11 wins, 5 losses

Lost elimination final to Redan

Senior players: 40

Quarters won: 39

Best quarters: first (averaged 8-point lead), last (highest average score, 23 points)

Worst quarters: last (averaged 4-point lead), second and third (lowest average score, 20 points)

Highest quarter score: 75 points

Quarters less than 10 points: 13

BEST AND FAIREST - Shane Page

LEADING GOALKICKER - Jake Edwards 38

14-Nick Graham

11-Shane Page

11-Luther Baker

9-Brian Graham

3-Jackson Carrick

3-Harley Inglis

2-Darren Leonard

2-Leigh Spiteri

1-Trent Angwin

1-Mark Hanson

Some big early pre-season moves at Darley, with none bigger than the loss of coach Heath Scotland to North Melbourne in the AFL as a development coach.

The former Collingwood and Carlton player made a dream start to the Devils in 2017 - immediately delivering a premiership.

While they could be hot and cold, Darley has not been too far away in the past few seasons either.

Although he was well on the wrong side of 30 as a footballer, Scotland also proved invaluable as a player and on-field hands-on director of operations.

Darley faces the challenge of not only replacing him as a coach, but also his on-field leadership - and that is despite having the likes of Shane Page and Darren Leonard in these roles.

Then there is the loss of Nick and Brian Graham.

Darley has in the past five years, which have produced two flags, been well known for finding a way.

They threw a wealth of under-19 players into deep end this year, at one stage having them make up almost half the side.

Such was the top-end experience and talent Darley pressed on and in the end could easily have claimed the minor premiership.

Exposing so many youngsters to senior football puts Darley in a strong position for the years ahead.

While this bracket will continue the develop, the Devils are going to have top up the workman-like components of their list if they are to keep pace with the likes of East Point and Sebastopol.

They suddenly look a little thin when its comes to class and more help is going to be needed for the likes of Jake Edwards, Luther Baker, Page and Leonard.

Darley has shown it has an ability to get a job done, even when on paper its side might not be as star-studded as an opponent.

This is why its quick exit from this year's finals came as a shock.

The Devils loomed as a serious premiership threat and their elimination final loss to a revitalised Redan was a relief to other contenders in such a tight competition.

Until a new coach is announced there is going to be plenty of uncertainty about where Darley exactly sits.

The past few years in the BFL have shown that it requires only a marginal shift to fall off the radar.

The Devils have shown themselves to be resilient in the face of adversity, on and off the field, and they will need to be again under newe leadership.

Darley should remain in the top half of the competition, but exactly where it sits in that bracket will most likely depend on what recruits it can attract.

It was a destination club under the guidance of Heath Scotland, with some real quality arriving at Darley Park.

The Devils face a challenge to get the players needed to be a stand-out in the premiership race.

Darley's season came to a sudden halt, with a far earlier exit from finals than anyone thought would happen.

It's best was right up with the best - especially at home - but in the end did not have the top end numbers.