[Tippaz]

ST KILDA
The Nab Cup winners are tipped to have a good year. Most experts are rating them top 4, but they are yet to convince me. They’ve got a strong list and a great forwardline setup of Riewoldt/Gehrig/Koschitzke, but do not play to their strengths. Their style of play is very dour, and typically don’t produce many stats. Despite finishing 9th, they were the lowest scoring team in 2007. The inclusions of King, Schneider, C.Gardiner, and Dempster add depth to their list.
FB – L.Fisher, Hudghton, S.Fisher
HB – Goddard, Maguire, Gram
C – (Baker), Hayes, Montagna
HF – Fiora, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF – Milne, Gehrig, Koschitzke
R – M.Gardiner, Dal Santo, Ball
i/c – King, Harvey, X.Clarke, Birss
big guns: Tall defender Sam Fisher is an elite player. He is one of the competition’s best zone-off players and often finds himself loose man, which allows him to pick up cheap uncontested marks. He’s been a very consistent player over the past 2 years, and a top fantasy pick. 24yr old midfielder Leigh Montagna had a career-best season last year as a wing/onballer. He was the only player from the Saints to score 2000+pts (average 95.76ppg), and was one of the best tacklers in the competition. He seems to have developed into quite a stat rat. Co-captain Lenny Hayes is one of the classic DreamTeam midfielders. He pumps out 30+ possessions on a regular basis, and is prolific in tackles, clearances, hardball gets, etc. He has the luxury of not being tagged and is considered as one of the top possession getters in the competition. Superstar Nick Riewoldt was the 5th highest scoring forward last year, despite missing 2 games. Over the past 2 years he’s scored 4115pts from 42 games (average 97.98ppg). He is the hardest running CHF in the game, and covers an extraordinary amount of ground for a big man (193cm). He takes a million marks (both contested and uncontested) and is worth 50+ goals per year.
hot prospects: Michael Tuck medallist Jason Gram is growing into an elite halfback flank. His recent 30+ possession haul against the Crows could be a sign of things to come. He is the Saints “go-to-man” and offers a lot of rebound + run & carry. Elite midfielder Nick Dal Santo lowered his numbers last year. He draws the opposition’s no.1 tagger on a weekly basis, which largely affects his stats. However, he has broken the tag before, scoring 2073pts in 2006 (average 94.23ppg). He hasn’t missed a game since rd14 2003. Alongside him, fellow counterpart Luke Ball battled with osteitis pubis last year but still managed to play 18 games. His stats were sub-standard, so his price has come down. Ball is a courageous inside midfielder and one of the best tacklers in the competition. Michael Gardiner has trained the house down over summer and is set to take the no.1 ruck spot. Injury kept him sidelined in 2007, so his price has come down considerably. He is not an overly statistical player, but could be a valuable ruck selection. Injury-prone big man Justin Koschitzke is set to play forward this year alongside Gehrig and Riewoldt. This is going to cause massive headaches for opposition backlines, and I feel Kosi could be the one who benefits from this. He is a strong marking player who can also play ruck. He needs to kick more goals and deliver a 22 game season.
smokeys: Medium sized defender Leigh Fisher (no relation to Sam) was forced to play tall in the absence of Maguire and Hudghton throughout last year. This lowered his statistical output, and cheapens him up for this year. He famously produced a 20+ mark game against Hawthorn last year playing as a loose man across halfback. Although he’s no big gun, he certainly knows how to find cheap stats. Promoted rookie Clinton Jones has caught my eye in the Nab Cup. He’s a natural ball winning midfielder who could easily become a 1st team regular and will probably start rd1. He played 6 games last year. Commerce/Law student Charlie Gardiner has settled into his new club quite well. His Nab Cup form has been sensational, and I can see him starting rd1. The 190cm ex-Cat is providing an excellent lead-up option. He presents well, and takes plenty of marks (similar to Brad Fisher). It will be hard for him to hold down a spot alongside the 3-pronged forwardline of Riewoldt/Gehrig/Koschitzke.
cash cows: 19yr midfielder David Armitage was taken at pick no.9 in the 2006 draft and played 3 games last year. He’s had a great pre-season and looks certain to play rd1. He’s a bit of a ball magnet, and could be used as an inside mid rotation. He comes highly recommended! 19yr old Jarryn Geary is another rookie promotion who should play most games this year. He’s had a very good Nab Cup series, and could be used as a small back pocket or halfback flank.

SYDNEY
The Swans premiership window has passed by. Over the last 5 years they have finished 3rd, 5th, 1st, 2nd, and 7th. The season ending injury to Nick Malceski is a massive blow. They have an old list with hardly any young talent (haven’t had good drafts picks), and I give them no hope of making finals. They play an ugly defensive style of football that focuses on denying the opposition the ball. This severely lowers statistical output, so don’t fill your team with a bunch of Sydney players. Fantasy footy ain’t their game.
FB – Bevan, Barry, Richards
HB – Kennelly, C.Bolton, Mattner
C – (Ablett), Kirk, Fosdike
HF – O’Keefe, Hall, McVeigh
FF – Davis, O’Loughlin, Buchanan
R – Jolly, Goodes, J.Bolton
i/c – Everitt, Bird, R-Thompson, Mathews
big guns: 31yr old co-captain Brett Kirk is a tough, honest, courageous midfielder. He was Sydney’s highest scoring player last year with 1981pts (average 90.05ppg). He is widely regarded as the best tackler in the competition, and is Sydney’s top possession getter. Kirk hasn’t missed a game since rd14 2002. He is an extremely reliable pick. 27yr old Ryan O’Keefe is the hardest running half-forward-flank in the game who has set a benchmark for the rest of the competition. He basically plays as a midfielder and will obviously produce midfield stats. O’Keefe is available in the forwards, which makes him a classic fantasy pick. He hasn’t missed a game since the 2003 Qualifying Final.
hot prospects: Irishman Tadgh Kennelly began 2007 in brilliant statistical form, but a knee injury put a dent in his performances for the remainder of the year. He plays off halfback and offers plenty of rebound + run & carry. He was beginning to find more uncontested marks around the backline last year and could become a “go-to-man” in the absence of Malceski. Ex-Crow Martin Mattner has joined the Swans over summer. He will slot straight into Malceski’s position at halfback flank where he’ll be an important player. His pre-season form suggests his stats are going up, and like Kennelly, could be somewhat of a “go-to-man”. Dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes played through injury last year and lowered his stats. You will find he has been generously priced for the season ahead. He is a tall (194cm), athletic midfielder who gets possessions, marks, tackles, and goals. Although he is susceptible to taggers, he is a proven fantasy pick. Goodes has not missed a game since rd21 1999 – which is the longest consecutive games streak of the current players! ‘Big bad bustling’ Barry Hall was a shadow of his former self last year. He struggled through injuries, and severely lowered his stats, which ultimately cheapens him up for this year. They have eased him through pre-season and will be ready to play rd1. The 31yr old CHF isn’t expected to dominate games anymore, but is entrusted to kick 50+ goals.
smokeys: Inside midfielder Jude Bolton wasn’t a major ball winner last year. I feel he suffers from the defensive style of play. He only scored 1605pts from his 22 games (average 72.95ppg). Quite frankly, he’s better than that! If Paul Roos plays to Bolton’s strengths by allowing him to accumulate possessions he’ll be a great buy. 22ry old Jarred Moore has shown some good form in the Nab Challenge games and could start rd1. He is heading into his 5th season and has only played 7 career games, but should become a 1st team regular. His price is just above base, and could be a useful selection in your 6th centre slot.
cash cows: 25yr old Henry Playfair is versatile big man (198cm) with senior experience. He has moved clubs over summer looking for an opportunity. He has been listed as a forward and is priced just above base. I don’t think he’s in their best22, but he should play 10+ games. 19yr old Jesse White was taken at pick no.79 in the 2006 draft and has been earmarked to replace the injured ‘Spider’ Everitt in the ruck. I wouldn’t even know what this kid looked like, but he might be starting rd1, so take note. 18yr old Craig Bird was taken at pick no.59 in the 2007 draft and is seriously vying for a spot in the team. Champion Data rates him as an absolute steal in last year’s draft. He is described as a hard running midfielder who gets plenty of the ball. He also scored 84pts in rd1 Nab Cup against Hawthorn – which was the highest DreamTeam score by a Sydney player that day. He comes highly recommended! 18yr old Patrick Veszpremi was taken at pick no.11 in the 2007 draft and should play games this year. He is described as a goalscoring forward/midfielder who is highly influential. I think he has great fantasy potential.