There is just over a month to go before the SuperCoach AFL fantasy competition is to begin. Using the statistics, estimated values and the rules of SuperCoach a preview of a possible fantasy lineup will be posted.
A possible starting ruck group.
Dean Cox: Covers the ground and gets statistics everywhere, that separates him from other fantasy ruckmen. He doesn't have a big challenge when it comes to minutes, Seaby just gives Cox a couple of minutes rest every quarter, so Cox should continue to be a great fantasy player.
David Hille: Maybe he has a changed role, as Sheedy could give Laycock or even Gumbleton some time in the ruck, but the more likely idea is Sheedy goes with his veterans and that means Hille plays as much as he wants. Hille is an above average ruckmen for fantasy AFL. Hille can also get forward and with a few goals as well as other stats his fantasy numbers add up.
Robert Campbell: Logic says he should be even better in 2007, he isn't sharing time with Everitt and now with Max Bailey out for the year there has to be a huge amount of playing time for Campbell. If he is at a similar price to last season then he is a bargain.
Drew Petrie: Will be a steal if you can play him in the ruck for fantasy but he is spending most of his time floating around half back for the Kangaroos. But if he is at full back, with Hansen at centre half back, then Petrie won't be as good. What they do with Watt and Brown could influence where Petrie is played. But when the official positions for AFL fantasy are announced then maybe Petrie is no longer a ruckman, so maybe a player like Fraser or White would be another option.
B D Mundy
B L Whitnall
B B Goddard
B C Cornes
B L Hodge
B A Proud
B L Hansen
C C Judd
C A Goodes
C S Thompson
C B Gibbs
R D Cox
R D Hille
R R Campbell
R D Petrie
Little Bart Simpson took off and brought down the mark of the year, although the landing didn't do him a lot of good. You can relive Moorcroft's big fly against the Bulldogs on a highlight video of the AFL on the youtube site. Also included is Tarrant's huge pack mark over half the Melbourne side. A few goals and other highlights of various players are also on the video.
AFL Awesome Marks and Goals
More information will be known later about Nick Riewoldt's injury but right now it does not seem like he will miss any regular season games. But there are varying types of hamstring injury so it could be a couple of weeks rest or it might be longer until he is totally recovered.
Story from the official AFL site: Injury for Riewoldt.
AFL Fantasy Impact:
Probably no need to change your strategy with signing Riewoldt for your AFL fantasy team. He should be ready to go for round 1. But if he does miss the NAB Cup then it will be a chance to see other Saints forwards play. There is room for another fantasy player up forward with Riewoldt and Gehrig, and in the NAB Cup several players will get a chance. Maybe Hamill gets back to his previous form or a small like Milne cements his spot.
There is just over a month to go before the SuperCoach AFL fantasy competition is to begin. Using the statistics, estimated values and the rules of SuperCoach a preview of a possible fantasy lineup will be posted.
A possible starting centre group:
Chris Judd: Not a difficult decision. He will be first picked for many AFL fantasy teams. Costs a lot but brings in the fantasy points. He has again had his shoulder worked on over summer, so maybe with that fixed Judd is even better than he usually is.
Adam Goodes: The perfect player for AFL fantasy, there is nothing he can't do. The only way he becomes more valuable is if he is position eligible for the ruck, but that is unlikely.
Scott Thompson: An upside pick, with Ricciuto and McLeod both possibly playing forward it could mean more responsibility and more statistics for Thompson in the middle. Could be a bargain pick who won't just get AFL fantasy points but will see a good value increase.
Bryce Gibbs: The question isn't about signing him but deciding if he is kept on a fantasy bench or played as a starter, maybe he should be starting when round 1 comes along. It will only take a quarter of Carlton's first NAB Cup game to see if Gibbs can play and the result should be a positive. For signing Gibbs and starting him, it is assuming that Gibbs does start at the lowest price, but as Murphy did last year then that should happen for Gibbs too.
B D Mundy
B L Whitnall
B B Goddard
B C Cornes
B L Hodge
B A Proud
B L Hansen
C C Judd
C A Goodes
C S Thompson
C B Gibbs
Speedy Rhan Hooper could have been a regular player for the Lions this season but he has decided to leave the club. He won't be delisted yet so there is a chance he returns to the Lions later in the 2007 season.
Story from The Herald-Sun: Young Lion walks
AFL Fantasy Impact:
The Lions have the big forward spots covered but there are several open positions for smalls to help out Brown and Bradshaw. With Hooper out of the mix it could mean someone like Schmidt gets more playing time, or maybe the Lions move one of their veterans like Chris Johnson or Nigel Lappin up forward. Johnson knows how to kick a goal and would have value as a fantasy forward, Lappin can also play at both ends although he would be more likely to get a lot more stats if played back. Something else to watch is to see if Brisbane do eventually remove Hooper from the list, they have Anthony Corrie on the rookie list and if he is healthy he could step right into their AFL team. Daniel Dzufer is another rookie player they may consider elevating.
Important Outs:
P Everitt, N Ries, M Ball, B Kane, H Miller, J Barker
Important Ins:
M Thorp, J Kennedy, B Renouf, J Morton, G Moss
Injury News:
Max Bailey (knee, to miss 2007)
Fantasy Stars:
Mitchell and Hodge are the two big stars, you can't go wrong with either of them on your fantasy team, or just sign both. The ruck will be a bit different at Hawthorn this season and Robert Campbell could have a big year. Crawford doesn't have a lot left but he is still a good player for fantasy in 2007. Bateman, Lewis, Sewell and Brown are also solid fantasy players. But Grant Birchall might be an even better player to sign and could be a big fantasy player. The forward line has a lot of options and no defined system yet but Mark Williams is going to get goals, while Lance Franklin should also keep improving and become a fantasy star.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
Danny Jacobs could return to action in a loose role around centre half back, he gets plenty of fantasy points in that role.
Trent Croad can play at either end, but his fantasy value might not be very high if he gets the full back spot.
Tim Clarke can find the ball but he could lose time to some younger players.
Vandenberg will consistently get his stats.
Joel Smith and Ladson usually find a spot and are solid fantasy players, but both could be competing for playing time with some younger players.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Xavier Ellis. A high draft pick but didn't play last season, should explode into the AFL this season. Could be one of the lower-cost fantasy players so he will be able to help in stats and also as an asset that will increase in value.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
Thorp is worth a spot on a fantasy bench. The Hawks are not sure where he will be playing but he will be out there. Thorp could be an option at centre half forward for the Hawks. Brent Renouf moves up on their depth chart with the injury to Bailey, but he might not be too useful for fantasy leagues. Josh P Kennedy could see time at several positions this upcoming season, if he is going to make his debut for the Hawks a good strategy could be adding him to your bench. Morton is behind a lot of similarly-sized players and may not get a game while Moss is ready to play but unless Mitchell is out there really isn't a spot for him right now.
Danny Stanley: Deny Any Slant
Useful in NFL, denying the slant pass route, not much need for that in AFL.
Brent Stanton: Tent Not Barns
Stanton will be setting up camp in the Bombers' elite player group, not something Barnes ever did there.
Tyson Stenglein: Only Gets Tennis
He gets football too.
Nick Stevens: Knives Scent
You don't have to be hard of smelling to know the knives are out at Carlton.
Scott Stevens: Contests Vest
He also contests for the ball.
Cheynee Stiller: The Rely Silence
A quiet and reliable player.
Mathew Stokes: What Most Seek
He can kick goals, that is what most teams seek.
Peter Street: Rest Tree Pet
The tree part fits.
Jacob Surjan: Or Cajuns Jab
Strong player for the Power, probably doesn't have a Cajun background.
Andrew Swallow: Wear Down Walls
The commentary from Walls is often not the best, it will wear you down.
Dane Swan: A New Sand
A lot better than the old sand.
Justin Sweeney: Just In Eye News
This news just in, Sweeney unlikely to get a game in 2007, but a chance for 2008.
Colin Sylvia: Is In Vocally
Good to have the players talking it up on the field.
Brad Symes: Messy Drab
A more exciting and important player than that suggests.
What team did Shaun Smith first play for in the AFL? Also, an easier question to remember, what Melbourne teammate provided the shoulders for Smith to stand on as he took the "Mark of the Century"?
There is just over a month to go before the SuperCoach AFL fantasy competition is to begin. Using the statistics, estimated values and the rules of SuperCoach a preview of a possible fantasy lineup will be posted.
A possible starting back line:
David Mundy: They are already down a midfielder with Schammer out, the Dockers also brought back Thornton while adding Solomon, there are plenty of reasons to think that Fremantle could give extended minutes to Mundy in the midfield. But Mundy will be eligible as a defender in fantasy, so you put him there.
Lance Whitnall: Might have to play as a defender for Carlton and he gets a lot of the ball there. Directs the ball out of the back line with accuracy and is also very good at marking kicks from the opposition.
Brendan Goddard: Long accurate kicking helps with fantasy points, won't be the bargain that he was last year but still worth it. If his new coach can expand his game even more then Goddard could still improve his numbers.
Chad Cornes: Gets a lot of the ball and this should continue. The Power need to use him to clear the ball in the back line, you add his many possessions with his marking ability and it produces a lot of fantasy points.
Luke Hodge: Was eligible for a back line spot, and if he is again then he is a good player to sign. But will obviously get most of his time in the middle which means a lot of stats. His price in AFL fantasy has been very high on some occasions so even though he is one of the better players he won't be worth it if he is the most expensive of all.
Albert Proud: You can save money by adding a couple of inexpensive first year players to your starting lineup. Proud should step right into the Brisbane team as they really need him. The NAB Cup will give a better idea of how ready he is, and if players like Roe and Lappin who had injuries are going to play, but right now the indications are good that Proud will be in contention to start for round 1.
Lachlan Hansen: Contested marks will bring Hansen plenty of fantasy points. With some disposals, tackles and free kicks received his fantasy points could quickly add up. The Kangaroos didn't draft him high up in the draft to sit him so he should get a lot of playing time and if he is out there he will be throwing himself into the action.
B D Mundy
B L Whitnall
B B Goddard
B C Cornes
B L Hodge
B A Proud
B L Hansen
When the new AFL fantasy season begins, and the prices and positions are announced, then updated previews will be provided.
Ben Sharp: Brash Pen
Sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword but not on this occasion.
Earl Shaw: Real Wash
Gets a bath whenever he plays.
Heath Shaw: He Wash Hat
Could be wearing the captain's hat in the future there.
Rhyce Shaw: Why Search
Why should Collingwood search for players to draft when the father/son rule can provide them.
Justin Sherman: Smash in Jet Run
A player for Brisbane who will put his body in.
Robert Shirley: Steer Horribly
Not the best kick for goal, but can usually steer it through the goalposts.
Troy Simmonds: So Stormy Mind
Still feeling the effects of the Long hit, probably not.
Jonathan Simpkin: Join Kinsman Path
The path to the starting 22 for Sydney is very crowded.
Adam Simpson: Maps Domains
He knows where to go on the football field.
Kade Simpson: A Demon Skips
Future could be better if he skips out on the Blues and joins Melbourne.
Jess Sinclair: Slices In Jars
Doesn't quite slice in and get the ball like Jarman did, but Sinclair is very good at it.
Wayde Skipper: Dipper Was Key
Robert Dipierdomenico would have been great for anagrams.
Henry Slattery: Then Try Relays
If football doesn't work out then there is always track and field to try.
Jesse Smith: His Jet Mess
Former Cannon isn't a fan of the Jets.
Joel Smith: Jostle Him
Not the strongest player out there, jostle him and you will win the ball.
Dean Solomon: Monsoon Deal
It was a stormy time during trade week for Solomon until the deal was done with Fremantle.
Matthew Spangher: Then Gather Swamp
An odd anagram.
Matthew Spencer: Manchester Wept
The soccer fans there would be crying if they had Spencer in their team.
Brent Staker: Ranks Better
His statistical ranking is much higher than you would expect.
Jason Saddington: Don't Jog As In Sand
He can't help it, injuries have taken away much of his great athleticism.
Steven Salopek: Tasks Envelope
The biggest tasks in the midfield are handed to Salopek.
Ashley Sampi: Lay Emphasis
The Eagles told Sampi he had to have an emphasis on training to get back into the team.
Aaron Sandilands: And A Sonar Island
He is as big as an island.
Eddie Sansbury: Aided by Nurses
Might have had a few injuries in his career.
Matthew Scarlett: What Term Cats Let
What term do the Cats let the game get away from them, usually the second.
Byron Schammer: Scorn By Hammer
Has taken a few hits to his career recently.
Adam Schneider: Hidden Cameras
He doesn't need a good anagram, he has the same last name as John Schneider.
Jay Schulz:
Schulz misses out on an anagram, not the worst thing he's done.
Heath Scotland: Close That Hand
He does run around the field, without an opponent, waving his hands to get the attention of his teammate who has the ball.
Christopher Scott: Restrict Chop Shot
Is an enforcer in the back line for Brisbane, and does restrict the opposition from doing things like that.
Mark Seaby: Say Embark
Sits on the bench for 20 minutes, waits for Worsfold to tell him to embark onto the ground.
Adam Selwood: Was Mood Lead
No reason for him to be in a bad mood.
Troy Selwood: To Lose Rowdy
There might be a bit of losing to come with the rebuilding Lions.
Brad Sewell: Bear Dwells
Not the worst thing to have, the ferocity of a bear dwelling inside a footballer, but better not hibernate during winter.
Nathan Bock has been played as a forward before, and of course McLeod can kick a bag of goals especially if it is a grand final, but both players could become permanent forwards in 2007.
Story from The Herald-Sun, Crows' forward thinking on McLeod.
AFL Fantasy Impact:
The round 22 game of 2006 for the Crows might be an example of the Crows' forward line for 2007. Welsh, Perrie and Bock were the tall options and all kicked goals. If the Crows don't need Bock in the back half then his fantasy numbers could be better as a forward. But the Crows could be a bit small down back without Bock, and there are other forward options for the Crows like McGregor and Gill, so the NAB Cup might give an idea of where Bock will be played. Hentschel kicked around 40 goals last season, Bock should be able to do that if he is a forward in 2007.
McLeod could see a decline in fantasy statistics if he is played in the forward line. He might score a few more goals but his possessions will be a bit lower. But playing him in the forward line might be an idea the Crows have to keep McLeod healthier throughout the year, so that could mean he plays all 22 games which is what AFL fantasy coaches want. McLeod's fantasy numbers in 2007 could be similar to what Scott Thompson had last year. So still consider signing McLeod but he might have to be at a lower price than last season for you to get value.
Andrew Raines: Insane Reward
The Tigers did get a big reward from adding him to their team.
Brady Rawlings: Brawling Yards
The Kangaroos need to fight for every goal.
Farren Ray: A Ferry Ran
The word ferry is also found in Ryan Griffen, so the Bulldogs must be going places.
Brent Reilly: Try Rein Bell
Can't stop Bell.
Joel Reynolds: Dolls Enjoyer
At least he has a hobby.
Mark Ricciuto: Arm Circuit OK
He could be a robot, he can't be stopped.
Guy Richards: Hard Icy Rugs
If he doesn't beat Chris Bryan for the backup spot then he will be sitting on a hard bench, with the icy wind at Williamstown.
Ted Richards: Directs Hard
Kicks the ball hard and direct, sometimes.
Matthew Richardson: March On With Trades
Maybe he wants a chance to win with a trade to a new team, or the Tigers need to trade some of their youth to get a couple of veterans who can help Richardson in September.
Nick Riewoldt: One Wild Trick
If his one trick is to mark everything that comes his way then that is a good thing.
Michael Rischitelli: Reaches Chilli Limit
Rischitelli's games are often played in the heat in Brisbane.
Jared Rivers:
No anagram for Rivers.
Michael Rix: Rich Ale Mix
Rix is in the mix for the ruck there, but not anywhere near the first choice.
Matthew Robbins: That Bomber Wins
He must be on the wrong team, and Essendon could use a small forward like him.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson: Lobster Hits Newsroom
Lobster Hits Newsroom, details later in news.
Russell Robertson: Born Loser Results
If you don't put the right opponent on Robertson then the result won't be good.
Anthony Rocca: Not Coach Yarn
Has to have heard everything that Mick has to say.
David Rodan: Add Ran Void
The Power thought they had a void for runners up forward so they added Rodan.
Jason Roe: So One Jar
So, one poor anagram.
Jarad Rooke: A Joked Roar
The Geelong fans are not really cheering for him.
Matthew Rosa: The War Atoms
The Eagles are a tough team.
Jarryd Roughead: Harry Judo Grade
Fights at a Harry Madden level, that can't be good.
Sean Rusling: Unreal Signs
He is a good prospect and the signs so far are very promising.
Jordan Russell: Landless Juror
Probably not landless after signing a big new contract, but the jury is still out as they decide if he can actually play the game.
Ben Rutten: Burnt Teen
If a young player is put on Rutten then they don't stand a chance.
Patrick Ryder: Trick Per Yard
Needs a few tricks and could be a dominating forward for Essendon.
From NFL.COM.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Arizona Cardinals Named Todd Haley offensive coordinator.
Philadelphia Eagles Signed P Saverio Rocca.
St. Louis Rams Announced the contract of Bob Ligashesky, special teams coach, will not be renewed.
NFL.COM Transactions Page.
It is the biggest NFL transaction of the day, Rocca has joined the Eagles. Training camp is around May and June and he will have to prove himself in the camp, and possibly a preseason game too, to stay with the team. But the Eagles' current punter doesn't have the biggest foot so Rocca is a big chance.
Rocca won't have a problem with kicking long, and he should be good at producing hang-time as well. But to stay with the team he will have to kick the ball consistently, as one bad punt can change a game. Another thing Rocca might want to learn is how to hold the ball for the field goal kicker, this is a task that is often assigned to the punter or a backup quarterback, Ben Graham does this with the Jets so it isn't too hard. If he watched Ace Ventura: Pet Detective then he knows the important part of that, laces out.
Click on the link to read a story about Rocca signing with the Eagles, from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Aussie to vie with Johnson for Birds' punter
Here is a Rocca story from a few days ago from the Philadelphia Daily News.
Eagles invite Aussie mate to give punting a try
The most famous footballer in AFL/VFL history in the entire world is not a player who won a lot or had a long career. He hasn't been seen on a sporting field for a long time, but people everywhere remember the name. It has to be Mark “Jacko” Jackson. Batteries and a TV show made him a star. He also had a successful singing career, and is the only person to ever make people listen to being told they need to change the batteries in their smoke detector.
Jacko profiles on IMDB and Wikipedia.
The Highwayman show on Wikipedia and Reference.com.
An early Jacko battery commercial video on Google Video.
If you can think of someone who played AFL/VFL who might be more famous around the entire world than Jacko then leave a comment. Bennett and Graham are known worldwide, but they are both punters which is not the most exciting or important position in the NFL. Simon O'Donnell might be also considered, he didn't play a lot with the Saints but cricket fans all over the world will remember some of his hitting.
Oi!
Important Outs:
K Kingsley, P Riccardi
Important Ins:
T Hawkins, J Selwood
Injury News:
T Hawkins (leg injury, to miss the preseason), T Lonergan (now on rookie list, long-term injury)
Fantasy Stars:
The Cats have a bunch of smaller players that get a lot of fantasy points. Chapman, Bartel, Corey, J Hunt, G Ablett, Ling and Enright are all useful for AFL fantasy teams. Milburn gets a lot of the ball as a defender, Scarlett isn't a bad option there either. Ottens is a much better option than King if you want one of their bigs, and Ottens could have better stats in the early games if Hawkins is not playing.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
Stokes might find a spot in a forward line that needs a little player with speed.
Mooney can be a dominating player, but that usually happens when King and/or Ottens are out.
Mackie could play a lot better, maybe 2007 is the year.
Varcoe was a first round pick and he now has a season of VFL experience, he could be a cheap player in fantasy to sign but he could produce.
Sam Hunt had a good season in the VFL last year, he was promoted from their rookie list and he could find a spot in their back line.
Ryan Gamble could be a cheap option for a fantasy bench and he has the potential to play a lot next season for Geelong.
Rooke has good games, and some below expectations, but see how he is going before playing him on your team.
Tenace might solidify his position on the team, or he could get pushed aside by one of their younger players.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Nathan Ablett. He could have the right type of game to get a lot of fantasy statistics. Playing around half forward, he can lead up onto the wing for a lot of marks and he can also go back closer to goals and score a few. With Hawkins likely to miss a few games it could be a chance for Ablett to find a spot early in the season, and if the coach sticks with him then Ablett could have a big year.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
Hawkins, when fit should be a star. Selwood will be a star as soon as the coach decides to play him, so maybe that is round 1 or much later in the season. Won't be a bad idea to have Joel Selwood on your AFL fantasy bench. Djerkurra might get a chance if injuries hit a couple of the Cats' smaller defenders. Hogan may not see action in the AFL in 2007.
A few current coaches won't make it to the end of the 2007 AFL season. So in 5 years time it is anyone's guess as to who will be a coach in the AFL.
Adelaide Crows: Shaun Rehn
A lot will happen in 5 years, the Crows need to win now for Craig to stay around for a long time. Rehn could be someone they would like as their future coach.
Brisbane Lions: Jason Dunstall
The Brisbane club have gone with Hawthorn premiership players before, it would make sense for them to go after Dunstall who also has connections to Queensland.
Carlton Blues: Chris Bond
Pagan won't be there and already there is a long list of possible replacements. Bond has a lot of experience as an assistant and he also knows about being at Carlton. Importantly would also be a fresh change who wouldn't have been involved in the current problems they have there at present.
Collingwood Magpies: Mark Williams
A former premiership-winning coach with the Power, but also a former captain of the Magpies. The big team needs a big-name coach and they won't be going with some untried assistant. Buckley and Crosisca could be other options.
Essendon Bombers: Kevin Sheedy
Thirty years might be enough for Sheedy and the Bombers. If he gets into the finals this season then he should get a contract extension.
Fremantle Dockers: Don Pyke
Might be a good pick if the Dockers look to change in the next few years. Harvey is another possible choice.
Geelong Cats: Malcolm Blight
He would be the perfect coach for Hawkins. Whoever it is the position will certainly not be Thompson's for much longer. Blight might have one more coaching role left in him, and he could go back to where it all started.
Hawthorn Hawks: Leigh Matthews
He may be able to make Brisbane a much better team over the next few years but it will be difficult to get them back to a Grand Final. He might step down from that job and finish his coaching career with the Hawks.
Kangaroos: John Longmire
Has coaching success alongside Roos with the Swans and is also a former Kangaroo star.
Melbourne Demons: Robert Flower
The Demons are going to need a new coach in the future. There is no football identity out there that would be as appreciated by Demons supporters than Flower. He might not have the coaching experience but he has everything else.
Port Adelaide Power: Matthew Primus
The Power have had some big names of South Australian football as their coaches, Primus isn't a big name but has been a big part of the Power during their time in the AFL.
Richmond Tigers: Darren Crocker
Wallace won't be there when his contract expires unless he gets them to a Top 4 spot.
St Kilda Saints: Ross Lyon
He is contracted for the next five years, he has a lot of talent so unless something goes horribly wrong he should still be there. But it must be remembered that the Saints have not got a good history for coaching success and longevity.
Sydney Swans: Paul Roos
While one Grand Final win didn't make him "coach for life", he isn't that far off.
West Coast Eagles: John Worsfold
The Eagles are not going to lose many stars in the next five years. Unless Worsfold wants a break or the players want a change there isn't any reason why he won't be there.
Western Bulldogs: Rodney Eade
They are not going to find a better qualified coach around and Eade should have the Bulldogs around the Top 4 for the next few years anyway. If he can get them to a Grand Final then he will definitely last to 2011 if he wants to, if he leads them to a win in the big one then Eade could be there a long time.
This is interesting as there are times when clubs find it difficult to find a player to represent their team, to be the face of the club. Southern may not have been the player with the most skill at the Bulldogs then or with leadership qualities or the size to play a key position but he did have a public profile.
Other teams in the Coca Cola Classics set also had some interesting selections for the player on their card. Fitzroy still had a team then, and Doug Hawkins was the pick for them. Fremantle were very new to the AFL, their biggest player got the card as Matthew Burton was used.
Danny Southern - 1995 Coca-Cola - Western Bulldogs
If you want the whole set of 16 cards, which also includes Buckley, Hird, Ablett, Roos and even Tony Free, then search the site as there are a couple for sale.
Shane Parker: He Earns Park
Whatever he gets he has earned it with his commitment to the Dockers.
Martin Pask: Mr Pakistan
Not as impressive as Lou Ferrigno and his Mr Universe title.
Joel Patfull: Full Ape Jolt
Something has to be done at Brisbane to change things, but that doesn't sound too good.
Adam Pattison: Adopt Stamina
Needs to develop stamina if he wants to play in the ruck under Wallace.
Matthew Pavlich: Have Palm Twitch
He must have stronger muscles in his hands than most as he can mark anything.
Brett Peake: Better Peak
Peake is approaching his peak as a footballer.
Danyle Pearce: Relay End Pace
Has the speed to be the final runner in a relay.
Scott Pendlebury: But Scored Plenty
If he is played forward he might not have as many possessions but he could score plenty of goals.
Ian Perrie: Rare In Pie
But rarer to see Perrie attacking at ground level to win the contested ball.
Drew Petrie: Deep Writer
A better attribute than one who writes anagrams.
Kayne Pettifer: Pity Taken Free
Kayne can pity the fool who gives him a free kick.
Michael Pettigrew: We Might Replicate
They might replicate their 2004 season, but it is unlikely to occur for the next few years.
Damien Peverill: Lived Mean Peril
His career is in peril if he doesn't have a good year, he said it himself.
Darren Pfeiffer: If Fan Preferred
If the fans preferred that Pfeiffer played then maybe he would, but they don't prefer him over other Crows.
Simon Phillips: No Impish Spill
He might be one of the littlest guys in the league but he won't spill the mark.
Byron Pickett: No Petty Brick
You can spell brick or rock with his name, that makes sense.
Henry Playfair: Any Hyper Flair
he plays the game with very little flair.
Graham Polak: Ham Rag Polka
A popular dance in the rural regions of Liechtenstein.
Dean Polo: Open Load
Polo opened his AFL career with a load of possessions in his first game.
Jason Porplyzia: Lazy Pro Join Spa
The Crows might have had a couple of lazy players but they have been replaced by hard workers like Porplyzia.
Luke Power: Eel Work Up
Can plan a fishing trip for September this year.
Sam Power: More Swap
If the Bulldogs did a few more trades in 2006 then Power might have been a player they moved.
Daniel Pratt: Rattled Pain
What his opponent will feel.
Simon Prestigiacomo: Pies Atomic Moorings
He moors the defensive unit of the Pies.
Matthew Priddis: Adds With Permit
The Eagles were permitted to add Priddis to their list.
Brent Prismall: Mr Lab Splinter
They experimented with him for a few games but he mainly sat on the bench.
Some of these players are stars, some of them are not, but they all have in common the lack of a physical presence on the field. Some are just naturally small, others are too placid, some need to train hard and eat their vitamins, but none of them will be worrying people in a darkened alley or on the AFL playing field.
Adelaide:
Matthew Bode
Just a little guy running around the forward line for the Crows, but he does throw his body in even if there isn't much to throw. But mess with him and you might have to deal with Ricciuto, so Bode's opponents don't mess with him.
Brisbane:
Richard Hadley
You don't have to call this Richard Hadley a sir.
Carlton:
Matthew Lappin
You have to be really weak and scrawny to be the least physically intimidating player at Carlton, but Lappin is the winner. Houlihan would have been a distant second to Lappin.
Collingwood:
Rhyce Shaw
In the past if a Shaw was playing for Collingwood you were in trouble, Rhyce didn't follow in the family tradition.
Essendon:
Kepler Bradley
At least Dustin Fletcher has sharp, pointy elbows and hard fists and runs into people. Bradley might be equally long and thin but he does not play the Essendon way yet.
Fremantle:
Justin Longmuir
If Peter Bell's attitude was put into Longmuir he would be great, but until then he isn't going to be good enough.
Geelong:
Steven King
He might have been a bit overwhelmed as a sixteen year old in the AFL but he never grew in the intimidation department. Sure he might have hurt Jeff White, but that was when he was trying to hit the ball with his foot, so that wasn't physical play it was just stupid. The runner-up for this position at Geelong might have been Ottens, not a good sign when a team's two biggest players are acting like little cats instead of big lions.
Hawthorn:
Joel Smith
Has spent most of his career brushing his hair out of his eyes, a bit of a change from Dipper and Dermott playing for the Hawks.
Kangaroos:
Jonathan Hay
There was a time when he was one of the biggest, quickest and strongest full backs in the game. Now he has to change his ways and get back to that level or he will be the least intimidating player on the Kangaroos.
Melbourne:
Travis Johnstone
Floats around getting plenty of kicks but doesn't appear when the going gets tough. The Demons have become a tough team, despite having players called Clint, Bruce, Brad and even Sylvia, but Johnstone is a weak link. Johnstone is the anti-Pickett on the field for the Demons.
Port Adelaide:
Fabian Deluca
It isn't fair to name Nathan Krakouer here, he will get bigger and nobody is going to catch him anyway. But Fabian Deluca seems to be just like his brother, a 200cm player who thinks he is 160cm.
Richmond:
Nathan Foley
If he was nicknamed Mick Foley instead of Axel Foley it might be different. But maybe Kingsley will become the player here instead.
St Kilda:
Justin Koschitzke
He should not be on this list, especially as he has Milne as a teammate. But he is brittle, and even when you give him another chance an umpire in the reserves of the VFL knocks him over.
Sydney:
Simon Phillips
Nobody is going to call the little Phillips weak, as Barry Hall is playing near him in the forward line for Sydney.
West Coast:
Chad Fletcher
It takes a bit of looking to find weakness at the Eagles, that is something that Worsfold would have eliminated. But Fletcher isn't going to scare anyone on the field.
Western Bulldogs:
Nathan Eagleton
Most of their little guys are tough and their bigs don't back down either so it was difficult finding a player that was lacking a bit. Both Darcy and Eagleton have had their injuries and often come off worse in a physical clash. At least Darcy has a bit of bulk behind him, so Eagleton might be the choice here.
On the Youtube site, there is a small video of Nick Davis kicking a goal for Collingwood. There is also a much longer video of the hits and more hits of Brereton's career. The infamous footage of him playing for the Sydney reserves in a preseason game, numerous shepherds that sent opponents to the ground or hospital when Dermott was a Hawk and there are also some highlights of him in the Collingwood colours.
Nick Davis Mark and Long, Long Goal.
Dermott Doing What He Did.
Shane O'Bree: Been A Horse
Has been the old workhorse in the middle for Collingwood.
Harry O'Brien: In Bore Harry
Provides some dash and hustle to the Collingwood back line.
Ryan O'Keefe: Fear One Key
Opponents only fear one Sydney key position player, Hall, which gives O'Keefe plenty of freedom around the forward line.
Michael O'Loughlin: Cough In A Molehill
No wonder he was having problems in front of goal.
Aisake O'hAilpin: Oh, Like Asia Pain
Not sure what that means.
Setanta O'hAilpin: Alienation Paths
The Blues are giving out contract extensions to a lot of their players, many who don't deserve them, but they could be on the path to alienating Setanta if they don't give their big prospect the money and respect he deserves.
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls: All Leak Richardson Joy
Johnson leaked the bad news for Roach and others, but at least they have good Richo news now.
Brad Ottens: Don't Be Star
No problem there. But he won't have to be and can become the second option next to Hawkins.
Stephen Owen: Open The News
Open up the newspaper and look for Owen, can't find anything about him.
The Saints have three Clarkes but only old Matthew is usually healthy. Brothers Xavier and Raphael have not been able to get on the field a lot and for Raphael it could be another season missed. According to The Herald-Sun he might not be ready until halfway through the season.
Link to story: Pain for Saint Raphael Clarke
The Saints list R Clarke as one of the players recovering from injury, others include Hayes, Maguire, Hudghton, Hamill and Watts. All the players, except for Raphael Clarke, are expected to be healthy for the regular season.
AFL Fantasy Impact:
None of the Clarkes at St. Kilda were going to be on many AFL fantasy teams. But forget about signing Raphael now and even in June he may not be worth signing as players will have cemented spots there under their new coach. Armitage is a player that should be cheap to purchase in AFL fantasy leagues but he should contribute, and he might have been competing with R Clarke for playing time. Obviously Dal Santo, Ball and a healthy Hayes will be the best options for AFL fantasy from the Saints’ midfield.
The Dockers’ speedy midfielder Byron Schammer has not had a good run this month, and after having an operation earlier in January he is now back in hospital. Originally he was going to be ready for the season but now it is possible that he misses a few games.
Read the official news from the Dockers.
AFL Fantasy Impact:
Schammer would have been an important part of the Dockers midfield so his absence will give others the chance for greater statistics. Maybe old McManus keeps going and even improves on his numbers from last season. Or maybe Mundy gets to play on the ball all the time, that would make him a great fantasy option. Schammer could take a while to get back to AFL fitness level but when he does he will be a solid inclusion for AFL fantasy teams.
Important Outs:
G Polak, J Schofield, P Medhurst
Important Ins:
C Tarrant, D Solomon, C Collard, B O'Brien
Injury News:
Byron Schammer (Expected to miss preseason, possibly some regular season games, check the link in story above)
Fantasy Stars:
Pavlich is the player you want on your fantasy team. A couple of tall defenders could also help you win in AFL fantasy, Johnson and Mundy. Both could be eligible for a defensive spot on your team but the Dockers could be giving both players some time in the middle, which means a lot more statistics. Veterans Bell, Black, Josh Carr and Hasleby are other midfield options. Some of them are getting on in years so Brett Peake might be a better option for fantasy teams. Sandilands doesn't have a lot of backup in the ruck there, so he gets plenty of playing time and although his fantasy numbers are solid they would be even better in leagues where hitouts were a statistic that was used. Jeff Farmer is like a lot of forwards in fantasy and he has huge games and others when he doesn't get as many fantasy points.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
Chris Tarrant might be played on a wing, his stats there may be better than if he was a forward.
Longmuir gets some stats but he could be a huge fantasy player if Sandilands or Pavlich were out.
Schammer may have to miss some games but when he is ready to play for Fremantle he is ready for a spot in AFL fantasy teams.
Des Headland can get the ball and kick a goal and if he does more of that his fantasy value would increase.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Ryan Crowley. If Mundy or Johnson are playing in the middle then the ball will be cleared from the back a lot more by Crowley.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
They didn't have a lot of draft picks but selected some useful players. Clayton Collard could play a few games next season and he should get plenty of statistics. Brock O'Brien could get a chance if injuries hit their midfield.
David Neitz:
Has a bunch of records at the Melbourne Demons but does not have an anagram.
Chris Newman: Rich Newsman
He could follow Neil Cordy into the media business.
Michael Newton: While He Cannot
While he cannot get a game right now he has potential for the future.
Daniel Nicholls: In Slice Holland
Better look out for Ben during a game, or Brodie at training.
Mark Nicoski: Kicks A Minor
He also can kick a major score.
Tim Notting: Got Mint Tin
Good to see he got something, he did get a new contract there too.
He keeps going and going, but who can remember when Kevin Sheedy first became the coach of the Essendon Bombers. Leave a comment below and answer, what year did Kevin Sheedy first coach the Bombers?
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB K Massie 31, B Rutten 28, R Shirley 31
HB G Johncock 28, N Bock 28, M Mattner 29
C N Van Berlo 25, B Reilly 27, R Douglas 24
HF N Gill 29, J Sellar 23, M Doughty 32
FF L Jericho 26, T Hentschel 28, K Tippett 23
Foll J Meesen 25, S Thompson 28, J Porplyzia 26
bench I Maric 25, D Mackay 23, S Stevens 29, K McGregor 30
Outlook: No Ricciuto, that will take some getting used to. He won't be the only premiership small they will lose so the midfield is where they will have to draft and trade for. The back line should continue to be one of the AFL's best. But the forward line could continue without a true full forward. Tippett or Sellar might become the answer to that, maybe Tippett is in the goalsquare and the more mobile Sellar is around centre half forward.
It is unlikely to happen very often, but if Tarrant and Solomon are playing in the WAFL then it will be with East Perth and Perth.
WAFL Allocation Draft Results
The Geelong Cats have announced, and Channel 7 news also had a story, that Geelong full forward Tom Hawkins has a stress injury in his right leg. He will be restricted to light training for 4 to 8 weeks and will miss the preseason games. It was good to see the footage from the Under 18 games with Hawkins on the lead taking a strong mark, Geelong fans will have a lot to look forward to when he makes his debut.
Hawkins on modified program Geelong FC announcement.
AFL Fantasy Impact:
Hawkins was going to be the best value player for all the first year forwards in the league. Now you might want to try another low-cost option on your AFL fantasy bench for the early rounds. But whenever Hawkins is ready to go then sign him up. The fantasy value of several Geelong players will increase with Hawkins out. With no Hawkins, or Steve Johnson, Ottens should have better stats while Nathan Ablett should also see more of the ball.
Brent Moloney: Only Be Mentor
When he was injured last season he couldn't play, he could only be a mentor to their new players.
Angus Monfries: Using From Manes
Could try using the inspiration of former Bomber Greg Anderson's hair.
Leigh Montagna: Hotel Managing
Some players do need to look elsewhere as they won't make it at AFL level.
Brett Montgomery: Norm Got My Better
Can play on most players, but apparently not someone called Norm, although nobody in the AFL has that name now.
Matthew Moody: Why Motto Made
Does Brisbane have a club motto?
Cameron Mooney: A Moon Ceremony
That is where he gets his powers from, which then leads to a two or three game suspension.
Bradley Moran: Learn Ram Body
Needs to bulk up and learn how to use his size.
Dale Morris: Arm Soldier
The Bulldogs are better armed with him on the field.
Mitch Morton: Commit North
There would be more opportunities for him if he did agree to a trade to Brisbane.
David Mundy: Dud Navy Mid
If Mundy is played in the middle for Fremantle he might be matched up on one of those, but not the next player.
Marc Murphy: Mr Pray Much
He has to be asking for better players there.
Robert Murphy: Thump By Error
It was a coaching error to play him on A Rocca, and he got a thump.
Ryan Murphy: Murphy Yarn
Fremantle could have a good story to tell this season.
Thomas Murphy: My Sharp Mouth
There are a few older Hawks who have a vocal capacity on the field, Murphy isn't in that group.
Beau Muston: About Us Men
They were a young team but this season they can't use that excuse again.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB C Begley 25, J Brennan 27, J Adcock 25
HB A Proud 23, D Merrett 26, J Roe 27
C M Moody 25, T Selwood 27, C Stiller 25
HF C Schmidt 23, M Clark 23, J MacDonald 26
FF M Leuenberger 23, J Brown 29, L Power 31
Foll C Wood 24, J Sherman 24, M Rischitelli 25
bench J Charman 29, S Sheldon 23, J Hawksley 23, J Attard 25
Outlook: They are going to be tall. No team in the AFL will have a better group of ruckmen than the Lions when Wood and Leuenberger are stronger and more experienced, and Charman will still be around too. Brown has plenty of years ahead of him too, the only possible problem for the Lions and their talls is in the back line. But they currently have a few options there and can use the drafts and trading to find some more tall players for their back half. The Lions' onballers are a young group at the moment, except for Power and Black, and if the Lions can keep all their youth they might develop together into a strong unit. The Lions could have some high draft picks in the coming years and if they add some more midfielders, and a tall defender or two, they are a chance to become a premiership contender again.
Here are links to the profiles for the AFL and NFL players.
Ben Graham
NFL.COM
Yahoo Sports
AFL.COM
Darren Bennett
NFL.COM
Yahoo Sports
AFL.COM
Saverio Rocca
AFL.COM
Rocca is expected to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles soon.
Better not forget Nathan Chapman, there isn't a lot in his profiles except for his picture but he did play many games for Brisbane and Hawthorn as well a preseason game with the Green Bay Packers. August 21, 2004 was when Nathan Chapman took to the field for the Packers in a preseason game. He had 3 punts that game for 114 yards, which averaged out to 38 yards per punt.
Nathan Chapman
NFL.COM
AFL.COM
Brock McLean: Clock Mr Bean
Rowan Atkinson better not visit the Demons' training sessions.
Andrew McLeod: Menaced World
He menaced the Saints and Kangaroos, and most other teams.
Jordan McMahon: Common Hand Jar
His talent is uncommon in the AFL.
Shaun McManus:
No anagram for the veteran Docker.
Luke McPharlin: A Milk Per Lunch
Milk makes you strong, and for McPharlin it must have also given him springs in his legs.
Adam McPhee: He Made Camp
He will be at their preseason training camp.
Andrew McQualter: Quarter Claw Mend
Will need some repairs to his hand at quarter time.
Jarrad and Mark McVeigh:
The McVeighs couldn't make an anagram.
Paul Medhurst: Had True Slump
He certainly did, but gets a fresh start with Collingwood.
John Meesen:
Doesn't make an anagram but should make his debut for the Crows in 2007.
Daniel Merrett: Retirement, Lad
Maybe the Lions thought they would say that to him but he has improved a lot.
Malcolm Michael: Call Home, I'm Calm
Possibly a message from old Lethal to departed Mal.
Darren Milburn: Mild Barren Run
The Cats have had a barren run when it comes to AFL premierships.
Brad Miller: Mild Barrel
Melbourne players don't have the best anagrams.
Stephen Milne: Men Hit Spleen
Milne isn't the biggest player so a hit there might put him out of the game for an extended period of time.
Will Minson: Ill Minnows
The bigs were hit by injuries in 2006, maybe in 2007 some of their smalls go down.
Sam Mitchell: Melt His Calm
It takes a lot to stop Mitchell being calm in the crisis.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB A Bentick 26, S O'hAilpin 28, B Thornton 27
HB B Fisher 27, P Bower 23, A Walker 25
C K Simpson 27, L Blackwell 24, S Grigg 23
HF J Waite 28, J Kennedy 24, J Russell 24
FF E Betts 25, B Fevola 30, N Stevens 31
Foll S Hampson 23, M Murphy 24, B Gibbs 23
bench L Whitnall 32, C Benjamin 23, C Ackland 29, A Carrazzo 27
Outlook: Could Fevola actually be there in 2011, it might be that he isn't even there for 2008. Whitnall and Stevens are other players who may not make it that far into the future. The last two drafts have brought in a lot of players who should become important players. Hampson, or possibly Jacobs who they drafted in the recent rookie draft, should be the starting ruckman there in 5 years time. Murphy, Gibbs, Grigg, Blackwell and Simpson should be a solid midfield group with good skills and versatility. Setanta O'hAilpin could be joined by his brother Aisake, currently on their rookie list, in the Carlton backline. Setanta O'hAilpin will need some more height around him in the backline, and if Bower or Thornton are not enough then possibly Waite will need to be played down back too. Kennedy could develop into one of the best centre half forwards in the AFL by 2011, and the future success of Carlton may depend on Kennedy more than it does their young midfielders.
Andrew Mackie: Weak Crime DNA
There are a few players at Geelong that he should not use as role models.
Matthew Maguire: With Mature Game
An experienced defender for the Saints.
Josh Mahoney: Oh, Enjoy Hams
Does train hard but could take a break and enjoy a steamed ham.
Nick Malceski: Can Kick Miles
Not the worst attribute for a footballer to have.
Ivan Maric: I'm Car Vain
Looking at who sponsors his team he better be driving a Toyota. Here we go, Camry Crows.
Kris Massie: Is Same Risk
Does seem to be a bit injury-prone now, but probably is the same risk as most Crows.
Ben Mathews: Web Anthems
Something for him to listen to.
Martin Mattner: Mr Martian Tent
Where the umpires go to buy camping supplies.
Nick Maxwell: Knew Mix Call
He might know Mick's call at Collingwood.
Daniel McConnell: I'll Condemn Lance
It can't be Franklin or Whitnall, must be talking about Picione.
Beau McDonald: Odd Ambulance
He's had plenty of injuries over his career.
James McDonald: Sold Jammed Can
Not the best anagram.
Andrew McDougall: Would Calm Danger
The Bulldogs didn't get him to calm danger, they got him to take marks and kick goals.
Ashley McGrath: My Leg Act Harsh
Seems to have lost his speed and his kicking ability.
Ken McGregor:
No anagram but might in 2007 he should get more playing time.
Luke McGuane: Clue Make Gun
Maybe they can develop him into a gun forward for the Tigers, he has played well there at VFL level.
Hamish McIntosh: Hits Him On Chasm
They used to have a paddock, but now their forward line is a barren chasm.
Dylan McLaren: Ran End Calmly
At least one player is calm in the crisis there.
The new season means new players and AFL fans at all clubs will quickly find a favourite new player to support.
Adelaide
A lot of the Crows' hopes for the future will rest with Sellar. He is big, he is local and he should be a fan favourite. James Sellar should keep the Crows out of the cellar in the AFL standings.
Brisbane
Proud should be a popular player in Brisbane. They don't have to worry about him wanting to move to another state as they do with many of their young players.
Carlton
It has to be Gibbs, and Carlton fans will once again be happy to go to the game with a number 4 jumper on.
Collingwood
Reid is the next star for Magpies fans. Might not be 2007 but it shouldn't be too far away.
Essendon
There might be couple of new players that the fans like. While Gumbleton would be the logical choice, initially it could be the exciting Jetta or the AFL-ready Hislop that have the fans cheering. There are also more opportunities at Essendon in the midfield so expect Jetta and Hislop to get more playing time. The Jetta bandwagon might be the first one to fill with fans.
Fremantle
It should be Tarrant. Dockers fans will be expecting him to be a difference maker for them.
Geelong
The Hawkins bandwagon will be overloaded before the 2007 season is over.
Hawthorn
Thorp is the player they needed in the draft, he will of course be very popular with their Tasmanian fans but all Hawks supporters will be happy to cheer for him.
Kangaroos
Hansen will instantly become one of their favourite players as soon as he plays a game.
Melbourne
Petterd might be the new Demon who gets a chance to play.
Port Adelaide
Krakouer would be the right choice here.
Richmond
Richmond fans will have the choice of Riewoldt or Kingsley. 95% of fans will be on the Riewoldt bandwagon, and there might be a 5% margin of error there as well.
St Kilda
The new, but very old, ruckmen are not the type to have the fans excited. That leaves the draft picks to consider and Armitage has the pace and flair that should entertain.
Sydney
According to Everitt he can walk around Sydney in relative anonymity, but for Swans fans he will be a welcome addition and he will have plenty of new supporters.
West Coast
There won't be a lot of playing time for the new players at the Eagles but they did draft some good prospects. Mitchell Brown may get a few games up forward and plenty of fans there will be excited with his fast leading and strong marking.
Western Bulldogs
Akermanis will have a lot of new fans. If they win the AFL Premiership in 2007 the Akermanis bandwagon will be a very popular place.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB H O'Brien 24, N Brown 23, T Lockyer 31
HB B Johnson 30, B Reid 23, R Lonie 28
C N Maxwell 28, D Swan 27, R Shaw 29
HF C Egan 25, C Dawes 23, D Thomas 24
FF C Bryan 29, S Rusling 24, A Didak 28
Foll J Fraser 29, S Pendlebury 24, H Shaw 25
bench G Richards 28, L Davis 30, T Cloke 24, B Holland 31
Outlook: The Magpies will need a bit more height in the future but they have the makings of a very quick and versatile team. Brown and Reid might have to play the key defensive spots, but Brown might be better as a full forward and Reid could do more damage in an onball role. Dawes' injury problems could be an old memory in 5 years time and he could be the big body that replaces Rocca up forward. Pendlebury, Rusling and Thomas should be the match-winners for Collingwood in the future, their size and versatility will make them difficult to contain.
Important Outs:
D Solomon, D Rioli, J Reynolds
Important Ins:
M Michael, S Gumbleton, L Jetta, T Hislop, A Davey
Injury News:
No injuries reported.
Fantasy Stars:
The Bombers can produce fantasy stars at all positions. Lloyd and Hird will be valuable forwards, while Fletcher and McPhee can produce in the backline. Hille is always a solid fantasy player. Lucas was the star last season, and he should have a good season in 2007, but don't overspend to add him to your team as he goes from being the only forward option to number three if Essendon are healthy. Midfield players Watson and Stanton are guaranteed fantasy stars. Johnson and Johnson are slowing down but can still get statistics if they have a big role, maybe Jason is the better option. Welsh and Lovett-Murray find the ball too.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
Camporeale, Peverill and Heffernan could all play 22 games, or they could be in the VFL.
Ricky Dyson might have a bigger role in 2007.
Mal Michael isn't the worst full back for fantasy stats, and if Essendon play a game with a lot of possessions in the back half then Michael could be a useful AFL fantasy player.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Angus Monfries. If he can increase his possessions and his goals just by a little bit he will be one of the Bombers' best fantasy players.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
Hislop could have the best combination of being ready for AFL and having a spot for him in the Essendon lineup. Gumbleton is also a player who can contribute in his first year but the key positions and the ruck don't have an opening for him to get a lot of playing time. Jetta is another player to watch and he should have a few good fantasy games this season, Sheedy might start the season with veterans like Camporeale and Heffernan but Jetta should force his way into the side during 2007.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB M McVeigh 30, K Bradley 25, J Winderlich 26
HB A McPhee 28, S Gumbleton 23, N Lovett-Murray 28
C L Jetta 23, B Stanton 25, R Dyson 25
HF A Lovett 28, P Ryder 23, A Welsh 28
FF A Davey 27, C Johns 26, A Monfries 26
Foll J Laycock 26, T Hislop 23, J Watson 26
bench D Hille 30, C Dempsey 24, J Nash 25, H Slattery 25
Outlook: Hird, Lloyd, Lucas and Fletcher will all be gone by 2011, maybe Sheedy won't be there too. But Essendon will have a solid list then and there will be a good balance of tall players and a competitive midfield. Gumbleton might have been drafted as their centre half forward of the future, but if that is to happen then a couple of big bodies will need to be found for their back line. Ruck depth is something that the Bombers have always had and the ruckmen that Essendon currently have should all be there in 5 years time. The Bombers will have to worry about keeping some of their players away from teams in their home states. All the talls along their future spine are from Western Australia, it will be a difficult task to keep them away from the Eagles and Dockers. But the Bombers are one of the better teams at keeping their interstate players.
Those were the days when the football cards were cheap and plentiful. But there is another attribute that makes them more useful than cards today. Not only did the card have a space to get the player's autograph but as the card was not coated in a glossy finish they were also much easier to write on.
1988-Scanlens ST.KILDA- 7 CARDS
There was also a Tony Lockett card that year, number 94 in the set of 144 cards.
The 1988 cards may have also been the first cards for the Brisbane Bears and West Coast Eagles.
The VFL Grand Final winner, Carlton, got a special card with Kernahan and Walls on the front. But the same honour also went to the Little League Premiers, card 144 had Essendon kids on it. There was even greater excitement in the set than those cards, as not only was there a Brisbane card for Geoff Raines but Jim Jess of Richmond also had a card. Plenty of kids were excited to open a pack and see "The Ghost".
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB A Grover 31, L McPharlin 29, B O'Brien 23
HB R Crowley 27, M Johnson 26, S Thornton 29
C B Peake 28, P Hasleby 30, C Collard 23
HF C Tarrant 30, R Murphy 26, R Hayden 30
FF J Longmuir 30, M Pavlich 29, L Webster 29
Foll A Sandilands 28, B Schammer 26, D Mundy 26
bench D Headland 30, S Dodd 28, M Drum 24, R Warnock 24
Outlook: The Dockers have plenty of tall options at the moment and most of them should still be with the team in 5 years. Where the Dockers will need to use their draft picks is on the smaller players. The Dockers will lose Bell, Black, the Carrs and McManus in the coming seasons. Sandilands will also need a player to back him up. Even without adding a couple of star onballers the Dockers will be a very good team in the future, but they do need to manage their salary-cap wisely to keep the team together.
Taking the time to view this footage on Youtube is worth it just to watch goals being kicked from the centre square. Saverio might be wearing a helmet and playing with Donovan McNabb now, and the reason why is evident in just one kick on the highlight video here. Sav just turns around, takes a few steps and kicks a huge goal that must have been near 70m, in yards that is a useful punt of around 76 yards.
The Rocca Boys In Action.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB N Djerkurra 23, M Scarlett 32, C Enright 30
HB A Mackie 27, M Egan 28, J Hunt 29
C T Varcoe 23, J Selwood 23, R Gamble 23
HF P Chapman 29, N Ablett 25, J Corey 29
FF M Stokes 24, T Hawkins 23, C Ling 30
Foll M Blake 25, G Ablett 27, J Bartel 27
bench B Ottens 31, K Tenace 26, J Kelly 27, J Rooke 29
Outlook: Maybe Ottens and King are still around, maybe they are both retired or traded, this could be something Geelong need to address but they do also have Blake and West. Another problem could be the backline when Harley and Scarlett retire. Geelong look to have all the small spots covered, and they won't have to add players in the midfield if young players like Selwood and Varcoe become the stars that many expect them to become. Nathan Ablett's best spot might be as a third tall forward, so the Cats might want to draft some centre half forward prospects or they could play Hawkins further out from goal. Ling was a forward in his TAC Cup days and he might finish his career in a forward pocket for Geelong. Selwood in the middle might not be a big guess, but when 2011 comes along he could also be their captain.
Richmond Tigers ruckman Troy Simmonds is unlikely to play in the preseason games but the Tigers hope he is there for round 1 when the real season starts.
Click here to read the news from Richmond.
AFL Fantasy Impact:
Simmonds would be one of the first ruckmen you would sign for a fantasy team, but it could be a bit risky to have him in your starting line-up for round 1. But check on his status closer to their round 1 game. Simmonds is a player who uses his mobility to dominate slower ruckmen and to get possessions and goals so an ankle problem could affect him. If Simmonds does miss round 1 then the Tigers have big Knobel or the more mobile Polak to use in the ruck. Polak would be the much better option for AFL fantasy, and he would provide a marking target all over the ground for the Tigers. That style of play is effective for fantasy stats, and while Knobel would be the better hitout ruckman his game doesn't produce the stats needed for AFL fantasy.
Important Outs:
C Tarrant, B Caracella, C Cloke, J Cloke, C Morrison
Important Ins:
C Bryan, B Reid, N Brown, P Medhurst
Injury News:
A Didak (expected to miss a few regular season games)
Fantasy Stars:
There will be the veterans to choose with Buckley, Burns and Licuria or you can take the younger players like Heath Shaw, Swan and Johnson. O'Bree is another midfield player to consider and from round 7 you can also select Holland. Tarrant's departure and Didak's injury will mean more statistics for other Magpies up forward. Rocca, Rusling and Thomas should have solid AFL fantasy seasons, Rusling might be the cheapest in fantasy to buy but his potential could be as good as the other Magpies forwards. Lockyer and Lonie will continue to get stats and fantasy points, and Clement is another defender to sign. Josh Fraser is one of the best fantasy ruckmen and this should continue. Didak should also be someone added to fantasy teams later in the season.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
Chris Egan might be a player that is tried up forward with Tarrant out.
Medhurst will be competing with players like Leon Davis for a small forward/midfield role, if he is going to play a lot then it will most likely be as a forward..
Rhyce Shaw isn't the most consistent player but he has been useful for fantasy teams before.
Chris Bryan will be a cheap option for your bench and his value could go up if Rocca or Fraser are out, and they do have a small concern for Fraser and his knees.
Maxwell will be a solid contributor but he might increase his stats if he is played in a bigger role.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Scott Pendlebury. He is the type of player who can play anywhere on the ground so he should get plenty of playing time for Collingwood in his second season. If he is mainly in the midfield then his stats will be higher than they would be if he was played as a forward. Check the preseason games to see what role they are using him in, but wherever he is played he should do enough for fantasy as the price to add him to your team won't be very high in fantasy leagues.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
Chris Dawes is already out for the season so don't sign him for AFL fantasy. First round picks Reid and Brown will probably make their debut in 2007, if you do want to sign one of them then Brown might be the player who is more ready for AFL. But injuries to the Magpies talls will affect whether Brown or Reid get a lot of playing time.
Brendon Lade: Red And Noble
He is noble, that is true.
Matthew Lappin: What Inept Palm
If you think his hand skills are bad, you should see him kick it.
Nigel Lappin: I Plan Leg Pin
Plenty of injury problems.
Jason Laycock: Can Cloak Joys
Hasn't had to hide too much happiness with the Bombers.
Mark Lecras: Clears Mark
Probably a useful ability.
Jordan Lewis: Or Wild Jeans
He could be taking fashion advice from Crawford.
Paul Licuria:
No suitable anagram.
Cameron Ling: Mr Congenial
That is what is wrong with Geelong, you don't win games with that.
Matthew Lloyd: Told My Wealth
He did sign a new contract in 2006.
Tarkyn Lockyer: Try Early Knock
Don't say he was benched for bad play, another reason to try could be an early knock.
Tom Logan: Lot Among
He is among a lot of players at the Power who are trying to get into the senior team.
Tom Lonergan: A long-term no.
The anagram says the comeback won't be very successful.
Justin Longmuir: Unjust Grim Lion
It is unjust for the Lions to be grim about Longmuir, they could have drafted him but instead chose Des Headland.
Nathan Lonie: Than In Alone
He does wait for his teammates to go get the ball.
Ryan Lonie: In Early On
Often the first quarter is his best.
Andrew Lovett: Wanted Revolt
Sometimes he doesn't agree with his coach.
Nathan Lovett-Murray: Ran Thy Travel Amount
Has to remember that when he runs he has to bounce the ball.
Scott Lucas: Lost Cactus
A cactus doesn't have a right foot either, but the plant and the player don't need one.
Quinten Lynch:
He has gloves but no anagram.
Geelong won the preseason competition last year, but who did they defeat in the final of the 2006 NAB Cup?
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB C Brown 28, J Roughead 24, B Guerra 29
HB J Kennedy 23, B Renouf 23, B Sewell 27
C X Ellis 23, S Mitchell 28, J Lewis 25
HF R Ladson 27, M Thorp 23, B Dowler 23
FF C Bateman 30, L Franklin 24, M Williams 28
Foll M Bailey 24, L Hodge 27, G Birchall 23
bench R Campbell 29, T Croad 31, G Moss 23, C Young 25
Outlook: The Hawks can thank the Kangaroos for setting up some of this team as they sent a few extra first rounders to the Hawks. Hawthorn have plenty of bigs and are set in the key positions and the ruck for the future. The Hawks have enough inside midfielders but will want to add some more running players in the next few drafts.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB M Firrito 27, L Brown 29, B Rawlings 30
HB G Urquhart 23, L Hansen 23, D Petrie 28
C D McConnell 25, D Harris 29, E Sansbury 27
HF L Thomas 23, B Moran 24, J Smith 24
FF C Jones 30, D Hale 27, B Ross 23
Foll H McIntosh 27, D Pratt 28, D Wells 26
bench L Harding 30, T Goldstein 23, J Gibson 27, A Edwards 27
Outlook: Right now the Kangaroos are big, but slow. In the coming years their talls will get better, and they will be able to dominate some teams with their big height advantage at the key positions, but the team will need to trade and draft for more speed. The loss of draft picks from the Thompson and Hay trades does mean they are down a few young prospects compared to other teams, that would not have mattered if those two veterans had made the Kangaroos a Top 4 team but it did not work out as the Kangaroos had hoped. But it is easier to find small prospects than tall ones, so the Kangaroos should be able to target players they need in the next few drafts. They won't need to look for ruckmen as they have around 5 players capable of filling that role, so that gives them options on the field and trade assets too.
James Kelly: Makes Jelly
Plenty of time for a hobby as he has fallen out of favour at Geelong.
Joshua Kennedy: No Hayseed Junk
Good news for Carlton, or Hawthorn.
Tadhg Kennelly: Land Key Length
When the Swans landed Kennelly they got a player with the length of a key position player and the speed of an onballer.
Daniel Kerr: Ale Drinker
That could possibly describe a player or two for the Eagles.
Steven King: King Events
He actually lost the crown there, and at a recent event they gave it to Harley, so King is no longer their king.
Kent Kingsley: Stinky Leg Ken
He always had a problem kicking for goal, but a stinky leg is worse than people expected from Kingsley.
Brett Kirk:
No anagram for the Star Trek guy.
Justin Koschitzke: Thick Sizes To Junk
He isn't ready for the scrapheap yet, and should have a great 2007.
Anthony Koutoufides: You Think Foe Astound
For a long time if you thought his opponent was good it was nothing compared to what Kouta would do.
Andrew Krakouer: Dunk Area Worker
In basketball that sounds like the key, and it's equivalent in AFL is the goalsquare, but he isn't much of a worker.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB R Petterd 23, J Frawley 23, N Carroll 30
HB M Whelan 31, J Rivers 26, C Sylvia 25
C M Bate 24, B McLean 25, C Bartram 23
HF P Johnson 27, B Miller 28, B Green 30
FF C Bruce 31, L Dunn 24, A Davey 28
Foll M Jamar 28, B Moloney 27, N Jones 23
bench C Garland 23, D Bell 26, C Johnson 25, M Warnock 27
Outlook: The Demons look to have everything covered. Their young onballers are starring now and in a few years they will be very impressive. But another ruckman will be needed to team with their smalls. Neitz and Holland will be a big loss when they retire but Melbourne might have players to cover that.
Saverio Rocca was interviewed on Channel 9 and said that he would be signing a 3-year non-guaranteed deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rocca will be in competition with the Eagles’ current punter Dirk Johnson as well as any other punters the Eagles trial. The Eagles are still playing so there will be plenty of time for Rocca to adjust to the NFL kicking and he might have up till their training camp to win a spot.
Dirk Johnson had played in NFL Europe and with the New Orleans Saints before signing with Philadelphia. In 2003 Dirk Johnson signed a 3-year contract with the Eagles, that has since been extended and his current contract expires in 2011.
Rocca may not have the experience but he has potential to kick a lot further than Johnson. Johnson averaged 42.7 yards per punt in NFL Europe, while his best season in the NFL was 42.6. That puts Johnson in the bottom third of the league’s punters. Ben Graham had an average of 44.2 while the NFL’s leader, Mat McBriar, was at 48.2 yards per punt.
While Ben Graham did make it to NFL level, former Brisbane and Hawthorn AFL player Nathan Chapman didn’t make it when he tried out with the Green Bay Packers. Saverio Rocca might have a 50-50 chance at becoming the Eagles’ punter for next season, but if he doesn’t make it with Philadelphia there might be other teams that have a look.
It would be interesting to see how Rocca goes if he does stay with the Eagles. With his booming kicks he should become a favourite of their fans, although they are the same fans who are notorious for booing Santa Claus.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB D Cassisi 28, T Chaplin 25, M Pettigrew 26
HB N Lonie 28, C Cornes 31, K Cornes 28
C D Pearce 25, S Salopek 26, T Boak 23
HF B Ebert 27, T Thurstans 31, A Thomson 25
FF N Krakouer 23, D White 28, S Burgoyne 28
Foll R Willits 24, B Symes 26, J Surjan 26
bench D Brogan 32, M Thomas 24, J Westhoff 25, R Gray 23
Outlook: The Power are going to need to find replacements for Lade and Tredrea, that will not be easy. But they are loaded with quick players who can play in the middle or can kick goals. The backline should be solid for the foreseeable future and it will continue to provide a lot of run.
Important Outs:
B French, T Sporn, C McGrath, A Deluca, C Chambers, I Prendergast
Important Ins:
B Gibbs, S Grigg, C Ackland, C Cloke, S Hampson, C Benjamin
Injury News:
No injuries reported.
Fantasy Stars:
He might not help his AFL team win but Heath Scotland helps himself to plenty of possessions and last season he was a fantasy star. Nick Stevens plays a similar role to Scotland in the midfield and Lappin and Houlihan do the same thing in the backline. But for 2007 some of these players will be stepping aside for Gibbs, Murphy and other young players, so don't expect Scotland to be as good this season. One player who should always get fantasy stats is Whitnall, he is one of the better key position players in fantasy for disposals. Fevola should continue to kick goals. Young players who could be fantasy stars in 2007 are not only Gibbs and Murphy but also Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker and Adam Bentick.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
He is very old now so Koutoufides won't be the star he has been in the past, but he will still have some good games.
Carrazzo got plenty of the ball last season but there were times when he fell out of favour with the coach.
The ball is often in the Carlton backline so Thornton has fantasy value.
Waite and Kennedy are ready for a bigger role, but in fantasy they won't star unless Fevola is out.
Bower will get a chance to play this season, and if Whitnall is playing forward then Bower might have solid stats in the backline.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Luke Blackwell. He should be playing every game for Carlton in 2007 and his possessions numbers will increase from his solid season in 2006.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
Gibbs should be a star and will be on plenty of fantasy teams. Grigg should also be a player who makes an impact in his first season. There might be a spot in the backline for one of Benjamin or Anderson.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB S Tuck 29, P Bowden 30, C Newman 29
HB D Polo 25, G Polak 27, J Oakley-Nicholls 23
C R Tambling 25, B Deledio 24, A Raines 25
HF K Pettifer 29, J Schulz 26, N Foley 26
FF C Peterson 23, J Riewoldt 23, J Bowden 33
Foll T Knobel 31, D Connors 23, M Coughlan 29
bench A Pattison 25, C Hyde 29, C Hughes 24, S Edwards 23
Outlook: The Tigers currently have a lot of young depth so in 5 years time they will have a good list. But they will be without Richardson then so the pressure will be on Riewoldt, Schulz and some of their other tall forward options. The Tigers may be without both Simmonds and Knobel then, and if they are still around they will be older and slower, so a ruckman is something they have to draft soon. Polak may be able to fill one big defensive spot but a couple more tall defenders will have to be found, the Tigers do have a few options there. The Wallace strategy of drafting smalls means that Richmond are in very good shape in that area, the Tigers will have one of the best midfields in the AFL in the future.
The AFL certainly licensed a large variety of products and here is something you don't often see, the AFL table lamp.
Adelaide Crows desk / bed lamp
Maybe not a collectable that will go up in price, but for those who have a room dedicated to their favourite sporting team then something like this would be a great item.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB J Gram 27, M Maguire 27, S Birss 28
HB S Fisher 29, J Koschitzke 28, L Fisher 27
C D Armitage 23, L Hayes 31, A Fiora 30
HF B Goddard 26, N Riewoldt 28, J Allen 23
FF B Howard 23, F Watts 25, X Clarke 27
Foll B Brooks 27, L Ball 27, N Dal Santo 27
bench M Rix 30, R Clarke 25, J Blake 30, S Baker 31
Outlook: Lyon should be there for the next 5 years and he will have a contender for every season. Clarke and Gardiner are only a short-term option, so the Saints will need to add ruckmen in the next few years. But maybe Koschitzke is the answer. Gehrig and Hamill will be gone but the Saints do have some prospects to help Riewoldt up forward. Harvey will most likely be retired by 2011, but the midfield will be in good shape.
The Hawks looked they had a lot of ruck depth going into season 2007, but with big Max Bailey injuring his knee it will change things for the Hawks. A combination of Robert Campbell and Bailey would have been their ruck strategy for this season but now they have to try something else.
Simon Taylor would be the first player they try as a backup for Campbell, Taylor is inexperienced at AFL level but he has good size for the position and he would only be asked to play five to ten minutes a quarter. He should be effective in this limited role.
Brent Renouf might have been a player they developed as a big backman, but with the injury to Bailey now it is likely that Renouf will be a ruckman. He needs to bulk up but his combination of height and running ability will make him an asset in the ruck. Hawthorn took Renouf in the draft as a “best player available” pick but now they do need a ruckman so they were lucky they did take him.
Bailey should be ready to go in 2008, and with a year in the weight room he could be a much stronger player to contend with them. With another 10 kilograms added to his 206cm frame he will be an imposing player.
The Hawthorn site has their statement regarding Bailey’s injury.
Fans of Richo have put some highlight videos on the youtube site.
So watch a Richardson mark.
Or you can watch a Richardson goal.
You can also search the site for more highlights of his exciting career. Maybe fans better watch some of the older AFL footage so they can get used to the commentators again.
Daniel Jackson: Insane Old Jack
He's named after a character from Stargate, so he might have some issues.
Danny Jacobs: Do Canny Jabs
Must be another of those "jumper punch" players.
Mark Jamar: Ram Ark Jam
He did injure himself last season, might have jammed his foot or something rammed his leg.
Luke Jericho: Hi Cruel Joke
The coach said to him that he was their starting full forward, would have been a cruel joke.
Graham Johncock: Hack On Jog March
If his opponent is just jogging then he won't be a match for Johncock.
Courtney Johns: Enjoy Ton Crush
When he kicks 100 goals he will enjoy the crush of fans and teammates, may not do it with Essendon.
Players called Johnson, Johnstone or Jones miss out on an anagram. Although you can post one in the comments section if you can work an anagram out.
Darren Jolly:
Nothing for Jolly, just like the 2006 AFL Grand Final.
Chris Judd:
No anagram, about the only thing he has missed out on for the last couple of seasons.
Adelaide Crows: AC Milan
The Crows played games at Princes Park and AC Milan have also played there. But there are more similarities than that. Each team has a huge following in their leagues and is usually in contention. Financially, both clubs have an advantage over most other clubs in their leagues. The Crows can spend big on facilities, coaching and anything else that can get them an edge while Milan are always ready to bring in a big star from another team.
Brisbane Lions: Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham spent up big to land Jürgen Klinsmann, and it was worth it. The Lions also had to open the bank to bring in Lynch and he brought them three premierships. The Lions brought in Matthews to coach and that resulted in big wins, Venables was appointed coach of Tottenham and he delivered the FA Cup. Tottenham is a club in the North of London, Brisbane is a club in the North of Australia. Paul Gascoigne brought a lot of things to Tottenham, in comparison to him Jason Akermanis was a very quiet person. Both were great players for their clubs but didn't finish their careers there.
Carlton Blues: Juventus
One team did something wrong and only lost a couple of draft picks, they thought that was harsh. The other team may have done something wrong and they were kicked into a lower league. Carlton can be thankful they didn't receive a similar punishment to Juve, imagine Carlton playing at Frankston or Werribee. Both teams were powerhouses in the past, and even though Juventus were demoted they would seem to be in better shape than Carlton are, and are more likely to be winning trophies sooner. Juventus had Zoff at the back, considered one of the best ever at his position, while Carlton had Silvagni in their last line of defense. Carlton could also be compared to Charlton, both teams are always down the bottom.
Collingwood Magpies: Newcastle United
Plenty of teams with the black and white to choose from in soccer. Collingwood have Buckley who they think is the greatest player ever, Newcastle had Shearer who was worshipped by his fans more than Buckley was by the Collingwood fans. Both teams do have a black and white army of fans.
Essendon Bombers: Bayern Munich
Maybe Essendon should have been compared to Bolton, there are the Bolton Wanderers and at Essendon they wonder why they have Bolton. Both Essendon and Bayern Munich have plenty of titles, and their histories are filled with great players and periods of domination in their leagues. Both teams are also watching the final games of one of their greatest players, Hird and Oliver Kahn won't be playing much longer. Both clubs have their share of famous supporters, with Boris Becker and Pope Benedict cheering on Bayern Munich while the Bombers have big names of their own like Nick Giannopoulos. The one area that both teams have in common that many others do not is the immense presence of a legend of the game, Sheedy seems to have been at Essendon for half a century while Bayern Munich have actually been associated with Franz Beckenbauer since the early 1960s.
Fremantle Dockers: Porto
Both clubs are out of the media spotlight on the west coast of their continents. Porto had a huge 1987 when they won the European Cup and it could be 2007 when Fremantle have their best ever season and a cup at the end of it is a possibility. Porto have been a very good team for recruiting players from many other countries, the Dockers have a team that relies on stars from many states. Porto have struggled when they didn't have a good striker, and they had success when players like Jardel were scoring, the Dockers couldn't find a good full forward in their early years but now with Pavlich playing there they are a much better team.
Geelong Cats: Nancy-Lorraine
Geelong might have the heaviest players, by average, but toughness has not been something they have had a reputation for. Club Nancy have players called Pascal, Kim, Rachid and Gennaro, so they are not putting fear into their opponents either. Michel Platini was a superstar for Nancy while Gary Ablett was even better for Geelong. A French League team made sense for Geelong, and there was also Toulouse to choose or Sedan might have been apt as well. Some might have even thought that Bordeaux would have some things in common with Geelong.
Hawthorn Hawks: Nürnberg
Both teams have a Josh Kennedy. They both also had a time in the past when they dominated their leagues. Hawthorn had the 1980s, Nürnberg fans have to go back a lot further for their best years.
Kangaroos: Grasshopper
A relatively unknown team that usually doesn't use a place as part of their team name, both of these clubs have that in common. You won't be reading North Melbourne or Zurich when these clubs are mentioned. Both of the club mascots can also jump, although in some places a kangaroo or a grasshopper is considered a pest.
Melbourne Demons: Chelsea
The Demons were in trouble a few years ago, Joe Gutnick helped them out and it wasn't too long after they didn't merge that the Demons were contesting the AFL Grand Final. Chelsea were not in good shape when Roman Abramovich came along with his bank account, his money not only bought happiness but a lot of star players and a championship. The Demons were in the 2000 AFL Grand Final, Chelsea were in the 2000 FA Cup. Chelsea had players called Speedie and Wise, while the Demons have players who are speedy and wise. Each team has famous supporters, Melbourne has Wilbur Wilde while Chelsea includes Bryan Adams among its fans.
Port Adelaide Power: Inter Milan
Both clubs are successful but they are not up to the level of their city rival. The Power share a stadium with the Crows while the San Siro is not only the home for Inter but also AC Milan too.
Richmond Tigers: Ajax Amsterdam
Both clubs do a good job of spotting talent, and developing it, but sometimes the players do leave for other teams. But when Ottens or McKee moved on the Tigers got useful draft picks while Ajax sell players like Kluivert and Seedorf for big money on the transfer market. Maybe Coach Wallace looked at Ajax and how they find some of the youngest players to develop and he thought the Tigers could benefit from a similar program. In the stands, both clubs have a lot of loud support from their many fans.
St Kilda Saints: Lyon
If the Saints do win a Grand Final in the upcoming seasons then they might want to name their team after their coach. But if Ross was in France he could already coach a team with his name. Both clubs have not had a lot of stability with their coaches in recent years, Ross Lyon was brought to the Saints to change that and to use his experience with a winning team to take the Saints to the next level. Club Lyon have had more success in their league but their latest coach was also brought in due to a history of winning, Houllier kept the success coming as he led Lyon to another title.
Sydney Swans: Real Madrid
If a team has the resources to bring in ready-made stars then they might as well do it. The Swans have been successful at taking star players from other clubs and then getting more out of them. Real Madrid have spent money at an unbelievable rate, and they have bought the best players from around the world. The Swans have two consecutive AFL Grand Finals, with one win, as a reward for their player recruitment while Real Madrid have not been as successful in recent seasons, although they did win their league 3 seasons ago. One big difference is in the history of the clubs, Sydney have only been a dominant club in the last decade while Real Madrid have nearly a century of success.
West Coast Eagles: Barcelona
Ronaldinho might be the best in his sport, and Judd might be his AFL equivalent. Both clubs have plenty of wins and plenty of star players recorded in their history books. Jakovich, Matera, Sumich, McIntosh and Kemp are past heroes for the Eagles while Barcelona have had stars like Stoitchkov, Ronaldo, Lineker, Cruyff and Goikoetxea. Both clubs are willing to make a former star player their coach/manager and the Eagles won with Worsfold as coach and Barcelona had success with Johan Cruyff in command.
Western Bulldogs: Chievo Verona
They are little teams who have had a lot of success in the last couple of years, although they haven't quite got to the big games yet. Chievo had a rapid rise from the lower divisions of Italian soccer and were a contending team in Serie A for a few years. The Bulldogs were a team stuck down the bottom of the ladder and with numerous problems but have turned it around and are now a big contender. Fans of other clubs in both sports often hope that the underdog side of Chievo Verona or the Western Bulldogs can get the victory.
Next time: The NFL teams.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB C Bolton 31, S Dempster 27, L Roberts-Thomson 28
HB N Malceski 27, T Richards 28, L Ablett 28
C A Buchanan 28, N Fosdike 31, J McVeigh 26
HF R O'Keefe 30, A Goodes 31, S Phillips 24
FF N Davis 31, L Vogels 28, A Schneider 27
Foll D Jolly 29, D O'Keefe 23, J Bolton 31
bench D Currie 23, P Bevan 26, H Grundy 25, P Faulks 23
Outlook: The Swans do have a few concerns, and when they lose a Barry at each end of the ground it will be a problem for them. The depth of their onballers should keep them competitive for the next few seasons, but the Swans will need to find some big forwards for them to direct the ball to. The Swans had the same problem when Lockett got old, and as they replaced him with Hall, the Swans will also have someone they have targeted to replace Hall in the coming seasons.
The question for today, how many rounds during 2006 were the Carlton Blues, or the Essendon Bombers, in the top 8 on the ladder?
Just post a comment below with the answer.
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB D Wirrpanda 32, D Glass 30, J Graham 28
HB B Waters 25, E MacKenzie 23, A Selwood 27
C B Staker 27, M Nicoski 27, M Priddis 26
HF A Embley 30, A Hansen 28, A Hunter 30
FF B Cousins 33, Q Lynch 28, M Brown 23
Foll D Cox 30, C Judd 28, D Kerr 28
bench M Seaby 25, R Jones 31, S Butler 25, M Rosa 24
Outlook: The Eagles will be contenders for the foreseeable future. They have plenty of talls at both ends, even if they don't add more in the next few drafts. There will be retirements with their midfielders in the coming seasons but in 5 years time they will still be one of the league's best, and Cox will still be getting them first use of the ball too.
The Geelong Cats have announced that Steve Johnson has been suspended, and he won't be considered for senior selection for at least the first month of the 2007 season. But even if he was fit and available he may not have gotten a lot of playing time.
Click on the link to see the statement that Geelong released about Steve Johnson.
Even before Johnson was suspended he was in a big group of players who were chances to fill the last spot in the forward line there. They have Ottens and Hawkins, and maybe Chapman and both Abletts too. If Geelong want to go bigger then Mooney at centre half forward is an option, if Mooney plays somewhere else then there is a spot up for grabs.
Steve Johnson has a lot more competition this year for a starting forward spot than in previous seasons. First round picks Travis Varcoe, who was pick 15 in the 2005 AFL draft, and Joel Selwood will deserve to be played in 2007. The midfield is a bit loaded so one of them might get their first chance at AFL as a small forward. Geelong also have little speedsters Stokes, Wojcinski and Byrnes who could fill a forward pocket role. Gamble or Mackie could also fill a similar role to what Steve Johnson had in the past.
Even when Steve Johnson gets considered for the senior team, which could be in May, he might find it hard to get into the team. The Cats could win five of their first six games and they might not be making many changes to their team at that time. In round 7 the Eagles return to Kardinia Park, Johnson is unlikely to get a look there. Johnson should target the round 12 game against Brisbane for his AFL return, he was a star against the Lions last season.
Even if he doesn't get a senior game with Geelong next season then he will surely get another chance somewhere else in 2008. The Magpies and Bombers were among clubs who were interested in Johnson during trading in 2006 and he could be available at a bargain price next trading period. The Swans are always ready to trade for a goalkicker and other teams will also consider Steve Johnson if his time at Geelong does come to an end.
Garrick Ibbotson: King Cobra Bistro
Could be the best name ever for a restaurant.
Sam Iles: Aimless
Not a good quality.
The teams that fail to plan are the ones who are planning to fail. AFL Insider will have a look at what the future for AFL teams could look like, and what their possible lineup for season 2011 could be. Some teams have a lot to look forward to, while others will have a lot of holes to fill in the future. The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB M Hahn 30, B Harris 29, D Morris 28
HB L Gilbee 30, C Wight 26, A Everitt 23
C D Giansiracusa 29, D Cross 28, J McMahon 28
HF S Power 28, T Williams 25, A Cooney 25
FF R Murphy 29, A McDougall 28, M Boyd 29
Foll P Street 31, R Griffen 25, F Ray 25
bench W Minson 26, S Higgins 23, R Hargrave 30, B Stack 23
Outlook: They have plenty of running players now, and in five years time will still have a surplus of them. Minson and Street will be seasoned veterans then and should provide their team with plenty of the ball at hitouts. The big question is not something new to the Bulldogs, as they will have to figure out who their key forwards are. If McDougall can reach his potential then the Bulldogs will be very happy.
Roger Hayden: Hydrogen Era
An improvement on the Dockers' first decade in the league.
Lenny Hayes: Hey, Any Lens
There is something wrong with his teammates' vision if they don't look for Hayes.
Des Headland: Handed Deals
Had everything handed to him, yet to play at a level to show he deserves his big deals.
Chris Heffernan: Earn French Fish
He's not earning his dollars at Essendon.
Trent Hentschel:
Maybe in 2008.
David Hille: Hall Divide
Is willing to get between Hall and the ball.
James Hird: I Shred Jam
Might have retired earlier if he knew his anagram was so bad.
Luke Hodge: Led Huge, OK.
Big leadership material.
Ben Holland: Hand On Bell
You can't really see Ben Holland catching up to Peter Bell to get a hand on him.
Brodie Holland: Behind All Door
In front of every camera, in every newspaper, behind every door, it's Brodie Holland.
Rhan Hooper: Hero Ran Hop
Could be a new hero for the Lions, can run and jump.
Ryan Houlihan: Any Rhino Haul
His goal tally is as good as anything Ryan O'Connor did, which isn't really that good.
Max Hudghton:
No anagram, but nothing to cry over.
Ben Hudson: Honed Snub
Was initially snubbed by AFL teams, honed his skills in the lower leagues.
Sam Hunt: Ants Hum
More likely to be playing against the Bullants than the Crows.
Adam Hunter: Team Had Run
They had plenty of run.
The following are some players that may or may not be that good, may not even get a game too often, but are entertaining in their own way. While some have won the AFL Grand Final, some others are just lucky to get a kick in the VFL. Here are 32 of the AFL's best, average and nearly delisted.
Adelaide
Mark Ricciuto: When he entered the league in 1993 he proceeded to run over or through everyone, and he is still doing it today. Always good to watch. Doesn't just hit players hard, when he kicks the ball he puts everything into it too.
Brett Burton: On the wing there will be a group of players, of which Burton will be the shortest. Then he is on top of the pack with the ball in his hands. Doesn't have the height but he uses his athleticism and freakishly long limbs to play much taller than his listed height says.
Brisbane
Daniel Bradshaw: When they were winning he was underappreciated, but last season he was their entire forward line. Has sort of a Clark Kent look to him, doesn't look anything special but then he suddenly appears flying above the pack.
Daniel Merrett: A revelation when sent to the backline in 2006, but after being less than successful in all the other spots the backline was the only position left to try him. Like Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV, Merrett makes an impact when he punches. So far he has been getting the football, which is good news for his opponents.
Carlton
Setanta O'Hailpin: You have to wonder what he thinks of his teammates, they have been playing football all their lives but most of them are worse at the game than big Setanta. The former Young Hurler Of The Year was also taking the kickouts for Carlton's VFL affiliate, the Northern Bullants. But O'Hailpin won't be playing in the VFL now, as he is the big, athletic body that they need in the backline. For some reason they call him Carlos there, but if they were smart and wanted to name him after a Santana then Tito would have been better. But forget about that nickname, just say his first and last names as Santa's Helper.
Lance Whitnall: For a player who is said to be slow and unathletic he certainly gets to the ball a lot. An insight into what he does was evident when the cameras went into the Kangaroos rooms, the only player that worried Coach Laidley was Whitnall and he made sure he reminded his players of that.
Collingwood
Anthony Rocca: He kicks the ball a long way. A welcome change from some tactics that teams use.
Dale Thomas: When he was playing at TAC Cup level he was an entertainment machine, while many players have to change and adapt to the AFL, Thomas instead just jumped higher and played with more flair.
Essendon
Brent Stanton: Quietly becoming one of the best midfielders in the game. Commentators should say, "Stanton Delivers".
Courtney Johns: Only has showed brief flashes of his potential. Will have to wait for his chance with Lloyd and Lucas there. That means he better be very patient.
Fremantle
Matthew Pavlich: He is the Docker's best option at every position except in the ruck, and he would be effective at that if needed. Could be the reason why so many politicians voted for that cloning thing, with seventeen Pavliches on a team it would be unbeatable. Dominates quietly, but he still dominates.
Shane Parker: If any player deserves a break, and a shot at a Grand Final, it has to be someone who has been at the Dockers since day 1. Not only was he there when they were running around like the proverbial poultry that was lacking a cranium, but he always had to take the best forward. Parker was "Plan B" when it came to opposition star forwards, but "Plan A" never worked in those days. Now he has McPharlin, Johnson, Mundy, Grover, Thornton and he has a lot more help.
Geelong
Matthew Stokes: Run little guy, run. Makes the VFL entertaining and also had an impact with Geelong in the big league. Should be the perfect compliment to the big targets of Hawkins and Ottens near the goals.
Paul Chapman: One of the few there that can play physical football. A surprise that he wasn't named their new captain.
Hawthorn
Lance Franklin: He is bigger than everyone, runs faster than everyone and kicks the ball longer than anyone. So worth watching.
Chance Bateman: Until last season he was just a guy with spiky hair, but really stepped up in 2006 and played a lot better. His decision making improved as did his disposal.
Kangaroos
Drew Petrie: He was a good ruckman, but now he is a very good defender. Was a big help in AFL Fantasy last season too.
David Hale: The big players don't have as many fans as they deserve, the Kangaroos have said that Hale will be their centre half forward in 2007 so that will be something to watch. Hale is probably more effective a lot closer to goal, so maybe he and Thompson rotate through the key forward posts.
Melbourne
Lynden Dunn: Just like how Anakin thought he was held back by Kenobi, someone at Melbourne is stopping Dunn from doing what he can. This should be his breakout year. Neitz is in the goalsquare, Robertson is roaming around the 50m area, there is room for Dunn around half forward as another marking option.
Byron Pickett: He wins and he runs into people, a good combination. His arrival instantly changed the perception that people have of the Melbourne team. He isn't one who picks on those who are weaker or smaller, and will take on a big ruckman who outweighs him by 20kg, and Pickett will still come out on top.
Port Adelaide
Brendon Lade: Doesn't get the respect that he deserves around the league.
Brett Ebert: Might be the shortest key position player in the AFL. Or could be among the best marks for small forwards in the league, especially on the lead.
Richmond
Darren Gaspar: You have to respect him, he was drafted into the AFL as the number 1 pick and he had his hairstyle then and he stuck with it. Could be an inspiration to young players in the league, and Paul Bower seems ready to follow his example.
Matthew Richardson: Born a decade too late, should have been in the late 80s/early 90s era with Dunstall, Ablett, Lockett and others who were kicking 100 goals every year. Should have been one of the greatest forwards ever, but he didn't have the best coaches or the teammates to get him the ball and a few injuries derailed him when he was at his best. But still has a bit left, and he needs to go out and get his marks in a game record back.
St Kilda
Brendon Goddard: Some fans hold his number one draft spot against him, but he has been as good as anyone else from his draft. Gets the ball and kicks it long, always a good way to play.
Fraser Gehrig: When he is on his game it is great to watch, and when he is really off his game it is even more fun to see. A better kick for goal from 50m out than he is from around 30m, and if he is on the boundary on his correct left foot that seems to be the spot he never misses from. Needs to forget about the media’s opinion and grow his hair, at least at the back, and that will result in more goals.
Sydney
Luke Ablett: An Ablett who quietly goes about his football, and even wins the Grand Final.
Luke Vogels: Nearly every week of the AFL season you can read "Emergencies: L Vogels". That should continue in 2007 as the Swans will also have Everitt who will play a bit as a tall forward.
West Coast
Dean Cox: Without him the Eagles don't win, simple as that.
Brent Staker: Would be a huge star at any other club, but for the Eagles he is behind a few players who are similar to him like Embley and Hunter.
Western Bulldogs
Peter Street: If only a different team had drafted him, nobody wanted him in 1997 and then in 1998 the Cats who already had King in the ruck picked him. The Bulldogs haven't been much better for him, he has been in and out of the team for several years, it took injuries to three or four talls at the start of season 2006 for Street to get into the team. But he did enough last season to prove that he is a very good ruckman.
Brad Johnson: Hard to dislike him.
Robert Haddrill: Old Third Barrel
Explains why you don't see him playing very often, maybe not.
Richard Hadley: Hardly Ice Hard
Does seem to be a bit soft.
Mitchell Hahn:
No anagram.
David Hale: Head Valid
Their head coach did make a valid decision to make Hale their centre half forward.
Barry Hall:
Just like goals in the 2006 Grand Final, Hall goes without again.
Ray Hall:
If Barry Hall doesn't get an anagram then Ray Hall certainly doesn't.
Aaron Hamill: Aloha Marlin
If he doesn't get over his injuries then he will have plenty of time to go fishing in Hawaii.
Ashley Hansen: He Has Any Lens
The Eagles forward attacks are focused on him.
Leigh Harding: Nil High Grade
Will play nil games in the highest grade of football next season.
Tom Harley: Hotel Army
That could be what they are, but as captain he can change them in 2007.
Brian Harris: Brain Sirrah
A smart and regal player for the Bulldogs.
Daniel Harris: Is In Real Hard
He is in real hard for the football.
Brent Hartigan: Train Then Grab
Needs to keep developing his marking skills.
Adam Hartlett: That Art Medal
Maybe he better take up painting or something, not getting a medal for his football.
Brent Harvey: The Bravery
Reason why he is so important to the Kangaroos.
Robert Harvey: Other Bravery
An inspiration for the Saints.
Paul Hasleby: A Bully Shape
Hasleby needs to get into shape.
Jonathan Hay:
Might not have a future in the AFL or for an anagram.
On the PTI show on ESPN they went through the AFL teams and posted their prediction for the top 8. Kekovich said, "That's the way it will be, start betting". So here is Sam Kekovich's Top 8 for 2007:
1 Eagles
2 Bulldogs
3 Dockers
4 Swans
5 Hawks
6 Bombers
7 Tigers
8 Kangaroos
Important Outs:
J Akermanis, M Voss, M Michael, B Scott, J Leppitsch, C Keating
Important Ins:
A Proud, C Schmidt, M Leuenberger
Injury News:
J Roe (recovering from knee injury)
Fantasy Stars:
Unlike most AFL teams, the Lions have as many big fantasy stars in the forward line as they do in the middle. Brown should have a huge year, and Bradshaw will be useful in fantasy too. In the midfield you want to look at Power and Black. Sherman should be joining Black and Power as the elite in the Lions midfield. Sherman can also go forward and kick a goal which is a good bonus for a fantasy midfielder. Jamie Charman is a better than average fantasy ruckman, but now there is a concern that Wood could take playing time away from him. Rischitelli, Adcock, Stiller and Drummond can all produce fantasy numbers and some of them will have a much bigger role in 2007, Rischitelli might be the best of that bunch. There isn't a lot of run, and statistics, from their backline but if Roe and Lappin are healthy then sign them for fantasy.
Possible Fantasy Stars:
Selwood should keep improving and will be worth a fantasy spot.
Notting has versatile skills and with the Lions losing so many veterans they will look for him more.
Don't forget about Anthony Corrie, he is still on their rookie list and would produce if he was healthy and on their main list.
Possible Fantasy Sleeper:
Matthew Moody. Should be one of the young Lions who steps up and fills a new role.
First Year Players For AFL Fantasy:
Albert Proud should be great value in fantasy leagues. He brings everything that the Lions need so he should be a star there from round 1. Schmidt might find a spot in the forward line, he is also a player who has a good future in AFL fantasy games. Leuenberger is going to be great, for his AFL team and for fantasy teams, but it is a few years away. Hawksley is another youngster who may get a chance next season.
AFL cards can be fun and educational, and can be very affordable. There is also the investment part of the hobby, and if you pulled this card from a pack you would have been quite pleased. But you might not get any change back from a thousand dollars if you want to buy this signed Nathan Buckley card.
2001 Authentic Captain Signature - Nathan Buckley
But is Hird better than Buckley, right now on ebay he is as the similar James Hird card is at an even higher price. But still time for some more bids,
Ben Graham signed a contract extension with the Jets and then showed that he deserved it as he had another consistent season.
Graham once again played all 16 games for the Jets, last season he had 74 punts and this season he had 72. He did kick the ball a bit further this time, as his average per punt was 0.5 yards more than his first NFL season.
His best punt in his first year was 59 yards but he had a 69 yard kick this season. Graham was 13th in the NFL for punting average. That made him the second best Australian on the list, Mat McBriar led the NFL in average and also had a 75 yard punt during the season.
Graham has at least one more game this season, as the New York Jets meet the New England Patriots in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
For more information you can have a look at Ben Graham’s profile at ESPN and at the NFL site.
Swans And Eagles Play Close Game
Carlton Announce Their New Coach
Pavlich Wins Brownlow Medal
Chris Grant To Retire After Grand Final
Akermanis Does Handstands After Defeating Brisbane
Essendon And Sheedy Discuss Contract Extension
Steve Johnson Best On Ground In VFL Game
Richardson Praises Riewoldt
Lance Franklin Wins Best And Fairest At Hawthorn
Adelaide Ruckman Injured
Geelong Fans Celebrate Arrival Of Tom Hawkins
Brisbane's Brown Wins First Coleman Medal
Umpire Controversy With Push In The Back Rule
Kangaroos Appoint Interim Coach
Stanton Delivers Essendon Best And Fairest Award
Makepeace Wins Liston Medal
The 2007 AFL season is very hard to predict, and there are six or seven real contenders to win it all, and a few other teams that also think they are a chance. But there are some things that you can be sure won't happen next season. Following are some of the news headlines that you should not expect to see in the coming months.
Sydney Fire Paul Roos
Carlton Name Fevola Captain
Eagles Learn Teamwork From Perth Glory Players
Carlton Board Unanimously Agree To Extend Pagan's Contract
Opponent Calls Ricciuto Soft
Ottens Wins Coleman Medal
Shane Warne Named Head Coach Of The Saints
Kangaroos Agree To Move To The Gold Coast
Pickett Admits His Fear Of Matthew Lappin
Kent Kingsley Credited With Richmond's Improvement
Koschitzke Plays Every Game
Laidley Wins Award For Coaching
Collingwood Fans Cheer For Tarrant
Cameron Mooney Is Not Reported In 2007
Malthouse Retires, Buckley Named Player/Coach
Irish Arrive In Australia For 2007 Test Series
Leave a comment below to answer this question, who was the last player to kick 100 goals in an AFL season.
Ryan Gamble: Angry Amble
A promising player for Geelong, they need more anger and determination there too.
Charlie Gardiner: Car Dealer Hiring
Won't be getting many more chances at AFL.
Michael Gardiner: Miner Laid Charge
Gardiner doesn't want to see headlines like that again, but he has moved far away from the WA mines.
Darren Gaspar: Grand Era Raps
His era is about to be wrapped up.
Fraser Gehrig: Fresh Rage Rig
He is a big rig, the Saints need him to be fresh and healthy, and he plays better with rage.
Daniel Giansiracusa: Asia Crusading Alien
Could be the plot for a Japanese Godzilla movie.
Lindsay Gilbee: Indelibly Sage
With that quality it is no wonder that he has become such an important player for them.
Darren Glass: Grand Lasers
Can't get past a full back with those special abilities.
Brendon Goddard: Bond Odd Gardner
Gardiner is spelled incorrectly, but Goddard might be able to bond with the new guy there.
Simon Godfrey: Moody Fringes
If you were on the fringes of senior selection all the time you would be moody too.
Adam Goodes: Doomed Saga
The anagram says the Swans' run could come to an end soon.
Simon Goodwin: Go In On Wisdom
A smart player who knows how to go in and get the ball.
Jaymie Graham: Hairy Game Jam
For the biggest game of the year there was a player jam for the Eagles last spot on the team.
Jason Gram: Snag Major
Doesn't kick many goals, maybe that will change.
Chris Grant: Arch String
Grant is up to his last arrow and has it targeted on the premiership.
Shannon Grant:
Nothing there for anagrams.
Brad Green: Bred Anger
Maybe the coach is getting displeased with him.
Kasey Green: Enrages Key
Maybe Worsfold was the key man for West Coast, and Green did something wrong in 2005.
Ryan Griffen: Fan Ferrying
Fans will be ferried in from all over to see him in action.
Antoni Grover: No Overrating
This Super Grover should not be overrated.
Brent Guerra: Truer Banger
The Hawks brought him in for his banging and physical play.
James Gwilt: Jigsaw Melt
You don't want that to happen.
To see how much things will have changed in a year here are the players who lined up in round 1 2006, and the possibility of them playing in round 1 2007.
Carlton Blues:
There in round 1 2007:
Anthony Koutoufides
Marc Murphy
Lance Whitnall
Andrew Walker
Brendan Fevola
Heath Scotland
Eddie Betts
Nick Stevens
Kade Simpson
Bret Thornton
Jarrad Waite
Adam Bentick
Probably there:
Dylan McLaren
Andrew Carrazzo
Ryan Houlihan
Brad Fisher
Matthew Lappin
Little or no chance:
Barnaby French
Trent Sporn
Corey McGrath
Luke Livingston
Adrian De Luca
Richmond Tigers:
There in round 1 2007:
Matthew Richardson
Kane Johnson
Joel Bowden
Kayne Pettifer
Andrew Raines
Brett Deledio
Patrick Bowden
Troy Simmonds
Shane Tuck
Mark Coughlan
Nathan Brown
Greg Tivendale
Richard Tambling
Nathan Foley
Chris Hyde
Probably there:
Andrew Krakouer
Chris Newman
Jay Schulz
Darren Gaspar
Adam Pattison
Little or no chance:
David Rodan
Andrew Kellaway
1: West Coast Eagles
They won in 2006 so they start on top here.
2: Sydney Swans
Addition of Everitt improves their team.
3: Fremantle Dockers
Tarrant and Solomon add more AFL Grand Final experience.
4: Western Bulldogs
Akermanis should take them further, and their injured players are coming back too.
5: Adelaide Crows
Some questions in the ruck and up forward.
6: St Kilda Saints
New coach and a couple of veteran ruckmen will help.
7: Richmond Tigers
Riewoldt, Polak and Kingsley will assist Richardson and the other Richmond talls.
8: Geelong Cats
Hawkins should take them to the finals in 2007.
9: Melbourne Demons
Didn't make changes during offseason.
10: Hawthorn Hawks
Young team that keeps improving.
11: Essendon Bombers
Mal Michael could push them a lot higher.
12: Port Adelaide Power
Extended their coach and will continue to build their young and quick team.
13: Collingwood Magpies
Reid and Brown are great, but won't be ready to fill the hole left by Tarrant next season.
14: Kangaroos
Hansen will need to dominate for them to improve.
15: Brisbane Lions
Looking at another rebuilding year but have a lot of the pieces there.
16: Carlton Blues
Coach and board problems, small ruckmen, it could be a long year.
The next Power Rankings will be out next month, and then they will be adjusted every week that there are games played. The Power Rankings take into account not only a team's ladder position but also the strength of their opponents, injuries, the toughness of their schedule, suspensions, where the games are played and anything as that is applicable.
Power Rankings will be useful during the season as it can provide a different outlook compared to the AFL ladder. As not all teams play each other twice, and some teams have easier schedules while others have a more difficult one, a better idea of how a team is going can be seen. For example, the team that starts the season winning three games at home against weak opponents might have a higher ladder position than a team that played on the road for one win and two losses that were close, while one team might be on top of the ladder the other team with the more difficult schedule could be the better one.
To see how much things will have changed in a year here are the players who lined up in round 1 2006, and the possibility of them playing in round 1 2007.
Western Bulldogs:
There in round 1 2007:
Chris Grant
Adam Cooney
Lindsay Gilbee
Ryan Griffen
Brad Johnson
Scott West
Daniel Cross
Will Minson
Matthew Robbins
Daniel Giansiracusa
Jordan McMahon
Dale Morris
Matthew Boyd
Nathan Eagleton
Ryan Hargrave
Probably there:
Robert Murphy
Mitchell Hahn
Sam Power
Little or no chance:
Wayde Skipper
Brian Harris
Rohan Smith
Adam Morgan
Geelong Cats:
There in round 1 2007:
Gary Ablett
Cameron Ling
Paul Chapman
Matthew Scarlett
Steven King
Jimmy Bartel
Joel Corey
Darren Milburn
Corey Enright
Cameron Mooney
Brad Ottens
Matt Egan
Josh Hunt
Probably there:
Kane Tenace
Shannon Byrnes
David Johnson
Jarad Rooke
Andrew Mackie
Little or no chance:
Henry Playfair
Will Slade
Charlie Gardiner
Mark Blake
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