Footy Tragic

The Team:

Geelong have been premiers two of the past three years, and in 2010 will certainly be pushing hard again to make it to the last day in September. Not only are Geelong a great team on the field for the football skills, but are also the leading team for Dream Team, giving them an extra special place in our hearts. Their game plan revolves around over-possessing the ball through the corridor in an almost keepings-off kind of way. Due to this method of play, many of their elite midfielders finish games with huge dream team scores. It is not uncommon for at least 10 players from the side scoring over 100 points in a game. In short, Geelong players are fantastic choices for your dream team - the only catch is that they don’t come cheap, however they are certainly worth every cent you pay!

Who’s Hot?:

Joel Selwood ($453,400): Has bulked up even further, inferring he could be destined to take his game to yet another level in 2010. In only his fourth season, there is every likelihood that he will get better – get on early!

James Podsiadly ($77,800): The mature aged recruit is looking great on the track and has had a senior spot open up for him with the injury to Mitch Brown. He is fitting in very well, looking very good in all of the drills.

Marcus Drum ($209,500): Sounds like the change of scenery has really helped him mentally as he is ticking all the boxes this pre-season. With Harley’s retirement, there is an opening in the team for him if he works hard enough.

Tom Hawkins ($296,500): Is looking very fit and powerful – seems to have finally found the right combination of the two (in seasons past he has always been too much one way or another). He is training at CHF and in the ruck, therefore the potential is high if he can finally deliver on the hype.

Mitch Duncan ($89,500): The first year player is really impressing with his work-rate and delivery of the ball. Whilst it would be very hard to break into Geelong’s lineup, some players and coaches would not be too surprised if he were to play a few games this year.

Who’s Not?:

Steve Johnson: The hip injury that cruelled the second half of his 2009 campaign is still effecting him. He has been training on and off since Christmas, however his best-afield in the Geelong intraclub may be suggesting he is better than has been let on.

Matthew Stokes: Has been suspended by the club until at least round 8 due to drug trafficking charges. If he is found guilty, more charges may be laid. A shame as he would have been quite a bargain in 2010.

Mitch Brown: Going under the knife on his troublesome leg and will sit out the rest of the pre-season. He has been moved to the long term injury list, meaning he won’t be available until at least round 8.

Brad Ottens: Nearly lost his hand in a boating incident, however is training well despite the set back. Word is that his knee is now 100% – still, it is pretty hard to believe though!

The Bargain:

Josh Hunt ($164,100): Hunt required a full knee reconstruction after rupturing his ACL in the NAB cup final of 2009. Due to the injury, he missed the full season and is hence at a very tempting starting price. Hunt has never previously been a player to consider in Dream Team due to his average of around 65-odd points a game – certainly not enough to win you many DT games. However, due to his very low 2010 price, 65 points a game would definitely be welcomed (players who average 65 would be priced around $250,000), especially if he is being played as your 7^th defender, a player whom you expect to be upgrading later. The benefit behind playing Hunt as your 7^th defender ahead of a player such as Brad Sheppard is that you know that Hunt is likely to play 22 games and score you 60 – 70 points every week (unlike rookies whose positions in their teams are far from guaranteed). You know he will reach around $250,000 and you can then trade him out for someone of much higher value. He will still have to win his place in the team back, but I can’t see this being an issue – Bartel and Kelly (who played his role for parts of 2009) will move back to permanent midfielders, allowing for Hunt’s return.

The Kid:

James Podsiadly ($77,800): At 28 years old, Pods was a little hard to put into the ‘kid’ category, but in his first AFL season (in a while…), I will allow him to count. Also, he is the only ‘kid’ likely to play many games for Geelong. Podsiadly has been the best forward in the VFL competition for a number of years, four times being named in the VFL team of the year. In 2009, he booted 68 goals for Geelong’s VFL side whilst playing as a player/coach. It is worth noting at this point that rookie contracts are not given out to players willy-nilly, just so that a team can carry as many players as possible – Geelong would have selected Pods with a role in mind – at 28, he does not need to develop in the VFL and really only has a few years left, so it is obviously short-term gain which they recruited him for. So far this pre-season he has impressed so much that he has had Bomber Thompson re-thinking his 2010 forward structure, just to accommodate him. They have played three talls before, and I think it could work – watch his pre-season, and if the structure works, he is a lock. Also, with Mitch Brown being moved to the long term injury list, there is room in the senior squad for a rookie – currently Pods is odds-on favorite.

The Premium:

Gary Ablett Jnr ($522,000): As I have struggled to choose a premium for some other clubs, Geelong was just as hard, but for a different reason – they have way to many to choose from – Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood and Enright could all be classed as premiums. However, I’m going with the most premium of the lot and arguably the best player in the AFL – Gary Ablett. Ablett’s pre-season’s are pretty low-key – he works himself really hard, but unlike many other players in February, he doesn’t talk himself up, nor claim to have become a new person – he is a hard worker and mentally tough and that is why he comes out in round one of every season better than he was the year before. Even though I think it is close to impossible for the good man to improve on what was a brilliant season of football in 2009, culminating in the Brownlow medal … He is only 25, so still in the height of his powers – even if he doesn’t improve on 2009, I don’t think there would be too many disappointed people if he simply matched his output. There is little doubt that this will happen – he has trained as well as ever and still has a strong team behind him, pushing for one more shot at glory before they likely begin their descent back down the ladder.

The Smokey:

Marcus Drum ($209,500): Drum asked to leave his former team, the Fremantle Dockers at the end of the 2009 season and was subsequently traded to Geelong. His timing couldn’t have been better as not long after his arrival, Geelong skipper Tom Harley hung up his boots. Harley was a mid-sized defender, capable of playing on either talls or smalls and zoning off, intercepting opposition forays into their attack. Drum plays a very similar role, and hence with some hard work and dedication he has the capability of breaking into Geelong’s best 22. Drum was initially recruited by Freo as a first round pick – he was a ball-getting defender with a great ability to read the play – all very similar attributes to Geelong’s Harley. He has so far had a strong pre-season and is currently looking likely to secure the opening in Geelong’s defense. I still want to watch him in some games before I make my decision on him, but my current thought is that he could be a great price pick for the 2010 season.

The Team:

Fremantle are still a very young team, but as was proven two years ago by Hawthorn, that can no longer be used as an excuse for sitting idle at the bottom of the ladder. Fremantle needs to improve this year - not only for the team itself and their fans, but also for Mark Harvey - one more season at the bottom of the ladder will have many people asking some harsh questions. However, I think he has done well with what he has been given -  he has given up on recycling players and gotten rid of all the veterans, now totally focusing on the youth and therefore the future. As a DT coach, it is hard not to love Mark Harvey - so far he has given us Palmer, Suban, Hill and everyone’s favorite, Broughton! Whilst there are few elite players on Fremantle’s list, it is always worth stocking up on a couple of their cheaply priced rookies – players such as Morabito, Barlow and Fyfe look like getting a chance this year, so keep your eyes peeled – you are far better off punting on a Freo rookie than one from the Saints or Geelong. Also, if they play better in 2010 as expected, the value of the players will rise accordingly as they have more possession of the ball.

Who’s Hot?:

Matthew Pavlich ($404,900): Has trimmed down from last year, helping his fitness base. He will move more forward of centre this year, a big positive as far as DT is concerned – Pav was always a better player as a marking forward than as a midfielder.

Ryan Crowley ($242,400): After missing a lot of 2009, he seems determined to make 2010 his after great form on the track. Gary Ablett, look out!

Stephen Hill ($255,100): Has put on 5kgs yet hasn’t lost any of his zip. He played undersized for 22 games in 2009, so no reason he can’t do the same this year. Freo are expecting big things!

Garrick Ibbotson ($313,800): Training really well – looks bulked up and very fit. Only worry is that there have been talks of him becoming a tagger – no good for fantasy purposes.

Luke McPharlin ($276,800): Claims it is his best pre-season yet, however he will be played exclusively in defense, so this won’t help us too much in DT land.

Paul Duffield ($392,700): Really pushed himself on the track after his breakout season in 2009. I’m expecting big things from the boy with the flowing blonde locks!

Who’s Not?:

Rhys Palmer: Is nearly fully recovered from a knee reconstruction he received early in 2010. He has used the time off the track to build up his strength and is looking like a man now. However, he still looks like he may miss round one as part of his rehab – worth keeping an eye on though.

Steven Dodd: Shoulder and wrist surgery have cruelled most of his pre-season and he may miss some rounds of football.

The Bargain:

Chris Mayne ($220,800): Every club has their mercurial talent – the player who will be the next big thing – but also the player that only full fledged members of that particular club seem to have any idea about! For Fremantle, that player is Chris Mayne. So much is the hype that in only his second year at the club, his round 18 senior comeback secured the headline story of one Western Australia newspaper, entitled “The Mayne Event.” Mayne is a medium sized forward with the ability for the freakish – he spent the last five weeks of the season playing close to goal and was Fremantle’s leading target inside 50 for those rounds. He has worked hard this off-season and looks to grow his game in 2010 alongside his developing team. He has put on weight and increased his fitness, suggesting to me that in 2010 he won’t be used solely in attack, but also up the field. I, like Fremantle supporters, believe that Mayne is a talent, and one that has the potential to have a breakout season this year. He is priced beautifully for the small risk involved (and has received a nice discount due to only playing five games last year), and I am very tempted myself. I believe that he has the potential to average 70 – 75 points a week, making his low starting price well worth the investment. Keep an eye on his NAB cup, as I have a sneaking suspicion that he is going to turn a lot of heads this year.

The Kid:

Anthony Morabito ($145,500): Morabito was Fremantle’s first pick in the 2009 draft and fourth overall. He is already very strongly built for his age (191cm and 97kg), meaning he will be fine to step straight into the senior side in round one (aided by the fact that Freo love to play the kids). He is a strong user of the ball and also has the ability to win his own, but the problem with his game is that he is far from a ball magnet. Whilst he has more than a few possessions a game, he averaged only 14 disposals across his 10 WAFL games in 2009, a stat that suggests he is more built for supercoach than Dream Team. I believe he still has some worth at the price he is – we know he will play, and would be happy with the 60 – 70 points he may get per game. The thing to consider though is that there are some better first round picks in the same price range as Morabito – consider him for your bench, but I wouldn’t be expecting him on your field too many times this year.

The Premium:

Aaron Sandilands ($419,800): The premium ruck seems to be a dying breed, but fortunately, in the year that Dean Cox fell apart, Sandilands was able to step up and easily take his place as the best DT ruckman. Whilst Sandi is an awkward player to watch on the field with his giant arms and strange gait, he is also a brilliant footballer. He dominates hitouts against every ruckman in the competition, often scoring 30 – 40 points from hitouts alone! Coupled with that, his work at the stoppages is great, getting the most clearances for a ruckman in 2009 and averaging 17 disposals. He was also able to add another string to his bow in 2009 with the ability to kick goals – something drastically underrated for a ruckman in today’s game – Sandi was able to nab himself 13 goals, 8 behinds for the year, and I believe that this will increase further this year as Zac Clarke becomes stronger and more able to support the big guy in the ruck, allowing him to move closer to goal more often. If you are looking for a premium ruck in 2010, I am close to 100% confident that Sandi is your man – he is still young by Ruckman standards (27yo) and showed last year he is still getting better and still getting used to using his size to his advantage.

The Smokey:

Adam McPhee ($340,800): McPhee walked out on Essendon at the end of 2009 for a few reasons – one was to return to the club where he played his first game of AFL. Another reason was for the three-year contract Essendon weren’t prepared to offer. And thirdly, to quote, “For [his] own ego,” to play midfield, as promised to him by Mark Harvey. From the moment I heard this snippet of news, I was licking my lips with excitement – whilst McPhee isn’t necessarily the most exciting player to don some AFL boots in the past while, he is a big-bodied player, capable of winning his own ball and taking a contested mark – two traits which translate very nicely into Dream Team – especially when played through the midfield! As McPhee is moving to a young team in Fremantle, I expect he will be given much more responsibility, i.e. a greater leadership role in the midfield, similar to that played by Pavlich through 2010 – Freo need hard-bodied players around the stoppages to prevent the likes of Hill, Suban and Palmer from being beaten around, and that is where McPhee will step in. He will be great lining up on the square and at winning his own ball, I also imagine he will be a great tackler and be moved forward occasionally to kick some goals. Get the gist of what I’m saying? We have never seen him play midfield before, but if he can translate his regular game into that of a midfielder, I believe his game statistics will take quite the rising. Watch him in the NAB cup – if he chops, get on board!

The Team:

Essendon’s young list finally began to gel together throughout 2009, albeit sporadically. The hope is that they can continue on from where they left off last year, despite the loss of two veteran goal kickers, Lloyd and Lucas. They have plenty of kids to fill their places, but the only worry is that many of them are untried, therefore forecasting an uncertainty of direction for Essendon’s 2010 campaign. The internal hope is that they will continue upwards from their solitary 2009 finals appearance, and anything less than that would be considered a failure. They have the cattle to do it, especially after discovering some great young talent in 2009 in the form of Hurley, Ryder and Zaharakis. The only question is – are they too young to back 2009 up, especially with the amount of teams staking a claim for a top-eight spot in 2010? Essendon are OK Dream Teamers – their only issue is the inability of players to play a full season, seemingly always struck down by injury. I wouldn’t load up on Essendon’s list, but some of their third or fourth year players (and young veterans with something to prove) could certainly prove to be worth a spot in your team.

Who’s Hot?:

Mark McVeigh ($268,400): After a 2009 marred by injury and suspension, McVeigh has been carving a determined figure this pre-season. He is injury free and looking very fit. Starred in the intra-club and is a bargain at his starting price.

Brent Prismall ($419,600): Has had a full pre-season after he spent 2008/2009 recovering from a knee reconstruction. He is looking fit and being talked up as a future leader at the club.

Scott Gumbleton ($94,500): Not a standout, but he is on the park – a feat in its own right. He is so highly rated it is ridiculous – we just need to see it on the field, but this could (touch-wood) be his season. He WILL play if fit.

Andrew Welsh ($374,400): Had most of his 2009 cut down with injury, but has spent this pre-season working like a dog and is very fit. He will play a big role in the midfield, seeing his point scoring go skyward.

Who’s Not?:

Jason Laycock: Missed 2009 with injuries that proceeded to ruin most of his pre-season. Only this week, he sustained a calf injury, pushing his rehab further back a month.

David Hille: Is still recovering from a knee reconstruction he received mid way through 2009. Despite the hype of his game in the intra-club, it must be remembered he kicked two goals whilst only matched up on a third year player. Apparently, his knee was very sore and inflamed after the match. He is still progressing ok for round one, but proceed with extreme caution!

Tyson Slattery: Stress fracture in his fibula – still not participating in full training.

Michael Hurley: Wrist injury derailed his pre-season, meaning he has been nursed through most contact drills. This will unfortunately make him underdone for the start of the season.

David Myers: Recent hamstring injury has put his pre-season on hold for a few weeks. Otherwise he is looking quite a fit unit.

The Bargain:

Mark McVeigh ($268,400): Mark McVeigh was odds-on favorite for the captaincy at Essendon… up until the second half of 2009. He got suspended – once on the field, and once off it – all but putting to sleep any dreams he had for the role. That, along with his continual injuries, McVeigh’s 2009 was one he would probably rather forget. And that is exactly what it seems like he is doing – he has been working very hard to prove to both his teammates and supporters that he does deserve to wear the red and black guernsey. He is looking very fit, and has proven such with his best-on-ground display at the club’s intra-club hitout, kicking two goals whilst playing in the midfield. The other positive of his 2010 season is that he will be playing purely as a midfielder (who I assume will rest in a forward pocket). In previous seasons, he has shown an ability to win large amounts of the ball and is trusted with it by his teammates (his average dream team points dropped by an average of 28 per game from 2008 to 2009, which is huge!). I expect he is worth significantly more money than his attached price-tag, and due to that is one of the bigger bargains of the 2010 season. All we can do is hope that neither his body nor his head let him down again.

The Kid:

Scott Gumbleton ($94,500): Gumbleton is one of the higher ranked juniors in the AFL system, however he has played a grand total of just five games! The only reason behind this low tally is injury – hamstring tears, broken collarbones and back complaints. Now that both Lloyd and Lucas have left the nest, Essendon will be desperate for Gumby to play some games this year, as he will be relied upon as one of their main forward-50 targets. So far this pre-season, he has trained strongly and seems to have put his injury woes behind him. The only worry is that this is what we were saying at this time last year, until he broke down again in the NAB cup. I have a suspicion that he may be more likely to play this year – I feel he was rushed last year and that is what caused the stress in his back. This time, he has had all year to recover, with the fitness staff taking every step to make sure he is 100% before playing any games. I think that if he gets named (even for the NAB cup), it infers the coaches are confident in his body – they would rather wait to round 10 and him be ok than lose him again before the year even kicks off. However, if he does play, don’t expect him to be kicking five goals a game. Put him down for an OK average of 50 – enough for him to push for a price of a little over $200,000. Essentially, he could be a great bench player, but I would not be starting him on the field!

The Premium:

Brent Stanton ($443,600): It is very hard to pick an elite player off Essendon’s list as they are still all maturing, however, Stanton best fits the category. He is predominantly an outside player and therefore loves to play on the Dons home ground – the MCG due to it’s large running space and open wings. His only problem is his consistency – whilst he is able to pull down some massive scores, he is known for throwing in the odd shocker – that is until 2009. For the first time in his career, the difference between Stanton’s best and his worst was far, far less. Where in previous years he ranged from 135, all the way down to 37, in 2009 his lowest score was 56 (against St.Kilda’s Clint Jones) and with a total of only five games scoring below 80. But for his six games over 120 and 12 games over 100, his lower scores become more acceptable. And with an average of 103.8 for the final 10 rounds, Stanton showed he is on the up. Whilst he is not necessarily the most premium of premiums, Stanton still represents good value and has the ability to get better. He is also unique – a forgotten tactic in the world of DT, and one which we all very much love at Footy Tragic!

The Smokey:

Jarrod Atkinson ($240,800): Atkinson played the final five games in 2009, after having played five the year before. I was really impressed by him last year, and put him in my ‘players to watch’ scrapbook I kept whilst writing my Weekly Wrap articles (only one more week till they re-start baby!!). He is a pacy rebounding defender, now trusted with the ball by his teammates. Honestly, in his first couple of games, his lack of trust for his own boot didn’t help him, but as he began to trust himself, his deliveries out of defence became much more accurate. As time went on, his teammates would also trust him more as he was given more of a creative license off the back-line. But just as he was hitting his straps, the season unfortunately ended. I am hoping he can take that form into this year with the blessing of Knights to drive the ball out of the defensive-50. If he can become a regular, and presents some form in the NAB cup, there is every chance he could become a big improver this year.

The Team:

As usual, Collingwood are looking at having a decent stab at September action, recruiting seasoned players Luke Ball and Darren Jolly. I believe Jolly will make a difference to the side, especially in September - Ball will be handy, but with the hype of trade week, it becomes hard to think of him as the player he IS, not the player is WAS – he’s give 110%, but is still slow and refuses to kick the ball… Collingwood have their hardest fixture they have had in many years, so this will make it more difficult for them to be winning consistently, but it also means to avoid players who go missing in bigger games, such as Leon Davis. As far as Dream Team is concerned, Collingwood are reasonable without being great – they do kick a lot more than many other sides, so this is a big plus, however they do not over-possess the ball like some of the better DT sides, Geelong and St.Kilda.

Who’s Hot?:

Scott Pendlebury ($454,700): Has apparently been blowing away the coaches with his work effort this pre-season and hasn’t missed a beat. I really like the sound of this – at his age, he should be really hitting his prime.

Darren Jolly ($381,500): Training strongly, and training to be Collingwood’s key ruckman in 2010, with Fraser being trained as a part time forward/ rover. I see a lot of upside in Jolly this year.

Nathan Brown ($161,600): After an average 2009, he has put on stacks of muscle and looks like cementing his spot in the side. He has impressed both the coaches and fans immensely – just be wary that his position of CHB is not ideal for DT purposes.

Ben Reid ($169,200): Has put on some weight and muscle as well as increased his fitness. The coaching staff are hoping he can secure a spot along the half-back line come round one – again, his point scoring wont win you many games though.

Who’s Not?:

Travis Cloke: Has missed a fair bit of training due to a bruised knee he copped towards the end of last year. I think Cloke is one of those players who NEEDS a full pre-season to hit early form, therefore I would be very cautious!

Brad Dick: Still recovering from a shoulder reconstruction and will miss at least two months of the season proper – avoid.

The Bargain:

Paul Medhurst ($289,200): After a breakout season in 2008, concluding with an All-Australian nod, Paul Medhurst’s 2009 was both frustrating and disappointing. This was mainly caused by an ankle injury sustained in round 6 – he went on to miss six games and once he returned in round 13, he failed to come close to regaining his 2008 form. Not only was his form poor, but due to the management of his injury, his minutes per game dropped by 20% from the year prior. He has worked hard over the off season to overcome his injuries, and many reports have suggested he has been successful, despite still training on a modified program. This means that if he is able to begin 2010 in similar fashion to 2008, we could see a significant rise in his scoring, compared to what is expected of him with his lowly starting price of under $300k. Medhurst is a risky one, and could almost fall into the ‘smokey’ category if it wasn’t for the fact we know what he is capable of without a nagging ankle injury. Certainly keep an eye on his pre-season before selecting him, but if he shows no signs of soreness in the joint (and consequently plays well), he should be very strongly considered for your 2010 team!

The Kid:

Steele Sidebottom ($254,600): Steele not only arrived at Collingwood with masses of fanfare, but also arrived in Dream Team land with enough fanfare to know something special was about to happen! Steele’s DT average as a junior was staggering, with him clocking just over 160 points in the 2008 TAC cup Grand Final – not too bad! Unfortunately, for much of 2009, Steele delivered little on his promises due to a lack of opportunity, but also lack of body size to be able to compete with the much larger opposition midfielders. After we were losing faith, Steele pulled out a 25 disposal, 10-tackle game against Adelaide in the Semi final. Through this, Steele confirmed two things – it confirmed to us all that he is capable of replicating his large junior scores at AFL level, but also confirmed to Mick Malthouse that Steele is now a best-22 player. Now, one pre-season later, Steele has bulked up his body and looks set for a big year – I believe we will see a big improvement from Steele this year, and his price tag of $254,600 looks very, very appetizing!

The Premium:

Dane Swan ($523,500): Dane Swan is the premium’s premium. If you played Dream Team in 2009, you know who he is – he is the ‘average’ footballer that no opposition coach wanted to tag, even if he racked up 48-possessions, just like he did in round 10 against Port Adelaide. From rounds 13 – 20, Swan racked up at least 30 disposals in each game – Need I say more? The guy is a DT gun – good enough to get stacks of the ball, not good enough to deserve the tag! However, I worry that with the amount of publicity Swan’s season got towards the end of last year, some coaches will begin to put the clamps on the great man – it was proven in the finals that Swan is definitely able to be stopped via a tag, and on both occasions he was tagged, Collingwood lost (whether this has anything to do with the tag or not is another question entirely…). At this price, you want to be sure he will average at least 110 points, at least for the first number of rounds, and personally, I would be a little skeptical – although this may be dependant on how well Pendles and Didak go from round one (ie. They may be tagged instead). Personally, I would be more inclined to spend my money elsewhere, but in saying that, Swan rarely has a bad match and it’s very likely that I will be proven wrong!

The Smokey:

Simon Buckley ($193,300): Buckley only played one game for Melbourne in 2009 due to ongoing hip and groin injuries. This was especially disappointing after his great break-out season in 2008. Unfortunately, Buckley was delisted at the end of the year, but then picked up by Collingwood in the draft. He played most of his time at Melbourne as a rebounding defender and midfielder, a role that would be likely at Collingwood if he is given his chance. He is a good price for the risk involved – the risk mainly being whether he is best 22 or not – personally I don’t believe he is at the moment, but he does have time to prove otherwise in the NAB cup. I do like the price though – he could effectively be your 6^th or 7^th defender, and therefore not be relied upon for huge scores. I think if he does play, it could be expected he will average around 70 points – a good investment at under $200k. Now, I know I say it a lot, but watch his pre-season (and we will even do it for you at Footy Tragic!) and see whether he looks like he will play round one. If round one looks likely, you could do much worse around that price range!

Carlton
 

The Team:

Carlton lost one of the best forwards in the competition over the pre-season via the AFL trade week, meaning a lot of pressure is going to be put on their young forward line in 2010. Fortunately though, despite who is in the forward 50, it is a given that they will be at least be given incredible delivery thanks to the amazing foot skills of Judd, Murphy and Gibbs. Carlton was definitely a team on the rise in 2009, and will certainly aim to get better than 7^th. However, the question that will continually remain is whether they will be able to perform as well without Fevola, the main target of their forward entries for the past several years. Plenty of Dream Team points are to be made in Carlton’s midfield, however, those is other positions such as forward and back tend not to score as well, nor as consistently.

Who’s Hot?:

Brock McLean ($367,900): Has been a fitness freak all pre-season, and by all reports is tearing up the track! Hopefully he won’t break down like he seems to have done every other year!

Matthew Kruezer ($330,500): Amazing agility and presence for a guy of his size – he has certainly been impressive this pre-season and definitely deserves to be thought about in your ruck plans (unfortunately he is not listed as a forward too!). I am predicting big things this year!

Bryce Gibbs ($470,000): Bigger, stronger, fitter that last year! Very scary thought for opposition coaches, but a drool-inducing thought for those locking him into their dream teams!

Chris Yarran ($214,600): Has put on some weight and muscle as well as increased his fitness. Hopefully he gets his chance to shine in 2010.

Who’s Not?:

Jarrad Waite: Did his ACL half way through 2009 and is therefore on a monitored program – he will be very lucky to play round one.

Marc Murphy: Is recovering from hip surgery earlier this month. He is also on a restricted program, which will delay his start to the season.

The Bargain:

Robbie Warnock ($101,800): Robbie Warnock is the most talked about 21 game player in the history of the game – after Carlton moved heaven and hell to trade for him at the end of 2008, he ended an injury plagued 2009 season with exactly zero games to his name. There is a reason however that Carlton wanted the big man so much, standing at 208cm, he is extremely agile and fast for his size, also possessing a very important ball-winning ability (“YAY” cry the dream-teamers!). Taking only his skills into account, he is a mega bargain at just over $100k, but unfortunately, we do need to take his injuries into account. Fortunately though, he has had a relatively good pre-season and is currently training with the full group, aiming for a round one start. He is so much a good price for his skills, I know some seasoned dream teamers toying with playing him as their second ruck – put Matt Lobbe (ruck/forward) on the bench and Kurt Tippett (ruck/forward) in the forward line, and with the new “Change positions” rule, you could actually exchange Tippett into your rucks if the Warnock experiment fails… Without meaning to get too complicated, I consider Warnock a LOCK for at least third ruck!

The Kid:

Lachie Henderson ($226,000): Traded at the end of last year by Brisbane for Fevola (amongst other things). The kid is still young (only turned 20 in December), so he will not be a straight replacement for Fevola as key-position players typically take longer to develop. That said, Carlton will be hoping Henderson can play 22 games this year at full-forward as he is the future of the club’s forward line. I believe he has the potential to do so – it may even be said in a few years that Carlton won out of the Fevola trade – that is the strength of the wraps on this kid! He was a star as a junior, and in his third year, I believe this is when we will start to see these signs mimicked at senior level – especially with the amazing delivery that Judd, Murphy and Gibbs will give him every week! There may be some better choices around the same price-range, however, Henderson should still make a fair bit of money for his coaches this year. I do not see him as a keeper though.

The Premium:

Bryce Gibbs ($470,000): It is amazing to think that in only his fourth AFL season, Gibbs is already considered to be an elite player. But, despite his age, there is no doubting his talents – he is a tough player, happy to win his own ball, but also just as ease delivering it lace out to his forwards, a combination of talents rarely seen in today’s game. As another year passes, and Gibbs takes part in another pre-season campaign, the better he will get. He is only 20 years old and therefore still a while from hitting his peak – amazing isn’t it!? Therefore, at a pricey $470,000, I think Gibbs is still of fair value – there is no doubting he has room for improvement, and with the classy midfield around him, he will not consistently get the main opposition tagger, however this may not be too far away! I think this year the difference between Gibbs’ best and worst will be far smaller, therefore making him a great elite pick-up. I believe he will finish top 5 in the Dream Team this year, and maybe even the Brownlow!

The Smokey:

Chris Yarran ($214,600): He didn’t play nearly as many games as people expected him to last year, and that is reflected in his low starting price. This pre-season, Yarran has bulked up his body as well as increasing his much publicized fitness base. All of these signs point to a possibly significant increase in duties for Yarran in 2010, however the question of consistency is still going to be raised – last year, like in his junior years, Yarran was very inconsistent – not only week to week, but also within games. He needs to prove in the pre-season that he is able to stay switched on for the full four-quarters before he is worth considering. But if he does, the upside is large, and he could be worth making the punt on.

Brisbane Lions

The Team:

The Brisbane Lions of 2010 hardly look much like the Brisbane Lions of 2009 after their mass trading in the off-season. They lost key players Bradshaw, McDonald and Hooper, but gain Fevola, Buchanan, Staker, Maguire, Raines and more! It is an exciting time of Brisbane fans with Vossy one more year into his coaching tenure (and therefore one more year experienced) and with what is arguably the best forward combination in the AFL; Brown and Fevola. The only question is how will all these changes effect the club – Will Brown and Fevola gel well together, or will they detriment the other’s games? Will injury riddled recruits, Maguire, Raines and Clarke ever even play? All this aside, Brisbane players are great to have in your dream team – Vossy’s game plan is simple and is based around the high-possession game of Geelong, meaning oodles and oodles of Dream Team points! Brisbane do have plenty of senior citizens in their line-up, so be careful selecting any of these due to their increased possibility to break down with injuries.

Who’s Hot?:

Daniel Rich ($358,400): Said to have stepped up his fitness with an even bigger pre-season last year when he was heavily monitored (due to being a first year player). The bonus of Rich is he only really started scoring highly towards the end of the season, therefore he is underpriced from his potential.

Brendon Fevola ($416,000): Has only missed one session and is training well, settling into his new home up north. He won’t be joined by Brown in the NAB cup so we will be unable to see how the combination will work.

Jamie Charman ($179,800) Having his first pre-season in six years. He will be determined to slot back into his ruck role this year, and at 27 he still has the abilities to do so.

Jack Redden ($312,600): Bulked up considerably and looking really good on the track – showed last year that he is quite a dream teamer, and just the kind of player Vossy likes. He seems determined to succeed!

Jared Brennan ($394,600): Training exclusively with the midfield group – this is very exciting news if he can still be picked up as a key-position player, or even as a ruckman!

Who’s Not?:

Xavier Clarke: I still recovering from the ACL injury he suffered at the start of last season – knowing his history, he will still take a while recovering.

Callum Bartlett: Still recovering from a knee injury so will take a while to get into full training. Due to his first year status, no chances will be made on him.

The Bargain:

Jamie Charman ($179,800): Charman only played three injury riddled games in 2009 to a total of 116 dream team points – definitely not a great display of point-getting ability! However, to get a bargain, you must take some risks – and Charman is certainly one. If fit, and so far this pre-season he is, he could fit in (at best) as your second ruckman, allowing for much more spend in other positions. The risk of course is whether his body will withstand the high-pace game of AFL, and whether he is even best 22. Even at his best, Charman was not a brilliant dream teamer, but he was at least consistent, often bringing home a score of 70 – 80. If he did this for the first 8 – 10 rounds of 2010, you may have just made yourself $150,000! He is definitely as risk, but one that could certainly pay off! Keep your eyes on his NAB Cup!

The Kid:

Jack Redden ($312,600): Redden was selected at pick 28 in 2008 as a tough as nails inside midfielder – and that is exactly what he has shown so far in his 10 games of AFL (including two finals). He throws himself under packs and tackles ferociously, but the thing I have liked about him the most is his ability to stay calm under pressure and hit up a target. He always looks composed and trusting of his own decisions and skills. This year, his pre-season has been strong – he has put on a lot of bulk (important for inside midfielders), and has an already established fitness base that has increased. Being in just his second year, his spot in the team is far from guaranteed, but watch for him to fight hard for it – I expect him to surprise many in 2010 as he was definitely one of my favourite first year players in 2009!

The Premium:

Jed Adcock ($393,000): Again, I have chosen a player on the verge of premium classification. The main reason that I see Jed stepping up this year due to a predicted role change; with Brisbane’s recruiting of half-back types Maguire, Raines and Clarke (and therefore taking Adcock’s half-back spot), I can see Adcock moving to the midfield, a position which Voss had earmarked him for since round one, 2009. Unfortunately for Jed at the time, injuries to the backline relegated him to a more defensive role in defence than he would have normally wanted. But with these new recruits taking his 2009 position from him, my money is on Jed getting his chance again at playing through the midfield. Two years ago, we saw the effect that playing midfield had on his game with multiple 100+ DT scores (and this was even in Leigh Matthews low-possession game-plan!) – So now we can watch the pre-season with our fingers crossed for getting to see Jed line up in the square.

The Smokey:

Jared Brennan ($394,600): All the reports coming from Brisbane are that Brennan has been training exclusively with the midfield group – a fact that I am VERY excited about! Brennan has always been a player who has irritated Dream Teamers with his inconsistency – one week he is flying through the midfield or off the backline, then the next he is playing as a stopper on the opposition’s key forward, resulting in a very frustrating up-and-down score line. Fortunately, Voss has decided to make this flamboyant freak of a footballer a Jack of one trade, rather than a Jack of many. Not only will this help his overall consistency as a footballer, but also the fact the position given to him is as a midfielder/ruckman it will mean his scoring potential is even greater! It’s not going to take much to convince me to put Brennan in my team for 2010 – I am very excited about his potential this year!

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Pre-season Wrap: 

Adelaide 
 

The Team:

Adelaide have proven through Neil Craig’s tenure that they are a very consistent top team - at least through the Premiership season, as they tend to be just as consistent at slipping up in the finals. I expect 2010 to be no different to last year, with them pushing hard for the top four. Adelaide are one of the most well-drilled teams in the competition, and because of this, they are reliably consistent dream teamers - whilst not at the very top of the Dream Team ladder, they are not far off. The Adelaide half-back line can always be seen bringing home large scores, so watch to see which players rotate through this role – watch for Bock, Goodwin, Symes and Johncock especially. They have a plethora of kids coming through – most at the right age to make a difference, and I think as many of them enter their third and fourth years at the club, this is the time to load up on Crow kids!  

Who’s Hot?:

Patrick Dangerfield ($244,400): After his 2009 season dropped away, his pre-season form until late has been sensational, with him aiming for a spot in the midfield. However, he did injure his knee at training last week – it originally meant he would be out for up to three weeks, however he already seems to be back close to full pace. If he can return as strong as he left, he could be a great pickup.

Rory Sloane ($186,000): Has been training the house down by all reports, and has been training a lot with the midfield group – especially on a wing. As a second year player, he has a lot of upside. He can be picked up as a defender or forward, so if this move to the midfield is reflected in the NAB cup, it could be worth pouncing!

David Mackay ($339,400): Been burning up the track and said to be one of the more determined Crows through this pre-season. 

Who’s Not?:

Unfortunately for Adelaide, they have been hit significantly this pre-season by injuries. And as we know, injuries in the pre-season will often mean players will underperform as the year starts, with them playing continual catch-up on the fitness of the other players - think Hodge and Buddy last year!

Andy Otten: Has done his ACL and will therefore miss the year. DO NOT select him.

Nathan Bock: Has been slowly recovering from the heel complaint that brought an early end to his 2009. He has only just started running, so at a premium price is not worth selecting.

Nathan Van Berlo: Stress fractures in his back and is only just starting training.

Brad Moran: Knee injury (PCL), which will keep him out of training until mid-January.

Jason Porplyzia: Pelvis issue – Adelaide are stating he will miss most of the NAB cup, meaning he will not be 100% for the season opener.

Brad Symes: Missing most of January due to an arthroscopy (back training now) – again, this will mean he will start the season below par.

Ben Rutten: Has only just begun training this pre-season. 

The Bargain:

Kurt Tippett ($337,900): I see a possibility for a HUGE amount of improvement from Tippett in 2010 after we saw him realise his potential in 2009. At his age and size, I can imagine him really stepping up and becoming more of a force in 2010 – especially as Adelaide’s forward line becomes more settled. I expect less low scores and more consistency from the big man – being in a top team will also help with his ball delivery. With his reasonable price and ruck/forward eligibility, I see him being quite a good buy this year. 

The Kid:

Phil Davis ($90,700): The crows were VERY happy to land Davis in the 2008 draft, despite is surprising many people ‘in the know.’ He is a tall forward, with the ability to play back – this is the position which Adelaide have been grooming him for, naming him as emergency several times late in 2009 as his SANFL form was very, very solid. He is training very well this pre-season and has added significant bulk to his frame, suggesting he will be able to cope playing at the highest level. With the long-term injury to Andy Otten, the crows will be looking for someone to step up into that role – rebounding defender – a role that Davis could certainly play with aplomb.  At $90k, he could be a great pick-up – Neil Craig showed in 2009 that he wasn’t afraid to play the kids, and I feel this will continue in 2010, assuming they have justified their place with their track work – something Davis certainly has done in pre-season 2010. 

The Premium:

Chris Knights ($393,600): Whilst he currently isn’t what we would normally consider as a ‘premium,’ he has every attribute to suggest he can become one – and is well worth the punt at his price! He started the 2009 season poorly with a broken jaw and was moved to the half-forward line whilst recovering – it proved a great position for him as he racked up the (DT) points and (6-pointer) goals. With the return of the birdman and Hentschel, there is more chance that Knights will return to the midfield (especially with Adelaide’s aging list of mids now moving to Half back and half forward lines) and should pull in some massive scores. He is a natural ball winner, and his DT-points per minute is high enough to suggest that if he is played in the right position, he could become a premium dream-teamer. As a bonus, he can be picked up as a forward. 

The Smokey:

David Mackay ($339,400): Got steadily better and better through 2009, averaging around 60 for many games, yet pulling in numbers over 130 in others – due to this inconsistency, his score reflects a relatively low average. So far in 2010, he is said to be one of the better Crows players on the track, coming home first in the 3km trial – something which coach Neil Craig will look VERY favourably on! He will continue to play on the wing as he did in 2009, a position which obviously holds a LOT of dream team potential. With his off-season attitude, age and position taken into account, everything points to Mackay going gangbusters in 2010! He could be the next Bernie Vince (heck,  he even looks like him!).