As we draw closer to the start of the NAB Cup, and therefore inch closer to the start of the 2010 Dreamteam season, it’s time to dig out the bargain picks for your Dreamteam! Here are some of my bargain picks.

Forwards - Patrick Dangerfield



Patrick is now entering his third season in the AFL system, commonly seen as the ‘breakout ‘year for young midfielders like Patrick. Playing predominantly as a small forward pocketer / HHF for 2009, A move to the Midfield is a likely move for 2010, Making him a perfect selection for 2010.



Adelaide fans rate this kid very highly, and why wouldn’t they, he is a natural. Dangerfield has great speed and skills. With a good pre season, and a little more size to his frame he is the perfect candidate to spend some extra time in the midfield.

Playing 19 games last year plus 2 finals, Patrick averaged 52 points per game. An increase of 15+ points isn’t out of the questions. $232,000 is his 2010 price, and I predict he will be a very popular pick.

Rucks - David Hille



David has been one of the most talked about players this pre-season.  How’s his pre season going? Has he recovered from his ACL knee reconstruction? What will his role in the Essendon team?  These are all very frequently asked questions in fantasy football land at the moment.

There are a lot of doubts hanging over this fellas head at the present time. Hille tore his ACL in Essendon’s round 5 ANZAC Day clash against Collingwood in 2009, and since this, I’m sure a lot of fantasy coaches have had Hille high on their radar.  As with most big men returning from these types of injuries, Hille has made a slow, but steady recovery, and is a race against time to be 100% fit for round 1. From most recent reports, Hille is completing full training, including contact drills. Matthew Knights has stated that they hoped for him to be back within 12 months from the initial injury,  and it’s comments like this that are going to scare off Dreamteam coaches as Hille may not make a return until round 4-5.

Essendon completed their first intra club match just a few days ago, in which Hille played around 50% TOG, spending much of his time up forward but also with a little bit of ruck work around the ground. Will a move to the forward line effect Hille’s scoring potential? It’s hard to say, with the departures of Lloyd and Lucas; Hille would become somewhat of a focal point in the forward line. My view is that Hille will be eased back into it by Essendon starting into the forward line and then a move back into the ruck on a more permanent basis once he picks up the pace of the game and gets full fitness back.

Hille is a risk, of course, but priced at $237,300, and averaging 87 back in 2008, Hille could be one of the bargain buys of 2010.



Midfielders - Mark McVeigh



Throfies McVeigh! Mark had a very disappointing year last year, both on field and off field both of which are no secret. Mark’s 2009 season was dogged by ongoing injuries that he could never get over 100%, and when he did finally get back on the park, his form let him down greatly. All this was evident in his DreamTeam performance as well, only managing 12 games for an average of 60 points.

Thus far his 2010 pre season, by all reports has been rock solid. Flying on the track without a hiccup as yet. In a recent interview an Essendon official stated that he was 4-5Kgs lighter this season, so he is putting in the hard yards on the track.

Durability is the concern for Mark, whilst also being injury prone throughout the years; he has also shown he has a tenancy to throw a punch of two. In the past two seasons, Mark has only managed 16 out of 42 matches.

Averaging 89 and 80 in 2009 and 2008 respectively, he has shown that he can accumulate the pill. If he manages to put it all together in 2010, both on and off field he could be a very hand pickup at $268,400.



Defenders - Nick Malceski

It’s hard to say what 2010 holds for Nick, but it should be a lot better than what 2009 did. After being the first AFL player to have the new ACL knee reconstruction procedure, Nick wasn’t the play he once was. As is common with most players returning from Knee reconstructions Nick found it hard to pick up the pace of the game again, get full confidence, and cement his place back into the Swans best 22.

In 2007, Nick played 23 games averaging 87 points running of the HBF flank, so there is definitely room for improvement off his 55 point average in 2009.

Can he cement his spot back in the Swans best 22 on the HBF? With the return of Kennelly in 2010, and Mattner also playing a similar position there is a danger that Malceski may lose his spot if his form drops.  The other worry is if he can’t regain full confidence and re capture that blistering form of 2007, but now, almost 2 years after the reco, reports from the club say that his is fit and firing on the track.

There are a few other players around his price range in the backline that come with similar risks and doubts, but at Malceski’s price, he is worth a punt.