WODONGA (1ST)
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Rating: 9/10
Win/loss: 8/1
Top three players: Jack Craig, Tom Johnson, Cam Suidgeest
Most runs: Johnson - 382 (2nd) at 47.75
Most wickets: Suidgeest - 25 (1st) at 16.76
Season so far: Was undefeated in 13 matches, over two formats, until the final game before Christmas, falling to Tallangatta, but was missing opening bowler Byron Hales.
Strengths: The 'fab four' - Johnson, Craig, Suidgeest and Bob Jackson. The latter boasts the best average in the top 50 (58.75), yet still can't make the top three players.
Weaknesses: Not many. Johnson, Craig and Jackson is the best top-middle order, while Suidgeest and Hales form the best new-ball attack.
Prediction: Premiers
EAST ALBURY (2ND)
Rating: 9.5/10
Win/loss: 7/2
Top three players: Romario Greaves, Cameron White, Dylan Weeding
Most runs: Weeding - 245 (11th) at 35
Most wickets: Greaves - 18 (4th) at 16.44
Season so far: Brilliant. The Crows have been the surprise packets. The club won just six matches last season to finish eighth. It already has seven wins, including five straight.
Strengths: Spreading the workload. Doesn't have a batsman in the top 10, yet has the most runs (1811). Also has two bowlers in the top 10 in Greaves and Cameron White (16 at 17.44).
Weaknesses: See above. Doesn't have that gun batsman to tear an attack apart.
Prediction: 3rd/4th (preliminary finalists)
LAVINGTON (3RD)
Rating: 5.5/10
Win/loss: 6/3
Top player: Brad Dalbosco
Most runs: Dalbosco - 266 (6th) at 38
Most wickets: Dalbosco - 12 (16th) at 14.08
Season so far: Underachieved. Apart from Dalbosco, hard to find a player who's improved. The big guns haven't fired with Nathan Brown sitting 27th with 189 runs, followed by Sam O'Connor (188). And NSW Country quick Ryan Brown sits 32nd with only nine wickets.
Strengths: The prospect of the players above finding form.
Weaknesses: Do the Panthers have that burning desire? They've had 10 straight finals campaigns, but surely last year's shock grand final loss to North Albury still burns. We'll find out in the next 11 weeks.
Prediction: 5th/6th (semi-finalists)
NORTH ALBURY (4TH)
Rating: 5/10
Win/loss: 5/4
Top players: Jake Burge, Ash Borella, Greg Daniel
Most runs: Borella - 368 (3rd) at 40.89
Most wickets: Burge - 21 (2nd) at 11.14
Season so far: Underachieved. Won last year with a record of 18 wins and five losses. The Hoppers have already lost four from nine this season.
Strengths: Any team that has batsmen Borella, Daniel and Brendan Simmons is dangerous, while the impressive Burge leads the classy attack, including Riverina rep Ryan Addison.
Weaknesses: Same as Lavington. Do the Hoppers have the hunger to climb the mountain again?
Prediction: 3rd/4th (preliminary finalists)
TALLANGATTA (5TH)
Rating: 6.5/10
Win/loss: 5/4
Top players: Matt Oswell, Sam Stephens, Oliver Willett
Most runs: Willett - 257 (8th) at 32.13
Most wickets: Sam Stephens - 16 (7th) at 15.56
Season so far: Building nicely. Was looking suspect at two-three, but has won three of last four, including that Wodonga upset.
Strengths: Willett and Phil Neville boast an average opening stand of 59 in the last four games, pacemen Stephens and Fraser Ellis sit in the top 12 and gun import Sahib Malhotra arrived back in December.
Weaknesses: Not many. If you can beat Wodonga, you can win the premiership.
Prediction: Runner-up
ALBURY (6TH)
Rating: 6.5/10
Win/loss: 4/5
Top three players: Ross Dixon, Louis Botes, Alex Popko
Most runs: Popko - 248 (10th) at 31
Most wickets: Botes - 16 (5th) at 13.25
Season so far: At two-four, it looked dodgy, but two wins in the last three games pushed the club into the top six.
Strengths: Conceded the least runs (1405) with two bowlers in the top six. If Albury is ever going to break a 12-year finals drought, this is it.
Weaknesses: Boast the least amount of runs (1474) of the top eight teams with much resting on Popko.
Prediction: 5th/6th (semi-finalists)
ST PATRICK'S (7TH)
Rating: 4/10
Win/loss: 3/6
Top three players: Neil Smith, Luke Restall, Luke Evans
Most runs: Smith - 283 (5th) at 35.38
Most wickets: Evans - 14 (12th) at 18.57
Season so far: Underachieved. Lost five of the past six.
Strengths: You can build your season on two batsmen in the top seven.
Weaknesses: Lost three of last year's top wicket-takers and it shows, conceding the most runs (1746).
Prediction: 7th
BELVOIR (8TH)
Rating: 4.5/10
Win/loss: 3/6
Top three players: Lachie McMillan, Nat Sariman, Brad Freake
Most runs: Sariman - 241 (12th) at 26.78
Most wickets: McMillan - 15 (10th) at 18
Season so far: Inconsistent. Had two losses, three straight wins and four successive losses.
Strengths: Beat North in round four, so if you can beat the premiers you're a competitive force.
Weaknesses: Has taken the last amount of wickets (71) of the top eight teams, so lacks the firepower.
Prediction: 8th
WODONGA RAIDERS (9TH)
Rating: 9.5/10
Win/loss: 3/6
Top players: Jesse Griffiths, Jonathan Carson
Most runs: Griffiths - 253 (9th) at 28.11
Most wickets: Carson - 11 (21st) at 20.27
Season so far: Superb after four winless years with the drought-breaking win over North one of the great upsets.
Strengths: The ability to overachieve.
Weaknesses: The top order. Boasts the least amount of runs (1283).
Prediction: 9th
IN OTHER NEWS
NEW CITY (10TH)
Rating: 4/10
Win/loss: 1/8
Top players: Tarisai Musakanda, Sam Grant
Most runs: Musakanda - 400 (1st) at 57.14
Most wickets: Grant - (3rd) at 15.56
Season so far: Lost the first seven games before toppling Raiders.
Strengths: Musakanda's batting and Grant's all-round talents.
Weaknesses: Taken the least wickets (56) and with Musakanda sacked after his drink driving conviction, the Phoenix has little batting firepower.
Prediction: 10th
