Not surprisingly for a team that went 21-3 during the regular season and advanced to this weekend's east conference grand final, the Braves' Ben Harvey is among a trio of challengers for the coach of the year award.

Harvey is chasing an elusive national championship in his seventh season at the helm, after guiding the team to his fifth conference championship.

Top opposition comes from Mount Gambier Pioneers' Richard Hill and Hobart Chargers' Anthony Stewart, who will square-off in this weekend's south conference final.

The Braves’ 21-3 mark was a league best.

Braves import Damian Johnson and point guard Kevin White will vie with Geelong Supercats' Eric Gaff for the defensive player of the year award.

Johnson is looking for back-to-back defensive player title after winning the award with Mount Gambier last season.

He led the league in blocked shots and finished the season with 29 steals.

White produced a stellar first season for the Braves, finishing with 33 steals and regularly guarding the opposition's number one scoring threat.

Lady Braves newcomer Keely Froling is a contender for the Australian youth player of the year.

The 20-year-old, who spent the previous two seasons in the US college system with Southern Methodist University, averaged 16 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game for the Lady Braves.

Her 30 blocks ranked her fifth in the league.

Froling has earned a  WNBL contract with the University of Canberra Capitals for 2016-17.

Candidates for the the league’s most valuable player awards will be announced tomorrow, but are sure to include Braves import Jeremy Kendle.

The American has led the league with 27.7 points per game in his first season with the Braves.

He is no stranger to MVP honours, having won the award in the Queensland state league with the Towoomba Mountaineers before joining Bendigo.

Award winners will be announced at lunch on September 11.