Like the team Nick. I'd personally pick Birchall > Gibson since they're at the same side, in the same position (for SC) and I believe Birchall will simply accumulate more points over the season at a cheaper price. However it's no certainty. Other than that I think the side looks really solid and De Goey has impressed me so far

I'll probably keep him, maybe in midfield bench if more rookies don't eventuate there. This article: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-02-28/brayshaw-injury-gives-jones-a-fright seems to point to Petracca not playing in the first few rounds. So might play in round 3?

One could hope to gain cash from someone like Sam Michael or Mason Cox in R3 and use Petracca as the loophole for first 2/3/4 rds until he's back

What's people's thoughts on David Swallow done for half the season, does this make Jesse Lonergan an option? Aaron Hall? Could make Darcy MacPherson a no brainer (hopefully)

I ran with Lambert last year and regrated missing out on Miller at the start of the season. I rather start with a full squad and generate more cash.

At $123,000 if he doesn't play until round 3 he is worth hanging on to. When he plays he will make money

The Birchall/Gibson pick is interesting. I will have one or the other, Birchall's average was better before Lake came along and then Gibson took over with the higher average. We don't know what will happen now but I am with RPritch at the moment and have Birchall in my team

Any love for Fantasia in the risk/hope category. I figure there will be a lot of action on bombers backline, he can play. Thoughts?

I just feel like Gibbo's ability to rack up kicks and marks is greater than Birchall's, and he is constantly being tried to be freed up by his teammates. However it is true that it is a little bit of an unknown without Lake. NAB scores so far have been promising though.

As a small defender he may have some lock down roles, but if he's being used a linkman out of defence his scores should benefit. Should get plenty of chances this year. I would say one for the watchlist.

Hi guys, so this is my second effort.

Please let me know what you think.

$85,700 in the bank as a fighting fund

And for the record, i think those teams with Aish, Yeo or Buddy Franklin may be using early trades. Think Aish will end up a flop, Buddy will still be struggling with his mental health which is a tragedy and Elliot Yeo, pfft, cant see him being top 15 defenders, in my opinion Johannisen is a better option at $25,000 cheaper.

Thanks Jason, my thoughts are that my midfield will be upgrade crouch and libba with a rookie dongrade each up to fyfe and danger by the bye rounds assuming libba isn't a keeper, Grundy and a rookie up to Goldy around the same time, then rookie upgrades for the fwd def line. I think my first 4 fwds will be keepers, as with first 4 def's.

How much is a crystal ball going for these days ???

I am definitely backing in Libba as a keeper, but that doesn't mean it'll just happen. However, what is your justification for believing Johannisen and Sheridan will both improve enough to be keepers? Just an honest question as I'm struggling to see what the reasoning is.
For JJ: the Dogs have the most competition in the AFL for Half Backs and Wingers, not that he won't play every week, but it is hard to see which ones out of JJ, Suckling (who will play a fair bit of fwd it seems), Bob Murphy, M.Boyd, Wood, Macrae and perhaps some of their many more pure on ball types being forced to play out wide as they can't all play on the inside at the same time will actually gain the SC points.
For Sheridan: Know less about him and the Freo set up and it does seem like he will fit into some role that may yield SC points, but can you really see him surging through the ranks to be a keeper for the whole year?

thanks for the reply RPritch

I think Johannisen will play the rebounding defender roll more this year, his disposal efficiency last year was 75.6%, averaging over 2 kicks to every handball. With Matthew Boyd and Bob Murphy being both 34, i think this year will be the year they hand the quarterback role to a guy like Johannisen. Sucking will plug a hole in the forward line and the rest of the guys will potentially rest at half back, possibly seeing some midfield time for Johannisen.

Sheridan, the Dockers defence needs run and carry, and he is the same as Johannisen, over 75% efficiency last year and almost double the kicks to handball ratio.

Both guys just need more opportunity, but i can see potential for them both to be top 20 defenders. If they are my D5 and D6 by the bye round, I think iI will be more than happy.

What do you think ??

Sounds like you have put plenty of thought into them as picks. I do really like what I have seen of Johannisen so far and have always followed the Dogs as my 2nd team so have seen plenty of him. Sheridan is obviously the cheaper of the two and perhaps the more unique, even though I haven't really seen either of them in a side yet, which does mean that if they both do really well you will definitely have an advantage over everyone else and of course it's no fun and ultimately no good (in terms of really, really getting up there) to have a completely prototype team. My defence is very up in the air for now in comparison to the rest of my own side so I do think the premium (or midprice) defenders are the hardest to pick out of everyone