Note: To access Footy Tragic pre-season content from 2010, click on the following category links listed on the right hand side of  your window:

Dans Draftees
Toby’s Team Summaries
Tuney’s Tuition
Weekend Wrap-Up

Dear Footy Tragics, welcome to the last week of the pre-season and first week of the real deal! Over the next four days, Footy Tragic will help you make some of the biggest decisions you will have to make over the next 12 months, and with our three part series starting today, Toby, Dan and Ben will each look at one of the on-field positions and who has shone through this pre-season. These wraps are aiming to show which players are coming into the season in great form - not necessarily those names who have been part and parcel with dream teams of years past. Also, it is worth commenting that yesterday was Footy Tragic’s first birthday, so it goes without saying, we wouldn’t still be here one year on, without you, the reader. So thankyou and may you keep reading and enjoying the content on www.footytragic.com!

Forwards:

PRICE: $350,000+

Looking Good:

    St Kilda Saints Training Session

  • Ryan O’Keefe: Has been one of the most impressive players all pre-season, and of all players to play three or more games, his DT average is the highest with a very good 106.3. The great bonus of picking up a player such as O’Keefe in the forward line is that he is in fact playing as a midfielder. He showed us last year that he is capable of some massive scores, and already this pre-season he has pulled in a 150 against North Melbourne, showing he has lost none of his ability.
  • Daniel Giansiracusa: Came into the NAB cup in excellent shape after a fantastic pre-season. Fortunately, he was able to convert his ability on the track into form on the field and averaged 99 points across four NAB games (the highest of any Bulldog). With the arrival of Barry Hall into the Dogs forward line, the likes of Gia will be forced to play much further upfield, in turn equalling more possessions and tackles.
  • Nick Riewoldt: He is the premium priced forward in DT competition, but this pre-season has proven to be worth every cent. He played three games with limited TOG in each, yet still managed to average 92 points. He looks so fit and should easily average over 100 points this year if he stays fit.

Avoid:

  • Brendon Fevola: Played three games in the Lions new forward structure, yet Brent Staker managed to kick more goals than him. The worry when he came to the Lions was that the Brown/Fevola combo would cause one of the two to have less impact, and there was never a chance this would be Brown! This NAB series, Fev has kicked only a few goals and has averaged 48 DT points, playing full TOG in each. Fev needs to be kicking goals to get his DT points as he doesn’t get many possessions, nor tackle. Although fit, I would avoid him this year more than most – Brown will simply take away too much of his supply.
  • Matthew Pavlich: Has moved back to the forward line which initially looking like it would re-invigorate his Dream Team game. Unfortunately, this seems not to be the case – in watching a few of the Docker’s games, they are simply bombing it high and long to him, causing him to ALWAYS be double-teamed. In turn, this has caused a pre-season average of just 57 points – nowhere near enough for his high price-tag.

Overrated:

  • Lance Franklin: After getting off to a massive start with a 92-point DT game against Richmond in round one of the NAB cup, Franklin’s form seemed to drop away, averaging just 53 points over the next three games – a bit of a worry. Whilst we know that Franklin is a freak footballer, the worry is whether we will get a repeat of his 2009 season where he never really found form. Adding to the woes of selecting Franklin in 2010 is that he is suspended in round one. I don’t know the definitive answer about picking Franklin, but I can tell you I am certainly concerned with his selection in my team – especially with players like Higgins and Gia who could be selected instead.

PRICE: $200,000 – $350,000

Looking Good:

  • Robbie Gray: Played only the last two games, but was fantastic in both. Finally, after much praying and angry letters to Chocco Williams, Gray has been moved to the midfield. He has the potential to average close to 85, which is much better than what his price suggests. So far this pre-season he has averaged 77 points.
  • Barry Hall: It is hard not to mention BBBH – he has surprisingly been the player of the NAB series, kicking 17 goals in 2.5 games! This huge scoring has resulted in an average of 92 points – very good for this price-point. As discussed in an earlier article, he is a player with heaps of upside, but also, plenty of potential downside too.
  • Kurt Tippett: Tippett was one of the big improvers of 2009, and if his NAB series is anything to go by, 2010 will see him get even better again. His past two games have yielded scores of 100 and 83 (against Melbourne and Carlton), suggesting he will be a big scorer again this year – but hopefully a bit more consistent than in 2009. Also of note is that plenty of the Crows better players played very little part in their NAB series, indicating that they will be a much better team than their pre-season form has let on. As a full-forward, Tippett’s scores will be greatly improved by the presence of these much better players.

Avoid:

  • Brett Burton: He has only played one game this NAB cup and scored an 82 in it, suggesting he is not really out of form. However, the fact he then missed the next three weeks (and will likely miss rounds one and two) with issues surrounding his reconstructed knee, suggests to me that he is a suckers buy this year – I would expect him to be spending a lot of time in the nurse’s office this year – avoid.
  • Adam McPhee: Probably one of the worst players of the pre-season competition. For a senior player to come into a team as inexperienced as Fremantle and be the worst player on the field is a massive worry. He has played three games, averaging 56 points, however I think he probably turned every single one of his disposals over to the opposition. Amazingly, he will be lucky to play round one – avoid like the plague.

Overrated:

  • Patrick Dangerfield: He hasn’t really been terrible this pre-season, but his average of 57 is probably a bit lower than we would have hoped. He should improve as the season goes on and he gets more game time, but I wouldn’t be overly confident with the numbers he has produced so far.

PRICE: $77,000 – $200,000

Looking Good:

  • Sam Wright: Wright has been one of the more impressive North young-guns, averaging a respectable 61 points through the NAB cup. He is still lightly framed, but moves well and plays in a good DT position. The Roos will be giving plenty of responsibility to their young brigade in 2010 meaning that Wright will get plenty of chances.
  • Tom Rockliff: Rockliff was drafted as a forward known for his lack of motor, but so far this pre-season he has proven all the doubters wrong, not only spending most of his time in the midfield, but averaging 75 points in the process. He is a good chance to get plenty of games this year, despite the fact the Lions have a very strong on-ball brigade. The fact Travis Johnston has moved to defence will mean that there is a midfield spot up for grabs.
  • Cameron Hitchcock: The skinny Port forward was one of the most impressive kids this pre-season, working hard to be elevated to the Power’s senior list for 2010. He has a real spark – a factor that Port looks to be heavily looking for this season. He is a livewire around goals and should be capable of getting some reasonable scores this year (think Nahas of 2009). He averaged 56 points this pre-season – good for a rookie listed player and enough to hopefully see him rise to around $250,000.

Avoid:

  • Phil Davis: When Andy Otten ruptured his ACL this pre-season, eyes went to Adelaide’s first pick in the 2008 draft for the solution. Unfortunately, Davis has been unable to show much form at all through the NAB cup, suggesting his name won’t be on the list come round one. He averaged only 19 points across four games and seemed to often be caught by the pace of the game. We may see him later in the year, but I couldn’t imagine him debuting early enough to start him in your team.
  • Ryan Murphy: Murphy seems to be the epitome of a decoy forward – he is simply there to take a defender, but rarely does much himself. He has averaged 25 points this pre-season and hasn’t really looked capable of much more. Look elsewhere.

Overrated:

  • Trent Dennis-Lane: TDL shone in both of Sydney’s pre-season intraclubs, only to play one NAB game, scoring a poor 24 points. Despite the hype surrounding him pre-NAB, I can’t imagine him playing too many early games – especially with the arrival of Jetta into the Sydney ranks.

Tune in tomorrow for Dan’s wrap of the Rucks and Midfielders.