2017 season preview:
With the 2016 season over its already time to hypothesis over the potential teams and positions leading into next years season.
1st place:
Barker College
While a couple years in the wilderness means a strong young cohort of Barker players have flown under the radar, Barker peaked interest in a late season push to show how much potential they will have leading into 2017. The likes of Coghill, Lloyd, Flaherty and Reimer will be key to a successful 2017. There are other unsung heroes in the squad such as Buffa who was a standout and one of the best on paddock through the year as well as an energised and focused coaching staff that have been willing to roll the dice with some key positional decisions and set piece plays.
Key players: Coghill, Lloyd, Buffa
2nd Place:
Waverley College
Waverley has turned a corner this year. From their big dip in 2014 to finally claiming their first premiership in 7 years it was a great year and next year they will again be strong and competitive. But they will miss the size in some of their forwards and speed out wide to beat a barker team that will have all that and more. Waverley will have some very powerful players in Wright and Cornish who has been out for some time with an ACL injury. If they appoint the same coaches as this year, they will be genuine threat to the title.
Key players: Donaldson, Wright, Moretti
3rd Place:
Knox Grammar School
Knox would be disappointed they have been placed in third for this preview, but if you look closely at how much they lose this year, it is a likely scenario. Knox won't have a genuine back rower this year for the first time since 2013. A team that focuses so heavily on a strong forward runner will find this a difficult gap to fill. Without the stars of yesteryear they will still have strength coming from their seconds. But their weaknesses in their 16's age group will mean for once, Knox will find depth to be an issue.
Key Players: Frost, Woodcock, Cutrone
4th Place:
St Aloysius
This might seem a difficult prospect, especially considering the impact that 86-0 loss in the last round may have on their rugby program. But consider the strength in their u16's team who were the only team to beat Waverley u16's this year. While they relied heavily on a team that was consistently injured and sore, there will be more depth and lots of potential in this squad next year.
Players to Watch: Rahme, Westbury, Partington
5th Place:
Trinity
Trinity would be disappointed since they appointed Engele as coach several years ago, and rightly so. It has been a tough couple of years for the men in green, particularly when you look at the amount of NSW representatives the team has produced. The loss of Rasch and Longville will greatly impact the potential and basis that this team has ridden for so long. They will find 2017 a difficult year to compete in.
Players to watch: Stead, Hollingsworth-Dessent, Ilias
6th Place:
The story looks difficult for Cranbrook. The loss of Searle and Kemmeny are too big a gap to fill and when you look at their seconds and 16a's its paints a picture that shows, a win will be difficult for Cranbrook in 2017.
Players to watch: May
