Except Pedersen does more around the ground than Dawes ever has/will.

Totally disagree, and next year Dawes' tank and fitness will be the telling factor with the new cap/sub rules over Pedersen's age and lack of endurance.

Not only that, but have a look one day at their running patterns. Pedo stays deep and close to the boundary where he can get off the ground, whereas Dawes roams through the middle, high and low, and pretty obviously covers more ground than Pedersen does. Say what you want about marking etc, but you're absolutely dreaming if you think Pedo covers more ground.

Except Pedersen does more around the ground than Dawes ever has/will.

Really?

Like tackling, or pressuring? What do you mean?

Harder to pick than a broken nose but I'll have a dip..

B: Jetta, McDonald, Garland

HB: Salem, Dunn, Vince

C: Tyson, N Jones, Vandenberg

HF: Petracca, Hogan, Watts

F: Garlett, Dawes, Kent

Foll: Gawn, Viney, Brayshaw

I: Neal-Bullen, Trengove, Harmes, Frost

Any of Melksham, Kennedy or Bugg could be best 22 as well but impossible to tell at this stage without having seen them play in the red and blue.

B: Jetta Mcdonald Garland

HB: Melksham Frost Lumumba

C:Salem Viney Brayshaw

HF: Petracca Dunn Vandenberg

F: Garlett Hogan Weiderman

Fol: Gawn Jones Vince

Tyson, Watts, Trengove, Oliver

I honestly didn't think there was any chance that any of our picks last night would get a game Rd 1, but having seen the highlights of Oliver again, you have to give him some chance of playing.

He obviously will need to turn a bit more of the puppy fat into muscle, but he looks such an obvious high pick now and with so much potential improvement still to come.

Weideman also comes across well, but I doubt he can make it without a fair but of time in the gym or a stack of injuries.

So for me, there's some really tough decisions to be made on who to offend - I have been huge on us playing Salem down back because he is a left-foooter which gives us the ability to swing left with confidence, but this year you will hear me banging on about moving Brayshaw to the back six - I'm sure he can play there because he tackles hard and marks well and he's a lovely kick off both sides. The rest of the guys in the midfield - Vince, Viney, Jones and Tyson - would not be able to make the transition as easily for various reasons.

But as a result I have Rd 1 side like this - sorry to Jetta and Wattsy, although I'm sure they might make it because they should know they have to be on their game pre-season to make the final cut. And doubtless there will be a couple of injuries.

Also in contention are Jack Grimes (yes I know what some DLers think of him), Neal-Bullen, O-Mac and big Spencil if Mumford is fit and firing.

I considered having Dunn on the bench but think that provided Patton plays, there's a match up for him - otherwise he plays forward or off the pine.

I've also left out Kennedy - it's either him or Kent - not both I'm afraid and my spys tell me Kent is burning at training.

And then there's Stretch, who should be in because he runs and runs - oh my god, we have depth and lots of it.

Get on Casey for the flag now!

B: Melksham T.Mac Dunn

HB: Brayshaw Garland Salem

C: Oliver Viney Bugg

HF: Vandenburg Dawes Kent

F: Garlett Hogan Harmes

Ru: Gawn Vince Jones

Int: Tyson, Lumumba, Frost, Petracca

Brayshaw played 20 games last year. The skinny Billy Stretch played 11 in his first year. ANB too.

Oliver will play 20 games next year.

Partly what I think and partly what I hope. EG I don't want Lumumba or Garland, but I think (know) they'll be there - certainly at the start.

FB: Jetta Dunn Garland

HB: Melksham McDonald Salem

C: Lumumba Viney Vince

HF: Petracca Hogan vandenBerg

FF: Garlett Pedersen Kent

Foll: Gawn Tyson Jones

Int: Frost Trengove Brayshaw Bugg

Depth: Dawes, Stretch, Harmes, Grimes, ANB, White, Kennedy, JKH, Oscar, Spencer, Tiptoes and King with a bullet.

ok - this made me laugh....

I honestly didn't think there was any chance that any of our picks last night would get a game Rd 1, but having seen the highlights of Oliver again, you have to give him some chance of playing.

He obviously will need to turn a bit more of the puppy fat into muscle, but he looks such an obvious high pick now and with so much potential improvement still to come.

Weideman also comes across well, but I doubt he can make it without a fair but of time in the gym or a stack of injuries.

So for me, there's some really tough decisions to be made on who to offend - I have been huge on us playing Salem down back because he is a left-foooter which gives us the ability to swing left with confidence, but this year you will hear me banging on about moving Brayshaw to the back six - I'm sure he can play there because he tackles hard and marks well and he's a lovely kick off both sides. The rest of the guys in the midfield - Vince, Viney, Jones and Tyson - would not be able to make the transition as easily for various reasons.

But as a result I have Rd 1 side like this - sorry to Jetta and Wattsy, although I'm sure they might make it because they should know they have to be on their game pre-season to make the final cut. And doubtless there will be a couple of injuries.

Also in contention are Jack Grimes (yes I know what some DLers think of him), Neal-Bullen, O-Mac and big Spencil if Mumford is fit and firing.

I considered having Dunn on the bench but think that provided Patton plays, there's a match up for him - otherwise he plays forward or off the pine.

I've also left out Kennedy - it's either him or Kent - not both I'm afraid and my spys tell me Kent is burning at training.

And then there's Stretch, who should be in because he runs and runs - oh my god, we have depth and lots of it.

Get on Casey for the flag now!

B: Melksham T.Mac Dunn

HB: Brayshaw Garland Salem

C: Oliver Viney Bugg

HF: Vandenburg Dawes Kent

F: Garlett Hogan Harmes

Ru: Gawn Vince Jones

Int: Tyson, Lumumba, Frost, Petracca

This comment comes up every year and then we get a few injuries and find a few aren't as good as we thought and there goes the depth.

Hopefully it's on the improve though...

Id go first round side:

B: Jetta. Frost Dunn

HB: Lumumba McDonald. Salem

CC: Vince. Jones. Brayshaw

HF: Petracca. Hogan. Watts

FF: Dawes. Weideman. Garlett

Foll: Gawn. Tyson Viney

Bench: Vandenberg Oliver Trengove Garland

Emg: Grimes Kennedy Hunt Kent

Best looking Demon side since 2005 by some distance. Will be knocking on the door this year if not too many injuries, although our reserves are now considerably better too. Jesse is going to have the time of his life!

Oliver and Weideman start in the VFL

B : Jetta , Dunn , Garland

HB: Melksham, T.Mac, Salem

C : Tyson , Viney, Stretch

HF: Petracca , Frost, Vandenberg

FF: Kent, Hogan, Garlett

Foll: Gawn, Jones, Vince

IC : Watts, Brayshaw, Harmes, Bugg

Couldn't fit in Kennedy, Lumumba, Trengove

Frost will be a great swingman

Oliver and Weideman start in the VFL

B : Jetta , Dunn , Garland

HB: Melksham, T.Mac, Salem

C : Tyson , Viney, Stretch

HF: Petracca , Frost, Vandenberg

FF: Kent, Hogan, Garlett

Foll: Gawn, Jones, Vince

IC : Watts, Brayshaw, Harmes, Bugg

Couldn't fit in Kennedy, Lumumba, Trengove

Frost will be a great swingman

Stretch, Harmes & Bugg starting ahead of Lumumba and Dawes or Pedo... Riiiiiiiiight

Lamumba was pretty underwhelming last year Stuie, as was Dawes and Pedo.

I rate Harmes, and Bugg is pretty handy. Stretch maybe has a way to develop.

Don't think the effort quite deserves the sarcasm, I think there's some merit to that list. Not sure about Frost being CHF, but he has oodles of potential as the resting ruck/third forward I reckon. His defensive pressure and explosiveness could be a real bonus.

Brayshaw played 20 games last year. The skinny Billy Stretch played 11 in his first year. ANB too.

Oliver will play 20 games next year.

In fairness you acknowledged it, but possibly the biggest back flip I've seen with Oliver going from "scrubber" to playing 20 games in his first season.

Lamumba was pretty underwhelming last year Stuie, as was Dawes and Pedo.

I rate Harmes, and Bugg is pretty handy. Stretch maybe has a way to develop.

Don't think the effort quite deserves the sarcasm, I think there's some merit to that list. Not sure about Frost being CHF, but he has oodles of potential as the resting ruck/third forward I reckon. His defensive pressure and explosiveness could be a real bonus.

Injuries permitting, you can lock in Dawes and Lumumba playing round 1. There's no doubt about that if you put personal opinions aside and look at our actual history of selection this year and the fact both will be in the leadership group, and when fit both are still currently best 22.

Frost will play back too, that's what we got him for.

Injuries permitting, you can lock in Dawes and Lumumba playing round 1. There's no doubt about that if you put personal opinions aside and look at our actual history of selection this year and the fact both will be in the leadership group, and when fit both are still currently best 22.

Frost will play back too, that's what we got him for.

Don't necessarily disagree re Dawes and Lamumba, but I still want to find a way to fit Harmes in to the side, and wouldn't be surprised to see Bugg there somewhere.

While Frost is obviously most comfortable as a running Defender, I reckon they're looking at him as that 2nd resting ruck. He's tall enough, and super athletic. Where does he go/who does he replace down back if that's where they have him pegged?

Frost will play back too, that's what we got him for.

This may be true for the longer term, but in the near future his position will be Forward/Ruck, where our biggest gap in the side is.

Our backline is reasonably settled and hence we were able to let Frawley go, key posts will be held down by Dunn and T-mac with the other two mid/talls being played by Garland and Lumumba.

Starting Forward line next year will consist of Hogan and Dawes, with Frost playing second ruck forward in my opinion.

In fairness you acknowledged it, but possibly the biggest back flip I've seen with Oliver going from "scrubber" to playing 20 games in his first season.

To be fair to ProDee, there are many on here that are successful alumni from the Hogans_Heroes School of Gymnastics.

Don't necessarily disagree re Dawes and Lamumba, but I still want to find a way to fit Harmes in to the side, and wouldn't be surprised to see Bugg there somewhere.

While Frost is obviously most comfortable as a running Defender, I reckon they're looking at him as that 2nd resting ruck. He's tall enough, and super athletic. Where does he go/who does he replace down back if that's where they have him pegged?

He takes the place of Frawley. If you look at when we recruited him that's what MFC were saying his role would be.

This may be true for the longer term, but in the near future his position will be Forward/Ruck, where our biggest gap in the side is.

Our backline is reasonably settled and hence we were able to let Frawley go, key posts will be held down by Dunn and T-mac with the other two mid/talls being played by Garland and Lumumba.

Starting Forward line next year will consist of Hogan and Dawes, with Frost playing second ruck forward in my opinion.

Except Lumumba has been playing a lot on a wing or in the midfield. Either way, I'll just say I love Frosty and think he's a unique player and have high hopes for him next year.

Harder to pick than a broken nose but I'll have a dip..

B: Jetta, McDonald, Garland

HB: Salem, Dunn, Vince

C: Tyson, N Jones, Vandenberg

HF: Petracca, Hogan, Watts

F: Garlett, Dawes, Kent

Foll: Gawn, Viney, Brayshaw

I: Neal-Bullen, Trengove, Harmes, Frost

Any of Melksham, Kennedy or Bugg could be best 22 as well but impossible to tell at this stage without having seen them play in the red and blue.

I like Bernie Vince off HBF. Hadn't thought of that.

Some of the stopping roles he played through the middle this year whilst still getting his own ball would make him perfect off half back flank. Plus his laser like penetrating kick would be a weapon for us setting up the play. Plus it probably prolongs his career being out of the crash and bash in the middle. Alot to like.

I like Bernie Vince off HBF. Hadn't thought of that.

Some of the stopping roles he played through the middle this year whilst still getting his own ball would make him perfect off half back flank. Plus his laser like penetrating kick would be a weapon for us setting up the play. Plus it probably prolongs his career being out of the crash and bash in the middle. Alot to like.

Just bring him into the middle when we play Geelong so he can pick up old mate Danger...

I like to look at both the best 22 followed by the rest just to really assess our depth and future

First 22

Jetta T Mac O Mac

Melksham Garland Salem

H N Jones Vince

Watts Dawes Kent

Garlett Hogan Frost

Gawn Viney Tyson

Brayshaw, Vandenburg, Petraca, Bugg

The rest

Terlich Dunn Grimes

Hunt Pederson White

Stretch ANB Harmes

Hullett Weiderman Trengove

JKH Max King Kennedy

Spencer Newton Oliver

M Jones Michie Mitch King Joel Smith

It's exciting that our new draftees will have to fight hard to break into the team during the season, rather then being gifted a spot round due to a mediocre list...

Agree that Petracca and Melksham (maybe Bugg) would be the only new players in the starting 22, assuming all fit and healthy.

Going to be an interesting year, as it feels like all the pieces are at the club now, and just need to start falling into place.

Hi All,

This is my first post for a while, so please excuse any errors. My thoughts on our side for R1 next year.

B : Jetta , Frost , Garland

HB: Melksham, T.Mac, Lumumba

C : Vince, Viney, Salem

HF: Kent, Dunn, Vandenberg

FF: Petracca Hogan, Garlett

Foll: Gawn, Jones, Tyson

IC : Watts, Brayshaw, ANB, Oliver

I think the Weid is still a few months off, given his low endurance base and Trengove, while he is a feel good story, might be a little way off AFL standard and will likely play VFL round 1. Dunn will play forward and will fit in well with Hogan as he is great at creating space and blocking opponents off the ball. Some pretty unlucky players, such as Stretch and Harmes, but we seem to have a lot of guys to rotate through the forward/midfield, so for team balance they miss out. Watts will start bench and will rotate through half forward/wing. Oliver will debut round 1.

Certainly a better side than the past few seasons, but can still see some holes in the list. If we can remain fit and continue the development, we should be around mid- ladder with a couple of surprise scalps along the way.

Go Dees!

B: Jetta, Dunn, Melksham
HB: TMac, Frost, Lumumba
C: Tyson, Vince, Salem
HF: Brayshaw, Dawes, Kent
F: Garlett, Hogan, Watts
Foll: Gawn, Viney, Jones

IC: Garland, vandenBerg, Petracca, Oliver