This year the situation is very different - the hunters now the hunted.

A big recruiting drive has seen Hadden pick up two of the most-prized recruits in country football in Duldig and Bennett.

Duldig gives Angaston the big forward target they've craved for years and Bennett will be a solid factor across half back.

The return of Louis Hadden adds another star with league experience.

Matt Dawes, Craig Robinson and Todd Watson will provide the same class as last year.

Pressure will rise for Greg Bain to cover the loss of ball-magnet Craig Harvey, who will miss most of the year after surgery to remove a tumour from his knee.

There will be expectation from within for the Panthers to go one better this year - but for Hadden the challenge will be to get the team to gel.

Until Angaston prove they have what it takes to beat Tanunda, the ‘Pies are still the favourites to take the flag.

Verdict: Will make the grand final again but it remains to be seen if they can take care of business against a Magpies team that has had the wood on them in recent years.

Barossa District

2009: Sixth (six wins, 10 losses)

Coach: Roger James

Captain: Ross Christie

Key ins: Roger James (Kersbrook), Matt Stelzer, Paul Stelzer, Scott Jenkins (Renmark), Jock Cameron (Birdwood)

Key outs: Leigh Blucher (Queensland)

2010: There's plenty of excitement at the kennel, the appointment of AFL premiership-player James.

There’s also the return of two of the club's favourite sons – with the Stelzer boys back there are Bulldog tails wagging.

New coach James is coming off a 128-goal season.

If he combines his coaching role with some good form up forward (I’d like to see 60-odd goals) the ‘Dogs will be scary good.

James joins a forward line that already boasts 76-goal centre half forward Heath Commane.

Jenkins fill a hole across halfback alongside the returning Paul Stelzer. Christie will again carry the load in the ruck and with the ‘big Barramundi’ slamming the ball down to Matt Stelzer all day, the little fella will see a ton of the Burley.

(Matt is my tip for the Schluter medal this year)

Darren Sharp will anchor the defence and put simply, he'll be Darren Sharp (which is as good as it gets).

Michael Taylor is pure class in the middle of the ground, but he showed some real toughness under duress last year - this may be a big season for him.

Adam Spencer is another classy on-baller, but he will need to stay healthy to be effective.

"I think our recruiting has been pretty good, the Stelzer's and Jenkins are quality players and added to the core group of talented players at the club I believe we should be aiming to play finals footy this year," said new Bulldogs coach Roger James.

Verdict: Third, if they all stay on the park. This team is the dark horse of 2010, third seems very likely but a top-two finish is a real possibility.

Willaston

2009: Fifth (seven wins, nine losses)

Coach: Mark Seelander

Captain: Shaun Baker

Key ins: James Moss (Adelaide Crows, Central District), Brad Tosoldt (Port Districts), Mikey Brown, Kieran Sankey and Tom Kreig (returning from injury)

Key Outs: Chad Norsworthy (Brighton), James Harvey (interstate for work).

2010: After a year of learning how Seelander wants them to play, the Donnybrooks are poised to return to the top four.

This is a young, dynamic team that features a great midfield and impressive running power around the ground.

Moss could be the best recruit of the year - if he can stay healthy.

While Richard Rosewell was a true find in the ruck, and it won't take long before he is regarded as one of the elite big men in the league.

Ben Casey should be better with a year of BL&G footy under his belt and the kids who were blooded last year will be better from the start.

Max Bornholdt and Jarryd Cole look like they will have big years, while Sam Walton is training like a madman and will worry teams with his blistering pace. Shaun Baker remains the heart and soul - if he can replicate his Schluter medal form of 2009, the Donny's will be hard to stop.

"I'm quietly confident that we'll improve this year, I think we've recruited okay and our young players are much better prepared for senior footy this year," said Seelander.

Verdict: Fourth, there's should be enough wins from this group to bring them back into the top four.

Freeling

2009: Ninth (0 wins 16 losses)

Coach: Malcolm Greenwood

Captain: Darren Leske

Key ins: Malcolm Greenwood (Tanunda), Shane Schubert (North Adelaide via Loxton), Nigel James (Norwood), Michael Eichner (Port Adelaide), Ben Parish (returning from injury)

Key outs: Tyler Baldock, Ian McMillan

2010 The Redlegs have done the hard work to give Greenwood a good base to work with; along with the very talented quartet joining the club this year Freeling also managed to hang on to their key recruits from last year.

Steven Eichner, Luke Mensforth and Andrew Kemp all bring plenty to the mix and with Greenwood controlling the middle of the ground Darren Leske will be freed up to be more creative and penetrating.

Ex-league centre half forward, Schubert could be the most exciting component and his form will be a good barometer for the team.

If the Legs are winning the ball out of the middle they will be tough to stop but they may struggle outside of the corridor.

The goal-to-goal line of Mensforth (full forward), Schubert (CHF), Parish (CHB) and Steve Eichner at full back is imposing and will trouble all teams.

"From where we're coming from, our goal is to improve and move forward as a club and as a team, I think we'll be okay, our spine is very good so that will be a focus for us," said Greenwood of the Redlegs aims in 2010.

Verdict: Fifth

I'm going out on a limb and saying that Freeling's best will be good enough to beat most teams while at some stages they may struggle to contain sides. Overall, a massive improvement will please the locals.

Fifth place looms as their destination.

Nuriootpa

200 9: Third (13 wins, three losses)

Coach: Ian Stafford

Captain: Shawn Gibson

Key ins: Shaun Walker (West Adelaide via Lameroo)

Key outs: Sean Hobbs (Cairns), Ryan Foulis, Dean Vickery, Shane Collins, Tom Kowald, Adam Fiegert (retired), Tim Gogoll (County Cricket).

2010: The Tigers straight-sets exit from last year’s final series saw them miss a golden opportunity to beat Tanunda for a second time in 2009.

Nuri were stacked with talent last year but some players didn't seem to fit in Stafford's structure and were rarely seen at their best.

The loss of their number one forward threat (Ryan Foulis) and two good young defenders (Hobbs and Kowald) hurts, but there is depth to fill the holes down back.

It's up front that Stafford needs to find a consistent return.

Craig Gogoll can score but needs to do it week in, week out if the Tigers are to stay in the four.

Chris Gerhardy was hit with a knee injury late in ‘09 and will be looking to regain the form that saw him dominate the early games last year.

Billy Nichols, Shaun Ribbons and Chad Obst seemed unsure of their roles in ‘09 and need to return to their best if the Tigers are to make an impact.

Jarrad Tregenza will continue his development, but needs to begin to dominate games from half back if the Tigers are to bite this year.

Verdict: Sixth - the Tigers are struggling to find their identity and that struggle will see them slide out of the top four in 2010.

Gawler Central

2009: Fourth (11 wins, four losses)

Coach: Craig Dawe

Captain: Scott Hahn

Key ins: Sean Brading (Central District), Mathew Whelan

Key outs: Brad Taylor (Min-Man), Brendon Niklaus (Virginia), Daniel Jenner (Mount Lofty), Daniel Hillebrand, Damien Hillebrand (both to Southern Flinders), Jason Wozniak (retired), Kym Vivian (retired).

2010: Craig Dawe faces a big challenge to rebuild the Tigers.

There is a massive crop of talented young tyro's coming up from the Under 17s to replace some of the clubs most recognised players.

Taylor and Wozniak have been the foundation of this team for so long that their departure leaves gaping holes.

The Hillebrand brothers were the future foundation.

The bonus of all the outs is that Dawe now has scope to sculpt and change the team in his vision (something that is near impossible to do with a long entrenched veteran group).

The sheer number of talented young players at Dawe's disposal this year makes the Tigers a very dangerous and unpredictable opponent.

There is still a pair of studs in Luke Howard (ruck) and Scott Hahn to work with, and Hahn's appointment as captain is a good move - he leads by example and is already a mentor to the young cubs.

The forward trio of Hahn, Casey Thomas and Brendan Niklaus is no more; and the loss of Niklaus puts even more pressure on Hahn.

Thomas will also need to be more productive on the scoreboard.

"We're young, it was always going to be tough to replace the players who were leaving but I think there's some real opportunities for our young guys to step up and show what they can do," said Dawe.

Verdict: Seventh, the Tigers will be exciting to watch as they rebuild.

Kapunda

2009: Seventh (five wins, 11 losses)

Coach: Rodney Brown

Captain: Yet to be named

Key ins: Mark Cussadia, Kym Bissett (returning from Eudunda), Wes Farley

Key outs: Adam Turrell (Eudunda/Robertstown), Brodie Cox (Spencer Gulf FL)

2010: It's shaping up to be a tough year for the Bomber.

This unit is coming towards the end of an successful era.

New coach Rodney Brown knows his players inside out and the return of Mark Cussadia gives him a star to work with in the middle.

But the loss of Turrell and Cox is the last thing the new coach needed.

In Kapunda's favour is the powerful home ground advantage that Dutton Park represents - it will help the Bombers snare a couple of wins.

Jay and Toby Johnson are on the way to becoming genuine match winners, but Brown will need to focus on finding something from the younger players in his squad.

The likes of Luke Foster and Daniel Platten have to step up.

"We've got a young, predominantly local group with some experience mixed in, our preseason has been good, the boys were very committed and I'm confident they'll give a good account of themselves," Bomber Brown said.

Verdict: Eighth, this side will struggle against most of the competition this year. Although the Bombers have enough heart to steal a couple of games, the bottom two looks a real possibility.

South Gawler

2009: Eighth (three wins, 13 Losses)

Coach: Andrew Milligan

Captain: Aaron Bayliss

Key ins: Aaron Bayliss (returns from knee injury), Anton Gerardis (Virginia), Ryan Appleton (Central District juniors), Ryan Nickolls (Pinnaroo), Brady Scott (Balaklava), Ryan Porter (Central District), Craig Fowler (returning), Ben Kerr and Dylan Spicer (both return from CDFC juniors)

Key outs: Matt Lutze (Victoria), Casey Schell, Scott Evans, Jake McVicar, Lee Makris (Elizabeth)

2010: Andrew Milligan takes on the toughest challenge in the BL&G this year.

The Lions have been in the wilderness for some time, so Milligan will need all his experience in shaping young players to get results.

The massive turnover of players works in Milligan's favour, just like coach Dawe at Gawler Central, he now has the opportunity to rebuild the culture of his team and get all the boys on the same page.

The loss of their outstanding ruckman in Lutze hurts badly.

So does the loss of their best defender in Schell.

While Fowler will shore up the defence, the Lions will not have enough grunt to match it with most teams this season.

Lions fans shouldn't lose heart however, because the massive changes personnel at the Den show there’s change on the way.

If the Lions can be patient, this could be the start of a new golden era - this club has some of the best young talent around.

"We're pretty happy with what is being put in place at the club, we don't mind if people don't rate us because being the underdog isn't always a bad thing with a young team," said a quietly confident Milligan.

Verdict: Ninth. It's going to be a tough year, there's no hiding from that.

If I was a South supporter, the hurt of each loss could ease thanks to the promise of seeing something special each week as the young group develops.

If the plan falls into place, the Lions faithful won’t have to wait too much longer.