs to develop another string to his bow.