KANGAROOS

2007 in brief
Played: 25
Won: 15
Lost: 10
Finished: 3rd

Played every game (25 matches)
Brady Rawlings
Daniel Pratt
Shannon Grant
Andrew Swallow
Adam Simpson
Brent Harvey
Jess Sinclair
Daniel Harris
Hamish McIntosh
Drew Petrie

AFL debuts (8)
R1, No.43: Matt Campbell (13 games)
R1, No.26: Lachlan Hansen (3)
R1, No.28: Matt Riggio (2)
R1, No.12: Lindsay Thomas (12)
R5, No.40: Leigh Adams (2)
R8, No.42: Scott McMahon (16)
R16, No.44: Djaran Whyman (3)

Best and Fairest Award
1 Brent Harvey - 783
2 Adam Simpson - 776
3 Daniel Pratt - 746
4 Hamish McIntosh - 742
5 Drew - 740

Leading goalkickers
Corey Jones - 46
Shannon Grant - 39
Drew Petrie - 38
Brent Harvey - 36
Aaron Edwards - 23

All-Australians
Brent Harvey

Departures
Retired: Glenn Archer, Kasey Green, Jonathan Hay
Traded: None
Delisted: Blake Grima (later re-drafted), Daniel McConnell, David Trotter, Callum Urch, Djaran Whyman

2008 in brief
Chairman: James Brayshaw
Chief Executive: Eugene Arocca
Coach: Dean Laidley
Captain: Adam Simpson
Coaching staff: Darren Crocker (defensive coach), Darren Bewick (midfield coach), Daniel Daly (stoppage/opposition coach), John Lamont (forward coach), David Newitt (development coach), Ray Breed (development manager), Paul Turk (strength and conditioning coach), Jona Segal (assistant strength and conditioning coach)

Arrivals
Father-Son selection: -
Trade: Ben Davies (Collingwood), Sam Power (Western Bulldogs)
Rookie elevation: Leigh Adams, Matt Campbell
Scholarship elevation: None
NAB AFL Draft: Robbie Tarrant (Pick 15 - Bendigo Pioneers), Levi Greenwood (32 - Port Adelaide Magpies), Scott Thompson (37 - Geelong VFL), Josh Smith (62 - West Perth), Blake Grima (72 - re-drafted).
International rookie selection: -
Non-registered for three years selection: -
NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft: -
NAB AFL Rookie Draft: Nathan Grima (Pick 14 - Central District), Cruize Garlett (30 - Perth), Alan Obst (44 - Central District), Michael Wundke (56 - North Adelaide), James Wilsen (60 - St George)

The year ahead
Before we delve into the six months ahead, it’s worth reflecting that it’s been one hell of a summer at Arden Street.

Yes to a big-name CEO and yes to a big-name chairman, but there was a resounding no delivered to the proposal of relocation. Unsurprisingly, the club has steeled itself for an almighty off-field battle, and the early signs are good. But are they so promising on the field?

The answer, in terms of ladder position, is probably not. The Kangaroos may improve in 2007, but such are the strong gains expected to be made by clubs like St Kilda, Hawthorn, Fremantle, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs, a small lift may not be enough. If the Roos hope to finish third or better again, they’ll have to lift several cogs to keep the challengers at bay.

The question is: do they have that extra gear?
If Nathan Thompson kicks 70 goals, Leigh Harding and Scott Thompson prove instant hits in defence while Lachie Hansen and Jesse Smith fulfill their junior promise than yes, maybe they do. But that’s a lot of ‘ifs’, and it also expects that players such as Shannon Grant, Brent Harvey, Jess Sinclair and Adam Simpson will be able to contribute as they have done for the past decade, despite their advancing years.

Premiership readiness
Never has there been a season in recent memory where so many of the previous year’s top teams been disregarded as premiership contenders. Save for Geelong, many pundits on the street have serious doubts about whether the other top four teams – Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and Collingwood – are capable of going so close again in 2008.

The Kangaroos are perhaps the team most frequently disregarded of that trio, but it is hard to see them cracking another preliminary final, and just making the eight seems a more realistic goal.

However, should they find themselves in the mix at the business end of the season, they do have a nice blend of experience and youth in all parts of the ground that will hold them in good stead. They need to get away to a good start, however– their 0-3 start of 2007 won’t be so easily overcome this season.

Who to watch
Daniel Wells – has every trick in the book at his disposal, but he can’t seem to find the consistency needed to be considered in the game’s elite. 2008 shapes as a crucial year for Wells, and with questions already being raised about what the Roos are capable of, he needs to find a consistent pattern.

Predicted ladder finish
7th-10th. How North Melbourne will fare without Glenn Archer remains to be seen, but the real question is how will the side cope with the improvement expected in so many teams which finished below them in 2007. Keeping up may prove difficult.

Betting:
TAB Sportsbet: $31

From the club:
“I think it took Sydney a good three or four years to get any sort of recognition. I think that's how we've got to look at it,” skipper Adam Simpson said.

The final word
A young team who finished third should surely be considered logical contenders? Apparently not in the eyes of the general public – but that’s just how they like it at Arden Street. Having said that, it’s hard to see so many strong teams underperform like they did in 2007, and it may mean the Roos face a tough ask to make the eight, let alone return to the four.