TIM O'CONNOR: There's been some big outs and some big ins at Hepburn, which again look certain of playing finals. Hard to know if the new faces will help bridge the gap between the Burras and the top four from last year, but don't be surprised if the spa country powerhouse is again right there at the business end of the season.

Samuel Dunstan 21

Daniel O'Halloran 20

Julian Lockwood 7

Tommy Horne 5

Bradley McKay 5

Andrew McKay 4

Nathan Dunstan 3

Rhys Jenkins 3

Bryce Coffey 1

Mitchell McKay 1

Sam Dunstan

Tommy Horne

Hepburn has long been a feared rival in finals and the spa country powerhouse showed why once again in 2019.

A fifth-placed finish and an injury cloud over club champion Andy McKay had many doubting whether the Burras were a major player in the business end of the season.

But after getting over a gallant Skipton in the elimination final, the team quickly put itself at the top of premiership calculations with quality displays against Buninyong and Newlyn.

The emphatic beating of the Cats had the Burras well fancied to topple Waubra in the grand final, however the Roos proved much more slick on the big stage at Mars Stadium.

While it was a disappointing result for coach Clive Raak, the man himself admits it was widely a successful year.

Raak started off the campaign in a joint role with Segifili Asa Leausa, who eventually stood aside due to increasing work commitments.

Injuries to key players such as Tommy Horne, Rhys Jenkins, Ken Cummings and McKay tested the depth at times, but often gave the younger players a chance to shine.

The recruitment of Sam Dunstan to the club had been touted as a big one and the key forward made sure it was with a brilliant season in attack that netted in excess of 100 majors.

He was a weekly standout for the side and took out the best and fairest award, fellow recruits Horne and Julian Lockwood were valuable assets alongside familiar faces such as the McKay brothers, Ken Cummings and Dan O'Halloran.

Things are understood to have ended on somewhat of a sour note between Raak and the club at the end of the season, with Jason Olver and Shane Robertson now in charge of the senior side.

Given the old guard is back at the helm, you can expect the Burras to give things a real shake during the off-season recruiting drive.

There's been no major signings made public as yet, but they're likely to come as the club looks to top-up a squad that doesn't need much more to go all the way in 2020.