I've set it up for you to shoot it down

[Bertie]

Here's what I'm thinking ATM:

Backs:
Grimes -  time in the midfield this year?
Ellis - can play - remember his 08 GF?
Hodge - say no more
Malceski - had time to get his confidence back
Waters - good reports on him from WCE
Kennelly - too good at the price
Smith - please don't break down again
Maguire - a bit of a Presti, but at least will play
Davis - wraps on him from Adelaide

Centres:
Ablett - lock in as captain and forget
Cooney - sooo underpriced for what he is capable of
Dalzeill - ball magnet
McVeigh - look at his 08 numbers
Ball - will get lots of it (and tackles) in and under
Palmer - great value (if his knee holds up)
Melksham - had Cunnington until he got hurt
Bastinac - either he or Cunnington should play (I'm hedging my bets at this stage)

Rucks:
Brogan - No.1 now at P.A.
Hille - for the price, you can't go past him
Lobbe - either he or Trengove will be No.2 at Port, so I should have a playing reserve to be a cash cow
Trengove

Forwards:
Deledio - gun
Pavlich - gun
Murphy - gun
Medhurst - a risk, but has shown he can post big numbers
Hall - could be a unique pick, and can score v.well if they play to him
Dangerfield - ready to breakout
Veszpremi - time to prove he's up to it
Trengove - ready for AFL
Dennis-Lane - should fit in to Swans with all their forwards retired

A few iffy picks, but you've got to take some chances.  What does everybody think?

[luke]

Nice team.
Last i herad tho waters had reinjured himself, apart from that should do well

[ronl]

You've taken a number of chances, some will come off, some won't.  You're probably aware that Hille is not in full training and is doubtful for round 1. Last year he scored poorly in the early rounds leading up to his injury...as for Malceski, I don't know, I like the guy and had him last year, but I would tnink that the NAB cup will show whether he has his confidence back or not.  I was on the McVeigh bandwagon until a few days ago...listen, I know his 08 numbers were terrific, but his lack of pace in the Bomber team worries me, as well as never knowing where his head is at and when it's likely to explode.  He's also rather frail, doesn't take too hard a knock to put him on the sidelines.  I was toying with the idea of Medhurst but he's another one who seems to cop a lot of injury time and he's not a key target up forward, he seems to rely on one-man superhuman efforts for a lot of his point scoring, so decided against him. Barry Hall is Barry Hall, can be a match winner one week and kickless the next, every game is a roll of the dice, I personally wouldn't risk him.  Anyway, just some opinions, hope they're of some help.

[Bertie]

As you say, ronl, there are a few chancey ones there, and it's early days yet.  I take your point about Hille, but his price (according to Monty) is so juicy, and you're right about McVeigh and Medhurst.  NAB Cup will tell us lots more.  Thanks for your thoughts. ;)

[Keza41]

Your team is pretty average and lacking of premiums...i've got 10 in my team while you only seem to have 4 or 5

[matho23]

Avoid Malceski.

I stupidly had him last year and he is a spud. Not sure if swannies will persist with him in 2010.

[Bertie]

Depends on what you define as a premium, Keza.  If by price, then you can only afford so many.  If you have 10, then you must have lots of rookies = lots of risk.  I think I've got at least 7 (Grimes, Hodge, Ablett, Cooney, Deledio, Pavlich, Murphy) and some solid mid-pricers who will go up in value.  It's all about picking guys who you think will perform and go up in value, and I think lots of mine are underpriced, which I hope means they will either score well and be keepers, or can be used to upgrade.

I got burnt by Malceski last year, too, Matho, but living in Canberra, I saw him a bit in the Swans seconds, and he sure knows how to get the ball (as in 07) - he's just got to get his head right for senior AFL, and in an interview a couple of weeks back he sounded pretty positive.  Calculated gamble, but I'll watch pre-season to be sure.

[Keza41]

Well when you make your team on fanplanner it shows you how many premiums/mid/cheap/and rookies that you have in your team

[jimmytigs]

Backs:
Malceski - had time to get his confidence back
Centres:
McVeigh - look at his 08 numbers
Rucks:
Forwards:
Murphy - gun
Medhurst - a risk, but has shown he can post big numbers
Hall - could be a unique pick, and can score v.well if they play to him
Veszpremi - time to prove he's up to it

Like your ruck thoughts,malceski is a fantasy dud,like others he sucked me in before but not again,mcveigh(sydney) has become a tagger ive gone off him(essendon)just wouldnt have him(injury & stupidity),murphy disappoints with injury other 3 forwards no way cant have em

[mcwarne]

Keza is right, you will need about 10 to compete. When I first do the FP I come in at 8 or 9 but I keep pushing until I get at least 10 (prefer 11 like last year). At the moment I only have the obvious rookies (Trengove, Scully, Martin, Cunnington or not depends on his foot, Sheppard or Ash Smith and Davis) so there is no more risk in them than everyone else is going to have. I swear by Guns 'n Rookies as I will study the rookies pre-season until I know which colour socks and jocks they wear!

[matho23]

mcwarne, i am doing the guns and rookie strategy this year. I got 12 prems in my side at moment. (4 backs, 3mids, 1 ruck, 4 fwds). Whats your combination? Struggling to decide on the 3 prems in mids at moment. Thinking Bartel, Pendles/Gibbs, Selwood. Thoughts?

[Bertie]

Surely the key is picking players who are premiums, but not at premium price.  Case in point: Cooney.  Not rated a premium in Fanplanner, but clearly a (Brownlow-winning) gun.  Don't get locked into someone else's defenition of "premium"; you've got to take chances on who you think will become premiums during the year instead of loading up at the start before any form is on the board.   For me, these are guys like Dalzeill, Palmer, Hille, Murphy, and even Ellis and Ball.