The Roos surprised many around the league last year by qualifying for the finals ahead of Noradjuha-Quantong and Rupanyup – both considered strong finals contenders.

The finals berth was in stark contrast with the team’s 2012 campaign where it finished eighth with five wins.

Forsyth said last year that the success of his team’s season would be measured by player development as much as wins and losses. 

But this year Forsyth said finals were a clear objective for his side. 

“Finals are a realistic expectation for us this year,” he said. 

“We snuck in last year with a few things going our way and we’d be disappointed if we weren’t really knocking on the door of the five again this year.”

Forsyth said the team would lose star midfielder Will Plush for 12 months, with Plush traveling to work on a property in New South Wales. 

Forsyth said the loss of Plush – who was runner-up in Harrow-Balmoral’s best and fairest award last season – would hurt, but the team was in good shape.

“We’ve had an influx of locals and former players who have returned to the area or come back to the club which has been good,” he said.

“We’ve got a little more key position help this year so guys aren’t going to be punching above their weight.”

The recruits include former assistant coach Tim Crick who returns from Border Districts in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara Football League, Anthony Close from North Shore in the Geelong Football League and Matt Robinson.

Forsyth said all three would give the team more flexibility. 

Other recruits include sprinter and Harrow native Phillip Brown, North Shore’s Callum Hobbs, Scott Heath of Hopetoun, William Rowsthorn and Christopher Sondhu from the Geelong and District Football League and Hamish Ellis of Barwon Heads.