I have been very interested in following the arguments and rationale in relation to the composition of our forward and backlines. maybe it is a bit early to start also looking at the midfield etc however as the engine room it is where it all starts. I have pasted below, my thoughts for now, however they will undoubtedly continue to change as I absorb all the comments emanating from the training sessions:

Centreline: Sylvia, Grimes, Trengove

Followers: Jamar, N. Jones, Viney

Interchange: Davey, Toumpas, McKenzie

Substitute: Rodan

This is a tough exercise. Very difficult to get the balance right and having to leave out players I want to see play. But here goes.

Centreline: Trengove Jones Howe

Followers: Jamar Grimes Sylvia

Interchange: Spencer Blease Viney McKenzie

It is likely that Rodan will play round 1. If so, I would move Tapscott out altogether, move Blease into Tapscott's spot, and place Rodan on the bench as the sub.

I really want to find a place for Tynan but can't at this stage.

Ditto for Toumpas.

I already have Howe, Byrnes, Davey, Sylvia, Rodan, Blease, and Toumpas rotating through the forward line and I would add N. Jones, Grimes, Viney, McKenzie, and Tapscott to the Rd 1 midfield.

With the 7 defenders and the rucks (Jamar and Pedersen) and the FF Dawes this will be 12 players who can run through the middle.

The 9 bolded players would be close to definite starters, injury permitting.

Centre Line: Bail, N. Jones, Rodan

Followers: Jamar, Grimes, Viney

Interchange: Blease, Davey, Sylvia

Sub: Tapscott

Edit: Added the N to N. Jones.

My assesment from training is the stand out midfielders have been N Jones and Viney, so they are the first two in. Matt Jones has been very impressive for mine. He has come from a club with an A grade midfield in Hawthorn. If you look at their main midfielders you have Mitchell, Sewell and Lewis with Rioli, Hodge, Breust and others rotating through. I really like Savage as a player and he was on the fringe, Bateman couldnt get back in there either, what chance for our man Jones! I reckon he could be very good for us. In training he is quick and links well, has good vision and seems to use the ball well, of the newbies he and Viney are the two that seem most likely early doors to be up to AFL level.<br />My next two are McKenzie and Grimes. McKenzie can't really play anywhere else and he is a good run with player. He was only average in 2012 and even though he nullified some of his opponents he rarely if ever beat any of them and never hurt the opposition going the other way. 2013 is a big year for Macca, he should just watch re-runs of Ryan Crowley from Freo, what a great story for a stopper to flourish into an A grader in Freos midfield. Actually I reckon McKenzie is more like Tuck for Richmond who was gone two years ago, couldn't kick, poor skills but competitive and in the last couple of years has become very important to Richmonds midfield as they've added class around him. Macca is super competitive, loves the jumper and a top bloke, hopefully he can emulate one of those two in 2013. Grimes is on his way hopefully to becoming a great Captain, he is A grade proffessional and even though I don't think he's a natural midfielder his work ethic and dedication will take him a long way. This year I think he'll get rotated in the middle but won't be in there as much as Jones or Viney.<br />My next two are Blease and Jetta. Blease just might become a great wing player, he is very suited to the role. With luck in staying on the park I think he'll finish top 5 in our B&F and has the most scope as an X-factor player, even more-so than Howe. But he may play half forward. Just as a side note I think he'll also kick more goals than Howe this year. Jetta has trained with the backs but in a couple of match simulations he has moved through the middle. He has been one of our stars of the pre-season and may even get some time this year in or around or through the middle.<br />Ruck position to Jamar or Spencer, probably 50/50 on training but Jamar should get first crack. I think Spencer will get his chance though this year.<br /><br />I note a lot of posters are putting Bail in their teams. My prediction (and this is all just my opinion) is he will struggle to hold his place, will end the year at Casey and not be on our list next year. I hope he proves me wrong.<br /><br />So centres; Blease Grimes M Jones<br />followers; Jamar N Jones Viney<br />interchange; Jetta, McKenzie Rodan

Grimes, trengove, N.jones, toumpas, viney, blease, howe, M.jones, byrnes, rodan, davey, bail, mckenzie,

midfield already looks alot better than last year to me

would really like to see grimes and nathan jones push for All Australian this year

My assesment from training is the stand out midfielders have been N Jones and Viney, so they are the first two in. Matt Jones has been very impressive for mine. He has come from a club with an A grade midfield in Hawthorn. If you look at their main midfielders you have Mitchell, Sewell and Lewis with Rioli, Hodge, Breust and others rotating through. I really like Savage as a player and he was on the fringe, Bateman couldnt get back in there either, what chance for our man Jones! I reckon he could be very good for us. In training he is quick and links well, has good vision and seems to use the ball well, of the newbies he and Viney are the two that seem most likely early doors to be up to AFL level.<br />My next two are McKenzie and Grimes. McKenzie can't really play anywhere else and he is a good run with player. He was only average in 2012 and even though he nullified some of his opponents he rarely if ever beat any of them and never hurt the opposition going the other way. 2013 is a big year for Macca, he should just watch re-runs of Ryan Crowley from Freo, what a great story for a stopper to flourish into an A grader in Freos midfield. Actually I reckon McKenzie is more like Tuck for Richmond who was gone two years ago, couldn't kick, poor skills but competitive and in the last couple of years has become very important to Richmonds midfield as they've added class around him. Macca is super competitive, loves the jumper and a top bloke, hopefully he can emulate one of those two in 2013. Grimes is on his way hopefully to becoming a great Captain, he is A grade proffessional and even though I don't think he's a natural midfielder his work ethic and dedication will take him a long way. This year I think he'll get rotated in the middle but won't be in there as much as Jones or Viney.<br />My next two are Blease and Jetta. Blease just might become a great wing player, he is very suited to the role. With luck in staying on the park I think he'll finish top 5 in our B&F and has the most scope as an X-factor player, even more-so than Howe. But he may play half forward. Just as a side note I think he'll also kick more goals than Howe this year. Jetta has trained with the backs but in a couple of match simulations he has moved through the middle. He has been one of our stars of the pre-season and may even get some time this year in or around or through the middle.<br />Ruck position to Jamar or Spencer, probably 50/50 on training but Jamar should get first crack. I think Spencer will get his chance though this year.<br /><br />I note a lot of posters are putting Bail in their teams. My prediction (and this is all just my opinion) is he will struggle to hold his place, will end the year at Casey and not be on our list next year. I hope he proves me wrong.<br /><br />So centres; Blease Grimes M Jones<br />followers; Jamar N Jones Viney<br />interchange; Jetta, McKenzie Rodan

I like your rationale DDD even if you have left out the co-captain and Sylvia. I was thinking of M. Jones myself, especially as he is a bit bigger than some of the others which will come in handy. Who did you have in mind for the fourth interchange?