Ah the offseason, where the truth is flexible and everyone is training the house down. One of the tricks of the offseason is in keeping up with the shear volume of puff pieces that are released by the clubs and filtering out those gem pieces of information.

So what Im looking to do, is to put together a weekly article, containing exactly those- puff pieces, who if true, could potentially shape our season.

Plus yanno, it gives us a good chance to discuss the merits of a handful of players for next year.

Check it out over the break.

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1 Dec:
<a href="http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/tabid/7009/default.aspx?newsid=126770">
De Boer eyes inside mid role
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<blockquote>

Matt de Boer is hoping a full pre-season and improved fitness levels can help him become the inside midfielder he wanted to be at the start of last season.

The 21-year-old said an interrupted pre-season leading into 2011 meant he couldn’t get himself to the level he needed to be at to play in the position.

“I was hoping to play an inside midfielder role but my fitness levels weren’t there,” he said.
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My Take: If he can keep his F/M eligibility, and spend more time in the middle of the ground, hes a monty to improve on his average of 68 (which included an injury effected 12). I really rated De Boer as a youngster and was shocked to see him slide to the rookie draft- turns out that his kicking was worse than I gave him credit for. But he was alway a huge accumulator of the ball, and if given the chance to get through the Dockers midfield more, I reckon an 80-90 average isnt out of the question. (which if he hits 90, is a top 15 forward!)


2 Dec:

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/brett-ebert-at-front-and-centre/story-e6freco3-1226211699084">Brett Ebert at front and centre[/url]

<blockquote>
PIGEON-HOLED Port Adelaide forward Brett Ebert says hes ready to rumble as a regular midfielder next year.

Frustrated by a disastrous 2011 campaign, the 28-year-old is using this pre-season as his platform to play in the centre square with cousin Brad in 2012.

"Obviously that would be great," said Ebert, who managed just 12 AFL games this year while spending time with the Port Magpies in the SANFL.
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My Take: Priced at roughly $350k with an average of 65, Brett should retain his forward eligibility next year. After missing last pre-season due to a LARS procedure, and a handful of games throughout the year due to an Appendix, Brett really struggled to get started. That said though, his round 24 was excellent, with 21 touches, 3 goals and a 121SC saw him pretty much double his average for the year. If those are the kind of numbers Brett can bring, and he gets moved to the midfield with his brother Brad, he could definitely be worth a shake. That said though, I reckon this piece is more puff than anything, and that Brett has been a little too inconsistant historically to take a risk on improving his average by 20+ this year.


3 Dec:

<a href="http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/barlow-looks-to-recapture-best-form/story-e6frg1xu-1226213148831">Barlow looks to recapture best form[/url]

<blockquote>
FREMANTLE revelation Michael Barlow remains certain he can regain the form that had him in line for a Brownlow Medal in just his first season of AFL football.

Barlow has been back training with the Dockers for four weeks on an extended rehabilitation program, with aims of rejoining the main group in a fortnight.

The 23-year-old returned in Round 13 this year after recovering from a horrific broken left leg suffered 17 months ago in Fremantles win over Port Adelaide.

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My Take: Oh Barlow, we love you, we really do. Barlow (If youve been living under a rock), averaged 116SC in his first year of supercoach, before ending his season with a Tibial fracture. Heck, the same injury ruined his 2011 season to the point where he played 10 games to average 86.

So what we have here, is a salary of about $445k and some massive potential. If Barlow can recapture is 2010 form through this preseason, he will be a massive get at this price. Big if, but well definitely be keeping a close eye on him.


<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmonds-brett-deledio-set-for-return-to-midfield/story-e6frf9jf-1226212661356">Richmonds Brett Deledio set for return to midfield[/url]

<blockquote>
RICHMOND star Brett Deledio will return to the midfield next year after several seasons playing across the half-back line.

Coach Damien Hardwick said the recruitment of a number of quality ball users meant Deledio, 24, would get his wish to play in the middle.
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My Take: Hes a premium, no doubt about it, averaging 105SC last year and looking to a price of $555k, with or without this article, if Lids keeps his D/M positioning, he was a lock in my squad anyways.

Deledio was amazingly consistant last year, with 1 game under 70, and only 3 games under 91, I think that this article just ensures his status as one of the lockiest locks available. Durability, consistancy, DPP, scoring, hes got it all.


5 Dec:

<a href="http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/crows-say-tambling-can-move-forward-from-back-half/story-e6frecoc-1226213718341">Crows say Tambling can move forward from back-half[/url]

<blockquote>
ADELAIDE defender Richard Tambling has been earmarked for a Leon Davis-like role in 2012.

But finding confidence will be the key for the 25-year-old, who will be watched by new Crows backline coach Darren Milburn this summer.

Tambling was trialled in defence this year but Milburn is eager to persist with the experiment, in the hope the former Tiger can emulate Daviss resurrection at Collingwood.
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My Take: Hes maligned no doubt, so I reckon itll be tough for anyone to give a truely un-biased diagnosis on the bloke, but for mine, the risk is surely too great. Yes, he did average 101 in the last 13 rounds of 2009, and he definitely has talent, but while hes a mid only, hes not going to be selected in any team. That said, I do fully expect a little DPP love for young Bling this year, which would probably take it from a resounding no, to just a regular- no thanks.


<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/essendons-david-zaharakis-a-rising-don-but-dont-mention-that-anzac-day-goal/story-e6frf9jf-1226213548242">Essendons David Zaharakis a rising Don ... but dont mention that Anzac Day goal[/url]

<blockquote>
DONT talk to David Zaharakis about Anzac Day. Essendons blossoming star admits he has tired of discussing his match-winning goal in the 2009 clash with Collingwood.

A Rising Star nomination from his first game and winning his first club best-and-fairest award are other feats that fail to spark protracted reminiscing.

Zaharakis is not ungrateful. He just wants to take his game to the next level. And the next. And the next.
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My Take: Zaharakis teased us this year, promising big things, but started the year in the forward line. However, as pointed out in this article, Round 8 onwards, built up his time in the midfield.

Zaharakis averaged 81 in the first 7 rounds last year, 93 in the next 7, and the played out the year averaging 98. That 98 would have seen him move up to the 12th best forward last year, with durability being a big boon.

Hes priced roughly $485k though, and if he does keep is M/F, I dont doubt will be a top7 forward next year.

(Pull me up here if you disagree, I do have my Red and Black shades on!)