In regards to our playing list that is. Last year we saw the emergence of several players who are now part of our best 22 - Bartram, Bate, Bell, Carroll and Jones to name a few. This was at the expense of players like Nicho, Biz, Phil Read, Nathan Brown and Wheatley.

My predictions for this year

Emerging

CJ - has had an excellent pre-season and he is primed for a big one. His brilliant skills and will sneak under the radar and make the wing or back flank position his own

Bell - Had a magnificent end to last year and looks like continuing on in 07. Is gaining confidence and well and truly in our best 22

Jones - is going to explode this year. Was great in his debut season but this year should see him cement a spot in the middle

Frawley - will definitely play this year I think and will show something. Wouldn't be surprised if he establishes himself in the backline by season's end

Sylvia - we have nowhere near seen the best of Sylvia yet but he was showing signs at the end of last year. It's only a matter of time before he has has some real impact

Dropping out

Miller - You get the feeling it is inevitable. If he retains his position at CHF by season's end I'll be surpised

Holland - will get slower (if that's possible) and will start to become a liability I think

Ward - I am a fan of Ward, he provides great run. But his disposal is dodgy as we know and with CJ and Moloney in the team this year he may struggle

Godfrey - Will only play if injuries permit and even then the youngsters like Buckley should get a call up ahead of him

Yze - it will be an interesting year for Yze. The pressure will be on him and if he doesn't perform he may find himself out of the side for the first time in a long time

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

after watching brad miller play on saturday, i am convinced he will play 22+ games for the demons, at CHF in 2007

sure, he made a few mistakes skills wise, but his endevour, and physicality at the ball, made the geelong players take a look before going for the ball, he had a byron pickett-like feel, either in ground contests, pressure or big packs (he split one big contest up very nicely)

as for my emergers this year, i think chris johnson will have a ripper year, palying through the wing half forward area, along with bate, playing the ryan o keefe role, pushing up high and making their own attacks into the 50, he has a great long kick, pace and will be a valuable asset

daniel bell will also establish anme for himself in the afl, his hardness and attack on the ball and man will put him up there as one of the best small/medium dfenders in the league

as for fallers, godfrey and brown will be goners at the end of the year, unless PJ can take the 2nd ruck spot away from jamar, he may need to find a different role (shouldv'e tried him at CHB/FB during the preseason, playing where holland would)

Can't go past my boy Belly.

He'll soon be known as Whelan II.

One from left field could be Frawley. He could surprise a few this year assuming he gets an opportunity to play seniors.

I hope Godfrey, Brown, Bizzell and Ward all drop out of our best 22, otherwise we're not progressing. Yze and Miller's positions for 2007 depend entirely on them. Miller I know will give it his all and hopefully his confidence grows now that he's injury free. As for Yze, if he fires up, he might just get this record.

I would say the following good servants of the club would find it difficult to keep their spot on the list:

Godfrey

Biz

Ward

Brown

Holland or Ferguson - hepls that we do not have any other 6 foot fivers back line players at the club.

Because of their salaries their future will be carefully weighed up. At the most we may keep two on a one year contract depending on how much more money we have to come up with to pay the up and comers.

Those who will make it this year:

CJ can look forward to a good career with the MFC

Belly if he can stay injury free

Bater will play most games

Jones will play most games

Bartram again (unreal game for Sandy with limited prep - played half and 17 possies)

Dunn will take some steps forward and hopefully Frawley can get a few games.

Yze will resurrect his career.

This is the descion making year for Millar! If he plays well presents himself and breaks packs then he should be CHF this year while if he becomes lazy and gets frustrated and remains the nothing player who could have made it but didnt!

This is the descion making year for Millar! If he plays well presents himself and breaks packs then he should be CHF this year while if he becomes lazy and gets frustrated and remains the nothing player who could have made it but didnt!

Too much fluff CTD..to put it simply, he needs to hurt the opposition by kicking goals. For me, that will be his measure of success this year.

fergy is a goner too i believe

he was hopeless against mooney

I love Bell's attack and speed but I think he has a limited life as a defender. He does not have the backman smarts of a Carroll, Rivers or Whelan. He also gives away too many free kicks from behind which will probably get worse with the new rule. His future is in the midfield and I think it is best ND plays him there straight away this year.

Emerge: Bell as a premium wingman

Drop out: Bell as a small defender