Now that we've had 4 weeks under Riley playing all our fringe/young players to prepare for 2008, i reckon it's time to make decisions about what our team will look like round 1 2008.

Everyone fully fit:

Bartram Carrol Frawley

Wheatley Rivers Bell

Johnstone Mclean Sylvia

Robertson Bate Green

Davey Neitz Newton

White Bruce Jones

Int: McDonald, Moloney, Pettard, P.Johnson

Emerg: Whelan, Dunn, Buckley, C.Johnson

Depth:

k.p.p: Holland, Ferguson

flankers: Yze, D.Ward

Midfielders: Godfrey

Developing:

Garland, Neaves, Weetra, Bode

Delisted/forced retired/Traded from 2007 list: Pickett, Bizzel, Brown, Neville, Warnock, Jamar, Miller

NB: not included are 5 draftees + 1 Preseason draft pick

(no trades taken into consideration)

- I see Sylvia, Mclean, Jones, Moloney, McDonald, Bruce and Johnstone to form the crux of the midfield. Sylvia has developed well this season and with a full preseason he'll be able to play midfield. people forget he's playing half-forward because he had no preseason

- it seems that we lack 2 pacy/skillful midfielder and i believe we can draft this kind of player (Cotchin=perfect fit)

- the likes of Holland, Ward, Yze and other oldish players (Ferguson, Godfrey) should be used as depth only in case of injury

- i'd hope to see Dunn and Buckley (hopefully CJ also) firm as starting 18 players by end of 2008

- i placed Whelan on emergency because i am not sure if he is still able to produce his best. at his best he is starting 18.

- Mcdonald on the bench despite clearly being in our best 18 because despite being a remarkable workhorse, wear and tear process is beginning and he should be protected abit. He will still have a big part to play, but should no longer be given the responsbility to carry the midfield

This is the best mix of young/experience we can have imo. Thoughts?

Trent Cotchin wil be starting on the half forward flank

Would always have Whelan infront of Wheatley when fit. Maybe Yze instead of Petterd, but depends on how Yze goes in the pre-season.

Apart from that it looks about right.

Whelan emergency? wtf?

read the notes at the end of the post if reasoning is unclear

Whelan emergency? wtf?

Yeah, I would definitely have Whelan ahead of Wheatley.

No questions asked.

Or no Frawley and have both Wheatley and Whelan in together.

Other than that, I'm excited about 2008!

I have missed seeing Bartram play more than anything and I am so excited to see how he shapes up next year, alongside McLean and Moloney.

Add in a fully fit Sylvia and Rivers and we'll be laughing.. hopefully.

u are assuming we keep all of those players and dont trade 2 or 3 for a kpp? id like to snare a big name from somewhere ie judd(impossible i know) pavlich hell id even take riewolt

r and b rasies the clincher to all this.. the result of trade week/ drafting.

Though it will undoubtedly be a recognisable Demons that take the field there is bound to be a few surprises.

I think we have to be quite brazen this year at trade week and brutal in our ajudication of where some players 'are' and what they might offer going forward. Invariably you dont get anything for nothing, so in order to get a better mix, a better balance and possibly a new look we wil have to say sayonara to someone. The appointmetn of the new coach and subsequent crytal ball gazing will give more flesh to this.

Ought to be interesting.. I can see some fans getting a little miffed...and others quite excited. Gotta love footy !!! lol