Until this season, the Harold ball memorial trophy was awarded to the best Young player, who must have started the year with less than 33 games. If we take out the age restriction who would you tip for best first year player in 2013?

Pederson and gillies have already won best first year players at there previous clubs, toumpas should step straight in, viney would probably be favorite. I'd take value for money at long odds on kent!

I've watched his highlights several times and love what I see. If he and Toumpas can step up to the required level we will have a potent midfield.

Dimitri "Jimmy" Toumpas

Viney would come very close to getting it. Gillies would be a decent bet to take it out imo, big bodied defender, possibly filling the hole left by Rivers. Fitness may be the only query

Hard to go past the son of a gun: Jack Viney

You guys had better be careful if you ride a bicycle.....crystal balls are very vulnerable.

How about waiting maybe even a few rounds before pressuring the guys too much with the expectations many ad on the likes f Morton, asylvia, McLean, JW etc. it is often enough a smokey who benefits from the lack of pressure and attention. :-))

Terlich.

A mate is a Geelong fan and he reckons Gillies will be a very good pick up, could be a smokey for best first year.

Safe money would be on Viney.

Toumpas 1st, Viney 2nd, Kent 3rd, Taggert 4th

my opinion

Toumpas 1st, Viney 2nd, Kent 3rd, Taggert 4th

If Kent even plays this year he'll be doing well ... or we'll have a hell of an injury list.

In my opinion also ..

If Kent even plays this year he'll be doing well ... or we'll have a hell of an injury list.

In my opinion also ..

He looks really really good.

I think he'll get a fair share of games and we always have key injuries.. story of AFL.

Will Viney and Toumpas get full seasons?

Toumpas for sure flashy outside player

But love hard nut viney

Don't care just get senior games into these guys so we can have a hard midfield

Viney by a country mile.

... just get senior games into these guys so we can have a hard midfield

Careful ... that's what we were doing when the wheels fell off last time.

Let's make these guys work hard to get senior games, so we can have a hard midfield.

He looks really really good.

I think he'll get a fair share of games and we always have key injuries.. story of AFL.

Will Viney and Toumpas get full seasons?

The thing is with Kent though, is that he has been playing colts, not seniors so he has just been playing against kids. Seniors is a whole diferent level. I have no doubt with how he looks (strong body, speed) after he gets a bit of experience against men he will do well, but like bing said, he will be doing well to get a game in melbs side this season. I'd say a year at VFL level will have toughened him up well for senior footy. I'd love to see him come in and prove me wrong this season though

Toumpas for sure flashy outside player

But love hard nut viney

Don't care just get senior games into these guys so we can have a hard midfield

Careful ... that's what we were doing when the wheels fell off last time.

Let's make these guys work hard to get senior games, so we can have a hard midfield.

These two are in a very different situation to say "getting senior games into" the likes of Morton & Watts in their first years: these two have already played in senior competitions, SANFL & VFL, though I totally agree and am sure Neeld et al will too, they will only get AFL games when they have earned the honour, not just forvthecsake of it.

Careful ... that's what we were doing when the wheels fell off last time.

Let's make these guys work hard to get senior games, so we can have a hard midfield.

all signs are pointing to that being the way business is being conducted and if blease is anything to go by the development of such mindsets will be apparent soon enough...hence why i believe kent could well play 6 or 7 games through the middle of the year and impress strongly.

If Kent is playing AFL in 2013 I fear for our year...

There are so many who are, or should be (form permitting), ahead of him in our midfield/fwd lines.

Mids: Trengove, Grimes, Magner, Jones, Tapscott, McKenzie, Tynan, Taggert, Viney, Toumpas, Nicholson, Evans

Fwd: Blease, Byrnes, Rodan, Davey, Sylvia

And some of those names could be in the other list - making it harder to break in.

I would be thankful if this kid can play a solid year at Casey developing a relationship with the other WA boy we have down there.

Viney

Viney should be ready after a year training with the team, although playing against men at AFL level will take its's toll (i.e. Broken Jaw last year), so if Jack can play 15+ games he should do well.

Toumpas would do well to build his engine and play 15+ games, If he is doing well (being more of an outside player) we'd be flying as a team.

Can't see too many of the new kids getting regular games given the other imports.

I think the extra time training with the senior side will make a big difference to Viney and he will take it out next year.

Probably the same thing for Hogan the year after.

Dawes or Toumpas

I reckon it'll be Viney or Toumpas. I know, really going out on a limb there.

Dawes by a mile, recruit of the 2013 season.

Rodan if he stays fit