Righteo, so lets crack straight into Bearflys second article.

I know if youre like me, your first thought is going to be: Tell me about Redden!!1! - but alas, youre all going to have to wait on that one.

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[span style="font-size:10pt">In last week’s article I provided a run-down of the players at Alberton from the main defence training group, this week it is the midfield group under the microscope. So without further ado, I present part 2 of the Port Adelaide Update. [span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold">Midfield Group[span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:normal">The main Midfield training group, training under new assistant coaches Josh Carr &amp; Shaun Rehn, comprises the following players: Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent, Domenic Cassisi, Kane Cornes, Brad Ebert, Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett, John McCarthy, Andrew Moore, Cameron O’Shea, David Rodan, Steven Salopek, Paul Stewart, Matt Thomas, Danny Butcher (r) [span style="font-size:10pt">– with several players from this group also spending time training with either the forward or defence groups, and several members from those two groups occasionally training with the mids. [span style="font-size:10pt">With new assistant coaches Carr &amp; Rehn coming into their roles having had the benefit of observing how the group played throughout 2011 with an impartial, but critical eye, it was deemed that the midfield group needed a lot of work to improve their fitness and work rate. Over the pre-season, the group as a whole have done that, showing a strong desire &amp; commitment to work hard on the track &amp; in the gym, as well as learn some new structures introduced to make them more accountable to their positions. [span style="font-size:10pt">

With a good core of talented midfielders such as Boak, Broadbent, Hartlett, Brad Ebert, McCarthy &amp; several others, this group has developed a strong bond over pre-season &amp; work well together. When you look at all the great teams over the years, they’ve always had a midfield group that’s been together for a while, &amp; that’s exciting to see Port starting to develop a young midfield who will play as a group together for several years. [span style="font-size:10pt">

The pressure &amp; competition for a berth in the midfield will be fierce indeed, with a core group of 15 players (and as many as 28) training in this group over the pre-season trying to force their way into eight or nine spots available. This fierce competition can only benefit the club moving forward. [span style="font-size:10pt">Now onto some info regarding the core midfield group – as with the defence group in part 1, the comments for each player are broken down as a review of 2011, a pre-season review &amp; potential for 2012, followed by my SC/DT thoughts.

[span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Travis Boak – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $490,200 (2011 ave – 90) DreamTeam $426,300 (2011 ave – 86)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 23 Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg 2011 games: 21[span style="font-size:10pt">
Boak had a pretty good season in 2011 when you take into account the fact he had absolutely stuff all continuity in a severely interrupted pre-season, suffering from a knee injury as well as having his appendix removed - something many fantasy football coaches failed to acknowledge. Because he didn't have the massive pre-season you'd expect from a midfielder, he was always going to struggle somewhat through the season. However, even with copping a hard tag most weeks he finished the season leading the club in several important statistics, including possessions, inside 50ms and clearances, then capped off such a difficult season being named as joint-winner of the John Cahill Medal alongside Jackson Trengove - an outstanding reward for his courage, determination &amp; hard work to overcome all the setbacks he endured over pre-season[span style="font-size:10pt"> Boak is certainly a player who is capable of winning the hard-ball as an inside player, but he is also adept at working outside the contest, often hurting the opposition with his run &amp; spread. The defensive side of his game is also very sound, &amp; with a solid pre-season under his belt, he has the ability to step up &amp; become a premium midfielder not just at Port but also in the competition, and it would not surprise the coaching staff or supporters if he becomes an elite mid.[span style="font-size:10pt">To ensure he had a big pre-season, Trav (along with Trengove) showed strong leadership by organising a gruelling week-long boot camp for a select group of up-and-coming players in mid-October, and the benefits of this training have held him in good stead through the rest of the pre-season program. Boak openly admits he has had his best pre-season in several years, and it shows when you see him on the track – he has bulked up considerably &amp; has built a very solid fitness base which he hasn’t been able to do in the past due to various niggles &amp; injuries. The coaching staff, and no doubt the supporters, are very much looking forward to seeing Boak’s season pan out (without putting undue pressure on him), as everyone honestly believes he can take that next step to being the week-in, week-out performer the club needs inside &amp; out in the midfield. Boak’s leadership has been something that’s really impressed the coaches during the pre-season, resulting in him being handed the vice-captaincy – something that could realistically lead on to becoming captain when skipper Cassisi hangs up the boots.[span style="font-size:10pt">At $490k, Boak would most likely be ignored by most SuperCoach players, however his capacity to improve his average past 100 is a very realistic expectation given the fact he has finally been able to undertake a full pre-season preparation as well as taking into consideration that he has now spent 5 seasons in the AFL system (and if you take notice of Lucas, which you should, this is the time that potential regularly becomes reality with good players), and there is no doubt that Boak is a good player. With a few additions to Port’s midfield rotations taking some pressure (and possibly even the tags) off him, he could be a unique higher end mid-price POD in your team if you are prepared to select him – watch him during the NAB matches before making your mind up, but for me he is definitely in the mix to join a few elite mids in my team.[span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/matthewbroadbent/tabid/8475/playerid/19958/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Matthew Broadbent[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $332,400 (2011 ave – 61) DreamTeam $315,300 (2011 ave – 64)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 21 Height: 189cm Weight: 88kg 2011 games: 19[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">
[span style="font-size:10pt">Matt managed 19 games in 2011, the most he's played in any of his 3 seasons at the club. He's terrific offensively &amp; works extremely hard defensively as well; however his challenge is to find a little bit more of the ball &amp; uncontested possessions. There is no doubt he has a big part to play in the clubs future going forward.[span style="font-size:10pt">Matt has been one of the outstanding performers over the pre-season. Having been a member of the select group to join Boak &amp; Trengove on the mid-October boot camp, he is very fit and has undertaken all pre-season training sessions. He has a great attitude, and has shown good signs as a strong inside midfielder as well as an outside ball carrier. A well-liked club man who can hopefully take it to another level in 2012, Matt just needs to keep persevering &amp; continue to take on board advice &amp; do keep sticking to team structures.[span style="font-size:10pt">Now embarking on his 4th season in the system, the time is ripe for Broady to take the next step &amp; become a more influential player on field. Even though he is a valued &amp; valuable member of the midfield group, he hasn’t quite got enough of the ball in the past to post the scores needed from a mid-price midfielder and certainly needs to increase his output to be considered from a fantasy viewpoint. Probably still a bit too soon in his career, but will be an interesting player to keep an eye on to see if he could step up in future seasons. Passing on him this year, but does have talent &amp; is worth watching to see if he can improve enough to be a chance in future seasons.[span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/domeniccassisi/tabid/8475/playerid/14386/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Domenic Cassisi – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $486,200 (2011 ave – 90) DreamTeam $439,100 (2011 ave – 89)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 29 Height: 184cm Weight: 84kg 2011 games: 13[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">
[span style="font-size:10pt">As club captain, Dom leads from the front and does everything you want from a skipper. He had a massive pre-season leading into 2011 but suffered what was for want of a better word, a broken leg against West Coast in round two, keeping him out for 10 weeks. His injury enforced absence was a big loss for Port’s midfield, and not having him out there on the park really hurt the midfield’s ability to win the ball consistently. Dom is one of the best at the club in terms of his defensive work, and there is no doubt the team played better when he returned from that injury. The leadership Dom provides around the club, on the training track, and on field in games sets an example for the entire playing group in terms of the work rate required to make the grade in the AFL.[span style="font-size:10pt">Despite a minor niggle about 5 weeks ago, Dom has had a very consistent pre-season, and there is an air of excitement and expectation that he is set for a big year after his injury interrupted season in 2011. He’s got a fairly young group to lead, and the entire playing group really look up to him as a leader. Dom has proven himself as a player not afraid of ‘getting his hands dirty’ out on the field and do the team things. A player who consistently gets in the packs to win the hard ball, Dom is also high on the list of average tackles per game in the league.[span style="font-size:10pt">Priced a touch over $485k, you know what you’ll get from Cassisi – consistent scoring &amp; an average of 90-95, however this is a bit less of a return than we want from our mid-fielders &amp; only realistically fits into a mid-priced strategy rather than the normal GnR strategy. A solid SuperCoach &amp; DreamTeam scorer who will be overlooked by all but the most die-hard fan – Definitely not a TS selection unless he could manage to pump his average up by 20-25ppg, which I doubt. Not in my team. <a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/kanecornes/tabid/8475/playerid/14389/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Kane Corne[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic">s – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $405,600 (2011 ave – 75) DreamTeam $391,100 (2011 ave – 79)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 29 Height: 183cm Weight: 81kg 2011 games: 17[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">
[span style="font-size:10pt">Kane, or Kornes as he is referred to often in TS chat, didn't have as good a season in 2011 as he has in previous years. In 2011 he actually had a change in his role a bit from being just a tagger, a job he has done effectively for most of his career. Kane had to play more on the wing &amp; across halfback in 2011, and he struggled to come to terms with that a bit, but the coaching staff are really looking forward to getting a lot out of Kane in 2012, with his strong work rate on the training track &amp; on-field, combined with his experience of having played more than 200 games and being a playing in a premiership team.[span style="font-size:10pt">Kane has had a strong pre-season preparation, he is very fit &amp; he’s put on some good size. He is extremely professional in the way he goes about things &amp; his work-rate is unquestionable. He’s worked very hard over the pre-season to become a more dangerous midfielder offensively and has also worked diligently on his disposal and stoppage work.[span style="font-size:10pt">As a tagger, Cornes found plenty of the ball whilst restricting his opponent, and was one Port player who could be relied on for 100+ just about every week. With his change of role within the team in 2011, his scoring output plummeted to the point where he is nowhere near being on anyone’s radar. Even though he has worked hard over the pre-season on his disposal &amp; stoppage work, and he has come to terms with, and fully understands &amp; appreciates his [span style="font-size:10pt">new role within the team, I cannot realistically see him returning to his 100+ output of seasons past. The one upside I can foresee this season with his role in the team is the potential to score more often. However, this is not enough for him to push his average up again, so therefore I say – Avoid. [span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/bradleyebert/tabid/8475/playerid/23790/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Brad Ebert[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $344,400 (2011 ave – 64) DreamTeam $308,100 (2011 ave – 62)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 21 Height: 189cm Weight: 88kg 2011 games: 22[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Pick #13 in the 2007 national draft, Ebert made his way ‘home’ to Alberton after 4 seasons at West Coast. The nephew of club legend Russell and cousin of team-mate Brett, Brad played 22 matches for the Eagles in 2011 before being dropped for their 2nd final. Port worked hard to broker a trade with West Coast to get their man, and now he has returned home to Alberton (where he grew up playing with the Magpies) he has settled in well and worked diligently over the pre-season. Primarily used at half-forward for the Eagles, with occasional forays in the mid-field, Ebert is working towards becoming a regular member of Port’s mid-field rotations. [span style="font-size:10pt">He has impressed the coaches with his professional attitude &amp; approach to training, and has worked extremely hard over pre-season to the fittest he can be.[span style="font-size:10pt">One of the stand-out performers over summer, Brad’s work rate &amp; attitude has off on the rest of the playing group. His power running will be a great addition to Port’s midfield, and with his good mix of height, speed &amp; strong leadership qualities, he will add another dimension to the midfield group[span style="font-size:10pt">With his ability to win the hard ball inside as well as having a sound outside game where he has the capacity to hurt the opposition on the scoreboard, Ebert also possesses a solid defensive side to his game. Being virtually guaranteed to have a lot more midfield time at Port compared to when at West Coast, Ebert will improve his average considerably in comparison to his scores in 2011. I can assure any doubters that Brad will be a 1st choice midfielder at Port, and with his ball winning capacity, strong tackling, and ability to kick goals regularly, I can see Ebert being a 90-100 average player by the end of the season. Brad Ebert is solid mid-price option for your midfield who will score decent points each week – [span style="font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline">give serious consideration!!! <a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/robertgray/tabid/8475/playerid/15304/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Robbie Gray[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Fwd/Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $490,100 (2011 ave – 90) DreamTeam $402,000 (2011 ave – 81)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 23 Height: 183cm Weight: 87kg 2011 games: 22[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">
[span style="font-size:10pt">Robbie had a massive year in 2011, playing all 22 games and putting to rest the opinion he was injury prone. He demonstrated an ability to play consistently at the highest level up forward &amp; in the midfield, and also developed confidence in his body following a visit to the AIS in Canberra where he was undertook strenuous testing &amp; was provided with the advice he needed on how to manage his workload &amp; recovery to get the most out of his body. Gray ranked No.1 at Port for contested possessions &amp; was also high in the club’s rankings for clearances &amp; goal assists. His six goals against Essendon in round 23 was a terrific individual effort on his way to being the club's leading goal-kicker for the season (33). It certainly was a good season for Robbie.
Gray has been able to get through a full pre-season preparation &amp; has managed to strip a little bit of excess weight &amp; tone up more, enabling him to improve his running ability a fair bit. This was an area the coaching &amp; fitness staff identified as an important area of his game he needed to improve in if he wanted to spend more time playing in the midfield as he desires. To this end, the fitness staff have been fantastic (not just with Robbie but with the entire playing group), pushing players right to their limit, without tipping them over the edge. Robbie’s work rate has been first rate over the pre-season &amp; everyone is hoping he can take his game to another level in 2012.[span style="font-size:10pt">Like Boak, Gray has been in the system for 5 years &amp; is now entering that stage of his career where his undoubted potential should become a reality. Now that Robbie has managed to get through a full season for the first time in 2011, those who continue to refer to him as injury prone player seriously need to reassess their views of him before discounting him. Robbie is a hard worker on the track &amp; on the field and is set to explode this season. [span style="font-size:10pt">With an increase in midfield time, it is realistic to expect Gray to increase his average to 100 or more, especially when you take into account his ability to still kick goals when playing a midfield role, this makes it hard to leave him out of your side. A definite YES from me!!! <a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/hamishhartlett/tabid/8475/playerid/19956/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Hamish Hartlett[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $499,800 (2011 ave – 92) DreamTeam $435,900 (2011 ave – 88)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 21 Height: 185cm Weight: 83kg 2011 games: 16[span style="font-size:10pt">Hamish is all class. Played 16 games in 2011 before having his shoulder repaired, yet he still managed to take out the Gavin Wanganeen Medal for rising talent at the club. There have always been huge wraps on Hammer, he can play forward, in the midfield, or down back. When Hammer injures his shoulder mid season, it gave the coaches an opportunity to see how he could handle playing across half-back, and he shone despite his injury. A very competitive and tough player, Hammer will be one of the club’s genuine stars moving forward.[span style="font-size:10pt">As far as running drills are concerned, Hartlett has had a fantastic pre-season. He’s shown great enthusiasm &amp; leadership on the track and has been added to the leadership group because of his fantastic work ethic on the field &amp; professional standards. Although he has only been able to join in full contact training during January Hammer has quickly shown the value and versatility he’ll add to the midfield group this season. He is still developing his inside game; however he possesses an outside game which is already at an elite level.[span style="font-size:10pt">When out on the park, Hartlett is pure silk. A classy, skilful player who can hurt the opposition with his accurate kick, he rarely disappoints (apart from his injuries). The club’s fitness &amp; medical staff are confident his injury demons are a thing of the past (especially the soft tissue problems which plagued him earlier in his career). With injury woes behind him, and a stronger midfield group &amp; improving team, Hartlett is expected to increase his output in 2012 to the point where 100+ scores will be the norm. Look forward to a good year from Hammer – consider seriously. <a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/johnmccarthy/tabid/8475/playerid/23913/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">John McCarthy[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $281,200 (2011 ave – 52) DreamTeam $251,100 (2011 ave – 51)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 22 Height: 189cm Weight: 82kg 2011 games: 8[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">
[span style="font-size:10pt">The club was very pleased to be able to pick McCarthy up in the pre-season draft, adding another element to a much stronger midfield group in 2012. Like Hartlett, McCarthy is another player who possesses speed &amp; endurance, and at training he has already added a new dynamic to the group working on outside movement at stoppages. He has got good size &amp; in his first full pre-season since he’s been in the AFL system, he looks primed to have a big impact at Port Adelaide in 2012.[span style="font-size:10pt">McCarthy will play a variety of roles within the team depending on opposition and game day structures. He will primarily be a part of the midfield rotations; however he will also spend time across half back as well as half forward. Having spent 4 years on the Collingwood list, McCarthy has enough experience in the AFL system to make an impact at Port, even though he only played 18 games in those 4 years. Although he only averaged 52SC in his 8 games in 2011, 3 of those games he was the starting sub, therefore adversely affecting his average. With more game time at Port, along with increased game time in the midfield, it is realistic to expect a decent increase in his scoring (this is evidenced by his 97SC against West Coast in NAB Round 2). If he can boost that average up to mid 80’s – mid 90’s, he would be a bargain buy at a touch over $280k. McCarthy is certainly worth serious consideration as a low cost mid-priced for your team. <a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/andrewmoore/tabid/8475/playerid/21585/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Andrew Moore[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Def[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $180,700 (2011 ave – 34) DreamTeam $153,300 (2011 ave – 31)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 20 Height: 189cm Weight: 88kg 2011 games: 6[span style="font-size:10pt">Moore had another forgettable year in 2011 where he was troubled by injury again. Andrew has endured 2 tough years at the club, only playing six games in 2011 for a career total of 13. He comes with high expectations as a No.9 draft pick &amp; he needs to get his body right &amp; regain some confidence &amp; form to give himself the best opportunity in season 2012 and beyond. Andrew is highly rated by the coaching staff, and he is certainly going to help the midfield become bigger &amp; stronger in the future. Moore is an outstanding talent; he just needs to get out on the park where he can show his ability.[span style="font-size:10pt">Moore has been one of the success stories for the fitness &amp; medical staff. They have pushed him as hard as possible after he overcame off-season groin surgery, and he really started to show what he’s capable of in January. He’s got a strong body, possesses good speed, however he is only now starting to see what he can do physically because of his injuries in the past. The coaches have noted his growing confidence &amp; Moore looks set to produce a good consistent year of footy.[span style="font-size:10pt">Very talented &amp; skilful player, Moore is essentially priced as a high 1st round rookie due to his injury interrupted seasons. Most likely will be given the opportunity to find some form &amp; touch in the SANFL early in the season; however the NAB matches will be a guide as to where he sits in the coaches plans. Moore could possibly become a downgrade target later in the season. My advice is it would be best to watch &amp; see how &amp; where he fits in with the clubs plans. [span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/cameronoshea/tabid/8475/playerid/22327/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Cam O’Shea[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Def[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $297,000 (2011 ave – 55) DreamTeam $270,400 (2011 ave – 55)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 20 Height: 197cm Weight: 84kg 2011 games: 18[span style="font-size:10pt">Cam was a real surprise packet in 2011, playing 18 games in his debut season after being selected at pick #52 in the 2010 National Draft. He produced an exciting first up season, playing predominately across half back with occasional runs on the wing. Cam was also required to undertake some big tasks on experienced players, with one particular match-up on Andrew Embley against West Coast at Patersons Stadium in round 13 where he learned a bit about what it takes to make it at AFL level. Cam is a quality young player with a great character, he works hard on the training track &amp; out on the field, and he has the makings of a player who could become a 150-200 game player at the club.
It is hard to fault Cam with the way he goes about his training, he works very hard &amp; pushes himself to the absolute limits. After playing 18 games in his debut season in 2011 he will be looking to build on that in 2012 by cementing his place in the team. His running is obviously first class (one of the reasons he was drafted with that pick), however he just needs to keep working on polishing his skills. Cam obviously played a fair bit down back in his junior career &amp; in his debut season, however the coaching staff really believes he can make the transition into the midfield, with a regular gig on the wing identified as a place he can use his speed, endurance &amp; skills to benefit the team. He showed last year with his running, endurance &amp; his big body that he can be a strong asset in the midfield.[span style="font-size:10pt">O’Shea showed us in 2011 that he has got all the attributes to succeed at the highest level. Having predominately played across half-back in his debut season, often in a more negating role rather than an attacking role which he is more suited to, his average of 55SC is quite good. He was a slow but steady cow on my bench last season &amp; often served me well when I had to put him on-field. With a regular run on the wing, &amp; possible forays into the middle, it would not surprise to see him boost his average by 20 at least. As a mid-price defender he will play most, if not all, games this season [span style="font-size:10pt">&amp; is a reasonable option in defence for anyone considering using a mid-price or GMR strategy. Worth watching this lad (even if you don’t plan to pick him in your team), as he will be a good strong player in a couple of years.[span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/davidrodan/tabid/8475/playerid/14457/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">David Rodan[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $398,400 (2011 ave – 74) DreamTeam $303,000 (2011 ave – 61)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 28 Height: 173cm Weight: 87kg 2011 games: 16[span style="font-size:10pt">'D-Rod' had a fairly good year considering his pre-season was ruined after requiring a 2nd LARS reconstruction of his knee. He managed to play 16 games, playing through the midfield &amp; up forward. He had an exciting game against Adelaide in round four, kicking four goals as a defensive forward, and he is always very dangerous &amp; clean around the stoppages. The forwards absolutely love him because he generally uses the ball well out of congestion &amp; delivers it well. In 2011, ‘D-Rod’ also demonstrated a marked improvement to the defensive side of his game. Everyone at the club can see exciting times ahead for him.[span style="font-size:10pt">With his past two pre-seasons completely ruined by his knee injuries, it is good to see ‘D-Rod’ get through this pre-season injury free. He has been training with both the midfield &amp; forward groups over the pre-season and has been solid on the training track all pre-season &amp; has really started to stand out in intra-club trial games. As usual, his stoppage work has been great &amp; he adds a different dimension to the midfield &amp; forward groups. ‘D-Rod’ has been running really well over pre-season &amp; he’s got the confidence that he can back himself in on game day now with this solid pre-season preparation under his belt.[span style="font-size:10pt">Everyone loves a battler, and there is no doubt ‘D-Rod’ is a battler having overcome the setbacks of 3 knee reconstructions. It will be interesting to see how he fares this season with a full preparation behind him for the first time in a few years; however he just doesn’t put enough points on the board to be a realistic proposition in either SuperCoach or DT. There are other mid-pricers out there who will score better.[span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/stevensalopek/tabid/8475/playerid/14409/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Steven Salopek[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $333,800 (2011 ave – 62) DreamTeam $350,800 (2011 ave – 71)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 26 Height: 185cm Weight: 83kg 2011 games: 12[span style="font-size:10pt">Sal started season 2011 slowly due to off-season shoulder surgery &amp; then injured his knee during the pre-season. He was inconsistent at times &amp; found himself in &amp; out of the team for most of the year. After finding some form in the SANFL with Glenelg, Sal was able to get some good consistency in his game &amp; improve his form towards the end of the year, resulting in being recalled to the side which ultimately led to him playing a very solid game against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval in round 24. A very good reader of the play who generally uses the ball well, it is expected Sal will bounce back to his best form in 2012 if he can get a full pre-season preparation behind him, maintain his form &amp; consistency.
It’s been a big pre-season for Sal, he has worked extremely hard after a few disappointing seasons, he has improved his speed &amp; in all the clubs testing he has improved on his benchmark figures. Sal has worked closely with midfield coach Josh Carr on his inside game &amp; he’s keen to have a good NAB Cup. For Sal, his performance over pre-season means he’s putting a lot of pressure on other players &amp; the coaches to win selection for round one.[span style="font-size:10pt">It is fair to say Salopek has disappointed &amp; is yet to reach really fulfil his potential since being drafted [span style="font-size:10pt">with pick #6 at the 2002 National Draft. He has been in the system long enough to know what is required of him at this level. Unfortunately for him, several seasons have been ruined by injury over his career. Sal would be the first to admit that the time has come for him to start making a real impact as a player. Having managed a full pre-season preparation, Sal can be a big improver in 2012. That being said, he seems to be a better scorer in DreamTeam than SC. Hasn’t got a chance of making my team, but I can understand where some may be tempted by his price, especially considering he has finally got a full pre-season. Sal will improve his average in 2012, but most likely not by enough to become a viable selection. <a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/paulstewart/tabid/8475/playerid/15303/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Paul Stewart[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Def[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $314,700 (2011 ave – 65) DreamTeam $296,800 (2011 ave – 67)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 24 Height: 191cm Weight: 90kg 2011 games: 6[span style="font-size:10pt">Paul had a pretty good start to season 2011 coming off a strong pre-season &amp; a good 2010. Unfortunately, he was cut down by a shoulder injury early, requiring surgery. His ability to close down the opposition team's ball movement is close to the best in the team, and he can also win the ball &amp; hit up forward targets. Paul is a very classy player with a strong work ethic &amp; is dedicated to putting in the effort he needs to become the best player he can possibly be. Everyone within the club is really looking forward to Paul having a big 2012.[span style="font-size:10pt">After having an injury interrupted year in 2011 culminating in surgery mid-year, Paul has been exemplary in his approach to recovery &amp; has worked hard over the pre-season to set himself up for a successful 2012. A big bodied midfielder who’ll work through half-forward, the wing, midfield, and half back, Paul is looking in great shape &amp; has built a solid fitness base which augers well for him leading into the season. A team-oriented player, Paul has shown a strong determination &amp; desire to help turn the club’s fortunes around.[span style="font-size:10pt">A solid rather than spectacular team player, Paul is yet to reach the heights he is capable of. Often given negating roles, he isn’t the type of player who will consistently produce high scores from a fantasy viewpoint. A cheap mid-price option who is dependable for scores in the 60-80 range; however he is not really a viable option in your team. [span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/mattthomas/tabid/8475/playerid/14413/category/senior/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Matt Thomas[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic"> – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $373,200 (2011 ave – 69) DreamTeam $370,500 (2011 ave – 75)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 25 Height: 186cm Weight: 87kg 2011 games: 19[span style="font-size:10pt">Matt is one of those players you know will always give you 100 per cent effort, and 2011 was no different. He had the tough task each week having a run with role on the opposition's better midfielders, but was always at the bottom of the pack. Matt loves to chase &amp; tackle, and when he does tackle his opponent sure knows it!!! Matt just needs to be cleaner around stoppages &amp; to get more uncontested ball to round out his game. His team-mates &amp; the coaching staff absolutely love the way Matt plays.
Matt has had issues with a knee injury over the pre-season, however he hasn’t missed a beat with his fitness work &amp; he is looking strong &amp; fit. He has been back in full training for the last 6 weeks &amp; his running is up there with the best at the club, he just needs to get some touch with the footy to be right to play.[span style="font-size:10pt">With a change in role to being the club’s #1 run-with player in 2011, Matt finished off the season averaging more tackles than he did kicks!!! Whilst tackles do score points in fantasy football, without getting more of the ball himself will result in his average score remaining at last season’s levels, if not dropping.[span style="font-size:10pt"> Run-with (tagging) players just don’t suit fantasy football – Pass!!![span style="font-size:10pt">
<a href="http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/playerprofile/dannybutcher/tabid/8475/playerid/23910/category/rookie/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx" target="_blank">[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:underline;color:#000000">Danny Butcher[/url][span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic"> [span style="font-size:10pt;font-style:italic">(r) – Mid[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal"> – SuperCoach $94,700 (2011 ave – n/a) DreamTeam $85,800 (2011 ave – n/a)[span style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal">Age: 19 Height: 183cm Weight: 73kg 2011 games: n/a[span style="font-size:10pt">
Picked up in the Rookie Draft, Danny is the younger brother of emerging forward star John.[span style="font-size:10pt">Danny comes to Alberton after 33 games in 2 solid seasons at Gippsland in the TAC Cup. He won Gippsland’s B&amp;F in 2011 after averaging 19.3 disposals &amp; 4.8 tackles in 19 games.[span style="font-size:10pt">Unfortunately Danny has been ill over pre-season with pneumonia which has held him back quite a bit. He has been back into full training for about 6 weeks now &amp; will be given the opportunity to ease his way back into it for the remainder of the pre-season. Danny will get the chance to find a bit more touch with the ball at training and then go back to North Adelaide where he can work on his game &amp; hopefully push into their league side.[span style="font-size:10pt">Initially one of the best chances to push for elevation to the senior list, the illness Danny suffered has held him back from this goal. He will now need to work hard at training &amp; in the SANFL to get some strong form behind him. If he can successfully break into North Adelaide’s league team early in the season then he will find himself in a good position for elevation if a spot becomes available during the season. No use wasting time considering him at this point, however if he gets elevated to the senior list during the season it will mean he is close to selection.