Demon Spofforth

And now Deledio has asked to be traded to the Cats...

Hibberd - negotiations over whether this year's second rounder or next years. Dare say we're saying next year, Bombers saying this year.

Gibbs want to go home to Adelaide. Going to be a big trade period this year I reckon. It's looking like we'll be pretty quiet though.

Brisbane don't deserve a PP but bloody hell they could do with it. I'm a Brisbane resident and its tough seeing the Gabba only half-third full. Really effects Aussie Rules in general, particularly with the Broncos going well. They're a fickle bunch up here though and there'd be thousands jumping back on the bandwagon as soon as the Lions can scratch out some wins. Footy on the GC is going well despite the Suns remaining in the bottom third of the comp. Their teams dominated the local league (outside of NEAFL) and the Suns games I've been to have seen a good following from locals and a bit of buzz around the game/ground. Two teams in Queensland can definitely work. Brisbane are just a shambles at the moment and we've shown that can be turned around in a few years. This was meant to be a comment on the PP but I've ended up defending Queensland footy. I guess I'm a little indifferent likes others. Should be outraged as we didn't get one but reckon Brisbane could do with a hand. Besides, it would mean Essendon don't get top pick...

This... And he's best mates with Crossy.

I rate Hartlett and would love him to come across but it has to be at the right price. Those questioning him and saying things just aren't right could do well to remember Bernie Vince before he joined us. Similar pre-trade impressions I would have thought but Bernie has actually kicked on and become better player since joining us. I definitely could see that happening with Hartlett.

I know every year there's a massive bit of whinging about 'how did so and so get in / miss out' etc, but Toby Greene? Decent year but is selfish and does a lot of his stuff in junk time. Enright over Docherty/Simpson is a bit ordinary too. That's a reputation pick rather than based on performances this year. Don't reckon Selwood has been as good either and think Pendlebury is very stiff to miss out. Anyways, congrats Big Maxy. The most deserving pick of the lot.

Surprised there's been no talk about Tom Rockliff who looks like leaving Brisbane. A grade midfielder that we lack and still relatively young at 26. No first round pick would make it hard for us though.

No he hasn't. If he had 'come on' he would be a regular in our best 22 all season. Of course illness and injury have contributed to why he hasn't, but until he cements a spot he hasn't 'come on'.

Well Hibberd is far from a guarantee and from what I've seen of Melksham his decision making isn't a highlight. Of course it would come down to what we get in the trade period and only as a delisted agent if the need was there after trades. Just wish Salem had come on enough to make these discussions irrelevant.

Yeah I'd take Boomer for a year and I'd also take Dal Santo. Dal Santo not as a MID though but to play off half back with his foot skills and good decision making. Petrie and Firrito no way.

6. Hogan 5. Bugg 4. Stretch 3. Garlett 2. Jones 1. Watts

Played junior footy in Victoria (moved lots with Dad in the military) before we moved to Queensland when I was 12. Made Qld rep teams throughout my teenage years and played Teal Cup (national U17s) with Voss as our skipper and the likes of Aker and Clark Keating while playing against blokes like Justin Leppitsch, Nigel Lappin, Peter Bell and Fraser Gehrig. Did my ACL in the last game of the tournament that required a full recon which I never fully recovered from. Heartbreaking moment when Richard Griffiths (now at GWS) who was the Dees recruiter at the time came over and inquired about my knee. My god, the Dees recruiter knows my name! Played semi-professionally in the QAFL for a few years after before I finished uni and travelled overseas to play some games for the North London Lions (UK) and Boston Demons (US).

As with many, cautiously optimistic as its difficult to ever be 'confident' with this team after the Essendon debacle. If we can get on top early I reckon the Pies heads could drop as they and Buckley are under a lot of pressure. Bernie and VDB big outs for us but expect Gawn to give our midfield first use and hopefully Hoges and Watts are on.

Geez I hope so. He seems to find form against us with his once-a-season goalkicking radar being on.

I don't think Prestia is injury-prone. Yes, he's had a major injury that caused him to miss most of last season but prior to that he'd played 73 out of a possible 88 games for GC. And that includes 2011-2012 when GC were giving their young blokes a rest on a regular basis to help manage them as 17-18 year olds. As a Qlder, I've seen plenty of him and I rate him. Would love to have him at the Dees but of course wouldn't want to bet the bank to get him so it depends on how much he wants to come to us.

Sad story for mine. Some of those games he played for us were unbelievable. Him and Jesse on the park together and we win 3-4 more games last year. Alas, can't help but feel betrayed when he said he didn't have it in him to play again but then popped up with a lucrative deal with the Cats. And now he can't get on the park for them so the whole sorry saga just feels sad all round.

For me, it feels like North and St Kilda are our bogey teams. Yeah we've copped some real pastings from the likes of the Hawks, Eagles and Freo over the last 6-7 years. But it seems like we haven't come up well against the Roos and Saints for a very, very long time. Like 20 odd years.

Really hope he makes it but as others have said, skill level needs to improve. No question over commitment and determination though. Article seems a little contradictory. Talks of playing on the wing but Roos' comment say high half forward. They're not too dissimilar I guess but are different roles to my mind.

I'm expecting improvement and a better style of play but I think finals are beyond us. Just reckon there's a number of other teams that will improve as well and there's going to be quite a bottleneck around the 6th-12th spots. So while I don't expect us to make the 8, I certainly see us being far more competitive and stopping the blow-outs that have been so prevalent the last 5-6 years. Definitely on board for a 2017 finals gig though. Premiership 2019-20.

O'Meara will end up at a big Melb club if he leaves GC. Hawthorn and Collingwood will throw everything at him. He's keen on Melb for the greater exposure and sponsorship benefits and a big club will help fulfil that more than a Dees, North or Saints. I don't think we'll see him in the red and the blue therefore. I'm more optimistic about Prestia given his links to MFC but reckon it will depend on GC's 2016 season. If they go well, he stays. Not so well, he'll look to leave. I was excited about all the Prestia talk during last year's trade period but pretty keen to see how his knee holds up first. Don't get my wrong, I rate him big time (watched him a lot living in Qld) but I'd want to be assured of his long term fitness before we throw the kitchen sink at him.

DeeVoted, just letting you know I've changed my team name to The Halftime Spray. In case you were wondering who the hell it was in the Stynes league.

Thanks DV. Was stoked with my season last year in finishing 84th but I never actually considered myself a chance of taking out the main prize. I was in the top 800 for the whole season after a good start but came from around 500th with five weeks to go so I always felt like the gap was too much and was merely aiming for a top 100 finish. As much as I love the Dees I've been keeping clear of them the last few years. My starting team last year didn't contain any except for Hogan but I did have Gawn by seasons end. Couldn't even find it within myself to grab TMcDonald as I kept thinking his SC form would turn and probably regret not picking him up early in the season when he was red hot. Just not a fan of key position backs and prefer defenders who run through the midfield. This year I've been thinking a lot about Viney as I reckon he's up for a big year but at $500K its an awkward price given the quality available in $300ks (Liberatore, Swallow, BCrouch) who would likely score as well as Jack or not be far off. Just yesterday I took him out of my team and decided to spend the extra $50-60k on a discounted Rockliff instead. Big fan of Gawn as well given his training form to date and is injury free but again its looking like there's some better cost-effective options. Lobbe in the $300ks looks very good with Ryder now out and umming/ahhing over whether to spend the big bickies on Goldstein or save $100k on Stef Martin. Maxxy will be in my thoughts right up until lockout though. I'm currently sitting with Petracca and BKennedy in my team. Both should rise up in price nicely and be good cash cows by the time of the byes. I have M King also on my ruck bench as the Dees having 11 Sunday games means he'll come in handy for loophole purposes. Salem coming into calculations as well if he can lock down that quarterback role across half back. Very early days obviously and a lot can change during and after the NAB Cup, but premium locks for me at this stage are HShaw, BSmith, Dangerfield, Ablett, RGray and Daulhaus. Still plenty of spots up for grabs therefore so my team is likely to change 1,098 times before season kickoff.

He was up forward P-man.

I was there on Saturday as well, making the trek up from Brisbane. Pretty much everything has been covered by others and managing young kids made it hard to watch everything. But a couple of things that stood out for me were: Bugg looks the goods and saw plenty of it in the match sim drills. Going to be a shrewd pickup I reckon. Watts very vocal with encouragement and instruction. Some great foot skills on display as well but then a dropped mark at a crucial time. Was pretty wet though. Brayshaw and VDB running themselves into the ground to get to every contest and cover blokes defensively. Viney having quite a strut and smashing into guys wherever he could. Tipping him for a breakout year for my supercoach side. Gawn taking some good grabs in the wet conditions and showing precise skills for a big man. A clear standout. Wiedemann is skinny and got pushed around a bit by TMcDonald/Dunn but never stopped moving and doesn't mind flying for a mark. Jones giving Frost an absolute earfull for having a snap at goal rather than dishing off a handball to Kennedy in the clear. Frost looks huge though and has good pace. TMcDonald giving OMcDonald an absolute earfull for not filling the space that Garlett ended up leading into for an easy mark. My young boy learnt some new words. Goodwin and Rawlings very impressive with their instruction while Roosy sat high up in a crane taking it all in. Kent working hard to create an option for team mates and looked dangerous around goal. Really hope he stays fit this year. Overall, the standard was good given the weather but the odd mistake under pressure still there. Then again, I think that was the point of some of the drills they were doing. It was also very willing and physical (tackles/bumps/shepherds) and there would have been a few sore boys afterwards.