Ok so the following guys have been rested from the trip to Renmark, plus I'll add in Sylvia, Frawley and stay positive that Blease can make it up for round 1, but there's still a few spots up for grabs

FB: Garland Frawley ******

HB: Dunn McDonald Watts

C: Toumpas Jones Grimes

HF: Sylvia Dawes Byrnes

FF: Howe ****** Blease

Foll: Jamar McKenzie Rodan

Int: Viney ***** *****

Sub: *******

Now to me it comes down to a few positional battles.

Small defender: Nicholson v Strauss v Jetta v Terlich

Midfield depth: M. Jones v Evans v Magner v Couch v ? Barry

Small forward/Sub: Kent v Davey v Taggert v Tapscott v ? Bail v ?Evans

I think Pedersen is pretty likely to start as the ruck forward but so whilst I've left him out of the team I think we don't need a poll. However feel free to agrue the benefits of Pedersen v Fitzpatrick or possibly playing both or Sellar.

So pick your men and tell me why they deserve the spots and whether you are a fan of them for the whole season or just for now.

For me I think Strauss' skill and defensive work put him in as a small defender. I like the idea of 7 rotating defenders so I'll go with Jetta as well who can also rest forward and displayed some nice skilled kicking on the weekend. That leaves me Matt Jones on debut as a running midfielder because I think we need run and for the sub I'd go with Evans because he's nippy and can find the footy either forward or through the midfield. Kent is unlucky to miss out.

Kent for mine , i think will start round one and hold his spot.

I just saw a few things I really liked, in those NAB cup games.

He didnt stop running/moving, competed well body on body, backs himself one on one and with his kicking.

He also has a pretty big weapon, with that thumping boot of his.

The OP has nailed the starting players and the battle for the remaining spots.

We still need more info before declaring the final side.

I think Evans will find a spot if he holds the form he demonstrated last week.

Couldn't Neville Jetta play small forward?

Evans is the bloke I think can step up and find a regular game. His run and carry is excellent and his over head marking is good for his size. Don't let jetta's body type fool you. He loves a contest and doesn't mind going body on body with someone. I think he is a defender not a small forward.

matt jones

It would be great to see Pickles get a guernsey. A rough trot with injury has been his only failure and the showing against St. Kilda a couple of years back proves he's got the hunger and skill to get and use the footy.

Heart and head agrees the Evans will get his opportunities via the Sub although it will be via stiff competition from M Jones.

I'm going for taggert as my smokeu

I have voted with a heavy heart.

I think you have left out the D-ROD.

I believe he is the Sub or Fringe Midfielder.

I have voted with a heavy heart.I think you have left out the D-ROD.I believe he is the Sub or Fringe Midfielder.

Already got him in the team. I hope as the year progresses he is used more sparingly and in some games as the sub but looking at the team I think he has to start in round 1. We've got 4 (Viney, toumpas, matt jones and kent) potential debuts I think we'll need experienced types starting

There will be more than one, then there will be best 22 players fall away.

I will go Strauss, Jetta and Kent out of that lot.

I am predicting a good year from Strauss. Injury and form will mean a lot of these guys will get some games, but I think Strauss has the tools, and is finally over his big injury, much like Blease in that sense.

I am predicting a good year from Strauss.

Let's hope you're right. Considering we stuffed up by not picking Atley, and we're desperate for an Atley type, let's hope that Strauss can finally fire a shot.

Not a lot of love for Magner?

Too slow, kicks lack penetration....

Any of the training viewers expand on his likely chances?

I would love nothing more than Davey coming in and ripping the first couple of games apart..... Jones, Davey and a young Viney.....wow......but only if Davey is firing.....

Let's hope you're right. Considering we stuffed up by not picking Atley, and we're desperate for an Atley type, let's hope that Strauss can finally fire a shot.

Probably stated it a million times before, but I still can't believe we didn't pick Zaharakis with pick 19 in his draft.

That said, I really hope Strauss has a break out season - he is, after all, a 'nice kick'.

Let's hope you're right. Considering we stuffed up by not picking Atley, and we're desperate for an Atley type, let's hope that Strauss can finally fire a shot.

Interesting, I haven't bothered ever looking back at that draft as I hate retrospective draft calls, but I distinctly remember at the time Atley being touted to go top 10, wonder why he slipped.

Interesting, I haven't bothered ever looking back at that draft as I hate retrospective draft calls, but I distinctly remember at the time Atley being touted to go top 10, wonder why he slipped.

You will see a lot of retrospective musing/looking back over the shoulder/playing whatif on this board, personally I think everything has changed, Neeld will have a core of 10 or so and the rest will be as required, ie a big forward line against a team with not many tall defenders, nippy midfield against a perceived slow one, etc etc

I think Evans has got some class and can find the ball, if his body can hold up he will make it I reckon.

Not a lot of love for Magner?

Too slow, kicks lack penetration....

Any of the training viewers expand on his likely chances?

I admire Magner tremendously, but I have little love for him as a player. Even at training he's constantly missing targets and turning it over. He just lacks polish.

It's a no from me.

You will see a lot of retrospective musing/looking back over the shoulder/playing whatif on this board, personally I think everything has changed, Neeld will have a core of 10 or so and the rest will be as required, ie a big forward line against a team with not many tall defenders, nippy midfield against a perceived slow one, etc etc

Look, I know you have no idea about junior footy and hate to hear anyone who posts with even the remotest sense of reality, but some of us were very keen on Atley at the time and were surprised when we overlooked him.

Edited March 1, 201312 yr by Ben-Hur

some of us were very keen on Atley at the time and surprised when we overlook him.

Well do I remember our pick coming up, and feeling excited that Atley would slip through to us. Only to be sent scurrying to the newspaper guides to find the name Cook.

To be fair, I was also soon shuffling through the same papers to find info on Howe, J, and McDonald, T.

We nailed the hard ones and missed the gimme.

You will see a lot of retrospective musing/looking back over the shoulder/playing whatif on this board, personally I think everything has changed, Neeld will have a core of 10 or so and the rest will be as required, ie a big forward line against a team with not many tall defenders, nippy midfield against a perceived slow one, etc etc

You've got to be kidding me - while we will play 30+ players this year and every year through injury and rotations, we'll be seeking to establish a core closer to 22 than 10. Stability and knowledge of playing together just cannot be under-estimated.

Sydney had 18 players who played 22+ games last year and 22 players who played 17+

BH, answer you first, what purpose does it serve to continually look back (in anger), I go to quite a few junior games actually, but hey don't let facts get in the way of your diatribe, sorry you must really get quite peeved dealing with people who are so obviously inferior to you

Fifty-5

I said a core of ten, I am not in the Footy Dept of MFC so perhaps I am wrong, putting my opinion from what I have gleaned from attending training and talking to the players

You will also find that a team that wins the Premiership has had a very good year injury wise from the pre season onwards and there is nothing like winning to make you perform to your optimum each week

I am hoping we can establish a consistent 'best' 22 but not sure if we are at that point at the moment hence my post

Interesting that a post that is not the same as everybody else, fancy that

At the moment I have picked Strauss Evans and Kent respectively, Jetta is my sub. But as others have said we need to see more. I want to see more of Terlich, Tapscott.