That’s no disrespect to the likes of incoming Hawthorn star Chad Wingard or returning Magpie Dayne Beams however the following names justify the claim.

A full season from either Daniel Rioli (Richmond) or Jack Viney (Melbourne) could be key to guiding their sides to the grand final after shock preliminary final exits in 2018.

GWS and Sydney may have both finished in the top four last season had it not been for the absence of Zac Williams (ACL) or Sam Reid (quad) who combined for only three games.

Collingwod’s Jamie Elliott and Hawthorn’s Grant Birchall failed to play a game last year while premiership winning Bulldog Tom Liberatore (ACL) was limited to a mere 10 minutes.

Need we mention West Coast trio Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui and Brad Sheppard?

It appears the talent returning from the sidelines this summer has outweighed the excitement of those donning new colours in the upcoming season.

And the same could also be said at local level about Singleton Rooster Mitchell Gaffney.

Club officials hope season 2019 is the case of third time lucky for the gun backman who typifies the spirit of the internal recruit.

Though he would play 17 games in 2017 the former Melbourne based defender would suffer a collarbone injury on the eve of their second consecutive senior grand final.

“The first year I came to the Roosters there were a few new guys entering the team and setting a new dynamic to the side we had when we won the flag the year before,” Gaffney recalled.

Last year the Roosters were then elevated to the competition’s top tier however Gaffney’s season would be marred with a broken jaw in Round 2 against Gosford.

It was the result of a coward’s punch.

“When you spend four months out of the game you tend to lack a little bit of confidence so I returned on the other end of the ground and found a few goals,” he reflected.

Statistically, the Roosters averaged a winning score of 15.6 (96) with Gaffney in 2018; a fair improvement on their 9.7 (61) average score line without him in the winter months.

“We had the opportunity to go up to the top grade to play the top sides from Newcastle and the Central Coast and we matched them pretty well considering we’re a pretty small club,” he said.

“This year our main challenge is to be more competitive with Newcastle City, Terrigal and even Cardiff.”

“Last year there was a fair divide where we were sort of the best of the rest; now we want to take that next step.”