Im going to just say something very quickly before jumping into the reviews.

Wow, these subs make it difficult! Really make it tough to get a good read, and will definitely catch people out at round 1 if they just go by raw numbers!

That is all, onto the reviews.

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Gold Coast vs Geelong

Result: Geelong by 49, 1.16.13 to 1.8.12

First of all, the bad news. Smedts and Hall (Hammy tightness) were both late omisions, preventing us from seeing their work.

Now, with that out of the way, well take a quick look around the players. I say quick because really, it was tough to take too much out of it with so many Cats missing.

Gaz was fantastic. 25 touches (19 in the first half!) and two goals, hes just a machine. It will be tough to justify any leaving him out of their squads. (Scored a 140SC)

Bock reprized his roll up forward, and again looked really strong. Damn his first two missing games, but migh make for a good early back upgrade if he starts well. He collected 17 touches and kicked 4.4

Swallow only picked up 7 touches, but didnt get much gametime at all. I would expect that to rise.

Jimmy Bartel, oh how we love Jimmy. 26 touches and 3.3 in a mid/forward role that has been very lucrative for him in the past. Sadly though, when the rest of the cats outfit comes back, I reckon hell be back to where he was left last year. (Scored a 141SC)

Hogan go a lot of the ball, 23 touches, playing a tagging roll on Ablett. If hes set to continue this role, he looks a great get - but its a tough call, as mentioned, with so many cats out.

Cameron Guthrie continues to impress. 22 disposals in defense, and Im thinking that if he can continue this form, hes got to be every chance to line up round 1. (Scored a 109SC)

Mackie left the field late with a dislocated finger, but shouldnt be effected by it.

I reckon Stephenson has put a bit of fear into the minds of any coach going the 3 rookie ruck strategy. His 5 touch, 10 hitout performance really didnt inspire the kind of confidence youd hope for.

Sub effected: Smith, Hunt, Jolly, Patrick, May, Gorringe, Tape, Taylor, Swallow, OMeara, Sexton, Allen.
Sub effected: Byrnes, Mackie, Bews, Stokes, Simpkin, Cowan, Burbury, Bathie, Hamling, Kersten, Murdoch, Eardley

Hawthorn vs GWS

Result: Hawthorn by 74, 2.12.18 to 0.4.10

As you would expect in such a thumping win with no Franklin playing, Gunston was quite lively, with 19 disposals and 1.1

Boumann got a bit of it, but also played the whole game, so I wouldnt take too much out of it. 86SC

Considering Hill only played half the game, Id say his 9 touch game was a win for the night.

Frank really didnt get much time to show us anything.

Devon Smith you little (176cm) beauty! 26 touches through the midfield and suddenly on everybodies radar as a forward rookie. Hes always racked up the touches as a junior as well. 89

Cameron looked a likely type, with 13 disposals and 8 marks against Schoey. In a difficult night, it was a decent performance. That said, I dont expect many nights not being difficult for the GWS.

Darley certainly didnt do his chances any harm, picking up 16 disposals and looking great value in the backline.

A half game for Giles sees his 10 touch performance makes you think about that rookie ruck, doesnt it!

McDonald once again played less than half a game. Its a worry! 6 touches tonight, but really, they are just easing him through the pre-season.

Reckon we can rule a line through Mohr, just cant see him being fantasy relevant.

Sub effected: Birchall, Ellis, Guerra, Osbourne, Whitecross, Breust, Murohy, Grimley, Hale, Litherland, Bruce, Schneider, Wanganeen, Hill, Woodward, Frank
Sub effected: Clifton, Giles, Golds, Miles, Wilson, Haynes, Greene, Sumner, Tomlinson, Davis, Frost, McDonald

Sydney vs North Melbourne

Result: Sydney by 17, 2.9.10 to 0.9.11

Gunna open this one with the same question I asked last week. Whats up with Nick Smith?! Hes really getting a lot of it this pre-season with 19 touches tonight.

Cunningham did alright, 15 disposals and a goal. As did Parker, with 17 of his own. Both are still alive and well on my watch list.

Mumford and Seaby both played half a game, so dont take too much from their stats.

Hamish McIntosh goes BAM. A big score for a big man, 23 disposals and 14 Hitouts (128SC. Sure, Goldstein only played half a game, but man - North are going to have a tough decision come round 1 with those two!

Gibson might slip off a few radars tonight, just 8 touches, but remember, he only played half a game!

Mullett also did alright in limited gametime. Enough to stay on the watchlist with 13 touches his half.

Sub effected: Grundy, Moore, LRT, Seaby, Kennedy, Mumford, Rohan, Gordon, Morton, Walsh, Cunningham
Sub effected: Harvey, Edwards, Goldstein, Greenwood, Thompson, Speight, Bastinac, Black, Macmillan, Harper, Delaney, Mullett, Gibson

Essendon vs St. Kilda

Result: 4 points to the Saints.

Did they end up flipping the coin? Seems a shame if they didnt! (cues shipstorm in the comments )

West Coast vs Port Adelaide

Result: West Coast by 5, 1.12.11 to 1.12.6

Judging on SuperCoach stats alone, Kerr and his 142SC will be looked back on quite favourable. And really, it was a good game, 20 touches and 2 goals in just over half a game!. Remember though, his score was inflated due to kicking the winning goal, right near the death of it.

Good to see Cox playing a full game, and his 21 touch effort shows us just why hes worth the big bucks! 122SC

Masten was the most prolifiic for the game, 25 disposals and a goal for a very tidy 118SC

Looks like Shuey was seen on crutches. Only a minor thing is what coming out so far, but hes still looking to miss next week.

Selwood was subbed on at half time and picked up 17 touches... Some good work.

Only 9 touches for Weedon in a full game is a bit of a worry for mine. I spose we can take solis in the fact that Hams didnt do too much better, though he did snag a few goals.

That said, Neates could give them both a shake. Played half a game for 8 touches and 2 goals.

Stevens is BACK on the radar! a 15 touch, 2 goal game 92SC is what we were hoping to see last week. Lets see if he can continue to win a midfield spot come round 1.

McCarthy top scored for the Power 97SC, he kicked 3 goals and collected 18 disposals.

Jarrad "Way to keep the rookie ruck debate interesting" Redden has continued his ripping pre-season form. 13 disposals and 25 hitouts against the all might Cox. What a massive effort (and only played 3/4s of the game) 98SC.

Pfeiffer continues to stay on the ol watchlist. His 18 touches put him in fine stead tonight.

Wingard did alright for himself. 10 touches, but he only played half the game, so its all good.

Blee, didnt play much at all, but still didnt do enough! Definitely looking more the downgrade option if he comes along through the season.

Finally, wow, Butcher is going to be a player, isnt he. He doesnt get a lot of it, but hes got a good pair of hands, runs very well and snagged 5 goals tonight.

Sub effected: Kerr, Lynch, Nicoski, Schofield, S.Selwood, Stevenson, Neates
Sub effected: Carlile, Cornes, Salter, Broadbent, Irons, Newton, Young, OShea, Jonas, Wingard, Ah Chee, Blee

Collingwood vs Melbourne

Result: Melbourne by 9, 0.11.13 to 1.9.7

You have to be holding a grudge against Shaw to not include him this year. (Or expecting him to stuff up again!). His 24 touch effort tonight was fantastic.

After the whole drug scandle, Swan came out of my squad and I havent found a way to get him back in. Tonights 14 touches in just half a game has certainly forced me to revisit that thought.

Reid did quite nicely, picking up 14 touches of his own in only half a game.

Yagmoor also picked up 14 touches, but sadly I cant report a half game for him. Still, he did fine I thought and stays on the watchlist.

Half a game can be used as an excuse for Clarke, but his 6 touch game was a little worrying if you ask me.

Only 9 disposals will have questionmarks on Sidebottom, but as with many, he only played half a game.

Magner the magnet once again impressed. 21 disposals still sees him highly contesting for a midfield position

Ol HiLo, Sylvia, is going to tempt us again. Subbed off, but still managed to collect 15 touches.

I cant recommend Couch in good faith, but his 15 touches certainly has him on the right track.

Wish I could say that Bate only played half a game, but the mid-priced option only managed 14 disposals tonight. On the plus side, he did spend the game playing in the midfield.

Not a big fan of Watts playing deep forward as he did tonight. Hopefully they are just easing him through the pre-season a bit.

Sub effected: Cloke, Maxwell, Swan, Reid, Clarke, Wellingham, Sidebottom, Rounds, Jolly, McNamara, Celgar, Cribbin, Fasolo, Ugle, Hartley, Mooney
Sub effected: Davey, Dunn, Jamar, Sylvia, Blease, Bail, Gysberts, Fitzpatrick, Howe, McDonald, Tynan, Sellar

Adelaide vs Brisbane

Result: Adelaide by 51, 0.14.9 to 1.5.3

Dangerfield dominated for the Crows. 33 disposals has him right at the top of the breakout list right now. Certainly will be keeping a close eye on this bloke with the Crows good early run.

It was a decent game for Sloane, with 22 touches, but in a thumping, you might be hoping for better from one of your non-rookie midfield spots. Still watching him closely though.

Sam Kerridge didnt get on ground too much, but still picked up 12 touches. His disposals werent great, but it will be tough to pass him up if hes named in round 1 off this performance.

How many Adelaide forwards can I talk up this post? At least one more with Porplyzia taking the ground in the third term, only to collect 16 disposals in the half!! Massively promoted on my watchlist. (I wont talk up Knight, even though he had a fantastic half game. Simply too paper-like!)

Jenkins was alright. 16 hitouts saw him lead the count for the night.

He did share the ruck duties with McKernan though, how had the better of it, along with 14 disposals for the night 106SC

Rockliff and Redden are just so good at accumulating. Reckon either could make a decent POD this year.

Longer makes the whole Leuenberger situation interesting. They both only played half a game each, but youd certainly say that Longer took home the cookies. Still, pre-season and all that, but it is worrying for the Berger.

Sub effected: Douglas, Knights, Porplyzia, Symes, Petrenko, Riley, Talia, Shaw, L. Thompson, Tambling, Smith, Lyons, Crouch, Johnston, Kerridge, McIntyre
Sub effected: Hawksley, Leuenberger, Sheldon, anfield, Cornelious, Buchanan, OBrien, Retzladd, Beams, Polec, Green, Bewick, Harvey, Longer, Yeo, Wearden, Crisp, Newell

Bulldogs vs Carlton

Result: Doggies by 4, 11.8 to 11.4

First things first. Laidler looks like hes gone for a while. While this definitely is a plus for Bowers job security, Bowers 8 touches isnt what we were hoping for! Still, plenty of time to watch him though.

Kreuzer is looking on track. Played the whole game in the ruck, collecting 14 disposals and 23 hitouts will surely see him put into a lot of teams this week.

Lucas only picked up 6 touches, though he did only play half a game, while Sammy Rowe has just about crossed himself off the watch list with just 1 touch in his half.

Will Minson - Is it finally his time to break out! 20 touches and 17 hitouts for the big man.

In fact, let me just stop for a second here- the Doggies are racking up massive numbers this pre-season. Theyre chipping it around the backline and look to be implimenting a very fantasy-rich game plan. It brings a lot of their players onto the watch list.

Hargrave is one such player, and his 27 touches will certainly tempt a few!

Griffen collected a game high 33 touches, very tidy game, but will it be enough to challenge as a top mid?

Lake played a solid half game. Only 7 touches, which raises question marks, but still- it was good that he got a hitout and will only get better.

Higgins did a fine performance, 12 touches off half a game.

Sub effected: Cooney, Lake, Higgins, Williams, Cordy, Roughead, Markovic, Wallis, Smith, Dickson
Sub effected: Thornton, Hampson, Ellard, Joseph, Garlett, McLean, Lucas, Davies, Laidler, Curnow, Rowe, Dale

Fremantle vs Richmond

Result: Fremantle by 38, 1.14.12 to 0.10.7

First off, the 211cm elephant in the corner. Sandiland was a late withdrawal from the game, pulling up sore in the warmup.

Mzungu certainly got a lot of the ball, 28 touches and a goal - just a shame hes just a mid.

Broughton was prolific. 21 disposals sees him climbing my list for a birth this year! Duffield did much the same thing though, with 23 touches.

Ballantyne keeps pressing his credencials, this time collecting 21 touches though the midfield. Gunna have to dig up the ol prospectus, but I seem to remember him having big numbers as a junior as well. Question is though, he was hugely important to Freos forward line last year, so can they afford to play him in the mids?

Fyfe is something else. Ive been avoiding him because of the shoulder, but 25 touches in three quarters has him coming into my squad tomorrow. A great game.

Neale did very nicely for himself, 19 disposals off limited game time will see him a worthy pick if he can keep this up.

Improving on last week, Spurr played a half game this week and collected 12 disposals.

Ellis will be in everyones team. 20 touches in what was essentially 3 quarters of a game was a fantastic effort.

As was Dustin Martin - a mighty 16 touch game in just a half.

Derickx wasnt great, only 5 touches for his half.



And that I reckon does it for this review. Isnt it fantastic seeing all these young blokes, who have been on our radars all shining, and the odd one who slipped through early, putting their case up very strong.

Who did you guys like, let us know in the comments, or just fill out the card.

Rookies who impressed:
Mid-Pricers who impressed:
Off the watchlist: