Quality work with the forward dating on the post Walesy- it totally made it look like you were sitting up, all new years, working tirelessly on the blog with your good readers are out there enjoying themselves.

yeah... forward dating...

Anyways, its the start of the year- and what I like doing at this stage of the year, even though we are still far out from the season, is to enter in my first team for the year.

To put whats been learnt so far in the offseason out there and try to make an outfit that will stay competitive come round 1. Honestly, I reckon this is my best year yet and Im thinking about entering this team once SuperCoach opens in a months time and just walking away until round 1.

Its just that good!.

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Alight, maybe not *that* good, but heck- I reckon itll go alright.

On the plus side though, Fantasy footy is back officially in 31 more days! WooHoo!

So, the team-

Defenders
Bryce Gibbs: With back eligibility, he will find himself as one of the top 5 backs by ther end of the year. Just lock him in early.
Brett Deledio: See Gibbs.
James Kelly: With Ablett moving on, it opens some space in the Geelong Midfield. I see Kelly as the early frontrunner to benefit from this- possibly enought to round out the top 5 with Goddard and Lake.
Scott Selwood: Mid priced at an average of 64, but averaged 88 over his last 10 weeks. Definite keeper material if he can replicate that.
Jed Adcock: Durability is the big concern here, and of course his pre-season role will be of great importance- but if he ticks the right boxes, and 85+ average at a price of 63 is well worth the outlay.
Andy Otten: This kid looked the goods last year before going down with an ACL. Hell need to be monitored
Dyson Heppell: The first slider in the draft was picked by a team sorely lacking in the midfield. He should get games early and should get a run through the middle- both are what were after.

Michael Hibbert: Coming in as a mature rookie and won the same medal as Barlow did last year. Not 100% sold just yet, but is enough to keep a close eye on him.
Tendai Mzungu: Averaged over 100DT points in the WAFL last year.
Josh Toy: Dominated in the 2009 U18 championships. Sadly, those stats seem to be password protected now on the AFL site- anyone grab a copy of them?

Midfielders
Brendon Goddard: Completes the B/C link in the backline with Heppell and only sitting in the mids due to the huge amount of quality back there on the bench!
Dane Swan: Cant go wrong with Swan. Even if the interchange rules reduce his output a bit, hes still that far in front that hell still be a top5 finisher next year.
Chris Judd: Its Judd, he will be top5 with Swan again next year
Joel Selwood: Betting here on an improved presence with Gaz gone. That said, at his price theres a gamit of midfielders to choose from that will all hit the same-ish average.
David Swallow: Will be selected in every team.
Andrew Gaff: Led the DreamTeam averages in the TAC cup this year and looks the goods.

Jared Polec: This was a toss up between Polec and Josh Green, but I only wanted one Brisbane rookie in the mids. I went with Polec as hes a higher pick, but honestly- if Green is named round one, get on him- he averaged redonkulously high in the U18 champs.
Shaun Atley: the second big slider of the draft- a top 10 pick, for a pick 16 price tag. Should get some gametime in an improving Roos outfit. I get the feeling that hell be more of a DreamTeam player, but hey- its early days and hes cheap.
Allen Christiensen: A big slider from the school of 09, hes gotten rid of the skinfolds that were the cause for his slide. Im expecting big things from him this year.

Rucks
Paddy Ryder: Hell be 23 next year with another pre-season under his belt. I can only see him improving again. Helps that hes very durable for a ruck as well.
Darren Jolly: Averaged 99.8 over his last 10 games and is as durable as they come.

Zac Smith: 21 years old, 205cm and extremely agile for a big man. He will play games for the GC this year which will make him invaluable if you dont run some DPP cover.
Majak Daw: Purely the link man for his cheap R/F status. Also, itll give you an in to make puns about opening the Magic Door.

Forwards
Nick Riewoldt: St. Nick proved me wrong spectacularly last year, coming back from an horrific injury and playing just as well as he did before it. Lock him in early as hell be the highest scoring forward next year.
Lance Franklin: Hes gunna be a top 5 forward next year and I reckon lift his average by at least 5 with a little improvement from the Hawks in general. Keep an eye on their pre-season, and if their mids are fit and firing, lock him in.
Matthew Pavlich: Theres a group of forwards to chose from at this spot but I went with Pav cause hes mister consistancy. That said, his bye in the same round as Buddy might shake that up a bit!
Mitch Morton: The 2011 hype machine. If the preseason was a drinking game, youd do a shot everyone tried to tell you to shut up about Mitch cause hes their smoky. He requested to go down to the VFL last year in order to learn the ropes in the midfield, where upon his return, averaged 105 over his 6 games played. You just cant go wrong paying for an average of 77 when he moves into the mids. Lock him in early.
Chris Knights: In years past, hes averaged 80+, so at a price of 61, with a potential discount- youd have to look at him as a mid priced improver. Just be wary though, hes prone to breaking down, but as with Brett Burton a few years ago- His price might be too low to skip over.
Drew Petrie: Hes averaged 90 for the past 4 years, and will come into this season priced at 55 with a potential discount. Combine his ability to cover in the ruck and you have yourself a lock here peoples. Rumour has it that hell be playing deep up forward, but even still, the boy can play football and will more than adequately fill this position.
Dion Prestia: Small, quick an powerfully build with a good head on his shoulders and good disposal. had he been an extra 5-10cm taller, he could have got top5 I reckon. Should be a solid pick up.

Isacc Smith: 20 years old and should be walking straight into a role in the Hawks forward line. While Im not expecting him to set the world on fire, I do expect a fairly steady rise in an already improving team.
Jack Darling: You gotta feel for Jack- stopped growing at 190cm and has vastly divided opinions on whether hell make it in the big leagues. That said though, he played 12 games in the WAFL last year and averaged 63 (DT) while playing against the big boys- so hes one to watch.
Brandon Matera: A small forward who does stints though the midfield, AND, played consistant footy for the GC in the VFL this year- how could you not pick him!

This team has 5 GC boys, but they are spread across the lineup to avoid any bye conflict.

Im thinking that structure-wise, I would be better off picking an additional rookie in the backline, and moving the cash into the forward line as the depth back there is phenominal, but hey, itll do for this stage of the year.

Let me know what you think- tear it down. Build it up. Copy it, whatever- but I can guarentee, this far out that (withstanding injury), that this would be a very competitive outfit if you went into the season with it.

Anyways, happy new year everyone! Heres hoping its a ripper 2011 for us all!