Draft Picks Who Will Play Round 1
Bryce Gibbs
When round 1 of the 2007 AFL season commences you can be sure that Gibbs will be out there. Probably gets 20 possessions, and might play against a young midfield star from the Tigers like Delidio or Raines.
Lachlan Hansen
The Kangaroos probably start him as the third tall defender. They play Collingwood in their first game, so maybe Rusling is his opponent, but he could even get a chance to play on big Rocca too.
Mitchell Thorp
The Hawks say he is ready, but now they have to pick a spot for the versatile player. One plan they have is for Thorp to be a key position forward, playing alongside Franklin and Dowler. Thorp will start his career in Brisbane, and might find himself playing against another versatile and athletic tall, Jared Brennan.
Joel Selwood
He would have been playing in round last season if he was allowed to, the Cats will want him in the senior team for round 1 2007. Selwood is ready to play, and he will have a tough first game against the Bulldogs and their deep and talented midfield.
Jack Riewoldt
The Tigers say Riewoldt is ready and he should be included in their round 1 team. Riewoldt wouldn't have a big role in the round 1 game against Carlton, maybe he is a forward who is matched up on Bower or Riewoldt might play down back and Kennedy could be his opponent there.
Tom Hislop
Gumbleton and Jetta may also be there in round 1, but Hislop isn't just a player who is physically ready as the Bombers also have a spot for him to play in their midfield. With the addition of Michael, and the return of Lloyd, Gumbleton won't have to play right away and the Bombers may bring him and Jetta into the team after a few rounds. The Bombers play in Adelaide, so the Hislop comparisons to Ricciuto could start again, although it is much more likely that Hislop is played on someone like Thompson or Van Berlo.
Tom Hawkins
He is Geelong's best forward and if he isn't starting in the goalsquare for the opening round then someone at Geelong has a problem. The contest with Brian Harris in round 1 would have been worth watching, but thanks to m.borg we are reminded that Harris will join Brodie Holland and miss some time at the start of the season. Who the Bulldogs find to play on Hawkins and Ottens will be something Eade will have to work at.
Aaron Edwards
The Kangaroos wanted Edwards to help them kick goals and as he is an older player the Kangaroos should play him right away. Clement and Prestigiacomo might be played on Thompson and Hale, so Edwards might be matched up by Wakelin or one of the Magpies' younger defenders.
Plenty more players are a chance to start, or restart, their careers in round 1, these include:
Scott Gumbleton, Travis Boak, David Armitage, Nathan Brown, Leroy Jetta, Albert Proud, Alwyn Davey, Josh Kennedy, Daniel Connors, Jarryd Allen, Nick Gill and David Rodan.
When round 1 of the 2007 AFL season commences you can be sure that Gibbs will be out there. Probably gets 20 possessions, and might play against a young midfield star from the Tigers like Delidio or Raines.
Lachlan Hansen
The Kangaroos probably start him as the third tall defender. They play Collingwood in their first game, so maybe Rusling is his opponent, but he could even get a chance to play on big Rocca too.
Mitchell Thorp
The Hawks say he is ready, but now they have to pick a spot for the versatile player. One plan they have is for Thorp to be a key position forward, playing alongside Franklin and Dowler. Thorp will start his career in Brisbane, and might find himself playing against another versatile and athletic tall, Jared Brennan.
Joel Selwood
He would have been playing in round last season if he was allowed to, the Cats will want him in the senior team for round 1 2007. Selwood is ready to play, and he will have a tough first game against the Bulldogs and their deep and talented midfield.
Jack Riewoldt
The Tigers say Riewoldt is ready and he should be included in their round 1 team. Riewoldt wouldn't have a big role in the round 1 game against Carlton, maybe he is a forward who is matched up on Bower or Riewoldt might play down back and Kennedy could be his opponent there.
Tom Hislop
Gumbleton and Jetta may also be there in round 1, but Hislop isn't just a player who is physically ready as the Bombers also have a spot for him to play in their midfield. With the addition of Michael, and the return of Lloyd, Gumbleton won't have to play right away and the Bombers may bring him and Jetta into the team after a few rounds. The Bombers play in Adelaide, so the Hislop comparisons to Ricciuto could start again, although it is much more likely that Hislop is played on someone like Thompson or Van Berlo.
Tom Hawkins
He is Geelong's best forward and if he isn't starting in the goalsquare for the opening round then someone at Geelong has a problem. The contest with Brian Harris in round 1 would have been worth watching, but thanks to m.borg we are reminded that Harris will join Brodie Holland and miss some time at the start of the season. Who the Bulldogs find to play on Hawkins and Ottens will be something Eade will have to work at.
Aaron Edwards
The Kangaroos wanted Edwards to help them kick goals and as he is an older player the Kangaroos should play him right away. Clement and Prestigiacomo might be played on Thompson and Hale, so Edwards might be matched up by Wakelin or one of the Magpies' younger defenders.
Plenty more players are a chance to start, or restart, their careers in round 1, these include:
Scott Gumbleton, Travis Boak, David Armitage, Nathan Brown, Leroy Jetta, Albert Proud, Alwyn Davey, Josh Kennedy, Daniel Connors, Jarryd Allen, Nick Gill and David Rodan.
The Mal Michael move was a big surprise, Stanley. Sheedy was looking for someone to sign, and had talked about Nathan Ablett, but Michael was another Sheedy plan that worked. If there are not any rules to limit a retired player returning to AFL then he has to be allowed to play for Essendon. This is just another loophole that Essendon exploited, they are good at that. Michael is best at full back, so Fletcher could be centre half back, and now they also have Gumbleton and they need to find a spot for him. In one day the Bombers went from needing some help in the backline to having a surplus of big defenders.
Thank you both for your comments, question and correction.
2. Essendon: Scott Gumbleton
3. Kangaroos: Lachlan Hansen
4. Brisbane: Matthew Leuenberger
5. Port Adelaide: Travis Boak
6. Hawthorn: Mitchell Thorp
7. Geelong: Joel Selwood
8. Collingwood: Ben Reid
9. St Kilda: David Armitage
10. Collingwood: Nathan Brown
11. Western Bulldogs: Andrejs Everitt
12. Melbourne: James Frawley
13. Richmond: Jack Riewoldt
14. Adelaide: James Sellar
15. Sydney: Daniel O’Keefe
16. West Coast: Mitchell Brown
17. Carlton: Shaun Hampson
18. Essendon: Leroy Jetta
19. Carlton: Shaun Grigg
20. Essendon: Tom Hislop
Ellis could play twice as many games if injuries hit some of the Hawthorn midfield.
He's wearing number 5 so someone at Geelong thinks highly of him.
Hopefully Varcoe will get plenty of games this season, but they also have to fit in Selwood and other new or improved players.
Varcoe is great to watch, and in the VFL last season he would provide a few highlights when he played. In the NAB Cup game the Cats played Varcoe a lot closer to goals than they did in the VFL in 2006. The Cats might want him to play in a forward pocket and he should be a good player to have to complement their tall forwards.
They might not name him in round 1, but when he does play it will be worth watching.