The perennial top-five finishers finally smashed through the semi and preliminary final barrier that has so often thwarted them in recent years, before being outgunned by powerhouse Koroit in the decider.

A largely stable senior group is striving to go one better this year.

“It was certainly a step in the right direction,” Eagles co-coach Graeme Twaddle said of their grand final appearance.

“But we’re very mindful not to be too complacent this year.

“Other sides around us have certainly appear to have strengthened over the summer.”

The Eagles have avoided any major movement from their senior list, with a concerted focus on retention and junior promotion rather than the high-profile recruiting drive from their previous pre-season.

But within the group, there has been some natural and healthy change.

There are new faces in the leadership group – including co-captain Jarryd Lewis, who will share the top job with Matthew Wines – and more young players knocking on the door for selection in the senior team.

“We’re certainly not going to divert away from the fact that we’re a club that develops those juniors,” Twaddle said.

Co-coach Rory Taggert is back up and firing after a broken leg took out a chuck of his 2016 campaign.

The Eagles will be looking to build on the foundations they put in place last season, when they were far and away the most prolific scoring team.

They averaged an incredible 112 points a game, led by the likes of Lewis, Adam Wines and Dylan Parish, who kicked 136 goals between them.

They also boasted the second meanest defence (62 points a game) and will be looking to produce more of the same this year.

The draw

R1: Terang Mortlake (H)

R2: Cobden (A)

R3: Camperdown (A)

R4: South Warrnambool (H)

R5: Port Fairy (A)

R6: Portland (H)

R7: Hamilton Kangaroos (A)

R8: Warrnambool (H)

R9: Koroit (A)

R10: Terang Mortlake (A)

R11: Cobden (H)

R12: Camperdown (H)

R13: South Warrnambool (A)

R14: Port Fairy (H)

R15: Portland (A)

R16: Hamilton Kangaroos (G)

R17: Warrnambool (A)

R18: Koroit (H)

2016 best and fairest 

1st: Dylan Parish

2nd: Adam Wines

3rd: Matthew Wines

2016 most goals

1st: Jarryd Lewis 51

2nd: Adam Wines 44

3rd: Dylan Parish 41

Arrivals

Jason Wilson (Allansford), Tim Condon (Panmure), Hank Schlaghecke (Dennington)

Departures

Herbert Barlow (Dennington), Tim Sheldon (Dennington)

Player to watch

DYLAN PARISH: The Horsham product took his game to another level last season, stepping up to help cover for Rory Taggert in the midfield and thriving with the added responsibility. The forward-midfielder was rewarded with the Eagles' best and fairest award and finished third in the club's goal-kicking tally. With Taggert back from a broken leg, he and Parish could prove more than a handful for opponents to contend with, swapping through forward and midfield roles and causing headaches with their strength and skill.