A pre-pre-season team with some justification around selection. Rookies obviously fluid and subject to change over the next few weeks but at this stage this is my thinking. Some self observation - lacking real captaincy options outside of Oliver, a few VC options like Macrae, Bont and Dunks but not the solid Laird/Miller/Neale options.
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Defenders -
Docherty - Finished the season with a bang, training with the mids and an early injury to Walsh opens the door for some more midfield minutes. Natural ball winner, showed he can step it up another level in the midfield with his SC scoring with opportunity. The injury to Williams I don't think changes much, I expect Doch will be playing midfield at least early in the season and I think he's critical to a quick start.
Daicos - could and may become Young. This is probably the position in my team over the last couple of weeks that keeps changing the D1/D2. I really want Young but I feel I need Doch as one stable uber premium in defence so D2 is Young or Daicos. At this stage Daicos's ownership has him there as a placeholder until I see the make-up of the kick-ins for Fremantle. I expect Daicos will get more midfield minutes, I expect Daicos will improve, I guess it's just how much. If Daicos sees a tag I'm 100% confident the coaching team will work him through that and have no doubt he can score any position on the ground. 2nd year I know, but he's in that Oliver/Walsh category.
Yeo - Keeper potential, role is good it seems floating between HB and mids - if fit for me he's a no brainer.
Midfielders -
Oliver - Possibly get him cheaper later in the season - question is when. If he's averaging 125+ for the first 6 weeks then you've missed the boat and if he throws in a low score later and drops in price around the byes damage is done - everyone has him.
Bont - Dunkley leaving, I've always been on the wrong side of this CD love child so I'm starting him with the thought his CBA's increase.Quality player and expecting a big season.
Macrae - Pure fantasy gold. Down year last year, seemed more out towards the wings but again with Dunkley gone I expect Macrae to bounce back to those numbers we've seen over the last few years of his career.I'm backing he returns to a 120+ average
Cogs - Got him in the midfield to squeeze him in, really want Dunks, Rozee and Taranto so Cogs runs through the middle for me early. If fit and CBA's are there, he'll put together big numbers we know he's capable of. I expect Green and Cogs to be right in the middle of the tough stuff this year and days of him being forward for the majority of games are gone. He's one I'm scared to fade early as I just don't want the headache of getting him in later in the year after watching those big numbers drop.
Green - opportunity, another pre-season, another year in the system and he'll be the one that will lead the contested ball for GWS. Will kick goals, has a well rounded game and has shown he has the ceiling to score big. Value and not much risk IMO as there's plenty of options around that price like Anderson, LDU and even Serong that he can be moved to.
Hopper - I'm warming to him. This is the spot that has always caused me headaches. I can honestly say that most mid-priced midfielders I own get traded early to a performing rookie to fix another issue somewhere else. If fit, opportunity there and will make some coin. Has high ownership so a little of a counteract in there also.
Rucks -
English - TBH he's only there so I can distribute coin elsewhere on a worst case scenario. If fit and plays 22 he'll be a top 3 ruck on total points. Has a hard draw early which worries me and I honestly don't expect he'll be in my team round 1. If Darcy Cameron looks fit I'll probably go there and look to use the cash to move Fyfe to someone.
Marshall - Not much to say - if he's fit and a solo ruck I'd rather spend my time worrying about who to partner him with.
Forwards
Dunkley - why bother, if you don't have him you're seriously looking for a small miracle because everything points to him being the #1 forward and probably as cheap as he'll be in 2023
Rozee - Big finish to 2023 - well, not really I guess. Just a poor start scoring wise due to playing forward. Once moved to the midfield he came alive. Tag does worry me, I think he'll be a prime candidate for a tag. Has the ability to go big, is under priced noting his poor scoring early in 2022
Taranto - New club, likely to play as a fulltime midfielder. I don't see the increase in average that many others do but I do think he'll go around 105. Ownership is nearly 50% so again I'll counter that. He'll be a top 6 forward no doubt if fit.
Fyfe - At this stage it's ownership again and that's all. I'm not a fan of him in my team and would much prefer Ziebell but this spot is a wait and see. I don't think he's body or role will stack up as a decent SC option but one thing - he's cheap. He looks in ripping condition, I'm hopeful that his pre-season training is in the forward line because basically that's where he needs the time spent to learn the forward craft and when needed will see minutes on the ball. My least confident spot and if a decent rookie comes up, maybe I'll free up the cash here. But what if????? Hopefully not needing English will mean I can move him on.