Wow, there sure were a lot of smashing this week. I guess thats what happens when only a few teams can qualify, and other teams use the time to... experiment.

Anyways, onto the review...

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Essendon vs Sydney

Result: Essendon by 2, 1.14.12 to 1.14.10

It was a good win for what was essentially a full strength Bombers outfit, but showed a bit of a worrying sign for potential forward premium Zaharakis. Only managed 11 possessions over just over a half a games gametime, but when he did have the ball, really didnt look in the same form as last year.

Stanton and Watson both got a lot of it, the latter was kicking at 100% efficiency! If he continues with that, hello super-premium! (ahem, we can dream cant we!?)

With Dempseys return, 17 touches and a very good first half, allowed Heppell to push further up the ground. Which worryingly, probably didnt help his scores very much, with 17 touches throughout the game.

Winderlich did alright for his first game back, picking up 7 touches in less than half a game. Not enough to select him, but certainly not too bad.

Luke Palmer has made a massive push for selection. I thought he was very good in collecting his 21 possessions.

StKildaThunda, Goodesy was putting you to shame early mate, but fell away a fair bit after that. Only 11 touches for a full game keep the jury out when it comes to a Goodes selection.

With Brown added to the LTI, Cunningham should earn the promotion, however, the question is- will his 3 touches from half a game be enough? There were two goals in that which is nice.

Malceski was great in the (just over) half game he played, 15 disposals with impecable touch certainly makes him an interesting selection.

Sub Effected: Hille, Hocking, McVeigh, Monfries, Winderlich, Jetta, Myers, Hooker, Bellchambers, Zaharakis, Carlisle, Howlett.
Sub Effected: Jack, Malceski, Smith, Seaby, Gordon, Cunningham

Adelaide vs Collingwood

Result: Adelaide by 77, 1.20.9 to 1.7.10

Wow, 77 points! Who would have thought a game against the pies would turn into a training drill!

Sloane continues to tease, a 23 touch full gameis nice, but is it enough to gamble on him hitting it as a premium mid?

Now, Dangerfields 23 touches on the other hand, coming in cheaper and as a forward, backing up last weeks effort has us coaches asking the question - is this year the year? Can you afford to miss him if he goes pop?

Porplyzia ran out a full game, picking up 13 disposals, 4 goals and what I imagine was a truck load of inside 50s. Certainly playing an excellent role for his price, and hell be tough to go past! Now, if only we could carbon-fuse his shoulders or something. Thats a real process right?

Jacobs certainly did enough I thought to be considered. As with all these Crows, hes got a great early run of games, and no real thread to the #1 rucking spot.

Kerridge came on for the second half and managed 10 disposals. I didnt think hed get games too early, but hes certainly showing the form for it!

What was Lynch on? 14 disposals and 3 goals in half a game!!

A pair of blokes who played half games, Vince and Callinan both did very well, 13 and 16 disposals respectively.

Steele Sidebottom looked promising, playing through the mids, but falling behind the ball. His 21 disposals was a game high for the Pies which makes him a tasty prospect as a cheaper forward premium.

It was said through the week that Marty Clarke wasnt shipped out from Ireland to play in the ressies, but Im thinking that if this pre-season has been anything to go by, hell be churning out 60s and not worth the premium on him.

Yagmoor was decent, picked up 13 touches, but is still very shaky with any sense of job security.

Jamie Elliot is back. Stoked to see him out there, at least for half a game. 7 touches and two behinds in half a game aint bad at all for a first crack.

Jolly played the full game, had 5 disposals, 24 hitouts and 8 Frees against. Ouch!

Sub Effected: Doughty, Knights, S. Thompson, Vince, Mackay, Otten, Walker, Martin, McKernan, Henderson, L.Thompson, WEight, Jaensch, Callinan, Lynch, Kerridge.
Sub Effected: Dawes, Rounds, Blair, Ceglar, Ugle, Seedsman, Elliot, Hartley, Mooney, Paine.

Richmond vs Geelong

Result: Richmond by 59, 1.14.15 to 0.6.13

Did someone forget to tell Geelong that the game had started? Richmond dominated early, with Martin starting. 12 disposals in the first quarter and 23 for the match will surely see him in everyones team.

Brandon Ellis went from strength to strength, this week picking up 20 disposals and is surely in everybodies team as well, right?

Interesting to see the Tigers only used 22 players, makes you think that the guys who played will be their for round 1. No good for Morris and Derickx

Foley, Riewoldt and Newman all showed why they should at least be considered in your squad this year.

Billie Smedts got a lot of game time, and a fair bit of it with 14 disposals. However, those disposals were woeful! A real worry for SuperCoach is you ask me.

Stringer had a good one, 12 touches in half a game, but theres no way hell hold his spot come round 1.

West and Stephenson were both pretty woeful, with 5 touches and 8/7 hitouts each. Still, it was only half a game, and for a bench ruck rookie, hell still be alright.

Christensen didnt do enough in his first hitout for mine, only 8 touches in a full game.

In fact, a lot of the cats disappointed, Gilles, Horlin-Smith an, Guthie and Hogan were all pretty shakey.

Sub Effected: Edwards, King, Nahas, Helbig
Sub Effected: Hogan, West, Simpkin, Hunt, Stringer, Guthrie, Horlin-Smith, Schroder, Stephenson

Port vs Fremantle

Result: Port by 20, 1.11.11 to 2.5.18

Before we dig any deeper, lets first pour one on the curb for Lachie Neale. A 2-3 week injury, will annoyingly probably see him miss the start of the season, but hit his 3rd game in round 5, before the downgrades... ah well. Well see.

Fyfe man. An interupted pre-season, and hes still just a gun. 27 touches in less than 80% tog. I just cant see him being stopped.

Duffield and Broughton both got on with the business with 17 and 15 touches respectively. Im looking very closely at both of these blokes for the one spot in my line up.

Jarrad Redden played less than 3 quarters. Still collected 16 touches and 14 hitouts, while Renouf spudded it up in the other quarter. Im thinking that Redden has just gone past Orren on my watchlist.

McCarthy sure got a lot of itm was only on the field for a half and picked up 14 touches.

We can say the same thing about Hartlett. 11 touches for a half a game.

Wingard played out the full game for 16 touches, which aint too shabby at all.

Sub Effected: Suban, Clarke, Van Berlo, Griffin, Pitt, Neale, Spurr, Schloithe
Sub Effected: Cornes, Salopek, Hartlett, Stewart, Logan, Phillips, Jacobs, Renouf, Pfeiffer, McCarthy

Brisbane vs Carlton

Result: Brisbane by 64, 15.14 to 6.4

Rockliff and Redden. I reckon were gunna hear a lot from them this year. Rockliff picking up 23 disposals, resting forward and snagging 3 goals, while Redden smashed it with 29 disposals. Big things.

Hanley did his chances a solid this week, collecting 25 touches and pushing nicely up the ground. Just when I thought my backline was settled!

A better game from Leuenberger, with 8 touches and 16 hitouts, but boy, Longer is looking a player isnt he? 9 disposals and 13 hitouts for the young bloke.

For the Blues, Kane Lucas had the pill the most, 20 disposals was a tidy effort. Though there was a lot of Blues missing

Judd made it through a 3/4th of the game, collecting 14 disposals for his efforts.

Bowers efforts might see him make his way back into my lineup, 15 disposals and a full game for the bloke is nice.

It was nice to see Rowe getting a full game, but his 7 touches aint inspiring!

Sub Effected: McGrath, Hawksley, Polkinghorne, Rich, OBrien, Maguire, Karnezis.
Sub Effected: Thornton, Walker, Ellard, Joseph, Yarran, McLean, McCarthy, Carter, Bootsma, Heyne

GWS vs Gold Coast

Result: GWS by 13 points, 0.11.10 to 1.8.6

I dunno, I was *this* close to opening this review with a very un-pc South Park gag, but after regaining my senses, am just going to go with the standard: First AFL win ever.

Anthony Miles sure looks the part, doesnt he! 24 touches for this former U18 all Australian. An absolute ball magnet and a very interesting prospect.

Clifton and Sumner both did a good job, both picking up 17 disposals.

I thought Tomlinson did very well, 11 disposals from half a game. However, you do pay the premium with him, but perhaps it could be thought of as a DPPtax?

Hoskin-Elliot, Cameron and McDonald all played half a game. All did alright without writing home I thought.

I gotta say, its like the GWS are trying to catch out people who arent paying attention, Giles played for but a quarter this game for 2 touches and 8 hitouts - Accounting for 2/3rds of all their hitouts. Hard to see him not getting the #1 guernsey.

Wow, Swallow is going to be in my team next year I reckon. The guy is a gun, 27 touches off what was essentially 3 quarters.

Caddy was lively. only played a half, but still managed 8 disposals and 5 tackles. Shame he isnt rookie priced!

Karmichael Hunt wasnt bad, 10 disposals in the first half, 16 for the match was good. Though the competition really wasnt there, was there!

Sub Effected: Cameron, Edwards, Giles, Schulz, Ugle, Whiley, Hoskin-Elliot, Tomlinson, Davis, McDonald, Tyson.
Sub Effected: Harbrow, Jolly, Flanagan, Dixon, Rischitelli, Iles, Hickey, Caddy, Patrick, Gilbee, Sexton.

Melbourne vs Hawthorn

Result: Hawthorn by 79, 1.17.12 to 6.8

Wow, the Hawks kicked it aroung a lot. Meant just like lasy year, their defenders got a great share of it.

They also dominated, which saw Buddy kick 5, and Hale kick 6.

On the Demons side, it was pretty ugly. Bate played less than 40% for a 9 touch game.

Martin had just one touch from half a game, while Couch could only manage 7 off half a game.

To make things worse, Magner looks to have done something to his finger. Im hearing "a week", but Im also hearing "Yeah, thats not a week" - so well definitely need to watch.

Sub Effected: Bateman, Young, Rioli, Lowden, Savage, Breust, Smith, Hallahan, Gunston, Kelly.
Sub Effected: Bate, Jones, Rivers, Frwaley, Martin, Bail, McKenzie, Fitzpatrick, Tyman, Couch, Magner.

West Coast vs St. Kilda

Result: West Coast by 33, 1.10.16 to 0.7.10

Dean Cox you dominant sonovabish. Im been Bearish on you all summer with your nitnat timeshare, so what do you do while sharing? Plonk yourself at CHF and do a great job. Gunna have to see if I cant free up the bucks to bring in the big man.

Scooter Selwood and Masten are both having great pre-seasons, this game with 23 and 19 disposals respectively - but surely they wont do enough to warrent a mid selection right?

No Neates, no Hams and only half a game from Weedon. Im not sure if were wiser on the LeCras spot or not!

Stevens managed a tidy 13 touches and a goal off 3 quarters, which isnt ideal, but not too shabby.

Im already hearing rumbling of people skipping on Goddard. His disposal isnt up to the scratch you expect from the great man. But then, it is the preseason, and he is Goddard.

Lenny Hayes ran out the full game for 14 touches.

Much like Stevens, Ledger managed 13 touches and a goal off 3 quarters too. Reckon they are both battling for the same spot in my line-up as well!

McEvoy wasnt great, only 7 disposals and 4 hitouts in the half that he was on.

Sub Effected: Butler, Priddis, Selwood, Mackenzie, Swift, Stevenson, Sheppard, Weedon, Wilson, Hamp, McInnes.
Sub Effected: Blake, Gram, Armitage, Geary, Dempster, McEvoy, Steven, Ray, Ledger, Siposs, Wilkes.

North Melbourne vs Bulldogs

Result: North by 23, 1.11.18 to 0.9.16

Alright, its late so Ill do this one in the Morning... Goldstein looks like he finally got the #1 rucking spot!



As always though, feel free to jump in and tell us who you liked! Whos off your list, and who surprised the salt out of you.

or yanno, just fill out the card.

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