Five Hampden league opposition coaches nominated the Seagulls, under new mentor Brett Evans, to play in September in The Standard’s season predictions vox pop.

Cobden co-coach Paul Foster, North Warrnambool Eagles joint mentors Graeme Twaddle and Brendan Murfett, Terang Mortlake’s Matthew Irving and Warrnambool’s Scott Carter all believe the 2014 wooden spooners can make significant improvements.

Port Fairy will have to wait to unveil its boom recruit, former AFL-listed midfielder Daniel Nicholson, after he suffered a foot injury in a pre-season practice match.

Coburg trio Tyrone Bean, Guy Phelps and Jonathan Proud also arrived at Gardens Oval during the off-season and are expected to play on Saturday in the Seagulls’ season-opener against Portland.

But Evans believes Port Fairy’s scope lies in the players it’s blooded over the past few seasons.

“I think the improvement will come from the players who were already at the club,” he said.

“We are running out of excuses and have to start to perform.”

The 2007 South Rovers premiership coach hopes midfielder Isaac Martin and backmen Mason Crosier, Dylan Gunning, Josh Gunning, Adam Varley and Colin Harwood can take their games to the next level.

Evans said the losses of former coach and ex-SANFL star Sam Rudolph and rebounding defender Sam Anson meant the Seagulls’ back six needed to build on its promise and become a more cohesive unit.

“It is probably the position we lost most out of and those guys have to step up,” he said. 

Five coaches expect Koroit premiership forward Sam Dobson to collect the league goalkicking award after seven-time winner, Jason Rowan (Warrnambool), suffered a season-ending knee injury a month out from the 2015 campaign.

Nicholson, Foster, Portland coach Luke Crane, Blues recruit Tim McIntyre and Magpies inclusion Phil Carse are among those considered Maskell Medal fancies.