LAST YEAR: 7th – 5-11

MARONG will be aiming to pick off from where it left off last season.

The Panthers missed the top five last year, but ended their season showing plenty of positive signs with four wins in their last six games, including victories over finals sides Mitiamo, Newbridge and Bridgewater.

New coach Corbin Fleming says the strong finish to the season gives the Panthers a platform to build from for 2018.

“It certainly gave the young guys some confidence and belief to know that they could match it with those teams,” Fleming said.

“The work ethic from the start of the pre-season has been fantastic because of those last six games last year, and to keep the majority of the list has helped.

“We have a core playing group that is striving for success, and the first bit of that is getting back into the finals.”

The Panthers look to have a much deeper list this year given their arrivals of 13 players, with potentially more to come, significantly outweighs the departures of just four.

“We’ll have a lot more competition for spots that will give us, hopefully, strong senior and reserves teams,” Fleming said.

Sam Harvey, Tom Longford, Ben Millar, Lyall Timms, Jordan Lehmann, Josh Griffin, Tim Rhook, Jacob Fitzpatrick, Brock Gray, Harry Baker, Robert Grant, Thorne Wilson, Andrew King.

Justin Bateson, Aaron Bateson, Ryan Wellington, Ricky Dudley.

Sportsbet flag odds: $34

Player points: 46

Last flag: 1989

R1: v Calivil United (h)

R2: v Maiden Gully YCW (a)

R3: v Pyramid Hill (h)

R4: v Newbridge (a)

2017: 7th - 5-11

2016: 5th - 8-9

2015: 6th - 8-8

2014: 4th - 11-7

2013: 4th - 10-8