Tippaz Hot Prospects for 2007

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ADELAIDE
The Crows have an aging list. Despite the fact they offloaded ‘Doc’ Clarke and Ben Hart last year, they still have five players over 30. But we should not underestimate the value of their oldest player Mark Ricciuto. The captain had an awkward end to 2006. He came down with a mysterious virus, which in the end, hampered his stats. He also spent the majority of the season in the forwardline last year, although he was misclassified as a ‘centre’. Watch out for a fully fit Ricciuto this year! If he can play out the 22 games and bring in 90+ pts per week, then you may just end up with one the best ‘forwards’ in the game, all at a reasonable price.
The departure of Clarke, plus the injury to Biglands, and one wonders who will play in the ruck? Well, Ben Hudson is back from his injury and is on track to taking the no.1 ruck spot once again. Hudson did not play any games in 2006, so his price will probably hit rock bottom. If that’s the case, then he’s pretty much a must-have. Worried about Hudson’s knee not holding up? Then look no further, because Ivan Maric is the likely no.2 ruckman and should play every game. Maric had very limited opportunities, and never got much game time, so this kept his stats down considerably. He will have a very low price tag, and is likely to improve. He could be handy to start off with.
Nathan Van Berlo is a bright young star of the future. Last year as a 19yr old, he’d just about established himself in Adelaide’s best 22, before breaking his arm. When he played, he spent quite a lot of time on the bench, so his stats didn’t reach any great heights. But in 2007 we may see some of that untapped potential. If he is given some more gametime and midfield exposure, then I’m sure we’ll have a nice little bargain in the ‘centres’.

BRISBANE
The Lions sunk to an all time low in 2006. It saw the departures of champion players such as Voss, Leppitsch, Michael, Akermanis, and had one of the most shocking injury lists you could ever imagine. The good thing for us coaches is that Nigel Lappin did not retire, and we can expect a heavy price fall since he failed to play a game in 2006! The latest news on Lappin is that he’s got a new elbow injury that could delay his season, so be very cautious. But don’t hesitate to buy if he shall ever return to full fitness because he’s one of the best stat-machines ever, capable of 30+ possessions a week.
Another to hit the injury list (after rd1) last year, was up & coming Josh Drummond. He is one of the most deadly kicks in the game, and is Brisbane’s no.1 man for kickout duties. His style of play is best suited to a half-back-flank, and that means stats! Drummond should be a well priced ‘back’ this year, and might be ready to take the next step.
If the name Matthew Leuenberger doesn’t ring a bell, then don’t worry. He hasn’t played a game yet. The 18yr old ruckman was taken at pick no.4 in national draft. His athleticism and agility was a surprise feature of the 203cm giant, and has showed similar traits to Dean Cox. I’m still not sure if he’s a definite starter, but I’d expect him to play most games. Leuenberger is easily the best ruckman in the draft, and considering he might be the only min. wage ‘ruck’ getting a game – he’s pretty much a must-have.
Two full seasons on the sidelines can really hurt a player’s career nowadays. But as a dreamteam consequence – it enhances it. Let me explain. Any player who misses two consecutive seasons will fall back to min. wage. And most dreamteam coaches will realise that Richard Hadley could be the next Josh Francou (in a dreamteam sense). After 2 knee reconstructions, it’s fair to say the talented midfielder will probably never be the same again. But as long as he re-establishes himself into the Brisbane lineup, he will be worthy of a very nice price rise. So buy him early, leave him in your reserves, and watch his price soar.

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CARLTON
Ahhh… could it get any worse for the Blues. Well, without sounding trying to sound too cliché, there is good reason to feel optimistic this season. And you can’t go wrong with no.1 draft pick Bryce Gibbs. From all reports, Gibbs is flying and ready to go, and obviously a must-have in any dreamteam. Another one to have impressed on the training track is the no.19 draft pick Shaun Grigg - a 190cm left-footed midfield-defender, who’ll go close to lining up in rd1 and should play most games.
For those of you looking for someone to step up in 2007 you should consider 20yr old defender Andrew Walker. His performances were quite good last year, however his stats were kept down due to some very defensive roles. He hasn’t had to licence or freedom to win the ball at this stage of his career, but if given the chance – who knows? (perhaps another Goddard?). He’ll be a generously priced ‘back’. Another player on the rise is Jarrad Waite. The 24yr old centre-half-forward is ready to impose himself on games. He has struggled with minor injuries in the past, but his best football surely lies ahead of him now. Waite’s starting price should be enticing enough to buy. It was always obvious that Marc Murphy would be a star, and after his impressive debut season came to a sudden end with a shoulder injury, it became clear that a lot of people would want to buy him again this year. He became quite the ball-magnet, so he won’t be that cheap, but we can expect a greater workload this year – possibly Carlton’s first choice rover! In that case, you expect even more stats to the tune of 80-90 pts per game.
One more player that we shouldn’t forget is the no.1 draft pick from the preseason draft, Cain Ackland. The 25yr old ruckman had an awful year with the Saints last year. He couldn’t hold a place in the side, spent too much time on the bench, and barely got any hitouts. Well, suddenly he becomes Carlton’s no.1 ruckman (with the departure of Barnaby French), and will hold a very generous price for the new year. He’s no Troy Simmonds. But if he can deliver 50-60pts a week, he’ll be a handy acquisition in the early stages of the year.

COLLINGWOOD
There are a lot of reasons for hating Collingwood so much. Here’s one: Q) What are the chances of Mick Malthouse owning a dreamteam full of Magpie players? A) Too High. Meaning there aren’t that many hot prospects lying around. Even the likes of Pendlebury and Rusling may have outpriced themselves for the up and coming season. But one player who might have avoided the overpricing trap is the exciting Dale Thomas. A drop in form and injury towards the end of last year brought his stats back down to earth, which cheapens him up slightly. But the most enticing thing about Thomas is that he should be classified as a ‘forward’ in 2007, yet may end up with midfield stats. He ought to be given more gametime, and spend some more time as an onballer. Definitely a player on the up.
Here’s one to look out for – Nathan Brown. No, not the one who plays for Richmond (or Melbourne, for that matter). I’m talking about the no.10 draft pick from last year’s draft. Brown is an imposing 193cm, 87kg, 17yr old, with both pace and power. Sounds pretty impressive for a min. wager, and he could be right to go in rd1. I wonder if this is the next Birchall.

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ESSENDON
A testing time for the Bombers. Two consecutive years in the bottom 4 may have sped up the progress of some youngsters, but it’s the senior players that may catch the eye of some dreamteam coaches. And we’ll start with the favourite son James Hird. The ex-skipper was only available as a ‘centre’ last year and wasn’t a great buy. He spent most of his time as a free roaming half-forward-flank, but became quite predominant as a deep forward towards the end of the season. This might be enough to elevate him to a ‘forward’ status, which would make a much better buy because he’d basically produce midfield stats. His price will be high, but he’s a proven stat-rat. My biggest concern is his 34yr old body playing out the 22 games.
Dustin Fletcher has been the ultimate professional for his entire career. Over the past few seasons we’ve seen him play the catalyst role from defence, whilst holding down fullback. But with the introduction of Mal Michael, Fletcher’s stats may go through the roof this year. I suspect he will play tall back-pocket (even though he can play on smalls) and zone-off towards the wing. It will be a much more attacking role - and since he’s one of the best long kicks in the league – I would expect the Bombers to direct the footy to Dustin Fletcher as much as possible, and could produce some Gilbee-like stats. Definitely worth considering.
As an Essendon fan, I’ll be praying for some changes in our midfield, and one that has crossed my mind (for the last 2-3 years) is Mark McVeigh. The 26yr old defensive-tagger has been wasted before our very eyes, but I was inspired by the efforts of James McDonald last year (tagger, turned onballer), so I hope Sheedy might think the same. Sadly, I don’t think it will happen, but McVeigh should still be listed as a ‘back’ and is a very reliable player with a lot more stat-potential. He just needs to be given the chance.
Speaking of chances - how many does Damien Peverill have left? Not many, I presume. He had a terrible season (like many) last year, and produced some all time-low stats. But he seemed to turn the corner in the last 6-7 games notching up 30+ possessions on a regular basis. The 27yr old midfielder seems more determined than ever and will hopefully produce his best season. If Peverill can average 90pts a week, he’ll be an absolute steal, one would imagine.
Essendon brought in a lot of new faces through the draft last year, and a lot of them look ready to go this year. Alwyn Davey (brother of Aaron) is worth a special mention because he could find himself lining up in the forward-pocket in rd1. You should note that Alwyn is already 22yrs old – and yes, he’ll be min. wage. Let’s not forget about the no.2 draft pick Scott Gumbleton. This 197cm, 92kg, strong marking forward would probably slot into any team straight away, but with Lloyd/Lucas/Johns as the favoured tall options in our forwardline, it’s gonna be hard to find a spot Gumbleton. Nevertheless, Sheedy likes to play his kids early, so I’d expect him to play most games.

FREMANTLE
Ooooohhhh! Lots of great buys at Freo. Let’s not get too carried away. I’d be the first person to condemn too many players from the one team, but I think the Dockers have same amazing prospects once again this season, and we’ll start with the tallest footballer of all time Aaron Sandilands. The 211cm man-mountain was truly magnificent in the finals, and I’m happy to announce that won’t affect his price in any way. His broken jaw (of last year) did affect his stats temporarily last year, which would’ve brought the pts average down, thus making him a bit cheaper. But I think Sandilands is ready to come age in 2007 as an all-australian ruckman, and I’m almost certain he will improve upon his stats from last year. A good solid buy in my book! Perhaps, the no.2 ruck Justin Longmuir can attract dreamteam coaches once again. Over the past few years, he’s been an extremely versatile player with a good eye for a stat until last year (when he got injured) and was totally out of form. The good news for us coaches is that Longmuir’s price is below par, and should still be classified as a ‘ruck’. He will probably play out of the forward-pocket as the 3rd tall and have short spells in the ruck to relieve Sandilands.
How about something a little more adventurous? Then why not try out Chris Tarrant. He had a dreadful season last year at Collingwood, which will make his price extremely attractive for this year. Tarrant should receive much better service from the midfielders this time around, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind Pavlich drawing the opposition’s no.1 defender each week. If Tarrant can put together a 50+ goal season, he’ll be a steal.
Another good player that had a shocker last year was Paul Hasleby. He was carrying an injury right from the start of the season, but to his credit, played out most of the year. Well, I think you’ll find his price quite generous because when he becomes fully fit, he becomes a stat-machine.
Heath Black has an interesting dreamteam history. He’s always been pretty good at racking stats, but hardly ever a great buy - mainly because his name is often amongst the ‘centres’ catergory. Well, I seem to have noticed him play a handful of games on the half-back-flank towards the end of last season, and I think there might be a slim chance of him becoming a ‘back’. If that’s the case he’ll be a great buy (despite his hefty price) because he’ll be producing midfield-type stats. Byron Schammer could be in a similar situation here, because he began the season on the half-back-flank and shifted to the midfield. Schammer underwent a lot of rotations, but really shone with some excellent 30+ possession hauls having spent little gametime. He’ll be fairly expensive, but the 21yr old is on the way up. Don’t ignore.
Speaking of 21yr old players on the way up… many dreamteam coaches will realise that David Mundy is on the way up, and could experience a more attacking role this year. Last year, his stats got bogged down by some highly defensive roles, but towards the end of the season he was given more freedom at half-back. The 3 tall defenders in Freo’s backline should be Parker/Johnson/McPharlin, leaving Mundy possibly on a half-back-flank with a chance to harvest some stats.

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GEELONG
The Cats were a highly statistical team in 2006. They like to fiddle around with the ball a lot, often looking for short the short option, and kicking backwards (that’s the way footy’s played nowadays). So it’s hard to find many potential bargains brewing. Most of the key players like Ling/Corey/Bartel/etc. will be very expensive, but 23yr old midfielder James Kelly won’t be expensive. He had an awful season last year, and his stats were bogged down by injury and benchtime. If he returns to full fitness in 2007, he should produce some decent stats as a wingman/half-forward with onball rotation.
If you’re looking for someone to step up their game, Gary Ablett jr should have you interested. He’s been averaging around 75pts per game over the past 2 seasons, which is very high for a small half-forward-flank, but the 22yr old might be on the verge of becoming a superstar – and start producing some Akermanis-like stats. Perhaps, Andrew Mackie is more enticing as a cheaper option because Stevie Johnson has been banished for the first 6 rounds, leaving Mackie as a likely starter at half-forward-flank. Mackie finished off last season very strongly (that’s usually a good indication) and has a tendency to travel a long way up the ground (another good indication) to find the footy, much like the Ryan O’Keefe mould.
The big winner from last year’s draft had to be Geelong because at pick no.41, the Cats snapped up a potential no.1 draft pick Tom Hawkins under the father-son rule. The latest news on the 18yr old is that he has a minor foot injury that has restricted his preseason training, but don’t let that deter you. Geelong would be itching to play him as many games as possible, so get ready to buy him when he’s right to play. The Cats have also picked up a potential star with their no.7 pick Joel Selwood (brother of Adam of Troy). The 18yr old midfielder is believed to be the best of the brothers, and has strong similarities to Luke Ball. That should make him an automatic selection in Geelong’s starting 22 with a min. wage starting price - Excellent! Alongside Selwood, you should find another min. wage ‘centre’ (or hopefully, a ‘forward’ this time!) by the name of Travis Varcoe. The no.15 draft pick of 2005 is yet to make his debut. He was the youngest player in the league last year, so he was understandably held back, but he could become a regular first team player this year.

HAWTHORN
Alistair Clarkson has got his team playing some of the most statistical football in the history of the sport. I’m pretty sure he’s got a dreamteam full of his own players! Therefore, most of the Hawks will be high-priced, so I’d advise everyone to look at the younger players ready to make their move. Make sure you watch out for Grant Birchall. The no.14 draft pick of 2005 played most games last year, and should’ve gone a lot closer to winning to Rising Star Award, if only the stupid voting panel had any brains. The fact is, Birchall is a player of massive potential and was probably worthy of being a no.1 draft pick. I suspect he is going to lift significantly playing as a tall, dashing, powerhouse half-back-flank, and even spent some time as an onballer. He is capable 10+ marks per game, and 30+ possessions hauls. He is likely to be available as a ‘back’ whilst producing midfield stats and he will also inherit an attractive second year price. This is just about the first pick of the team, for me! Another young star on the rise is centre-half-forward Lance Franklin. The 20yr old has shown glimpses of dominance, but his stats have been quite low overall. He is still developing, but 2007 looms to be a year of significant improvement. He ought to be the no.1 target in the forwardline. That means more marks, more kicks, and more goals, all at a very affordable price.
If the Hawthorn midfield sounds rather enticing to you, I’d recommend 20yr old hardnut Jordan Lewis as one to watch. He has become a little ball magnet, but gets hampered my midfield rotations and benchtime. Should anything happen to 32yr old Shane Crawford, or, 30yr old Richie Vandenberg, Lewis could quite easily become a permanent onballer. And he’d have no trouble producing the 30+ possession hauls. A fairly high-priced ‘centre’ with plenty of room for improvement should be worth considering.
The best kept secret lying around in the min. wage ‘backs’ is the no.3 draft pick of 2005 Xavier Ellis. The 19yr old would have to be a certain starter (barring injury) and is likely to produce some midfield-type stats. He is a prodigious talent, with a lot of similarities to Nick Dal Santo. A must-have in any dreamteam.

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KANGAROOS
Unlike many punters, I believe the Roos will be going up, not down. Their list is shaping up okay, and I can see many improving players between 18-24. One of those players is obviously Daniel Wells. He looks certain to play a full season as an onballer. Wells is the fastest and most dynamic player you’ll ever see, but those scorching bursts out of the centre don’t score you any points in dreamteam, and up unitl now Wells has never really been a stat-rat and is very heavily tagged. Therefore, he’ll inherit an enticing price, and just maybe he can lift his stats in 2007. From all reports, Eddie Sansbury has looked alright over summer, and maybe it’s time for the 23yr old to step up this year. He could barely get a game last year (possibly injured) and I certainly can’t remember any decent dreamteam scores. Well, expect his price to hit rock bottom. He might get an opportunity at half-back-flank this year, and who knows, he might be a hidden gem in the ‘backs’.
Plenty of new faces at the Kangaroos this year, and the best one of all is no.3 draft pick Lachlan Hansen. This 197cm, 90kg, 18yr old looks set to slot straight into centre-half-back (not a great place to gather stats). But any min. wage ‘back’ getting a regular game will always be a worthy selection. If you prefer a smokey, take a look at Lindsay Thomas. He could be lining up rd1, and should get his fair share of games. Might be worth the punt as a min. wage ‘forward’.
If you’re looking for an older player – I’ve got one in mind for you. Corey Jones (not really that old) has been improving every year, and has managed to put together a very commendable consecutive-games-streak. He will be a fairly expensive forward, and worth every cent if he puts together another 22 games. Best suited to half-forward-flank with similar traits to Ryan O’Keefe. Jones is capable of taking the next step.

MELBOURNE
Ahhhhhh, Melbourne, where are they at? Still no premierships since 1964, but punters seem to have faith, and with good reason because they’ve got a lot of good young players between 18-23, and a lot of good players between 26-32. Sounds like a good mix of youth and experience. Unfortunately, some of their kids kicked on a little too strongly such as Bate/Jones/Bartram/etc, making them virtually unaffordable for the new season. So we’ll have to look towards the no.12 draft pick James Frawley as a possible third tall in defence. He stands at 193cm and had one of the quickest 20m sprint times at the draft camp. The Demons have been very impressed with him on the training track and are anxious to play him straight away. Look for him amongst the min. wage ‘backs’.
Perhaps, Brent Moloney has become the forgotten man in the Melbourne outfit. Injury forced him out of the side for the majority of last season, and his stats certainly didn’t reach any great heights. I don’t think he can crack it as a midfielder, but half-back-flank would suit his kicking skills, and provide an excellent source for stats. He is likely to be listed as a ‘centre’ with a very attractive price.
Looking for someone to step up a notch? You could go for Brad Miller. Despite his continuous dreamteam let-downs, he should still be listed in the ‘backs’ whilst holding down centre-half-forward for the Demons. That gives him a slight dreamteam advantage. The 23yr old needs to take the next step if Melbourne are to succeed. A 40+ goal season from Miller will give us value for money. It might be time for Colin Sylvia to get some more gametime and onballing opportunities. The 21yr old midfielder has stagnated through constant midfield rotations, and simply can’t break into the star-studded lineup. Nevertheless, the talent is all there, and we may see him on a wing or half-forward-flank gathering more of the footy. If so, then he could be a good buy. Mark Jamar, on the other hand, isn’t the most gifted of footballers. He is merely a backup ruckman to Jeff White, who will receive very little gametime and produce very little stats. However, poor old Jeff White can’t do everything himself as he enters his 30’s, and the 23yr old Jamar needs to lift. Jamar will inherit a very cheap price tag, and may be a useful ‘ruck’ for the early part of the season. And should anything happen to Jeff White, Mark Jamar will become no.1 ruck and get plenty of gametime.

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PORT ADELAIDE
The Power are going through a rebuilding phase, and coach Mark Williams, has been very efficient in trying out his new players. Unfortunately, for us coaches, a lot of their young players are unaffordable too (just like Melbourne). The likes of Symes, Salopek, Pearce, Ebert, Willits, Surjan, Bentley all decided to kick on a bit last year. The best tip I can give you is Warren Tredrea, who didn’t have a good season last year. His stats were well below par, so he will be HUGE bargain. But unfortunately, his knee is playing up again, and he could miss games at the start of the season. You should never bring in an injured player – especially in the first week – so we’ll have to wait and see. Dean Brogan didn’t have the best of seasons either. Brokens ribs, assault charges, and Brendan Lade’s spectacular all-australian season ruined everything for Brogan. His price should be well below par, since he famously scored 1pt with a single hitout from the opening bounce (he then went on to break his ribs 30sec later, meaning his match was basically all over within the 1st min of the game). There can room for optimism though, with an aging Lade, Brogan will do his fair share of ruckwork. At the risk of being heckled for this, Daniel Motlop may actually be a half-decent buy once again. His first year with the Power didn’t reach any great heights, so his price will be reasonable low. You should note that Motlop is amazingly the 10th oldest player on the Port list and will be 25yr old this year. He really needs to knuckle down and become a serious first team player. I suspect half-forward-flank is the right position for him. He just needs to come up the ground more and gather 20-25 possessions once in a while. If he can manage that, he should represent decent value as a ‘forward’.
It’s about time Michael Pettigrew was given some more responsibility in this team. He has been used in both attack and defence, often as the third tall, but gets rotated around too much and spends large chunks on the bench. The 193cm, 22yr old is best suited to defence as the third tall, where he can practise zoning off. If he can do that successfully, he’ll be harvesting stats in no time. Pettigrew might be worth a gamble as a relatively low priced ‘back’. David Rodan is a new addition to the team. The ex-Tiger had a dreadful season last year, playing only 1 or 2 games and getting minimal stats. That means he’s going to be the bargain of all bargains this year somewhere close to min. wage. I suspect Rodan will inherit a status of ‘centre’, which is unfortunate because he really should be a ‘forward’. But I’m hearing goods things about him on the training track, and he was amongst the best players in a recent practice match, amassing 23 possessions and a few goals. Keep an eye on him.

RICHMOND
The Tigers are a respectable unit under Terry Wallace. Last year they moved up to 9th, and this year they’ll aim one spot higher, but they’ll have to do it without Mark Coughlan. Out for the season before it begun. Nevertheless, Richmond will welcome back a fully fit Nathan Brown into their forwardline. He’ll be more determined than ever, and looms as one of the giants in this year’s dreamteam. I’m sure most coaches will recognise his EXTREMELY generous price. A brand new addition to the Tiger makeup is ex-Docker Graham Polak. He was extremely disappointing last year. He hardly played any games, spent most of his time on the bench, and got no stats. The word from Richmond is that he’ll slot into centre-half-back, which is not a great way to win stats. However, I’m under the impression that Polak will inherit a ‘ruck’ status from last year (those ‘rucks’ are a real dodgy bunch!), and could prove to be more than useful considering his low price & misclassification.
There’s good reason to feel excited about some of the Tigers draft picks from recent years. The 2004 no.1 draft pick, Brett Deledio, is bound to take the next step. The injury to Coughlan will most likely force Deledio into the midfield as a permanent onballer – that means more stats. It may be worth noting that he suffered from a minor knee injury last year (although he only missed 1 or 2 games) which would’ve hampered his stats a little bit, but the really exciting news is that he might become available in the ‘backs’ after spending a fair bit of time across the half-backline. A reasonably priced ‘back’ producing midfield stats would be a must-have in my book – could this be the next Luke Hodge!!
Rising Star runner-up Andrew Raines should have every reason to feel cheated on last year, as he was misclassified as a ‘centre’ instead of a ‘back’. Well, if the dreamteam catergorizers manage to get it right this time he’ll finally become a ‘back’ – and guess what? – he might come up to the midfield! The return of Newman in the back-pocket will surely send Raines to either a half-back-flank or wing. That will allow him to attack the footy and play a much more creative role. We may even see him being rotated to an onballer position once in a while. In his first real season of footy, Raines was a highly defensive back-pocket type averaging around 50pts. This year, he should improve upon that considerably, possibly up around the 70pts mark. Make sure you keep an eye on Raines because this is one player on the way up!
You should also keep an eye on another kid called Danny Meyer. A fairly untried young midfielder whose only played a handful of games with minimal success. I heard he’s been impressive on the tracking track and the 20yr old is ready to breakthrough this year. He won’t be min. wage, but he should be somewhere just above it. I’ve been looking very hard for the next Salopek this year, and Meyer is a possibility.

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ST KILDA
New coach. New style of football. That’s what we can expect from the Saints in 2007, so it’s mighty hard to predict the statistical outlook of the team. If Ross Lyon follows the Sydney blueprint, then we are in for some stop/start football (which reduces the stats of peripheral players). Last year’s captain Luke Ball is not a peripheral player though, and he is ready to get back to full fitness. Everyone was well aware of his injury concerns last year, yet he managed to play out the season without missing games, which would’ve hampered his stats a little. The problem for us coaches – is that Ball is too courageous for his own good, and is likely to be playing through an injury at some stage of the season. However, don’t let the high price tag fool you. He is below par, and capable of averaging 90+ pts this season.
The sleeping giant of 2007’s dreamteam is Justin Koschitzke. Last year, he had the worst run of luck I can ever remember. He only managed a handful of games, suffered some horrific injuries, spent a lot of time on the bench, and basically got no stats. That means you’ll find him amongst the super cheap ‘rucks’. Early signs have pointed towards a move to centre-half-back this year (with Matt Maquire an uncertain starter), but sooner or later Maquire will come back into the frame and Koschitzke will move into the ruck or the forwardline (as the third tall). Either way, he is a star player, quite capable of mustering up 90+ pt games on a regular basis. Recently, Kosi has suffered from another thigh/hamstring strain, to add his to his woeful injury record. If he can ever return to full fitness and produce a 22 game season, he’ll be an absolute must-have. Another injury-stricken character in the St Kilda team is Xavier Clarke, who will already be 23yrs old this year. The no.5 draft pick of the famous ‘superdraft’ hasn’t lived up to expectation, but we’ve all seen glimpses of his talent. If only he produced his best more often, he’d be a bloody superstar, but his body just doesn’t seem to hold up. Still, he’ll have a friendly price, so look him up in the ‘backs’.
One of the most improved players in the competition last year was running half-back-flank Jason Gram. He turned out to be a fairly decent buy, despite his unfriendly misclassification in the ‘centres’. Well, Gram ought to become a ‘back’ this year, and the 22yr old has room for improvement. His second half of the season was much better than first, so if that trend continues his stats could go up another notch. If he can follow in the footsteps of Lindsay Gilbee, he’ll be hot property.
If anyone deserves more midfield opportunity, it’s Andrew McQualter. He has well and truly established himself as a 19yr old last year. Well, now a 20yr old, he should play a more predominant role. His stats were marred by spending a lot of minutes on the bench, so he’ll be fairly well priced for us. With an aging Robert Harvey, and Lenny Hayes still an injury concern, the Saints will need someone to step up. McQualter could be their man.

SYDNEY
Dear, oh dear. The tragedy of losing a Grand Final by 1pt. I don’t know how it will affect them this year, but I’ve learnt to fully respect them now. Over the past 3 years they have actually been a low statistical team. Their stop/start style of football burns away precious seconds (hence, killing stats) and the small confines of the SCG Oval isn’t exactly solving flooding. The Swans lineup pretty much picks itself, and there won’t be much change. So not many hot prospects to talk about.
The best bet I can give you is ex-Bomber Ted Richards. The move to the Swans proved to be a success, and after last year’s extraordinary GF performance I’d say he’s finally found his feet in football. He is actually a very versatile player, and can almost play in any position. Last year he was moved around quite a bit and got a lot of defensive roles. This year he might be spending some time up forward as the third tall, and if I know the Sydney game plan, he could be leading up the ground a long way. This could result in a fair few stats, and would prove to be a very valuable acquisition as a misclassified ‘back’.
If you want to a wild punt on someone, then I think Luke Ablett is worth a look. He’s your stock-standard midfield tagger and usually gets all the dirty jobs. But whenever I’ve seen him get a run on-the-ball, he’s looked quite capable of raking in 30+ possession hauls. Perhaps, the aging bodies of Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk could inspire Paul Roos to try someone different. Ablett will always be a cheap option ‘centre’ and useless buy (as long as he’s tagging), but if he was ever let loose as an onballer – he could become the next James McDonald!

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WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Doggies have finally arrived, and speaking as a Victorian, they are our only hope! There are an admirable team. I’m sure everyone would be barracking for them if they managed to make the Grand final. It would be nice to see them break the longest standing premiership drought in football. And their fast attacking style of football is great to watch – and friendly to dreamteam coaches.
Ex-captain Luke Darcy will be making his long awaited return to football after virtually missing the last two seasons. Expect his price to hit rock bottom! It won’t be min. wage, like some would think, because he actually played a handful of games in in 2005, but it will be somewhere just above base. It might be worth noting that his rucking days are limited, and we’ll probably never see the best of Luke Darcy ever again. He will begin the season at full-forward, and may be used in the ruck from time to time. Still a top buy for a low price misclassified ‘ruck’.
I can sense room for improvement from a couple of young pups. One of those young pups is Ryan Griffen. The 2005 Rising Star Runner Up, was unfairly misclassified as ‘centre’ last year because he spent most of his time running off half-back. Well it looks like the tables have turned because Griffen ought to be moved to the ‘backs’ this year, yet there’s every chance he’ll be playing as a midfielder. Griffen is a star on the rise and will surely take his game to a new level. That makes him very hot property for the season ahead! Alongside Griffen, is 2003 no.1 draft pick Adam Cooney. He wasn’t a great buy last year because he was classified as a ‘centre’, but spent most of his year as a free roaming half-forward-flank. He managed to find a fair bit of footy, but I recently heard he was carrying an injury for the entire season. If everything goes according to plan, Cooney could end up as a misclassified ‘forward’ this year and produce midfield stats. And should he return to full fitness, he is bound to take the next step. Cooney will be fairly high priced, but don’t let that deter you. He is a good buy.
Andrew McDougall could be a big smokey this year. The ex-Eagle hasn’t done much over the past 2-3 years, and I have absolutely no recollection of him playing any games in 2006. If that’s the case, his price is bound to hit rock bottom, and the word from the Kennel is that he is about to take over centre-half-forward. That could work out to be a bloody great deal! All he needs to do is maintain his spot in the team and bring in 50pts per week. That’s definitely worth considering!
From all reports on the training track, 17yr old Andrejs Everitt (brother of Peter) has been quite impressive. He is a tall defender, standing at 194cm, but he’ll have trouble squeezing into the Bulldogs lineup. Should anything happen to Harris/Hargrave/Morris, then you can expect to see the no.11 draft pick slot straight in. The Bulldogs will be eager to give him some games, so he should be a useful reserve min. wage ‘back’.

WESTCOAST
Can the premiership team go back-to-back? Most punters are saying yes, and with good reason too. The Eagles are bloody good, and have a frighteningly young list. I’d say they are yet to peak and to 2007 premiership is already theirs. There’s a host of improving players to choose from. Let’s start with Daniel Kerr. At full flight he is one of the most exciting players in football. He has the ability to run-and-carry the ball, make searing runs, weave in-and-out of traffic, and break tackles – what a star! Sadly, none of this helps him score any points, and Kerr has never really been a stat-rat. That’s why his price may appear quite attractive. A few days ago, I heard that he had a 40+ possession game in a practice match, so perhaps he’ll take on a greater load this year. In the past, Kerr has often been the victim to midfield rotations (with Cousins, Judd, Fletcher, etc.) and it has cost him dearly in terms of points. And just like Luke Ball, Kerr has been far too courageous for his own good. He tends to play through injury a lot, which is bound to cost him in the long run. Beware, a fully fit Daniel Kerr, for the 23yr old could take his game to a new level.
The popular choices of Judd, Cousins, Kerr can often lead people astray. There’s no doubt Judd will be one of the most bought players (just like every year), but it will be a very dumb decision to buy him because he will be massively overpriced. Cousins will inherit a hefty price too, and won’t be much value. Kerr may become useful if he can lift. But the correct West Coast ‘centre’ this year is likely to be Chad Fletcher. His season was ruined by injury, and it severely impacted his stats, thus making him a considerable option in 2007. He was forced to spend a lot of minutes on the bench, and was heavily rotated appearing on the wing and sometimes half-back. At his best, Fletcher is an out-and-out stat machine, pumping out 30+ possession hauls week-in-week-out. I doubt if he can break into the main onballing brigade of Judd/Cousins/Kerr, but he should get the chance to spend some time on a nice un-opposing wing, and may slip under the radar of most opposition teams.
The latest injury to Mark Nicoski has opened the door for someone to play creative-half-back, and Adam Selwood could be the one to fill that role. Selwood wasn’t a good buy last year, as he was listed in the ‘centres’. He struggled to find midfield opportunity, but half-back-flank seemed to be the most effective place for him. If we’re lucky, they may classify him as a ‘back’. He needs to add to his game, but the 22yr old may be ready to take the next step. At centre-half-forward, Ashley Hansen is ready to take the next step. He showed glimpses last year, but really came alive in the finals. The 24yr has plenty of room for improvement. We can expect to see a lot more marks and goals this year, and all for a fairly decent price. If he can kick 40+ goals he’ll be great to start off with.
At full-forward, Quinten Lynch has fast become a cult-figure in the west. He has turned himself into a quality spearhead and his vast improvement was probably the reason why the Eagles won the premiership. He really shone through in the finals, and I’m happy to announce that won’t affect his price. All year, he was never really a points-earner because full-forwards don’t get a lot of possessions. The bulk of his scoring obviously comes in goals. Well, I feel quite optimistic about Lynch taking the next step – he might be capable of kicking 100 goals!! (well, maybe, one day) I’m sure the 24yr old will only get better, and he will have excellent delivery from the midfielders. Should be a reasonably priced ‘forward’.
Keep an eye on 19yr old Shannon Hurn this year. The no.13 draft pick from 2005 was unlucky to play so few games, since it’s such a difficult team to break into. But you can’t help but notice that he’s already got a man’s body and is ready to play now. The Nicoski injury will help him out too because he is best suited to defence. Hurn played a handful of games last year with minimal stats, making him a fairly low price ‘back’ for this year. If he can manage to have breakthrough season he will be a great buy.

[Brades]

Great guide mate. Not sure on when or whever Hurn will play. Also with Freo, I think Peake is a good buy and Michael johnson, depending on what price they start out as. I'll keep my eyes peeled on the Freo players to buy after I watch the game on Fox this weekend ;-)

[viddleodge]

excellent work, tippaz.
thanks mate.