Bungaree's slow and steady build under coach Greg Middleton reached the ultimate goal last season as the Demons claimed their first senior flag since 1991.

The emphatic 58-point win over Springbank in the grand final brought down the curtain on Middleton's reign and delivered the Demon faithful what they had craved for so long.

The team Bungaree beat in the preliminary final has also been slowly climbing the ranks, and for really the first time in decades, staked its claim as a genuine threat.

Of course, that side is Gordon.

The Eagles have not lifted the premiership cup since 1988, but loom as one of the favourites to do so this year.

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Coach Corey Grills has worked hard to establish a very similar senior squad to the one that got so close last campaign, with very few key departures boosted by a couple of handy inclusions.

As always, Grills isn't talking up his team's chances, but admits there is a driving hunger amongst the group that rattled so many opposition sides with an explosive run-and-carry game in 2014.

A list that has played together for some time, combined with a few important additions, is generally the tonic for success, so don't be surprised to see the Eagles go all the way this time in.

Another looking to end an increasing drought is Buninyong.

The Bombers, who last won the title in 2002, have been knocking on the door for years now - non closer than back-to-back grand final defeats in 2012 and 2013 - but have not been able to get the job done.

Coaches Jarrod Morgan and Jake Bridges are now at the controls and must be upbeat about their chances.

Like Gordon, the Bombers have done well to keep a squad together that troubled many last season as well as add some important figures to give them a spot of difference.

Bungaree has lost a few key premiership players, including captain Joel Mahar, but must be regarded as a good chance of going back-to-back under first-year coach Heath Pyke.

Becoming the hunted is an exciting challenge for his club, says Pyke, who admits there is still plenty to prove despite heading into the season as the reigning champions.

Springbank won't be far away under Terry Simpson for the first time.

The Tigers showed what they were capable of with some dashing finals performances last year, and while they have had significant turnover, including the loss of reigning league best and fairest Luke Fisher and the pick-up of decorated North Ballarat Roosters premiership player Michael Searl, their best is surely good enough.

The bottom half of the top eight is really up for grabs, but it would be hard to see Waubra and Hepburn finishing too far down the ladder.

The Roos have some major departures, none bigger than Geoff Taylor Medal winner Nick Sullivan, but have recruited well for the first campaign under Grant Luscombe, while the Burras don't appear to have been overly active in the transfer window, however, the luring of Ferraro brothers Ricky and Jason adds some class to a side that will test most when on song.

Beaufort and Ballan look the most likely to break into the finals bracket.

The Crows have probably been the most successful in the off-season recruiting drive, securing a string of key names, and look like making sharp improvement in coach Dale Power's second year at the helm.

Much of the talk surrounding the Blues' pre-season has been their ability to land the signature of Marcus Crook.

Crook is arguably the biggest name to land in the Central Highlands Football League in 2015 and might just be the spark that lifts the club from its ninth-placed finish to last season.

If two come in, then two must go. And Learmonth and Daylesford look the most likely to make the slide.

The Lakies were one of the stories of 2014 after breaking into the top eight, but despite strengthening their list in the warmer months, the improvement around them might just be a bit much to match.

The Bulldogs snuck into the eight last year, but don't appear any stronger on paper, meaning one of the league powerhouses look destined for a season without finals football.

New Dunnstown coach Justin Abrams is talking up his team's chances of a quick rise up the table, and while finals is the aim, the reality is that the Towners managed just two wins last year.

You'd think the massive list of ins will help, but finishing inside the top eight is perhaps a little optimistic at this stage of the campaign.

Like Dunnstown, Skipton has brought in a new coach and a plethora of talent from outside the CHFL, which should see an improvement on its results, while Clunes is stepping into "phase two" under joint-coach Jason Hill and will be competitive against most of its rivals, despite not appearing to be too busy with recruiting.

Newlyn is likely to be around a similar mark to 2014 under Kal Young, Creswick gets back the inspirational Damian Lubeek as its coach but may struggle against the best in the competition, while Carngham-Linton welcomes former Smythesdale mentor Glenn Treacy to the top job, but big outs, including star Nathan Pring, have hurt a line-up that wasn't blessed with a multitude of talent.

Rokewood-Corindhap moves into its second year of a three-year contract with coach Michael Hynes, but a major rise up the ladder would shock, and while confidence is growing within the Smythesdale camp, anything more than one or two wins would be a surprise.

PREDICTED LADDER

GORDON

BUNINYONG

BUNGAREE

SPRINGBANK

WAUBRA

HEBBURN

BEAUFORT

BALLAN

Learmonth

Daylesford

Dunnstown

Skipton

Clunes

Newlyn

Creswick

Carngham-Linton

Rokewood-Corindhap

Smythesdale