Round 1 is now just 15 days away and we only get one more look at our players before locking them into our starting squad of 30. With a limit of only 20 trades over 22 rounds, the importance of nailing our squad of 30 players prior to Round 1 cannot be underestimated. In an ideal world, our trades should be used to cover for injuries, rather than to cover for poor player choices at the selection table.

The best advice I can give you to help nail your squad of 30 players is to conduct your own thorough research. Personally, I prefer to stick to the mainstream media and Footy Tragic to obtain information on my players. The AFL website is useful for this purpose, as is The Herald Sun and The Age if you reside in Victoria. If you live outside Victoria, I understand it can be difficult to obtain information on interstate teams. For example, the WA media focus almost exclusively on West Coast and Fremantle, and the SA media focus on Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Fortunately, this problem is now largely overcome given the fact most articles are now available online.

While the information you obtain from these sources is invaluable, as an old school footy lover, I refuse to pick any players in my dreamteam unless I have seen them myself (either live at the ground or on TV). Personally, watching a player once is not enough for me, I prefer to see my player in action at least two to three times before locking him in.

The problem here is many of the bargain buys we are all searching for play for struggling teams such as Richmond or Melbourne, with both of these teams knocked out of the NAB cup in Round 1. With no TV coverage of NAB challenge matches, we are left with only one option, watch these games live.

With NAB challenge games this weekend at: Southport, Visy Park, Narrandera, Fremantle, Casey Fields, Morwell and Mount Gambier, most of us have the option of watching at least one NAB challenge match this weekend (unless you live in Adelaide or Tasmania)!

I’ll be heading out to Visy Park, Melbourne this Friday afternoon to check out the Carlton vs Adelaide match. My main focus will be on players such as Marcus Davies from Carlton ($89,500 defender) and Phil Davis from Adelaide ($94,500 defender / forward). Both of these players are currently in the mix for me, but given the fact I have hardly seen them play, I want to check them out first hand.

Watching NAB challenge games live may seem too extreme for your liking, but its all part of the due diligence required when selecting your initial squad of 30 players. I consider it a one percenter, which could be the one percent advantage you gain over your opponents this season.

Analysing player stats is a very important component of dreamteam, but it is no substitute for watching players with your own eyes. Avoid the temptation to take short cuts with your dreamteam, because as the saying goes “there are no shortcuts to any place worth going”.

Good luck!

As the Saints showed the footy world last year, and so far in their pre-season this year, they are going to be one of the teams to beat in 2010. It is from teams such as St.Kilda that it is best to pick your premium players and key-positions. The catch is that players from St.Kilda will come at a premium due to their consistency last year - however, it should be expected that many Saints will maintain their 2009 averages this year, meaning that you should be happy to fork out premium prices for many of their players. The Saints game-plan is certainly one which complements dream team - not only is it a high-possession one, but it also involves a lot of tackling - the highest in the league! The other benefit of the Saints for DT purposes is their great run with injuries in recent seasons - the hiring of David Misson to elite performance manager a few years ago has proven wonders for the Saints soft-tissue issues. So load your team with premium Saints in 2010 - they will play consistently, justify the money spent on them and are all very likely to play 20 - 22 games this year!

Who’s Hot?:

Nick Riewoldt ($468,100): Coming off his best pre-season in five years, the captain is looking bigger, fitter and stronger than ever! Riewoldt was injured through a lot of 2009 yet still dominated games - consider what he will be like this year whilst fully fit and with a point to prove! You need to have him!

David Armitage ($321,100): This is Armo’s fourth year on the list, and now with a spot in the team vacated by Luke Ball, he has a huge opportunity to cement himself a position in the best 22. Had a super summer so my money is on him having a big year.

Jack Steven ($200,400): Taken as a bottom age player in 2007, Steven has shown the Saints plenty of promise, dominating in many VFL games last year and having a great debut game late in the season. Big things are expected this year from him and he is every chance to play a number of games and score highly.

Ben McEvoy ($194,100): Has added considerable bulk and muscle to his frame in the off-season. Lyon said that he has been the most impressive ‘kid’ this pre-season, running personal best times in all the time-trials, including leading the 3km! Should be able to force his way into the best-22 this year.

Adam Schneider ($348,000): A change of role in 2010 should see his scoring potential grow greatly. He will be playing through the midfield much more this year, and as he proved at the end of 2009, this position can be hugely lucrative for him as he averaged 100 points across a five-game period towards the end of the year.

Brendon Goddard ($455,700): Will be one of the first picked players in many sides, and rightly so! He is a star midfielder but can be picked up also as a defender! A massive positive! Also, he has shown already this year that he is a star DTer because he does it all - kicks, marks, goals and tackles! He is a complete DTer and will rarely give you a bad game! 

Who’s Not?:

Jesse W Smith: Has come to the Saints to get over his injury woes. So far he is looking much better, however he will not be ready until mid-season, putting him out of consideration for your starting team.

Lenny Hayes: Has had an interrupted pre-season due to a calf strain. Unfortunately, he corked the same calf against Freo, however he is expected to be ready for round one.

Raph Clarke: Pulled his hamstring in the intraclub game - could be ready round one, but I doubt he will get a game due to lack of match practice.

Robert Eddy: Been in a moon boot for most of the pre-season and would have to be very lucky to be selected early before proving himself at Sandy.

Andrew Lovett: Has been sacked by the club and will therefore play no part in their tilt at the flag. You don’t deserve the car if you’re silly enough to pick him! 

The Bargain:

David Armitage ($321,100): Often it can be hard to find the big improvers in the higher ranked teams as positions are often pretty well held by more experienced players. The only time that a younger player can ever really take a large step (as opposed to cameo roles which only score between 50 and 60 points) is typically due to a long term injury or retirement, or in St.Kilda’s case, the walking out of one of their senior players in the form of Luke Ball. The Saints have been so well-equipped with inside midfielder talent that they have not recruited once since Armitage in 2006, obviously expecting the likes of Lenny Hayes and Luke Ball to be at the club for many more years. However, when the unexpected happened and Ball walked out on the Saints at the end of last year, there was only really ever one man who would step up into that spot - and that was Armitage. His only real competition will come from the likes of McQualter, Jones and Geary - all of whom have either already secured a different position in the team (so why rob Peter to pay Paul?) or are not as good as Armo under the packs. Assuming Armo does step up this year and play 20 - 22 games, what are his chances of scoring well? Well… so far this pre-season, Armo has scored 99 points against Collingwood, 50 against Sydney (whilst being tagged by Brett Kirk - this WON’T happen in the real season) and 92 points against Freo on Saturday night. So he is proven this year he is up to the task, and last year was no difference - despite only three appearances, he averaged 92 DT points (including a whopping average of 9 tackles per game) and also winning himself 3 brownlow votes against Hawthorn! As a junior, he averaged 22 disposals through the TAC cup and was one of the higher ranked midfielders coming into the draft (and was subsequently taken at pick 9 by the Saints). Where he really shines in the Saints team is his ability to win his own ball, but also present a good option wide of the contest - the exact work rate lacked by Luke Ball that saw him dropped for several games last season. He also has an ability to go forward, averaging nearly a goal per game in his AFL career so far. To summarise, I believe that Armo is one of the better mid-priced players in the year’s dream team - not only should he play 22 games in a top-4 team, but he also has the runs on the board to show he is a great dream teamer. He should be one of the league’s biggest improvers in 2010, and if he is not, there will be plenty of questions asked, as are the expectation on his shoulders. 

The Kid:

Tom Lynch ($94,500): Lynch came to the Saints with the 13^th pick in the 2008 draft, lumped with plenty of Saints fans who saw him finally as the answer to their third forward worries. Unfortunately, 2009 saw no senior action for Lynch, a year in which the Saints made a very low number of changes to their team across the course of the year - almost the least on record. However, the one position that was far from set for the year was the position of a third tall in the forward line - the role was sporadically shared between James Gwilt, Sean Dempster and Robert Eddy. But still, none of these three became first choice, with the role being one that seemed to put each out of their comfort zone. The weekend’s game against Freo gave DT coaches a chance to look at Lynch for the first time in 2010 - and he was very impressive. Whilst not quite big enough for a key position, he certainly should be strong enough (and is definitely mobile enough) to hold down the third tall spot alongside Riewoldt and Kosi in 2010. It may be a bit much to ask of a second year player who has never played a game in the home and away season, but Lyon would surely want to develop Lynch as quick as possible as he is far and away the most suited player for this position in the Saints side. DT-wise, he is very good - he was ranked as the best forward (for DT) in his draft, mainly due to his high leads, which brought in plenty of marks, kicks and tackles. I’d want to see him named in round one first before selecting him. But Lyon has proven he doesn’t like to mess with structures, so if he plays round one, you can nearly be assured he will play plenty more games throughout the season. 

The Premium:

Nick Riewoldt ($468,100): For the second year in a row, Riewoldt was the highest scoring forward in dream team, and in 2010 it looks unlikely that there could be any better option! There is reason behind his high scoring - not only does he have one of the better marks in the competition, but his workrate is regarded as some of the best in the entire league, giving him the ability to venture far up ground for possessions, before gunning it back to the forward line to take a strong mark and kick a goal - simply put, he outruns and outclasses his opponents nearly every week. When choosing a premium priced player, it must be remembered why you are paying the big bucks for them - it is not necessarily to make money out of them, but to consistently get large scores, and never to be traded out barring injury. However, every now and then a premium comes along that has the potential to not only reap those large scores consistently, but also with a strong likelihood to improve on his previous years score. This appears to be the case for Riewoldt in 2010 - for the past number years he has struggled into the season (and often been inconsistent for the first several rounds) due to a lack of pre-season, but this year he has completed his first pre-season in five years, meaning he should step straight into the season in full flight - so far in the NAB cup he has shown he is in great form, scoring 85 and 86 points, both from very limited time on ground. Simply put, Riewoldt should be one of your first picked players - especially in 2010 as he looks even more like a premium than in years gone by. No longer can a coach have the usual excuse, “I’ll pick him in round five when he’s $100k cheaper,” as this year he is likely to come out swinging! 

The Smokey:

Adam Schneider ($348,000): Schneider has played as a forward for the majority of his career - this was up until late last year when Lyon gave him a turn through the midfield for the last half-dozen games of the season. As it seems through watching the NAB cup, it does not look like his time in the middle from last year (where he averaged 100 points across five games) will be a one-off. This NAB series we have seen him line up at the centre square for all three games, only moving forward occasionally (and therefore boosting his scoring power with a couple of goals) - he has clocked up scores of 104, 60 and 79 in his three games so far, and has looked at home in the midfield through each. He is still speculative due to the fact that St.Kilda still don’t seem 100% settled on each player’s positions for 2010, with Ross Lyon still tinkering with players in different roles. I do believe however, that Schneider will stay in the midfield for the majority of 2010 - with DalSanto and Goddard set to spend more time in the forward line, the logical conclusion is that Schneids will be the man who moves up the field to allow this. I believe that for the money you pay for him there should be a reasonable increase, but don’t expect much more than $50k - he may just prove to be more of a mid-priced keeper.

Western Bulldogs vs Port Adelaide:

A night more of wasted opportunities for the Power than a win to the Doggies, however I thought both teams played some great football for all four quarters. In the end the difference was once again Barry Hall - Whilst Port had Tredrea (who actually played a very good game, yet more upfield than Hall), the delivery wasn’t quite as good with the Bulldogs stifling many forward thrusts. Once again, the Dogs showed they will be contenders for the flag this year and that Port has a significant chance for the eight - they also look like showing us some of the more exciting young talents in the league.

Western Bulldogs:

Looking Good:

• Barry Hall: I’ve been critical two weeks in a row, stating that he needs to back up his form. And I must be honest, I think I have been proven wrong! Whilst next week against the Saints will be the big test, Hall is such a huge target for such a high scoring team that it really seems ridiculous to not look at him! He kicked four goals and passed off two others which he would have kicked in the real season. Their forward structure has changed a lot from last year to accommodate for him and I am beginning to think that he could be a huge bargain, rather than a huge risk!
• Daniel Cross: The king of the handball (yet surprisingly high DT score) showed us again why he is such a consistent DT favourite! Despite only 24 disposals (19 of which were handballs), he laid 12 tackles - in the way the game is played nowadays (high pressure and plenty of tackling), Cross’ style of game is heavily in vogue meaning you could pick much worse than Crossy for your starting squad!
• Ryan Griffen: Second week in a row he has impressed me with his newfound work rate. Could be a great pickup, especially with his work off half back (cheap disposals ahoy!) and through the middle.
• Shaun Higgins: 63 points in one half of football should have anyone salivating! Had a big cameo in the third quarter and played a big part in the Dogs win. Has the talent to take his game to the elite level - every chance that 2010 could be the year!

Disappointing:

• Andrejs Everitt: Second week in a row he had played through the middle for not a lot of disposals. He could be anything, but once again he showed he is way too speculative to put in your starting squad.
• Callan Ward: He was a lock in my DT the day that it opened a month ago, however since then he has shown very little improvement on his game from last year. There is every chance he will come good this year (he IS a great talent), but his pre-season is doing nothing to make me believe that!

Port Adelaide:

Looking Good:

• Robbie Gray: You should have seen the smile on my face as he lined up at the centre square at the start of this match! He has deserved his move to the midfield and would have done his coach proud with a great game - he was skilled both inside packs and as an outside player. What makes him more damaging is his ability around goals that he showed through the first goal of the game. Unless injury strikes, he is a lock for my forward line - massive bargain this kid! Get on!
• Cameron Hitchcock - I just love watching this kid go about his business! Chocco moved him a bit more upfield to start the match and within the first five minutes he had already justified the faith, being solely responsible for a number of Port’s forward thrusts. If he is elevated before the start of the season he could be a great choice for your forward line!
• Kane Cornes: Mr.DT has been playing a new role this pre-season - he is lining up on a HFF, a move which may have originally suggested a slip in scoring potential, however our man Kane looks to have lost none of his ball-winning ability. In fact, I think he looks fitter than last year, one which saw his value slip with several injury problems.

Disappointing:

• Brett Ebert: Just not joining the Port Adelaide party. He floats in and out of games - not what you want in your dream team.
• Andrew Moore - There is no doubting that the talent is there, however for his extra-large rookie price tag, I think there are better options out there who will play more games.

St.Kilda vs Fremantle:

This game was a white-wash which allowed us to see which Saints players were in form coming into the season (as well as their talented young depth), and also which of the younger Fremantle players would be able to stand up to a much stronger side than what they have seen so far this pre-season.

St.Kilda:

Looking Good:

• Clint Jones: Freed of any tagging role, Jones was prolific through the middle, racking up 40 disposals with plenty of tackles and clearances thrown in. Unfortunately, he is too good a tagger to be released permanently from that role (unless McQualter can step up into that role, but doubtful). But he did show last year he is able to combine his tagging role with a large number of possessions, clearances and tackles.
• James Gwilt: I must be honest - I have never been a very big Gwilt fan, but finally he looks to be showing his plethora of talent! He has been moved the backline and will be fighting Raph Clarke for a spot - and currently is ahead. He is playing well as a stopper as well as looking confident (and finally more skilled) as a rebounder too.
• Sam Gilbert: I have said before, Gilbert will tear shreds off lower ranked teams in 2010 - he played a super game against Freo with some great rebounds out of defence. Should take another step this year, however you will need to pay for it!
• Jason Gram: Looking so much for clean and confident with his disposal this year, meaning his teammates will trust him much more with the ball. He showed in the Grand Final what he is capable of - a potential big improver this year.
• David Armitage: Those on Armo watch would have been impressed with his performance, especially since Crowley spent patches of the game tagging him. I feel he has more upside than Masten due to his ability to go forward, as well as the fact he loves to kick the ball more and make a tackle of two!

Disappointing:

• Brett Peake: Disappointing that this is the third week in a row I have named him here. Ironically, he set up two of Fremantle’s goals for them with some sloppy kicking - probably the first time in his career!
• Justin Koschitzke: One goal as the main target is frustrating, however his role on the night seemed more to be crashing the packs and supporting his younger teammates.
• Luke Miles: Ross Lyon loves the kid, however I feel very insecure with the ball in his hands - he has made some real shanks the past few weeks. Will be backup to Baker in the season proper so it is unlikely he will play many games, despite being elevated from the rookie list.

Fremantle:

Looking Good:

• Michael Barlow: Showed he isn’t just a downhill skier, playing well even when a much stronger team is thrashing his team. It was also a positive to see that he was physically able to match it with the St.Kilda players, suggesting that Mark Harvey would have to be an idiot not to elevate this kid and play him for 22 games!
• Paul Duffield: I’m loving his consistency! Backs himself every time and generally delivers the ball lace-out. Won’t be in many teams this year, but that is a very good thing! Is a lock for me!
• Greg Broughton: Ran with Schneider for the game, meaning he got several stints through the midfield and fortunately did not look out of his depth there! Probably overpriced this year, but still keep an eye on his early season form!

Disappointing:

• Michael Walters: Was dragged from the ground after two 50-metre penalties in a row, only to go back onto the field and concede another. Other than these few brain fades, he showed only glimpses of talent. Expect him to be in and out of the side all year.
• Zac Clarke: Thrashed in the ruck by his St.Kilda counterparts. Those looking for $200k ruck options should look elsewhere.
• Adam McPhee: Another poor game for the ex-Bomber. He has pleaded with the coaching staff to get a run through the middle, yet after spending close to a half of the game on the ball, his stats tally read one solitary handball! Back to the forward line Adam - get him the hell out of your dream team!

NAB Challenge Games: 

Richmond vs Collingwood:

Collingwood:

• John McCarthy was great with 22 disposals and 2 goals, playing through the midfield.
• Luke Ball impressed in his second game, racking up 23 disposals.
• Jarryd Blair is a second year player who impressed with 17 disposals - did some clever things.
• Sharrod Wellingham ran through the midfield and impressed as one of the best on ground.

Richmond:

• Mitch Morton kept them in the game with four goals
• Post has found his spot at CHB
• Webberley was very good, running off half-back and picking up plenty of the ball - could be a great pick up in your defence!
• Polak was poor again, not kicking any goals at full forward
• Troy Taylor showed glimpses of his talent, but as discussed this week, he drifted in and out of the game.

West Coast vs Carlton:

West Coast:

• Naitanui chose the third quarter this week to grab the game by the neck once again! Is a real excitement machine but I am still speculative about his DT prospects.
• Mitch Brown played up forward and played super.
• Shannon Hurn was BOG running off half-back
• Masten was very good once again
• Bradd Dalziell seems to have landed himself a tagging role and is subsequently not getting much of the ball - do not get him!

Carlton:

• Judd was once again the best Blue on the field.
• With no Kruezer or Henderson, the forward line consisted of Betts and Garlett
• Waite returned, taking up a role as a key defender
• Marc Murphy also returned, not starring, however it is good to see him back.
• Warnock just broke even in the ruck without looking spectacular - he has more than proven that he is nothing more than a decent bench option for your ruck - DO NOT start him!
• Marcus Davies got plenty of the ball off half-back

North Melbourne vs Hawthorn:

North Melbourne:

• Daniel Wells was BOG in his first game of the season, despite only playing the first half (kicked 3 goals).
• Ziebell and Bastinac both looked classy through the middle.
• Robbie Tarrant is building his confidence in the backline, becoming responsible for several rebound thrusts.
• Matt Campbell once again played in the midfield, further highlighting his bargain status in 2010.

Hawthorn:

• Horrible day for the Hawks - the did not score their first goal until the third quarter.
• Taylor went down with what has turned out to be a broken leg. This will put him out of action for four months. Whilst bad news for Hawthorn, us dream teamers can see the positives in this injury - Wayde Skipper is likely to not only be elevated to the senior list in Taylor’s place, but should be a regular in the senior side for those four months. He has become a lock for the ruck bench now.
• Brad Sewell broke his collarbone, putting him out of action for up to 2 months.
• Chance Bateman returned and looked like he never left, looking classy through the middle.

Adelaide vs Melbourne:

Adelaide:

• Kurt Tippett was the star, kicking a total of five goals, including the winner. This is very pleasing to see, especially since the game was played in the wet.
• Tex Walker had a poor game and showed that he still needs to find a spot in the forward line - has just not been able to make CHF his own.
• Mackay racked up the disposals in the midfield and looked very good.
• Dangerfield was one of the best for the Crows, winning plenty of clearances and looking very very likely to take a significant step up this year.

Melbourne:

• Daniel Bell injured his shoulder and looks likely to miss a couple of months of footy.
• Liam Jurrah dislocated his shoulder, yet we are currently unsure how long he will miss - TBA
• It was great to see Trengove getting best-on-field honours, racking up 27 very good touches.
• Scully was not far behind with 23 disposals and a great goal in the last quarter.
• Grimes had a very quiet game, perhaps worrying those who are taking the punt on him this year.

Sydney vs Essendon:

Sydney:

• Seaby looks like he is continually growing in form after a couple of poor showings earlier in the NAB cup. Perhaps he isn’t such a bad pick afterall.
• Jesse White is pressing very hard for a berth at CHF in round one with 3 goals to complement some very strong leading from the young man. I’m very very tempted by White this year - could prove to be the Tippett of this year, however I am holding off until we get to see him play alongside Bradshaw next week.
• Goodes was once again out of touch - I would be very hesitant picking him up this year (at least in my starting squad) as he has not shown any real consistency in his new HFF position.
• Kennelly was once again very strong off half back.

Essendon:

• The main news to come from the match was that Gumbleton did NOT get injured! He took some good marks, however did not trouble the scoreboard - will get better with time and more confidence in his body.
• David Myers again succumbed to a hamstring strain, now seemingly a regular occurrence for the kid.
• McVeigh impressed again through the middle, suggesting he is back to his 2008 form.
• Dempsey continued on his sweeping half-back role which proved very lucrative last week. Could be an inspired choice for your backline!
• Ben Howlett, a rookie, was the leading Dons disposal winner on the ground - a good sign from a young kid!

Troy Taylor is a super talented player from Northern Territory, who found his way to Richmond at the National Draft. Talent wise he’s worth a lot more than the Pick 51 they used on him, but let’s not pull any punches, there’s a decent chance that other clubs were a bit scared off by his juvie record. 

It was about this time last year that Taylor was finishing his four month sentence for his part in a drunken brawl. Since getting drafted he has once again being charged with three counts of assault for an incident in Alice Springs. Definitely monitor what’s going on with his current charge, however the timing of his hearing is a bit unfortunate for DT coaches - five days after Richmond’s first game. 

Let’s look past that though for just a second. Richmond are likely to be playing the youngsters heavily this year and Taylor is a fantastic talent, who should very much be in their immediate plans. Jon Ralph wrote an article on him for the Herald Sun yesterday (not actually the inspiration for me choosing Taylor, just convenient timing) that included the quote, “His cause is helped by the club’s new direction: force-feed the most talented juniors AFL games then sit back and see who flourishes.” I salivated. 

Taylor’s talent was never really questioned in recruiting circles and to relate him directly to the above quote, I think he is one that can flourish on the AFL stage. He’ll provide the Richmond forward line with something a bit enigmatic and even if he doesn’t score well, he’s a good chance to do a couple of special things to keep getting selected. 

You just want someone like Taylor to start the season and make a bit of early money. Job security at Richmond is going to be a lot safer than somewhere like Geelong. Admittedly, I have Podsiadly on my bench rather than Taylor at this stage and I was this close to writing about him, but I want to be more sure he’s not just back up. Pods scored well last week with Mooney, Hawkins and Stevie J all missing. 

I know there’s such an immense risk with someone who already has a record and has charges hanging over his head. With such few options emerging in the forward line, Taylor looks like someone who could score well early on. Also, wouldn’t it be kind of novelty to blame your DT failure on a player actually getting locked up?! Sure beats the tired excuses of injury and club suspension from boozy nights out! 

This whole story comes with a massive asterisk (it could be the Shannon Cox article that Toby bags me about all year). Please, do yourself a favour and follow his circumstances intently before selecting him. I’ll be very keen to get his talent in and just maybe he could be an interesting, unique selection - hopefully in a good way!

The rule of thumb for dream team tends to be that you try and pick as many of your high priced players from winning sides as possible. And again this year, it seems to be the case. However, just as important to your side as the premiums is the rookie priced players - these are the players that are going to provide you with the cash to further upgrade all of your injured or underperforming premiums and mid-priced improvers. And the only places to find good quality rookies, likely to be given every opportunity at senior level is in the bottom few sides. This year, unless if we are greatly surprised, Richmond will again be one of those teams - their players will often be inconsistent and the side may lose occasionally by 100 points, but the plan for the coaches will always stay the same - play the kids! This kind of theory is perfect for dream teamers looking to chock full our benches with underpriced kids - and Richmond have a few gems! And the best part is, if you cannot find a player who fits the bill for your bench, it is always worth looking at rookies from these bottom teams as their younger players are likely to be given much more of a chance than those belonging to St.Kilda or Geelong.

Who’s Hot?:

Brett Deledio ($422,200): Really pushed himself over the pre-season after last season coming to the much publicised realisation that he was simply coasting and nowhere near the quality of player he could be. Should be set for a big year!

Dustin Martin ($149,500): The first year player has flown through his first AFL pre-season. Often told by coaches to stop over-doing things, such is his willingness to succeed - looks to have a work rate of the great Robert Harvey and if he is even half the player, he will be a super dream teamer!

Jack Riewoldt ($327,400): Had another solid pre-season and at his age, we should be able to expect some consistency from Riewoldt. Now with Polak in the forward line, he will no longer get the opposition’s key defender making it more likely that he will fire! 

Who’s Not?:

Trent Cotchin: Whilst he is currently competing in the NAB cup games, his lead up to the season was far from complete; he spent most of his time on a modified program so as to not re-injure himself. So far he is looking good, but skepticism reigns!

Ben Cousins: Had both hand and shoulder surgery in the off-season, meaning his aging body is surely ready to start slowing down this year.

Nathan Foley: In doubt for round one with repeated issues with his ankles. He has had off-season surgery but is still not 100% - I wouldn’t recommend him for this reason.

The Bargain:

Trent Cotchin ($296,200): Only half a paragraph ago I was criticizing Cotchin for coming into this season underdone, however, he is not so much underdone due to injuries, but rather a fear of injuries. Now as strange as that sounds, there was reason behind this madness - For Cotchin’s first two seasons at the Tigers, he suffered from several long-time injuries such as an Achilles issue and a hip complain, together ruining half of his debut season and most of his second year. Now with this much injury history in such a short space of time, any DT coach would need to be presented with a very persuasive case to so much as consider placing him in their team. Firstly I should say, I’m not here to convince you to get Cotchin or not get him, but rather to present you with the facts and let you make your minds up for yourselves. When selecting a player for your team, it is always worth looking at players priced in the same price-bracket whom you could be otherwise choosing - and if we look at Cotchin’s neighbors, we see two very popular DT names - Armitage and Masten - both players promising a meteoric rise in 2010 and whom many DT coaches are locking into their teams. So why would you choose an injury prone player from a team likely to finish with the wooden spoon over two players with little injury history and just about as much upside? Well… As a junior, Cotchin was an elite inside and outside midfielder - he not only won nearly 50% of his disposals from a contest, but delivered the ball with precision into the forward line (he averaged 8 inside 50s a game!). He averaged 28 disposals through the 2007 TAC Cup and was one of the best players throughout, subsequently causing Richmond to take him with their second pick in the draft. Whilst junior stats don’t always tell the complete story, Cotchin played some fantastic football in his debut season, averaging 17 disposals (great for a first year player). From there he has shown glimpses of his immense talent, again averaging 17 disposals in his injury interrupted 2009 season, using his boot as many times as his hand to deliver the ball - a great stat from a DT perspective. Whilst none of these numbers are really going to blow you away, Cotchin’s pure class and promise he has shown in his limited games has many coaches still considering him despite his bleak injury history. Honestly, I believe he has more upside (i.e. scoring potential) than Masten and Armitage, however, he must be fit to reach his peak. So far this pre-season, his monitored program is proving dividends with him looking ready to line up in round one for the first time in his short career. Also worth noting is that he scored 62 points against the Cats on the weekend, however played very limited game time and from all reports played with class and poise which suggested that 2010 may finally be his year. 

The Kid:

Dustin Martin ($149,500): I think there would be little chance that Martin is not in every single Dream Team in 2010 - those that do not have him round one will waste a trade getting him in for round two. Rarely do Dream Teamers get such a treat as we have gotten in Martin - he is a highly skilled, ball winning, solid bodied first round draft pick! At 186cm and 88kg, he has a body ready to step straight into the seniors and dominate. And is isn’t puppy fat he is carrying - look at any photo of the kid and he is ripped enough to think he’s been at this caper for years! Through his TAC Cup, Martin averaged 25 disposals, 3 tackles and nearly one goal - he is a speedy centreman, capable of both winning his own ball (average contested possessions: 38%) and also delivering it perfectly to his forwards. As for his pre-season, it has been flawless - he has been one of the most impressive and professional Tigers on the track in the pre-season and there is no chance he will be on the sidelines for round one. He is a certain starter for the Tigers in round one and should be at worst your 6^th midfielder - He is the most essential first year player since Marc Murphy! 

The Premium:

Brett Deledio ($422,200): After a breakout year in 2008, Deledio’s first half to 2009 was less than spectacular. But when caretaker coach Jade Rawlings threatened to drop him to the VFL midway through the year, it seemed to be the spark his year needed. Now, he labels that moment as a turning point in his career - when he realised the hard yards needed to be a consistent AFL midfielder. Hopefully this year we can see more of the same as Deledio at his best can easily be classified as elite. So far this pre-season his game has looked good, averaging 90 points across the two NAB games he has played. Deledio in 2009 was the highest disposal winning Tiger, as well as the one to play the most minutes for the year - quite an achievement for a midfielder! Both these stats bode well for him as DTer as it suggests both his teammates and coach want him on the field and with the ball in his hand. And whilst he wasn’t great at breaking some of the harder tags, he did prove by the end of the year that he was capable of escaping a taggers clutch through hard work, dispelling many fears of him being taken out of matches due to being the Tigers key midfielder. Now due to not being eligible as a forward his appeal does go down, but at a bit over $400k he does present the option of a consistent ball-winner who has the capacity to score some very large numbers. Whilst he may not be the first choice player in his price bracket, my gut feel is he could at least maintain his 2009 average of 96 points. 

The Smokey:

Daniel Connors ($156,000): If there was ever a list made of some of the biggest DT teases, Connors would certainly be up there. Since being drafted at pick 58 in the 2006 draft, Connors has played a total of just 10 games - poor for an uninjured player in a side such as Richmond’s, crying out for talent. Typically through his career, he has been played on a half-forward flank, never scoring particularly high DT scores, despite coming to the club in 2006 quite highly rated. In 2009, Connors presents himself as a great smokey pick due to his new role as a sweeper off the half-back line. As Raines showed in 2009, this role in Richmond is not particularly lucrative, but at a starting price as low as Connors’, there is plenty of room for improvement. So far in the NAB cup we have seen him play twice, and both times in this new role, suggesting it will be permanent, rather than an experiment - in week one he scored an impressive 98 points followed by a reasonable 64 against the Cats. The only drawback to Connors this year is that despite regularly being labeled as a forward/midfielder in previous seasons, Virtual Sports have named him purely as a midfielder. I believe he has the potential to make plenty of money for your side and score well in the meantime, however structurally he may prove an inconvenience in your side. But have a play with your team structure, and if you can fit him in, he could prove an inspired choice as he should gain in value by over $150,000.

As regular readers of my column may have noted, one of my objectives with my weekly article is to draw attention to certain areas you may have overlooked. As my fellow Footy Tragic writers Toby and Dan often say, I do look at dreamteam and the underlying strategies used very differently to most.

I make no secret of the fact that my goal in 2010 is to win something more tangible than my private league (a new car would be nice)! While the joy obtained from gaining bragging rights over mates cannot be underestimated, I’m searching for more. If you are reading this article now, there’s a fair chance you are serious about your dreamteam. If so, you probably find it easy to beat 15 of your mates, year after year. What is not so easy is beating 250,000 people!

At times it feels like the impossible dream, to win the ultimate prize against so many competitors. The reality is, the difference between finishing 19^th overall (as I did in 2008) and winning the competition is 2 - 3 incorrect decisions over the course of the season. If you finish 431^st overall (as Toby did last year), the difference might be 7 - 8 incorrect decisions over the course of the season. It’s important to realise that we don’t make 50 decisions over the course of the season (30 players now, plus 20 trades), we make closer to 1,000. The more decisions we get right, the higher up the rankings we move. The question is, “How do I make the right decisions?”

Do I pick Brent Harvey or Shaun Higgins as my 3^rd forward? Both players averaged approximately 89 points per game last year and are priced around the $390,000 mark. Harvey and Higgins are both quality players with one major point of difference, their age. Harvey is 31, whereas Higgins is 22 (on 4 March). This decision for me is obvious; I’ll take Higgins because he is younger and therefore less likely to be troubled by soft tissue injuries. Some dreamteams will choose Harvey (incorrect decision number 1) and then start bleating when he tears a calf muscle in Round 7. Or the dreamteam coach who picks up Paul Chapman at a price of $494,500 (incorrect decision number 2), the man with an average of 113 points per game in 2009. The problem is, Chapman has hamstrings made of crepe paper and will miss games at some point in 2010.

I can hear the excuses already, excuses such as “injuries have killed me”, “bloody injuries”, or my favorite “I’ve just been unlucky this year”. Injuries happen so prepare your team for them and don’t complain when they happen. Good coaches see injuries as an opportunity to improve their team, rather than an excuse for failure. Even better coaches choose durable players likely to play 22 games, thus saving valuable trades!

Another very important consideration is what to do with your midfield structure. Do I choose, four premiums and four cash cows, or do I choose two premiums, three mid tier players and three cash cows? Or maybe I should choose two premiums and six cash cows because all the cash cows are in the midfield this year? Do I choose Dane Swan or Gary Ablett? Do I choose Leigh Montagna or Bryce Gibbs? Do I choose Tom Scully or Jack Trengove? Do I choose Michael Barlow or Mitch Banner? When making these decisions, keep in mind the fact that every decision you make will impact on your final ranking at seasons end.

The end result is that for every decision you get wrong, it will cost you points. Not only will poor decisions cost you valuable points, they will also cost you trades. We only get 20 trades for the season, so don’t waste them by making poor decisions with your initial squad of 30 players.

Getting back to my original question, “How do I make the right decisions?” My advice to you is to make your decisions based on facts rather than innuendo and to back your own judgment over your mate’s advice. You need to consider all factors such as a player’s: age, height, weight, draft history, injury history, form, fitness, previous club, role change, job security, opportunities available due to injuries to teammates, capacity for improvement etc.

Don’t be afraid to stick your neck on the chopping block and pick that unique player you want, even though it seems you are the only coach interested in that player. Personally, I always favour a unique selection over a player who is in over 100,000 teams (I’m trying to beat those teams, not follow them to the finish line)! I see so many dreamteamers make poor decisions because they can’t make a decision for themselves, so they copy what their mate is doing. I’m reminded here of a famous saying “the ditch is fairly obvious into which the blind led by the blind must fall”.

With so many decisions to make over the course of the season, it can all seem so complicated. Let me make it simple and easy for you, make more good decisions and less bad decisions and you’ll climb up the rankings. To take it a step further, if you make more good decisions and less bad decisions compared to the other 250,000 competitors, you may end up with a new car by September!

Good luck!

Well I’m glad that I didn’t pre-write these articles as so far this pre-season we have seen a totally different Port Adelaide side to the one that finished the 2009 season so poorly. So far they have pumped local rivals Adelaide and done the same damage to top-8 hopefuls, West Coast at Subiaco. Firstly, it was great to see Port win the games so convincingly, and with so many younger players in the squad! But even more importantly, they backed it up in Western Australia -  something they really struggled to do in 2009. I am especially excited about some of Port’s youngsters this year - some of them are in great form, but just as importantly, they look good enough to push for senior selection. Hopefully this can be a big year for Port Adelaide as they are one of the more exciting AFL teams when in full flight. At this stage, I would hardly hesitate recommending you to put a few Port players in your squad - lets just hope they don’t fail us come round one!

Who’s Hot?:

Travis Boak ($396,900): Had a great pre-season and looks every chance to step up and lead the Power’s young midfield.

Steven Salopek ($373,200): After a less than impressive 2009 riddled by injury and form issues, Sal pushed very hard over the off-season and has come back looking better than ever. So far in the NAB cup he has stood out with his great HB/midfield role and penetrating kicking.

Mitch Banner ($94,500): Was an elite ball winner as a junior and after a strong pre-season it looks like he may be ready to replicate those attributes in the AFL.

Robbie Gray ($321,200): Has played his career as a medium forward but has often showed glimpses of star talent, just craving to be moved to the midfield. Fortunately, he worked really hard in the off-season and in row running personal bests and looking very fit. There is a strong chance we will see him in the midfield this year.

Cameron Hitchcock ($97,800): A first round rookie pick who looks a classic excitement machine, tearing up one and a half NAB cup games, showing great work rate and natural footballing ability in the forward line.  

Who’s Not?:

David Rodan: Did his ACL in a training drill and required a knee reconstruction. Due to using the ‘Malceski Method’ to repair his knee, he could be back in action only a month into the season. Still avoid picking him though.

Hamish Hartlett: After a great start to his pre-season, he has been cut down by another hamstring injury. Should be ready for round one, but with Port’s strong team and competition for spots he may find himself in the SANFL to regain touch.

Daniel Motlop: Had several injury concerns over the pre-season and despite playing the first NAB cup he still doesn’t look 100% fit - in fact, his poor showing in that game proved you don’t want him in your team anyway.

The Kid:

Mitch Banner ($94,500): Banner has been on most keen dream teamers lists for a while now - in fact, before he was even drafted people were locking them into their dream teams. Why? Because the kid knows how to get the ball! This is the point in the article where I remind you about the concept of dream team - we are not here to pick the flashiest player, the one with the best disposal, nor even the ones who will put their heads over the ball (and that is not to say Banner doesn’t tick any of these categories), but the ones who just get the ball again and again and again. Well… fair enough to say, Mitch Banner is one of these guys - the year before he was drafted he averaged a whopping 29 disposals through the TAC cup - these are Dane Swan style numbers kids! This is now the point where you turn around to me and give the example, “Bradd Dalziell could rack them up, but Vossy wouldn’t select him cos he’s actually pretty poor at football! Will the same happen to Banner?” Well, no, is the simple answer. Banner came to the club in 2008 known for being on the bad side of average for ball disposal, but it seems that he has worked really hard on this facet of his game for the past 12 months, impressing me (and I’m sure Chocco would be pretty stoked too) with both his ball winning abilities (both inside and outside) as well as his neat disposal. Whilst he ain’t a Brendon Goddard or David Mundy, he is definitely good enough to hit a target enough times to keep his spot in the team. For me, he is almost a must-have. Put it this way - if he is named to play round one, GET HIM!

The Premium:

Travis Boak ($396,900): Every year since he was drafted, Boak has taken his game to another level, as looks to be the case again in 2010. If we were making a list of A-grade players likely to take the step to elite category this year (ala Montagna), Boak would likely head the list. He showed us what he can do in his last few games for the season, averaging 28 disposals from rounds 18 - 22 and in doing so, marking himself as Port’s premium midfield option. The only concern is how he will handle the likely tag, which he will attract in 2010 - previously, players such as Shaun Burgoyne and Danyle Pearce have attracted the harassment, but as teams cotton on to Boak’s ability the attention will surely come! I can tell you that I am not the only one at Footy Tragic who’s excited by Boak - we were all singing his praises towards the end of last year, and with a super pre-season under his belt we are all pretty keen to get him into our teams! Whilst not a lock just yet, his clear room for improvement and undoubted ability make him a hard one to go past at what is quite a reasonable price! 

The Smokey:

Justin Westhoff ($283,600): The talk over the off-season at Port was often about a couple of different things; firstly, who will support Dean Brogan in the ruck - a two man race between Lobbe and Trengrove. Secondly, many were concerned about the form (or lack thereof) of the much-maligned forward, Justin Westhoff. Westhoff was one of the best young players in 2007 as Port made it to the Grand Final, however has failed to come on since due to his heightened amount of attention from opposition defenses. Amazingly, the solution to both of Port’s dilemmas seems to be the one answer; playing Westhoff in the ruck. Whilst not the most amazing tap ruckman (he was thrashed in the centre square by A-grade combo Cox and Naitanui), he works really hard across the ground and still has the talent to be rested up forward when not rucking - a fantastic combination! He was much better than next-choice ruckman, Lobbe, who was beaten both in the ruck and around the ground, suggesting that Westhoff really has the position in the bag if he continues to work hard. As we saw last year with Paddy Ryder, these versatile players can be fantastic DT players, especially when coming at the right price. Currently, Westhoff sits a bit below the $300k mark, but has the potential to do much more. Until he is officially given the role he is still speculative, but if  he does line up in the centre square in round one, you could be doing much worse than to be having him in your team.

The Smokey #2 (Instead of Bargain):

Robbie Gray ($321,200): I’ve gone for a second smokey this week due to Port having no clear bargain on their list, rather just a bunch of well priced kids… Plus, I couldn’t decide between Westhoffe and Gray. Now, I must start by saying I have always had a love for how Robbie Gray goes about his footy - every year since his debut I have spent time with him in my trial team before realizing he is just going to play forward again and subsequently trading him out. But this year is different - this year Chocco had hinted very strongly that he may finally line up in the middle! He even played there in the intra-club and totally chopped! The only question surrounding Gray is HOW much potential does he really have - we have never seen him play midfield for a full game to see what sort of numbers he is capable of, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if he averaged 85 - 90 points a game (similar to Higgins of 2009). He can play both inside and outside and is very creative with the footy and is therefore regularly trusted with it in hand. This shouldn’t be taken out of context, but his work in the forward line has always reminded me of Ablett when he played there for the first few years of his career. Unfortunately, we haven’t see him line up yet this NAB cup, so once again everything is extremely speculative. But please, for your own sake, keep an eye on the kid - I am so confident this will be his breakout season it’s just ridiculous!

Western Bulldogs vs Hawthorn:

I must be honest - I was one of the sceptical ones, saying that Barry Hall would never be a success playing for the bulldogs - that his first NAB game would be a laugh and twenty minutes in he would end up biffing someone. But I couldn’t have been more wrong! When you think about it, no wonder a full-forward like Barry got sick of playing for the most defensively-minded, lowest scoring teams in the AFL - he rarely got a touch! But now finding himself part of the Doggies forward line - the most lucratively scoring one in the league, he looks to be finally enjoying his footy again! Six goals in three quarters may also have something to do with the smile on his face…

Western Bulldogs:

Looking Good:

•       Daniel Giansiracura: I was really impressed with his game - I’ve monitored his pre-season and by all reports he has trained fantastically. It has been great to see him transfer that hard work into a couple of consistent matches. Playing midfield in a winning team like the Bulldogs will be very lucrative DT-wise.
•       Brodie Moles: Played a consistent game through the midfield and looks a good size. Needs to be elevated off the rookie list first, but looks to be pushing his case.
•       Ryan Griffen: Often the most over-hyped DT player in the pre-season. It is worth noting that he is still probably not worth DT selection (better in supercoach), but I was impressed with his work-rate on Friday night and could be one to keep a sneaky eye on.
•       Barry Hall: As I mentioned above, BBB looked pretty dominant. It is worth noting that he was significantly bigger than his opponent, Gibson, so I would want to see him again before really deciding. Personally, I wouldn’t select him in my DT - don’t know whether it’s because I don’t trust him or don’t have the balls…

Disappointing:

•       Andrejs Everitt: God I have high hopes for this kid - he really has the natural ability to dominate games, and I know Dan will back me up here! And when I saw him line up in the midfield at the start of the game I was salivating! However, four quarters and seven disposals later I was disappointed… I’ll keep watching him, but I think I may be just getting myself over-excited…
•       Jarrad Grant: I really hated his lack of intensity - a couple of times, the ball was cut off from him before he could mark it simply because he didn’t attack the ball. He is not the Dogs forward-line saviour - at least not this year anyway.

Hawthorn:

Looking Good:

•       Jarrod Kayler-Thomson: He was my favourite player from the match with his great run off half-back and superb delivery into the forward line. The kid is 24 and has just been drafted onto the Hawks rookie list this year. He looks brilliant, but with plenty of best-22 hawks to return I want to see whether he has a spot in the team and whether he is elevated onto the main list. Could be a great buy though!
•       Luke Hodge: I thought he played another great game in the midfield, although not spending enough time on ground to really get into a rhythm. He is a lock in my team and really should be in everyone else’s!
•       Sam Mitchell: He gets so much cheap ball which is why he is a great DT player, but he will always put his head over the ball and win it himself if he is needed to. Surprisingly unpopular choice so could be worth a punt!

Disappointing:

•       Rick Ladson: Another player lacking any intensity - he turned the ball over several times and never looked too much like he cared about the game. He was subbed off at half-time - I wonder whether it was due to his poor form or need for rest, but it does concern me. In the end, it is likely that he is lacking match fitness, however I don’t want him taking until round 5 to come good!
•       Josh Gibson: I hoped he may take on more of a rebounding role for the Hawks but that was far from the case on Friday as he manned Hall for three quarters. I want to see him again with Gilham and Murphy in the team, but I can’t see much DT value in him.

St.Kilda vs Sydney:

Another week, another one point win to the Saints. At the end of the day, Sydney really were the more complete team for the four quarters, but poor form in the forward line really cost them. The Saints were looking very rusty with those players coming back from an interrupted pre-season being eased in very gradually - hopefully they will be fine for round one. Sydney also showed to be a team boasting more flare and attacking football than in previous years with some exciting youngsters coming through the ranks, most of which, I predict, will play a strong part in their 2010 campaign.

St.Kilda:

Looking Good:

•       Brendon Goddard: Was easily the best Saint for the match, working hard all over the ground to the tune of 90 points (that’s good for the pre-season). The fact he can be taken in the backline of your DT is pure gold!
•       Ben McEvoy: Worked really hard across the whole ground which was impressive, playing as the number one ruck for the night (ahead of King). He spreads from contests and stoppages really well which Ross Lyon loves and I see him more likely to play as second ruck (to Gardiner) in 2010 than King.
•       Sam Gilbert: Was prolific off the backline, setting up plenty of rebounds whilst also shutting down O’Keefe. I can see him carving up bottom-eight sides in 2010, however, 70-odd will probably be what to expect from top teams who put a bit more work into him (like Collingwood last week).
•       James Gwilt: Played what may have been his second best game for the Saints - he took Goodes completely out of the game whilst setting up some really good rebounds from defence. FINALLY he is out of the forward line and FINALLY he has learnt how to use his powerful body! A smokey for 2010.

Disappointing:

•       Justin Koschitzke: Had a massive pre-season but we have seen none of the effects of it yet. Expect another up-and-down year from the big man.
•       Brett Peake: Second week in a row he has disappointed me! I expected big things from him this year (it is still early I guess), but so often he goes missing and I can now understand the complaints of Freo supporters - he DOES always fall over doesn’t he!?!

Sydney:

Looking Good:

•       Nick Malceski: Second week in a row he has shown the goods off the backline. After two stinker years in a row, he looks to be showing some of that 2007 form again. Is a great DTer when up and going and I reckon he could prove to be a 2010 bargain.
•       Gary Rohan: Whilst it doesn’t look like he will average 25 disposals a game, he looks good enough to be able to hold a spot in Sydney’s side and a forward flanker. He has great pace and skills and injects some real excitement into what was becoming a stale Sydney side.
•       Lewis Jetta: Like Rohan, it is more what he does than how many time he does it. His pace will murder some teams so is worth the pick for the fact he will play most weeks and play consistently.
•       Daniel Currie: Played well at full forward - only question is whether he will hold a spot with the return of Bradshaw. He showed some very promising signs though - good enough to consider for a ruck bench spot.

Disappointing:

•       Adam Goodes: By my opinion he was too well held for me to consider in my team - despite Gwilt playing a great game, my worry is that by playing as a permanent forward, Goodes is destined for the occasional 20. I’d prefer to pick players like Didak and Riewoldt who play further upfield.
•       Ben McGlynn: After singing his praises last week, the fact he was played as a tagger has me worried. Could this just be Paul Roos experimenting, or is this where Sydney will play him? Remember, the Hawks played him as a negating player for most of his tenure there.

Port Adelaide vs West Coast:

Port answered quite convincingly the question I posed last week; can they back it up interstate? Well… yes I guess! In fact, after half time they totally dominated the match. The only thing West Coast have to fall back on is that they were lacking their two best midfielders, Priddis and Kerr - but still, Port were missing just as many key personnel including Tredrea, Boak and Brogan. Despite their home-ground flogging, I wouldn’t be writing West Coast off just yet - I belive they have a list and a coach capable of taking them into the eight this year - hopefully they will bounce back next week!

Port Adelaide:

Looking Good:

•       Justin Westhoff: Mark Williams declared this match to be the “audition” for the second ruck spot behind the absent Brogan and it was Westhoff who stepped up to be the dominant big man of the ground. He was definitely out-tapped, but his work around the ground was great - he looks re-invigorated in a new role and could be the Paddy Ryder of 2010.
•       Mitch Banner: The kid loves Dream Team, what more is there to say!? As a junior he racked up the disposal count like no-one else and it looks like he is doing it at ease now in the seniors. Could be one of the best midfield rookie picks of 2010.
•       Steven Salopek: Lost count of his inside-50s at about seven! He is really stepping up this year and looks to play a very big role in Port’s 2010 campaign!

Disappointing:

•       Matthew Lobbe: Wouldn’t be too happy with how his ‘audition’ went compared with fellow big-man Westhoff. He was unfortunately thrashed both in the ruck and around the ground. Will be lucky to play round one.
•       Jay Nash: We saw very little of him and as it seems, he saw very little of the ball. I really hoped (and as usual, there’s still time!) that Nash would show for Port in 2010 what he had always promised to Essendon. Has the potential to be a great DTer, but with his poor first game he has become a bit too ’smokey’ for me.

West Coast:

Looking Good:

•       Adam Selwood: Finished 2009 with gusto and it looks like he may be able to back it up in 2010. He played mainly across half-back, pulling in 25 disposals on his way to a DT-tonne - a great smokey pick!
•       Chris Masten: Headed the Eagles engine room and did an admiral job in the absence of Priddis and Kerr - I think I am just about sold that he will be a great pick this year.
•       Luke Shuey: We so wanted him to play well and he did just that. Really stood out in the second half and has locked himself into my final midfield spot. A big chance to play plenty of games in 2010.

Disappointing:

•       Jarrod Oakley-Nicholls - Nothing has changed despite the talk of a big pre-season. A shame, as he may have been able to push LeCras upfield if he were any good!
•       Mark Nicoski: New role but just as rubbish… At least now that he’s in the forward line, if he shanks a kick he may actually score a point rather than turning it over!

Fremantle vs North Melbourne:

A great game to see some of the AFL’s younger stars pitched against each other. Each team were really impressive and the end result mimicked the closeness of the contest.

Fremantle:

Looking Good:

•       Hayden Ballantyne: Proved that last week’s game wasn’t just one out of the box. He presented well upfield and played with a good sense of leadership, leading the way on the tackle-count with 10. Could be a good chance to show us in 2010 what we had promised ourselves for 2009.
•       Michael Barlow: Second week in a row he was the highest disposal-getter on the ground, pressing harder and harder for senior elevation. Honestly, I think he would be mega stiff not to be elevated, and when he does, LOCK him into your team!
•       Chris Mayne: Played very well, however take his score with a grain of salt. Freo were missing both Pavlich and Headland, causing Mayne to be the focal point in attack for the evening. Still very much worth considering, however I wouldn’t expect too many 100’s from him whilst being trapped in the Fremantle forward line!
•       Paul Duffield: Is a lock for me - his first half was super with great disposal and decision making. Is playing across half back and into the middle making him hard to match up on.

Disappointing:

•       Clayton Hickley: Plenty of promise, but didn’t show any signs tonight. I wouldn’t take the risk.
•       Nathan Fyfe: Did some good things and worked hard for his solitary goal, but I feel he is too skinny to be playing in the forward line as a medium-sized option. Maybe not this year.

North Melbourne:

Looking Good:

•       Ben Warran: Played just as well as last week, however not as accurate. Each time I see him I like him a little bit more. So cheap and a good size to be able to stand his own in an AFL forward line.
•       Sam Wright: Great up until half time (faded a bit after that), playing across half-back and in the middle. He is under $200,000 and therefore a great pick. He looks confident too which is important - don’t just be choosing guys based on numbers alone - gotta look at them playing too!
•       Brent Harvey: Worked hard through a tag to still play a good game. He must be wishing that opposition coaches will finally start taking note of Liam Anthony, sticking the tag on him instead.

Disappointing:

•       Robbie Tarrant: Yeah, did alright. But he isn’t gonna do much for you in dream team! Played as a defender again (except for a brief and unsuccessful stint up forward in the third quarter) and should therefore be off all DT radars!
•       Gavin Urquhart: Given no TOG again! Why do no coaches respect him!? I don’t get it - so much potential, but rarely given the chance! Due to this I am worried about his job security.
•       Aaron Edwards: Same old one-dimensional player he has always been. He presented well but did little else to suggest he will change in 2010.

Richmond vs Geelong:

Richmond:

•       Dustin Martin played another solid game in the midfield (solid, not spectacular).
•       Jack Riewoldt was the star up forward booting 4 goals
•       Relton Roberts (rookie) was a livewire in the forward line - he is 24yo straight out of the QAFL so worth keeping an eye on!
•       Trent Cotchin looked much better than last week and was one of the better midfielders on the ground.

Geelong:

•       Missing nearly half the Grand Final team so hard to judge roles etc
•       Poor forward delivery
•       Travis Varcoe played well through the middle
•       Motlop good but doubtful he will play much in 2010.
•       Podsiadly was good without blowing anyone away. Should play this year - question is how much.

Essendon vs Melbourne:

Essendon:

•       All ruckmen returned: Hille, Laycock and Ryder.
•       Ryder was the best ruckman on the ground and looks like he will back up his 2009.
•       Hille eased into the game and looked more confident by the end - will take a few weeks to be right.
•       Jobe Watson had another great inside game, dominating the clearances.
•       Brent Stanton was a prolific ball winner in his first game of the season.
•       Mark McVeigh played mainly as a defender - worrying!

Melbourne:

•       Jack Grimes was the best player on the ground - great disposal and won plenty of ball!
•       Colin Sylvia was also prolific and looks to build on his strong 2009.
•       Morton was injured and will be out for up to three months.

Adelaide vs Collingwood:

 Adelaide:

•       The game was played in a swimming pool, hence skills were down and few goals were kicked.
•       Richard Douglas was the Crow’s best, booting three goals.
•       Goodwin strong off half-back
•       Tippett returned, although the weather did not suit him, only booting one goal.
•       Petrenko played well in conditions made for little men like himself.

Collingwood:

•       Chris Dawes was good up forward in the absence of Cloke and Anthony.
•       Harry O’Brian took best on ground honours with his strong work off half-back.
•       Sidebottom looking very strong and has improved since 2009.
•       Didak, Swan and Buckley were others to impress.

Brisbane vs Carlton:

Brisbane:

•       Brown looks like he will not be effected by the recruitment of Fevola, booting three goals and working hard upfield.
•       Fev looked poor, kicking two goals for the game.
•       Matthew Maguire played well in his first game for 18 months, pulling in 20-odd disposals playing at half-back.

Carlton:

•       Judd was best on ground - clearance king and also racked up the disposals.
•       Gibbs was equally impressive - his delivery to the forward line was a highlight.
•       Kruezer was well beaten by Maguire in the forward line.
•       Henderson looked good up front, but was not stood by a first-choice defender.

He’s a very attractive DT option because of his ability to find space and get the ball. He’s just one of those blokes who knows where to be to get the ball. With great endurance and exceptional play reading it’s no surprise he’s been on the end of so much loose ball. In my view, this sort of style is going to be even more relevant at Subiaco. There’s so much space on that ground he won’t know what to do with himself! 

The down side is that Barlow is on the rookie list, so he’ll need to earn a spot on the senior list. By my reckoning the Dockers have two free spots on their list - long term injuries to Dean Solomon (retired) and Tim Ruffles. Feel free to chip in if I’ve missed something though, because I only worked that out by checking out their senior list. 

Oddly, Freo seem to have much better depth on their rookie list than their senior list. Barlow will be competing with Matt de Boer, Clancee Pearce, Alex Silvagni and as an outside chance Jay van Berlo for those two spots on the senior list. Frankly I think he’d be pretty stiff to miss out, but Pearce’s form looked great on the weekend, de Boer had some really good games last year and if a tall goes down Silvagni comes right into the picture. 

My money would still be on Barlow to get a gig on the senior list to start the season, but it’s definitely a situation you’ll need to monitor. 

The other thing I like about Barlow is that he’s a mature aged selection. Mature aged players tend to have greater success in their first season. Just from a quick look at the 2008 National Draft I can only see five mature aged selections - Ballantyne, Post, Robinson, L.Anthony, Bail (not counting recycled players). They all played AFL in their first year and apart from Bail all spent a bit of time in the seniors. Then you’ve got rookie list successes such as Greg Broughton, Robin Nahas and even though not a great DT’er yet, Liam Picken. 

Barlow has already had a few years of senior experience that’ll hold him in good stead. His consistent performances got him onto Freo’s rookie list, but I bet there were stages last year while they were tracking his form that they wished they could just pick him to play for them! I must admit I missed Freo’s first NAB Cup game, but it sounds like he adjusted to the pace of playing against a side slightly above the level of the VFL sides he played against last year.

It was great to get to watch North Melbourne go about their business on the weekend before giving an insight on them here as I was very surprised at how well tuned Brad Scott has them. I have never particularly rated North (at least in the past few years), nor their squad of kids, until watching everything just click on the weekend - Brad Scott has them flicking the ball around in a high-disposal, high intensity game plan which will not only reap rewards for the football club, but also for us Dream Teamers who have a few of the younger Roos in our team. Whilst from the outside, 2010 looks like it should be a rebuilding year for North, captain Brent Harvey has made very clear that they are still aiming for top-8. Whilst up until a week ago I would have sarcastically uttered “good luck with that,” their game on the weekend has given me some faith it all may be possible - and whilst I’m not one to get all gushy about a NAB cup win, I was mainly impressed with their ball skills - one trait which can’t be faked in the pre-season. Although they aren’t rebuilding, according the Harvey, Brad Scott will play many of the kids this season, giving them a taste of the AFL experience. Therefore, don’t be afraid to sample the North youth - they especially have a few beauties between $200k and $300k - as they should all get plenty of experience in 2010, and by the looks of it, Brad Scott’s high possession game plan should see them score you a few points too!

Who’s Hot?:

Sam Wright ($198,800): After only playing a couple of games in 2009, Wright has really impressed the new coach and was trialed in several roles on Sunday night, looking especially good through the midfield.

Ben Warren ($234,800): Has bulked up majorly in the off season, indicating that 2010 could be the twenty-year-olds year. He looked fantastic against the Cats in the first NAB game, kicking 3 goals on Andrew Mackie.

Jack Ziebell ($285,600): Trained purely through the midfield and has put on some bulk to help compete with the bigger bodies. He looked like a star in the making in 2009 and I doubt it will take him very long to show us what he is really made of.

Robbie Tarrant ($94,500): North’s first selection in the 2007 draft has finally gotten his body fit after a few frustrating years riddled with injuries. He has trained as a defender, which is disappointing from a DT perspective as it will definitely limit his output. Judging by his game against Geelong, his role will be purely negating. 

Who’s Not?:

Ben Cunnington: Had a hot spot in his foot, forcing him to wear a moon boot for the month of January. It was discovered early, so there is a chance he could still play round one.

Daniel Wells: Is on the slow road back from OP surgery. They won’t rush him as OP can flare back up very easily. He will be very underdone for the start of the season.

Andrew Swallow: Missed the first half of the pre-season with groin problems, however has been in training since mid-January and played against the Cats. Should be fine for round one, albeit a bit underdone.

The Bargain:

Jack Ziebell ($285,600): It’s hard to classify a bargain in the North Melbourne lineup, so instead I have picked the player I imagine will have the biggest dollar increase in the 2010 season - Ziebell. Ziebell proved to us in 2009 that he is no DT slouch, averaging a reasonable 65 points in his debut season. Unfortunately, his year was cut short by a broken leg in round 12, forcing him to sit out the remainder of the season. There are several things which make Ziebell a potential DT star - firstly, his love for kicking the ball (aka. 3 points) is fantastic, using his boot more than two times for every time he handballed it - the reason? - he has a great football brain and a long, accurate kick, able to pinpoint teammates from 50 meters away with great precision. Ziebell was also a good ball winner in juniors, averaging 18 disposals and 7 marks per game - he also kicked just under a goal a game, showing he is damaging up forward too. There is no chance that Brad Scott will not play him for 22 rounds if possible and I expect his average to jump significantly from 65 to 85 whilst running through the midfield. Get on early whilst his price is still low! 

The Kid:

Ben Cunnington ($141,500): If Dream Team was played in the TAC cup, Ben Cunnington would be Dane Swan. As an example, he averaged 98 DT points across his 13 games - he averaged 22.4 possessions, 5 tackles, 6 marks and nearly 2 goals per game. He is an inside midfielder who relishes a contest, winning 44% of his disposals from under a pack. Despite a minor injury setback this preseason, the labeled ‘very professional footballer’ did everything required of him to get back on the track - he is now training with the main group and I hope we will get a chance to see him this NAB cup before round one. He will certainly be in Brad Scott’s plans for his 2010 midfield, so I see him getting plenty of opportunities with a reasonable game time. And judging my the Roos first game on the weekend, they will be a very quality outfit this year, hopefully winning quite a number of games - this certainly bodes well for scoring potential as players in winning teams always score better. We need to see him play before he is a lock for round one, but I would be betting that Cunnington will make quite an impression in 2010 and is more than worth considering for your opening squad. 

The Premium:

Liam Anthony ($422,700): It seems somewhat surprising to be putting up a name of a player to have only played 10 career matches as my premium, however he certainly deserves the tag. Anthony burst onto the scene in 2009 (much later than many would have hoped, mind you!) as a mature aged recruit, averaging 96 DT points in his 10 games. He is predominantly used as an outside midfielder, however does win about a quarter of his possessions from a contest. In his 10 games for North last year, Anthony was the highest disposal winning Roo, as well as having the highest disposals per minute ratio at the club - two great DT indicators! In short, Anthony proved in 2009 that he is a DT freak. However, the worry often is after a debut season like this, how will it be backed up? And can I really spend over $400,000 on a second year player? Well, after one pre-season game this year, Anthony has worked hard to squash any fears that we in DT land may have had - although hurting his ribs in the second quarter, Anthony played out the game, racking up 38 disposals and 5 tackles in a clearly best-on-ground display. Many more of these games may see his $422K price tag put him in the bargain category! At the end of the day, it won’t be those who pick Gary Ablett from round one that win dream team 2010 - it’ll be those who take risks and gambles and find themselves the next Gary Ablett. Now I’m not saying Anthony is the next Gary Ablett, but I know I wouldn’t want him averaging 110 points and not be in my team… 

The Smokey:

Lindsay Thomas ($268,000): Thomas in now approaching his fourth AFL season, a career to date which has seen him play purely as a small crumbing forward. However, a potential role change looms for Thomas as he has had his best pre-season to date - he is running personal best times in all the trials and has gotten his skin folds down very low. Due to his hard work, there is a strong chance he will be moved to the midfield in 2010 - a position which he was initially drafted to play in 2006, until a shortage of small forwards saw him lining up in the Kangaroos forward line instead of on the centre square. The exciting thing about this move is the fact that Thomas was such a good ball winner as a junior, averaging 28.5 disposals in the SANFL with a kick to handball ratio of 2:1. If he is able to convert his junior stats to an AFL midfield, he could certainly be a bargain pick for 2010. Unfortunately, he did not play the game against Geelong and therefore this move is still speculative, and hence making him a smokey rather than a bargain. But keep a very close watch - if he so much as touches that centre square, pounce immediately!