The Border Mail's O&M Top 40 players
by Brett Kohlhagen & David Johnston

1. JON McCORMICK

(Wangaratta)

Stands supreme in a league loaded with talent.

McCormick's impact since returning to the Magpies has astounded even the harshest of critics and coach Jason Lappin must lick his lips each time he runs on to the ground.

Never beaten despite copping a heavy tag each week and, as shown in the 2007 grand final when he copped a barrage, hasn't heard of the word fear. Champion.

2. CRAIG EDNIE

(Yarrawonga)

Short in stature, huge in ability.

The Yarrawonga coach returned from Richmond on a mission and has been sensational with his freakish skills and goalkicking ability.

Doesn't mind it hard either and inspires teammates on a weekly basis.

3. MATT SHIR

(Wodonga)

Is rated among the greatest players to have donned the Bulldog jumper.

The gun midfielder has churned out countless brilliant performances since arriving at the club and been rewarded with three best and fairests.

A-grade performer who could easily be a rung or two higher.

4. DARREN BRADSHAW

(Wodonga)

Showed his worth in last year's preliminary final when he terrorised the Lavington defence with eight goals and stands supreme as the best power forward in the competition.

Virtually unbeatable one-out and the Bulldogs will be looking to isolate him as much as possible inside 50m.

Strong, accurate and set to kick 100-plus goals.

5. DANIEL LESLIE

(North Albury)

Looks set to be used at centre half-forward and that spells trouble for the opposition.

Dominated three pre-season matches for the Hoppers with his enormous frame and hard-running destroying a handful of opponents.

Ready to take the next step.

6. DAVID CLARK

(Corowa-Rutherglen)

All class. Clark has thrived under the coaching of Peter Tossol and expect him to spend more time in the midfield judging by his fitness base.

Dangerous in attack and opposition coaches have reason to be nervous every time he goes near the ball.

Excitement machine.

7. KADE STEVENS

(Lavington)

Returned from a knee reconstruction late last season and took time to find his feet, but has made a full recovery and trained the house down over the pre-season.

The Panther midfielder looks primed for a big year with his dash and ability to clear the ball from stoppages a huge part of his armour.

Few better to watch in full flight.

8. BRETT DOSWELL

(Wodonga)

Classy mover from Wagga Tigers who followed coach Jarrod Twitt to the Bulldogs and hasn't let anyone down.

Outstanding kick and, if Bradshaw kicks a bag of goals this season, expect the talented midfielder to have had a major say in many of them.

Underrated by some, but nobody at the John Flower Oval.

9. MARK DOOLAN

(Wodonga Raiders)

Although Doolan has had a limited pre-season due to shoulder problems after returning from West Perth, he's too good a player to write off and should confirm his status as one of the league's elite in coming weeks.

Has outstanding disposal, strong overhead and few win more contested possessions.

Looms as the key to the Raiders' climbing the ladder.

10. SAM CARPENTER

(Corowa-Rutherglen)

Amazing performer given his disability and is held in the highest regard by Corowa-Rutherglen.

At the base of every pack, loves it hard and will be looking to build on his sensational debut season for the Roos when they finished in the top three after the home and away series. Phenomenal story.

11. JARROD TWITT (Wodonga)

12. JOEL MACKIE (Albury)

13. XAVIER LESLIE (Yarra)

14. JAKE RYAN (Corowa-R'Glen)

15. MATT PENDERGAST (Lav)

16. ANDREW HILL (Rovers)

17. LUKE CARROLL (Albury)

18. JAMIE ALLAN(Wang)

19. JESSE SMITH (Wang)

20. ADAM PRIOR (Raiders)

21. DANIEL MAHER (Albury)

22. LUKE SCHILG (Lavington)

23. NIC RAINES (Wodonga)

24. LEIGH SYMONS (Wang)

25. MATT WOLLINGTON (Yarra)

26. ROB HODGSON (Nth Alb)

27. ANDREW CAREY (Albury)

28. DAVID STEER (Wang)

29. JUDD PORTER (Wang)

30. BRAD HORN (Nth Alb)

31. BRANDON RYAN (Nth Alb)

32. CHARLES GAYLARD (Albury)

33. MATT McDONALD (Nth Alb)

34. ADAM BUTLER (Lavington)

35. LUKE GARLAND (Lavington)

36. TIM HARGREAVES (Yarra)

37. ADAM WILLIAMS (Wodonga)

38. PAUL SANSON (Lavington)

39. MATT FOWLER (Albury)

40. JOSH WALKER (Wodonga)

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH

1. Bill Neely (Lavington)

Started his career in the Ovens and Murray at Yarrawonga, but has spent the last decade as dominant player in the SANFL and Canberra AFL competitions.

Has joined Lavington and will be a star at this level as well.

2. Drew Barnes (Yarra)

Highly talented player who has joined the Pigeons from Murray league powerhouse Nathalia, where he reportedly kicked eight goals in one quarter of footy.

Also held his own at VFL level for Geelong after previously playing for the Murray Bushrangers.

3. Chris Hyde (Albury)

Best credentialled player to join the O and M since Tim Hargreaves joined Yarrawonga in the late 1990s.

Played 93 senior AFL games for Richmond, mainly in negating-type roles, but will be a primemover for the Tigers who are banking on him playing the same role Glenn Page did with great effect when the club was last a force.

4. Ash Eames (Nth Alb)

Last played in the O and M in 2004 when he was one of the dominant big men of the competition.

Has since played at VFL level with Springvale and Frankston and when he recovers from a foot injury he will be a star for the Hoppers again.

5. Adam Cook (Raiders)

The wraps are huge on the former Williamstown key forward who has come to the Raiders via a successful stint in the Northern Territory where he reportedly took 22 marks in a finals game.

If he and Adam Prior can click up forward the Raiders can make serious progress up the ladder this season.

6. Chris Oliver (C-R)

Comparisons have already been made between Oliver and former Roos' star David Lucas.

Interestingly the Roos have coerced veteran ruckman Brendan Eyers to play on for another season to allow Oliver to make his mark up forward like Lucas did when he wasn't starring on the ball.

7. Shaun Daly (Albury)

Elected to play for the Tigers after starting his senior career with Corowa-Rutherglen.

Has been a star at Keysborough in recent seasons and will no doubt leave his mark upon his return to the O and M in a talent-laded Tigers' midfield.

8. Robbie Ferraro (C-R)

The Roos went hard after Ferraro who comes to the O and M from the strongest Melbourne suburban competition, the Eastern Football League.

Further bolsters the Roos classy midfield of David Clark and reigning Morris Medallist Jake Ryan.

9. Mark Keenan (Yarra)

Provides some sorely needed height to the Pigeons forward line stocks and comes to the O and M well credentialed with 95 goals last season playing for Spotswood in the Western Region league.

Also topped the league goal-kicking table the previous year and will get plenty of gilt-edged service from the Pigeons' onballers.

10. Steve Williamson (Wang)

Just the player the Magpies needed following the departures of Paul Kirby and Ben Cosgriff and the retirement of former coach Jon Henry.

Can't cover all three, but the former Scoresby ruckman-forward will make his mark in the O and M.