@ELeviathan I've been spooked as well. Had Chappy in forwards and Mzungu in mids and using the 3 gun 6 rookie mid strategy. Now I have put in an extra forward rookie and spent the extra chappy cash on Selwood and now running with a 4 gun midfield (Swan, Judd, Selwood, Pendlebury).
Has anyone any oil on Twomey from Blues ?. Haven't heard anything but interested if anyone seen him play.
@crew Twomey won't play. Cover if everything goes wrong, but not close to selection if top 25-30 are available. Duigan plays, maybe Watson, Kerr close, but Twomey no hope.
How many Gold Coast Suns are too many?? I am currently toying with the idea , (pun intended), of having 6 or 7...maybe even 8 in my starting 33! I realise Round 1 the bench will be stacked with Suns...but by round 9 hopefully I can upgrade a couple of them?! I've got Stanley & Tape, (Def), Ablett & Harris, (mids), Prestia & Matera, (Fwds), & maybe I'll throw Josh Fraser or Gorringe in the ruck. Is anyone else going as crazy for the Gold Coast as I am??
@ Clutties Yeah, i've been throwing around a few GCS players, was 9 at one stage but down to 7 now - but all are rookies (no room for Gazza till after 2nd bye for me) Atm have Toy & Tape down back, Dixon & Matera up front, with Swallow, Jolly & Bennell in the guts - although may swap Bennell with Trent McKenzie yet! Bluey seems keen on all these lads, so hopefully it'll pay off - even though they're not all locked yet!!!
A few names to keep an eye on at Port, with promising talk from Primus regarding their chance to play in round 1. <blockquote>PORT Adelaide could blood as many as three debutants in its season opener against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium next weekend. Coach Matthew Primus has all but guaranteed second-year defender Jasper Pittard a spot in the side for round one, while draftees Cam O'Shea and Jarrad Irons are also in the mix to play against the Magpies.</blockquote> http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/109338/default.aspx Port having their first bye in round12 certainly makes them that bit for attractive as well. The article reads as though O'Shea might only be getting a run to cover for Surjan who could be back from week2, so might want to be careful with him. Pittard is already on the senior list, while Irons sounds as though he's the front runner to receive the rookie upgrade.
Great news. At least these confirmations kind of give us some consolation prize for losing Mzugu and Callinan.
I'm rapt that Mzungu and Callinan look like great downgrade options. Add Iles to that list and Jacobs, and we have some really nice players who can provide not just cover, but some MPP action as well, and some nice blooming players in different lines. I'm not at all upset about these selections not being available from the get go, particularly if Jeremy's Iron gets a good run at Port. That keeps the financial structure of a side OK, because otherwise you're lacking that nice 90k option.
Anyone know anything at all about Bewick? I hadn't really heard of him before last weekend's very strong DT performance?
I don't know much about either, but Bewick has been scoring better, and scored well over 100DT on the weekend, and so he's ahead of Beams. Yeah I dumped Polec for Krak to replace the Mid to Fwd link broken by Mzungu's knee, and have slipped Petrie at F7 as an experiment.... Bewick could jump Atley for that last mid bench spot for mine.
Scores in previous 2 games Bewick: 42 & 70 (DT) Beams: 35 & 71 (DT) Polec: 36 & DNP (DT) Atley: 67 & 58 (DT) I think many people will be onto Bewick given his pedigree (uncle Darren), Brisbane's needy midfield, his track record of playing against men, and how well Rockliff did last season. He's also 21 which I think helps markedly.
It sounds as if McKernan is set to play round1 which is great, but the wording of the article has me a tad concerned. It seems to suggest he would be playing in place of Tippett, who is likely to come back round3 (after a bye in round2) rather than on merit. Do people think he is still worth a bench spot? Or will he be another classic case of being named in round 1, scoring decently throughout the nab cup, and then disappear into oblivion unless there are injuries? http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/109657/default.aspx <blockquote>N ANKLE injury to Kurt Tippett is likely to open the door for utility Shaun McKernan to play just his second AFL game in Adelaide's season opener against Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.</blockquote>
Spud. Depends on how Adelaide utilise their ruckmen. Maric, Tippett, Mckernan and Jacobs in the same 21 will not work. I don't see how they can play both Maric and Jacobs, so that leaves Mckernan who is a bit more versatile. I think when Tippett comes back McKernan may (MAY) play as the third tall up forward with a bit of time in the ruck. I can't see the Crows wanting to throw Tippett in there straight from an ankle injury.
Theres always that chance Spude but the good thing about the guys getting a game in Round 1 is that it is usually when teams are at their healthiest. Therefore if they are best 22 (21), now they are usually likely to reappear once injuries hit. I understand that you need them going on a extended run early so you can downgrade, but unless you are relying them to start then you'd hope they wont be out for long. McKernan is at least 3rd year, and the Crows will be under pressure to play him as I know he was considering offers to go back home due to lack of game time. Looks like the H brothers are as good as in: (well according to this quote free article anyway!) http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendon-recruits-set-for-debut/story-e6frf9jf-1226025664031
<blockquote>Quote from dazza71 on March 15, 2011, 14:46 Heard the same about Bewick to, now im deciding between him and Polec, any advise would be good</blockquote> Polec's been playing reserves "to work on some things". I'd be very surprised to see him playing Rd 1. Bewick at this stage is a probable, Beams is a possible.
Bewick reminds me of Relton Roberts. Not on anyone's radar all pre-season then all of a sudden he's done enough to get a round 1 selection without actually setting the world on fire... but if he doesn't perform they'll probably drop him for Polec who might miss round 1, but will score much better. Beware swapping in rookies right now because they 'will play round 1'. It's a 24 round game, round 1 means very little. On the other hand Brisbane have a very weak midfield so he might not be their worst for a while and could moo enough to warrant selection.