Melbourne’s James Strauss is one of a number of bolters bidding for a late call up for round 1.
I’m going as fast as I can cap’n, she canna take any more!
Melbourne
FB: Jared Rivers, Matthew Warnock, Cameron Bruce
HB: Joel Macdonald, James Frawley, Aaron Davey
C: Jack Trengove, Brent Moloney, Jack Grimes
HF: Brad Green, Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn
FF: Addam Maric, Brad Miller, Ricky Petterd
Fol: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Nathan Jones
Int: Stefan Martin, Tom Scully, Jamie Bennell, James Strauss
In: Strauss, Dunn
Out: Austin Wonaeamirri, Colin Sylvia
Iffy: Dunn, Bennell, Maric, Strauss
Waiting: Colin Garland, Rohan Bail, Clint Bartram, Kyle Cheney
Injured: Sylvia, Wonaeamirri, Liam Jurrah, Cale Morton, Paul Johnson, Jack Watts, Sam Blease, Luke Tapscott, Max Gawn, John Meesen, Daniel Bell
If you don’t get a game at Melbourne this week and you’re fit, you may never play in the ones at all. It’s all hands to the pump at Casey Fields. The club is still talking up Sylvia’s chances but I don’t think so, and Dunn’s flexibility playing as a forward makes him a natural (if inferior) replacement. Strauss is the most interesting one from a fantasy perspective, as he may very well end up being a better cash cow rookie midfielder than the Scullgrove combo.
Hawthorn
FB: Josh Gibson, Stephen Gilham, Brent Guerra
HB: Rick Ladson, Ryan Schoenmakers, Grant Birchall
C: Xavier Ellis, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis
HF: Michael Osborne, Beau Dowler, Jarryd Morton
FF: Garry Moss, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Fol: Brent Renouf, Liam Shiels, Luke Hodge
Int: Jordan Lisle, Matt Suckling, Thomas Murphy, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson
In: Lisle, Morton, Suckling, Murphy
Out: Wayde Skipper, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Burgoyne, Beau Muston
Iffy: Muston, Rioli, Burgoyne, Kayler-Thomson
Waiting: Sam Grimley, Ben Stratton, Carl Peterson, Rhan Hooper
Injured: Burgoyne, Skipper, Rioli, Max Bailey, Cameron Stokes, Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Brendan Whitecross, Luke Lowden
Suspended: Lance Franklin, Chance Bateman
Retired: Trent Croad
Melbourne FC may only be fronting round 1 with the Casey Scorpions All-Stars, but the same goes for Box Hill, I mean Hawthorn. The questions over whether JKT and/or Peterson will be promoted are yet to be resolved. Not that there’s a lack of LTI players for the Hawks to be replaced. All sorts of mixed signals are being sent through the media as to the make-up of the Hawthorn ruck division, which says to me that not even the Hawks coaches know for sure as yet. Hawk fans will howl at the sight of Murphy’s spud-like countenance but I have Murphy ahead of Stratton as necessary cover for the tall backs, mainly because coach Clarkson will probably want Schoenmakers to swing forward at times.
Brisbane
FB: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Jed Adcock, Matt Maguire, Josh Drummond
C: Cheynee Stiller, Daniel Rich, Travis Johnstone
HF: Jared Brennan, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
FF: Brent Staker, Brendan Fevola, Amon Buchanan
Fol: Mitch Clark, Simon Black, Luke Power
Int: Matthew Leuenberger, Michael Rischitelli, James Polkinghorne, Tom Rockliff
In: Power, Staker
Out: Jack Redden, Tom Collier
Iffy: Polkinghorne, Rockliff, Maguire, Stiller
Waiting: Troy Selwood, Sam Sheldon, Albert Proud, James Hawksley
Injured: Xavier Clarke, Callum Bartlett, Jamie Charman
I had a feeling this might happen. At the start of this preseason there was still hope for a number of younger Lions that they would survive the onslaught of mercenaries hired by coach Voss in the offseason, but as round 1 approached I suspected that we’d start hearing whispers about the more senior players, like Staker, being given first crack. Voss will know that home to the Eagles is a trap game as far as Brisbane is concerned, so he will want to put a full strength, experienced line up on the park, to match John Worsfold’s usual style.
West Coast
FB: Beau Waters, Darren Glass, Will Schofield
HB: Adam Selwood, Mitchell Brown, Shannon Hurn
C: Tom Swift, Daniel Kerr, Brad Ebert
HF: Mark LeCras, Josh J. Kennedy, Sam Butler
FF: Ben McKinley, Quinten Lynch, Mark Nicoski
Fol: Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Chris Masten
Int: Nic Naitanui, Andrew Embley, Matt Rosa, Luke Shuey
In: Schofield
Out: Matt Spangher
Iffy: Rosa, Butler, McKinley, Shuey
Waiting: Bradd Dalziell, Eric MacKenzie, Brett Jones, Ashley Hansen
The Eagles have a completely clean injury report, albeit that Kerr, Priddis and Waters started the preseason with minor issues that have since been worked out. There are two matchup queries here: whether either Shuey or Swift will be sacrificed for MacKenzie as cover for the Lions’ three tall forwards, or whether either of those two misses for a dedicated tagger like Patrick McGinnity.
hawk_88
March 22, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Interesting pick with Murphy. Never been a fan of his attitude, always seems to be protecting himself and not breaking packs and tackling. Generally a lazy kick and not always the best decision maker. I accept the logic of his pick though.
That being said, I like Peterson instead of either him or Suckling. Peterson playing off forward flank may be just what we need, not our normal forward structure but its not a normal 22 either.
Also think Muston will get a guernsey this week with the one strength of Melbourne being it’s pace. The Hawks are not well known for their pace as you would know.
Who do you think will drop out of your team should Rioli play like Clarko suggested? I doubt he will but coached have been honest on rare occasions in the past.
woofta
March 22, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Agree,Peterson to be promoted as a tall FWD.Look out for the X man this year.
hawk_88
March 22, 2010 at 8:41 pm
@woofta
tall? Peterson is 6 foot.
woofta
March 22, 2010 at 8:48 pm
At 183cm he will play the Williams role as 3rd tall fwd.
hawk_88
March 22, 2010 at 8:50 pm
3rd key forward maybe, but he is quick and agile. Has a leap like a spring so might be good on the lead too but will probably crumb quite a bit.
Arky
March 22, 2010 at 8:58 pm
I am not having a bar of Hawthorn fringe. Last year I was confident enough to take Whitecross but this year I think the uncertain injury returns and ruck situation mean Clarko hasn’t been sure what the team structure will be, nor has there been real standout PICK ME performances from the fringe
Wasn’t Bail meant to be the smoky for Melbourne? Strauss or Bail, I wouldn’t expect much.
Staker playing vs WCE was probably inevitable and Collier has had some chances and hasnt really grabbed them. Reasonable enough for him to get a shot first up. I am encouraged for Rockliff though as there’s noone to replace him on name alone, if he slips it will be poor form from him and another kid beating down the door
hawk_88
March 22, 2010 at 9:03 pm
@Arky
Totally with you on the Hawk Fringe, as fantasy picks and as players.
Muston, Morton, Dowler, Tuck and Suckling all need to show form and fast. All been given games and have only shown glimpses. They all, apart from Tuck, will be getting opportunities in the next few weeks, they need to grab them with both hands if they want to play AFL into the future.
woofta
March 22, 2010 at 9:27 pm
On the West Coast fwd line.Kennedy is obviously the main tall fwd.Second spot between Lynch and Hansen,probably goes to Hansen as Lynch is too slow and no longer required for rucking duties.No need for another tall as the dreadlocked one will be rotated through there.Saw him kick 2 goals during 5 mins fwd against Melb.Ok it was Melb but’you should have been there.’
evande
March 22, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Monty – think this is most probably for the Eagles:
BJ will start in a back pocket, Waters on the bench, Mackenzie on Staker and Swift, McKinley out.
evande
March 22, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Woofta
Hansen has played his last game for my beloved Eag’s. He is no longer the player that straightened them up in 05/06 and with JK at CHF, BIG Q will be a revelation back at FF (remember 65 goals in 06 prem. yr.)
Jeesh
March 22, 2010 at 10:31 pm
No Spencer, who is backup ruck for the D’s?
m0nty
March 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm
I’ve got Martin as supporting Jamar in the ruck.
Ryderrr
March 22, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Why was Redden removed from the Lion’s 22 monty? Is he injured?
And encouraging to see you named Rischitelli on the bench alongside Rockliff. I saw them as fighting for a spot in the team. Hopefully Rockliff’s NAB form secures him a spot for Round 1 and beyond.
m0nty
March 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Power’s return means Redden is the 23rd player.
Ryderrr
March 22, 2010 at 10:48 pm
*Polkinghorne, sorry. Not Rischitelli.
Spector
March 22, 2010 at 11:06 pm
McKinley is facing a fitness test with a groin problem of some sort
Elktek
March 22, 2010 at 11:13 pm
No Love for Raines again for V3 Monty?
m0nty
March 22, 2010 at 11:17 pm
I have no love for Raines at all.
ThePoms
March 23, 2010 at 1:55 am
What was franklin suspended for?
hawk_88
March 23, 2010 at 8:28 am
@ThePoms
The head high bump on Ben Cousins in round 21. Still a load of crap if you ask me.
TC4ST
March 23, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Any reason why you have Maguire listed as iffy, Monty? First I’ve heard of any JS issues
brodman_18
March 23, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Monty Raines may be injury prone but you would have to think that the Lions are at least considering playing him. Even if not he would have to be at least waiting or iffy. To simply ignore him may not be the best way to go about it.
bigbudyboy
March 23, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Monty I am a keen hawks fan as well.
I’d have peterson a starter at the expense of probably Morton… He would play the same role as morton, but doesn’t make me want to throw my remote and the TV like morton does.
JKT probably isn’t “iffy” until young is a definite return, and that’s only if ladson is playing well.
Peterson and JKT would be the only hawk rookies i’d be looking at from the start. I’m hoping suckling and Stratton for a late season downgrade. Stratton should get a game ahead of murphy towards the end of the season.
hairydog84
March 23, 2010 at 9:26 pm
cameron bruce in the back pocket are you insane and if that is where he starts they better get gary lion in there quick smart
pascoe
March 25, 2010 at 12:21 pm
anybody have a spare spot in their league? much appreciated.