TIM O'CONNOR: Broke back into the finals last season after a few years of gradual improvement under Justin Abrams. A couple of key figures are gone, but the depth looks strong at the club. Should be able to make finals again in 2019.

Matthew Bulluss 19

Jack Sutherland 7

Harry McKimmie 6

Kade Rattley 2

Ben Collins 2

Timothy Collins 1

Matt Auchettl 1

Daniel Harbour 1

Mitchell Henderson 1

Angus Thompson 1

nil

After a sustained build under coach Justin Abrams, it's hard not to see season 2019 as a little step backwards for the senior side at Dunnstown.

Abrams took over a struggling Towners outfit on the back of a 17th-placed finish to the 2014 season and did a brilliant job to return the club to finals by 2018.

The reappearance in finals came on the back of gradual year-by-year improvement and hopes were that the upward spiral would continue.

The loss of best and fairest winner Sam Jenkins in the off-season was a major blow to a Towners outfit not blessed with stacks of top-end class, but a solid foundation of recruits had confidence high within the camp.

Abrams would have known just how telling the early part of 2019 was likely to be, with his side booked to take on the other seven finalists from 2018 inside the opening 10 rounds.

While the team was competitive against its rivals, the scoreboard ultimately showed a winless first half of the campaign.

Scattered between the defeats to the top sides was losses to mid-tier rivals Bungaree and Skipton, which ultimately ended the club's hopes of finals.

Seven-straight wins in the run home was no surprise and eventually saw the Towners finish the year ninth on the ladder.

Among the positives in a disappointing year was the emergence of young player Will Henderson, who was acknowledged as the league's rookie of the year in September, and the quality year of club best and fairest Matthew Bulluss.

Abrams has now moved on to a new coaching role and been replaced by respected leader Glenn Wilkins.

With the obvious concern the club's lack of A-grade players, the departure of classy forward Harry McKimmie isn't ideal.

Key position footballers need to be the clear area of focus in terms of recruiting for the Towners, which again look well placed to push for the top eight but could quickly become a finals lock with a couple of big names.