I'm firmly of the belief that Frost should play in the backline, as a result Dunn could easily play forward.

I agree but I would love to see T-Mac start the year at CHF. I think Dunn and Garland have both been tried as forwards and really only settled into their careers once moved to defence. T-Mac has the weapons to be elite at either end of the ground if he can learn to kick straight for goal.

FB: Jetta, T.McD. Bugg

HB: Vince, Frost, Melksham.

C: Salem, VandenBerg Tyson

HF: Petracca, Pedersen, Brayshaw

FF: Garlett, Hogan, Harmes

Foll: Gawn, Jones, Viney

I/c Kent, Kennedy, Stretch, ANB

Emerg. Lumumba, Watts, Garland, White

FB: Jetta, T.McD. Bugg

HB: Vince, Frost, Melksham.

C: Salem, VandenBerg Tyson

HF: Petracca, Pedersen, Brayshaw

FF: Garlett, Hogan, Harmes

Foll: Gawn, Jones, Viney

I/c Kent, Kennedy, Stretch, ANB

Emerg. Lumumba, Watts, Garland, White

Dunn not good enough anymore Barney?

Dunn not good enough anymore Barney?

Not as key defender

Jetta MacDonald Garland

Trengove Frost Melksham

Salem N Jones Brayshaw

Watts Dawes Kent

Garlett Hogan Gawn

Spencer Vince Viney

Tyson, Bugg, Vandenburg, Petracca

Dawes should not play one game this year if this team is to improve. Completely ineffectual footballer who was not wanted by ONE club when put up for trade.

Hyperbole.

There is a required role to be played and he, Pedersen, and/or Frost are the players that can fill that role.

Frost is not a good enough forward from his limited time up there.

If Pedersen's form keeps Dawes out of the team then great - but he isn't 'completely ineffectual' and he will play games.

And he will play in games that we will win.

Really hope Trengove makes it back to his best.

Jetta T-MAC Garland

Vince Frost Salem

Viney Tyson Trengove

Kent Watts Petracca

Garlett Hogan Pederson

Foll: Gawn Jones Brayshaw

i/c; Bugg, Lumumba, vandenBurg, Melkshake

Tyson is king at getting first hands to it, has to start in the square.

FB: Jetta Dunn Garland
HB: Melksham McDonald/Frost Salem
C: Brayshaw Viney Vince
HF: Watts Frost/McDonald vandenBerg
FF: Garlett Hogan Kent

RR: Gawn Tyson Jones

I/C: Bugg, Petracca, Harmes, Kennedy

Defensive depth: Lumumba, Grimes, O McDonald, White

Midfield depth: Stretch, Neal-Bullen, Michie, Trengove, Pick 3

Forward depth: Pedersen, Dawes, Newton, King, Kennedy-Harris, pick 7

Ruck depth: Spencer, late/rookie pick.

This is what I'd like to see, not necessarily what I'd expect.

Frost and McDonald to be interchangeable depending on match-ups. Frost plays back when we're up against gorillas like Cloke, Hawkins etc. The unpredictably would be helpful, plus it gives us a chance to trial them both as forwards in what will likely still be a developmental year. Torn between Kennedy and Stretch getting the last spot in the team. I expect Lumumba will have that spot at least initially though.

Hyperbole.

There is a required role to be played and he, Pedersen, and/or Frost are the players that can fill that role.

Frost is not a good enough forward from his limited time up there.

If Pedersen's form keeps Dawes out of the team then great - but he isn't 'completely ineffectual' and he will play games.

And he will play in games that we will win.

Hogan actually really enjoys playing with Dawes, and feels much happier when he's bustling around, according to his Dad. Pedersen played 2 games this year from my counting that absolutely got him picked for the next week, otherwise he was average to somewhat useful. That he is so beloved on here has me baffled, as his form line is very thin and very short. I'd be very surprised if he got more than a handful of games, depending on injuries. Good and well if he proves to be better than that, but he's fringe at best.

We will need some older players in the team and I agree with rfpc that its a Dawes/Pedersen compettion at the moment.

I like the idea of Dunn going forward as he is a competitor like Hogan and we need to take the pressure off him a bit. He can also swing in and out of the ruck.

With the interchange gone we will need players who are ready to play all day long. I have to admit Trengove is in as a sentimental pick at this stage I realy hope he makes it back.

FB: Jetta McDonald Garland

HB: Salem Frost Melksham

C: Stretch Jones Brayshaw

HF: Petracca Hogan Watts

FF: Garlett Dawes Kent

Foll: Gawn Vince Viney

Int: Tyson Lumumba Dunn Trengove

Hogan actually really enjoys playing with Dawes, and feels much happier when he's bustling around, according to his Dad. Pedersen played 2 games this year from my counting that absolutely got him picked for the next week, otherwise he was average to somewhat useful. That he is so beloved on here has me baffled, as his form line is very thin and very short. I'd be very surprised if he got more than a handful of games, depending on injuries. Good and well if he proves to be better than that, but he's fringe at best.

I have heard similar things - Hogan always mentions him as well when mentioning the prospects of the forward line.

Structure requires roles to be fulfilled - you don't need world beaters everywhere.

And we already have one down there...

This is based on how I would pick the team, not necessarily how I think it would line up. I left Petracca off because I haven't seen him play yet.

FB: Jetta, Dunn, Garland
HB: Melksham, T.Mac, Salem
C: Tyson, Viney, vandenBerg
HF: Brayshaw, Pedersen, Watts
FF: Garlett, Hogan, Kent
R: Gawn, N.Jones, Vince
INT: Kennedy, Bugg, Frost, Trengove

EMG: Lumumba, Petracca, Grimes

This is based on how I would pick the team, not necessarily how I think it would line up. I left Petracca off because I haven't seen him play yet.

FB: Jetta, Dunn, Garland

HB: Melksham, T.Mac, Salem

C: Tyson, Viney, vandenBerg

HF: Brayshaw, Pedersen, Watts

FF: Garlett, Hogan, Kent

R: Gawn, N.Jones, Vince

INT: Kennedy, Bugg, Frost, Trengove

EMG: Lumumba, Petracca, Grimes

If Petracca is fit - he will be playing round 1.

All players being fit and ready to go:

Backs (6): McDonald, Garland, Jetta, Dunn, Lumumba, and Melksham.

Mid Rotation (9): Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson, Brayshaw, Vanders (F), Trengove (F), Bugg (B), and Salem (B).

Forwards (6): Hogan, Garlett, Dawes, Kent, Watts, and Petracca.

Ruck (1): Gawn

It's getting tougher to do these which is good - and I haven't included Pick 3 as I don't really think Roos wants that unless the door is being banged down.

Some of these are my desires with Salem in the middle, Trengove back with no worries, Bugg in the middle, and Petracca given a forward role.

Great to see neither pick 3 or 7 get a spot in people's best 22. It's been a long time since we had depth.

Nows as good a time as any to do a best 22 .. pick 3 or 7 likely wontl be a walk up start for Round 1 like Brayshaw was, and Petracca would have been

Without further ado

B: N.Jetta L.Dunn C.Garland

HB: H.Lumumba T.McDonald J.Melksham

C: C.Salem D.Tyson B.Vince

HF: C.Petracca S.Frost A.Brayshaw

F: J.Garlett J.Hogan D.Kent

R: M.Gawn J.Viney N.Jones

I/C: T.Bugg A.Vandenberg B.Kennedy J.Harmes

Emergencies - C.Pedersen J.Watts B.Newton

Cant justify naming Trengove just yet as his foot is still a big question mark. Bugg was an easy choice to fill the role as designated shut down player, which will give Viney and VInce more freedom to play attacking footy.

Frost to resume the role he started in 2015 before his injury, a floating key forward that can back up ruck and with the ability to play down back.

Backing Lumumba in to bounce back, cant see him not being a regular. His presence with Melksham on the other back flank will release Salem to more of a midfield role.

* = player I don't have complete confidence in yet

jetta dunn salem
melksham* tmac harry*

vandenberg vince brayshaw
gawn* njones viney

kent* dawes* stretch*
garlett hogan ANB*

tyson* frost* watts* harmes*

DEPTH:

garland grimes pedersen JKH
mjones spencer newton michie OMac white

WHO KNOWS?

kennedy bugg petracca trengove
pick3 pick7

the thing I like is that if those 6 above are in the mix it means we have to have about 10 injuries before we need to select mjones, newton, michie etc

Dawes should not play one game this year if this team is to improve. Completely ineffectual footballer who was not wanted by ONE club when put up for trade.

Just patently untrue. Dogs, in particular, went very hard for him, it was the Neeld factor that got him over the line for us.

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.

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 Bugg Stretch

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

I know you're only human ProDee, but forgetting Brayshaw is near-unforgivable.

I know you're only human ProDee, but forgetting Brayshaw is near-unforgivable.

That's like making a sandwich and leaving the meat out

Mine:

B: Garland, Dunn,Jetta

HB: Melksham, McDonald, Salem

C: Vince, Tyson, Brayshaw

HF: Kent, Dawes, Petracca

F: vandenBerg, Hogan, Garlett

Foll: Gawn, Jones, Viney

Int: Lumumba, Stretch, Watts, Harmes

Notes:

- Don't know enough about Bugg or Kennedy to know if they'll be pushing best 22 or not by round 1. For the sake of simplicity I've assumed they won't.

- I'm not confident on a Trengove miracle.

- I think anyone who reckons Roos and Goodwin will pick Pedersen over Dawes is kidding themselves.

- White, Frost, ANB are the players not already mentioned as most likely to improve to regular best 22.

- I expect the end of season best 22 will look quite different.

- I've probably overrated Harmes, but I liked what I saw in the back half of the season. Given that he hasn't even been signed yet I expect I probably have.

- Last four spots in particular very much up for grabs. Think the coaches still like Watts and Lumumba even if the fans don't so I've picked them; end of season may be a different story if others come on.

Depth list, categorised. We'd have to see 7 injuries to mids/flankers before we see the revolving door squad from last year kick in (Riley, Bail and the Toump were also in this class last year), and 9 before we saw Jones and Terlich in the side, in theory.

Smalls - developing/ready/near ready

Trengove

Kennedy-Harris

Neal-Bullen

White

Bugg

Kennedy

KPD:

Frost

O.McDonald

KPF:

Pedersen

Rucks:

Spencer

King

Supergreen:

Hunt

The revolving door squad:

Grimes

Michie

Newton

If we must:

M.Jones

Terlich

I've ignored Joel Smith since a) I didn't know he existed before today and b) I have no idea if he can play or what type of player he might be. Hopefully with those physical traits he turns out to be a KPF, since we're pretty light on in that regard.

I know you're only human ProDee, but forgetting Brayshaw is near-unforgivable.

Do you ever walk out of the house and have that feeling you've forgotten something ? That's the feeling I had.

FB: Jetta Dunn Bugg

HB: Melksham McDonald Salem

C: Watts Viney Vince

HF: Kent Hogan vandenBerg

FF: Garlett Dawes Petracca

Foll: Gawn Tyson Jones

Int: Frost Brayshaw Trengove Stretch

A lot of people still seem to hate Watts even though I reckon he is slowly building his kicking is so important for the team and really helps put a score goals. Supporters seem to get angry and abusive when he turns it over, of course he is going to turn it over he kicks to dangerous options, but I don't mind him backing himself in as he is an elite kick.

I also reckon Roos will start Petracca deep initially as he would rather have vandenBerg and Kent pushing up but will eventually let him loose.

I left the black line a little light on but if a team has three talls then frost could easily be rotated on for Bugg, I believe that Roos really likes frost and will play every game when fit.

Trengove starts on the bench as more hope than anything, if he gets up for round I will be where ever the first game is played cheering so loudly as I think he is a gun and if he can stay fit and get back into the speed of AFL will be really damaging for us.

A lot of people still seem to hate Watts even though I reckon he is slowly building his kicking is so important for the team and really helps put a score goals. Supporters seem to get angry and abusive when he turns it over, of course he is going to turn it over he kicks to dangerous options, but I don't mind him backing himself in as he is an elite kick.

He's definitely gotten better and he gives us some sublime moments but it can't be denied that his overall contribution is still way too far and in-between. There is no doubt whatsoever though that his mistakes get heavily magnified, as they do for Dawes, and formally Toumpas. It's the DL whipping boy syndrome.

FB: Jetta Dunn Garland

HB: Lumumba Frost Melksham

C: Salem Jones Tyson

HF: Watts Tmac Kent

FF: Gartlett Hogan Dawes

C: Gawn Vince Viney

Int: Brayshaw Petracca Vandenberg Trengove/ ANB