WE FINISH our look at the queries facing the teams in action in the first round of matches of the 2008 NAB Cup this weekend. Read part one here.

MELBOURNE – What can we expect from the new look Demons?
Off-field, the winds of change have swept through Melbourne, with a new coaching staff – headed up by coach Dean Bailey – leading the club into the post-Neale Daniher era. The introduction of Bailey has reinvigorated the place after almost 10 seasons with Daniher at the helm – and it would not surprise to see the Demons display strong fight against the Cats despite several experienced types still being nursed through rehab programs.

PORT ADELAIDE – Will last year's Grand Final linger with Port Adelaide?
Port Adelaide's 119-point loss to Geelong in last year's Grand Final should have no influence on its 2008 campaign. But in reality, for Port Adelaide to avenge the loss, it must win this year's premiership, but even reaching back-to-back Grand Finals is a massive challenge in anyone's book. Right now, the Power meets Carlton and, win or lose (there are no draws in the NAB Cup), last year's drubbing is simply a distant memory, no matter how much it may have hurt.

RICHMOND – How will Nathan Brown fare?
Ever since suffering his broken leg in 2005, Nathan Brown has battled ongoing complications. Although courage has never been an issue in his attempts to return to the field, his body has struggled to recover. Towards the end of the 2007, Brown showed some impressive form and now the dynamic forward/midfielder could really make an impact– almost three years since the injury.

ST KILDA – What can we expect from the club's new ruck duo?
Although ex-Eagle Michael Gardiner was recruited to the club for the 2007 season, he didn't manage a match with the Saints last year due to injury. Gardiner has been in top shape over the pre-season and looks ready to relaunch his AFL career. He has been joined in the red, white and black this season by 2007 premiership player Steven King, who was traded to the Saints just days after helping Geelong to its drought-breaking flag. Although both are in the veteran class – King is 29 and Gardiner is 28 – the duo has plenty to prove in 2008.

SYDNEY – Should the Swans be written off?
Classy forward Nick Davis said recently that writing Sydney off this year comes "at your peril". In regards to the NAB Cup, it will be fascinating to see how Sydney approaches this year's campaign. The Swans have trialled as many rookie-listed and emerging players as possible in recent years and this trend is sure to continue against Hawthorn this Sunday. Although Sydney has not won a NACB Cup match since 2002, it has won its past six home-and-away encounters against the Hawks.

WEST COAST – No Judd, no Cousins, no Kerr (for the moment) – no worries?
Many would say West Coast has lost its two greatest players at the end of the 2007 season – Chris Judd and Ben Cousins – and with the recent hamstring setback to Daniel Kerr, the club finds itself without its much-vaunted midfield for the pre-season period. And Kerr will be the only one of the trio returning for the season proper. However, the club can still draw on the midfield talents of Andrew Embley, Tyson Stenglein, Adam Selwood and Matt Priddis. West Coast still looms as a formidable proposition, particularly with new skipper Darren Glass, the competition's premier ruckman Dean Cox and the versatile Adam Hunter at the helm.

WESTERN BULLDOGS – Who will replace Chris Grant and Luke Darcy?
Two of the club's greats retired at the end of the 2007 season – Grant and Darcy. Although Grant was hampered by injury last year, Darcy played all 22 matches – after almost two seasons on the sidelines with consecutive knee injuries – and the duo will be hard to replace. Emerging talls Andrejs Everitt and Tom Williams showed plenty of promise last year, and two ex-Crows will quickly look to make their mark – ruckman Ben Hudson and forward Scott Welsh. Both will slot into the make-up nicely with Hudson replacing Darcy and Welsh playing as a small forward.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.