The Ballarat Football League season is on hold with the COVID-19 virus having brought sport to a standstill.
AFL Victoria has suspended all as aspects of community football until at least May 31.
Hopes remain that an abbreviated football season might be able to be played.
If this comes to realisation, let's take a look at how teams will shape up.
Converting close losses into wins.
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Ballarat coach Joe Carmody sees this as a starting point for the Swans as they look to improve on a disappointing three wins and 10th position last season.
They lost three games by 12 points or less and in addition had a draw.
Turning these into maximum points would have had the Swans up with the best-of-the-rest, which would have been a significant move in the right direction.
Carmody said Ballarat had been better than its record on paper suggested.
And Carmody believes a healthy list can help Ballarat deliver a much better outcome if they get on the park this year. "It makes a big difference," he said.
Andrew Hooper, Nick O'Farrell, Keegan Mellington, Nick Weightman, Mitch Martin, new skipper Sam James and Lachlan Dawson all had injury issues - something the Swans could not afford.
While Mellington is overseas for the year, they have had the others up and running with Dawson having undergone shoulder surgery and O'Farrell throwing off a strained knee.
This opens up options across the board for Carmody, particularly through the midfield, where the Swans have the services of one of the competition's best tap ruckman Marcus Powling.
ON THE FIELD
What Carmody is hoping this will lead to better and more precise ball movement into attack, where he is hoping recruits Jake Dunne and Jack Sutherland can provide targets, and take some pressure off assistant coach and last year's BFL leading goalkicker Andrew Hooper.
Greater Western Victoria Rebels graduate Patrick Glanford, who managed two BFL senior appearances last year, is another likely to be given an opportunity as a back-up for Powling and presence up forward.
Ballarat will feel a lot more stable up back with Mitch Martin after a mid-season hamstring tear and Mitch Bishop adding depth.
Tall forwards were high on Ballarat's shopping list.
PLAYER MOVEMENTS
And the Swans have bolstered their stocks in this area with the signing of Buninyong's Jake Dunne and Jack Sutherland, who they have lured back into the fold after one season at Dunnstown in the CHFL.
What this duo provides is options to complement Andrew Hooper.
Key defender Mitch Bishop is back after not playing at all last year.
Keegan Mellington missed most of 2019 with injury, but will still be a big loss as spend the year on the ski slopes on Canada.
Jess Nicholls has moved to SMW Rovers after being in and out of the side in various roles.
KEY ARRIVALS
Jake Dunne (Buninyong)
Nathan Patrikeos (Waubra)
Jack Sutherland (Dunnstown)
Mitch Bishop (returning)
KEY DEPARTURES
Keegan Mellington (overseas)
Hayden Hughes (Waubra)
Jesse Marshall (Buninyong)
Jess Nicholls (SMW Rovers)
Izaac Ewing (Port Fairy)
Jake Dunne back in the BFL with Ballarat Swans.