Shane Tregear. He's won a VFL club best and fairest (at Sandringham in 2010), played in three premierships in Balwyn's superstar team (from 2012-2016) and was named in the club's Team of the Century after seven seasons. When Rodney Eade talks so highly of your skills, you know he's a gun.

THE CLUB PICKED UP A STACK OF DISTRICT PLAYERS LAST YEAR, WHICH ONE COULD TAKE ANOTHER STEP?

Cody Parker. Coach Marc Almond said last year he could be a star after kicking five goals in the early win over Myrtleford. Not a bad effort for someone who only did a pre-season to get fit and didn't commit until January. Parker has the skills and, just as importantly, work ethic to thrive, but he just needs a decent run with injury.

COULD THE ROOS PLAY FINALS?

You wouldn't think so, but given the exodus of players from Wodonga Raiders, you would have to think there's at least one spot available. It's a long way to go from three wins to finals. Tregear will be vital and the positive is that he was still playing terrific football at Balwyn last year. Given they've won only three games in three years, it would be a boon for the league if the Roos made it.

SO WHO SHOULD THE ROOS TARGET AS POTENTIAL WINS?

Everyone bar Wangaratta and Albury.

The likely top two still looks a step above, but of the rest of last year's top five, Raiders won't be the same, Yarrawonga doesn't appear as strong and Lavington will rely on a host of district players finding their feet.

The Roos have improved, they're free of the James Lawton saga and have more points (47) available, under the player points system, so they should go higher.  

Q&A WITH SHANE TREGEAR

Q: You came to Corowa-Rutherglen after catching up with fellow recruit Andrew Pretto at Derby Day, why join the Roos?

A: With work ramping up (in marketing) I was looking at certainly finding a club because I'm going to be doing a fair bit of travelling during the week and I couldn't commit getting to training during the week for Balwyn. I had a chat to (coach) Marc (Almond) and he outlined the plans for the short and medium term, and it all sounded really exciting, I had played a pre-season game against Yarrawonga, so I had an idea of the league but it fitted in with my life schedule as much as anything.

Q: How good a player will fellow Eastern Football League recruit Andrew Pretto be?

A: He's a great player, we actually lined up on each other a fair bit on the wing. He's an endurance athlete with good skills and he should be a really good addition.

Q: Your coach at Balwyn - ex-AFL mentor Rodney Eade - said you had a high footy IQ, do you like to play that quarterback role?

A:Definitely last year it was, I moved to half-back. We had a fairly young team and I tried to play that quarterback role as much as I could and distribute the ball coming out of the backline.

RELATED:

2019 O&M club-by-club season preview: Wangaratta Magpies

SEASON SNAPSHOT

ARRIVALS

Rohan Davies (Mernda), Cameron Dunne (University Rats - NTFL), James O'Connell (BB Crows), Andrew Pretto (Vermont), Tim Brook (NT Thunder), Jarred Lane (Narrandera), Shane Tregear (Balwyn) , Alex Wallis (Old Collegians)

DEPARTURES

Brendan Morris (Rutherglen), James Atkinson, James Lawton, Rhys Andrews 

THE A-TEAM

B: Angus Lingham, Kade Kuschert, Jack Schilg

HB: Jordan Lavis, Alex Wallis, Shane Tregear

C: Jamie Seymour, Tyson Logie, Tyler Spencer

HF: Andrew Pretto, Jack Bates, Joe Hansen

F: Rohan Davies, Cameron Dunne, Cody Parker

Foll: Jarred Lane, Tim Brook, Hayden Filliponi

Int: James O'Connell, Dylan Cook, Dean Druce

2019 DRAW

SO: Wangaratta (a)

R1: Yarrawonga (h)

R2: Wangaratta Rovers (a)

R3: North Albury (h)

R5: Albury (h)

R6: Myrtleford (a)

R7: Lavington (h)

R8: Wodonga (a)

R9: Wodonga Raiders (h)

R10: Wangaratta Rovers (h)

R11: Yarrawonga (a)

R12: North Albury (a)

R13: Wangaratta (h)

R14: Myrtleford (h)

R15: Albury (a)

R16: Wodonga Raiders (a)

R17: Wodonga (h)

R18: Lavington

2018 BEST & FAIREST

1st: Hayden Filliponi

2nd: Joe Hansen

3rd: Tyson Logie

2018 MOST GOALS

1st: Cody Parker 16

2nd: Hayden Filliponi 14

3rd: Brendan Morris 10