Got 10,000 worded again
Bulldogs - Missing Treloar and Macrae, similar to the Hawks it makes reading anything out of this somewhat meaningless but will try anyway because I'm an obstinate fool with too much free time
Dogs were solid overall, looked really nice off half back, looked a bit more uncertain going inside 50, so they looked like the Dogs...
Bont - Just trotting around racking up touches. Spent more time forward than I'd have liked, especially from about midway through the 2nd onward but he looks fit and he was clearly their #1 midfielder when he was in there.
Dunkley - As I said without Treloar and Macrae... BUT his role was delicious, I barely noticed him forward, everytime he was on the ball he was prolific, wouldn't be at all surprised if he had 10 tackles. Looks fit and ready to fire. I haven't been the biggest fan of him as a pick and I don't want to jump the gun but if his role can withhold those two then he's just an easy starting pick (now to squeeze him in!).
Smith - Solid role, Easton Wood was clear he'd push onto the wing when not playing in the guts as they love his speed and ball use (Bont will push forward in the same chat). Don't think this is his year in fantasy but he's a gun.
Hunter - Pure wing role. DT relevant probably, SC a bit more doubtful. He's what we think he is and looked locked in his spot which I don't think changes.
Martin - Looked really fit and was the main ruck, probably 60/40 split. Rested forward at times. Tempting price but I'm still not sold on the JS or scoring potential being there. Next week when we get the actual score will be interesting, he had several nice hitouts to my eye.
Libba - Really solid game. Just everywhere. Looks fit. I have no idea where he fits in, he's arguably their best inside mid with his clean hands and tackling. This midfield is such a puzzle.
McNeil - He was the real surprise packet for me, I'd heard all the other names that popped up but not his. 102k mid playing as a HF with a few bursts up to the wing and a bit of time deeper forward. He looked a really good player and seemed to have a well defined role. It's not a great role but he showed an ability to impact the game and between tackling and deceptive marking I think he can roll it over. Probably a similar type to Vandermeer last year. Would be a decent M11 pick, imo, if he makes the round 1 cut. It will be interesting to see whether it's the lower rung guys who go out like McNeil who played defined roles in the game or the lower rung midfield guys like Lipinski.
Lipinski - Speaking of, he was really solid. Good role and, as he always does, played well in that role. Not sure if he gets pushed out of the role at the expense of a McNeil type or out of the team.
Dale - Really solid as a forward.
Daniel - Absolutely everywhere. Took just about every kick-in, one-two everywhere, used it brilliantly for the most part. Nothing to suggest he can't repeat or even improve his scoring.
Johannisen/Williams - Both really solid, both the kind who keep defenses honest and both not the kind who get absurd numbers at the expense of Daniel, if anything they're the guys who help create the angles for Daniel to work in. Just a nice mix the three.
English - Played mostly forward, looked alright at it. Surprising to me they'd stunt his ruck development given how good he could be but Bevo gonna Bevo.
Jong - Looked fit, played well. Same player he's always been but had a strong wing role. Probably no upside but if he could stay fit he's probably capable of mid 80s.