[ravadongon]

Best Team Lineup (pre NAB cup – strong possibility there’ll be some changes after):

B: B.Waters, D.Glass, B.Jones
HB: S.Hurn, A.Hunter, M.Nicoski
C: M.Braun, T.Stenglein, A.Selwood
HF: A.Embley, A.Hansen, M.LeCras
F D.Wirrpanda, Q.Lynch, C.Jones

R: D.Cox, D.Kerr, C.Fletcher

I/C: M.Seaby, B Staker, M.Priddis, M.Rosa

EMG: J.McNamara, M.Brown, M.Spangher, W.Schofield, J.Kennedy, S.Butler

2008 Predictions

Most Goals: Q.Lynch
Most Possessions:C.Fletcher
Most Marks:Q.Lynch

Potential Step Up Year: S.Hurn and B.Staker

Dreamteam Smokies:

-J.McNamara (Cash cow: strong WAFL form last season + played well in the SF)
-M.Spangher (Cash cow: best key defender in the WAFL form last season + 3rd year on list + hasn’t debuted yet)
-B McKinley (Cash Cow: excellent WAFL form late last season + spot might open up if LeCras pushes up the ground more)
-M.Nicoski (value: solid stat potential for a back – see early 06 + midfield opportunity or ‘loosish’ BP/HBF + hassle free pre-season)
-S.Hurn (value: more SC than DT, decent stat potential for a back + best U21 at WCE + midfield opportunity has opened up)
- M.LeCras (value: looks set for a transition into the midfield - has spent a lot of time up the ground in the pre-season)

Most Brownlow Votes: D.Kerr

Rising Star: J.McNamara (best first season player: C.Masten)

General Comments:

-Squad is much younger and less experienced on average after last seasons departures/arrivals, though the core group (those who played in the 05 and/or 06 GF) still have plenty of experience.
-Midfield will lack the class it did in the recent past (for the short term at least), but the club has the best young KPP talent for quite some time (possibly ever) – so in the long term are in a better position (from an allround/balance perspective, at least) than so in 05/06.

Predicted Final Ladder Position: 6th

Keys To Moving Up The Ladder:
-Strong start to the season, without a massive drop-off in the 2nd half of the season
-Minimal injuries (particularly to key players e.g. Cox, Glass, Lynch, Kerr, Embley)
- Experienced/key players maintaining/improving on last years efforts
-Maintaining a dominant record at Subiaco, while pinching some away games.
- Winning centre clearances (at least not getting dominated) and providing faster and better quality rebound from the backline than last season (should improve with a fit Nicoski and Hurn).