By The Age footy team
The AFL’s opening round is less than three weeks away, and likely line-ups are starting to take shape.
As match simulation begins in earnest and with the official round of pre-season matches coming next week, our experts examined each of the AFL’s 18 clubs and put together predicted line-ups for game one.
With some teams hit hard by injuries, and others in tip-top shape, here’s how your team could look at the first bounce.
New: Alex Neal-Bullen, James Peatling, Sid Draper
Unavailable: Kieran Strachan (foot)
There is no point doing the same thing and expecting a different result, so as good a player as Matt Crouch has been, he should fight for his spot. Sid Draper could be the X-factor the club needs, while Rory Laird can return to being a brilliant small defender.
New: Levi Ashcroft
Unavailable: Keidean Coleman (knee), Tom Doedee (knee)
There will be at least two changes to the Lions’ premiership team. Hard-luck story Oscar McInerney reclaims the ruck spot from Darcy Fort, while Joe Daniher’s retirement leaves an opening for boom draftee Levi Ashcroft to make an early debut.
New: Jagga Smith, Nick Haynes
Unavailable: Nic Newman (knee), Alex Cincotta (hip)
Jacob Weitering, Nick Haynes, Mitch McGovern and Jack Silvagni are versatile enough to play in the same back line. Tom De Koning needs Marc Pittonet, but not every week. Lachie Fogarty, Matt Cottrell and Ashton Moir get first crack forward. Lock in Jagga Smith for an immediate debut. We’ve assumed Charlie Curnow, Sam Walsh and Silvagni will all be ready.
New: Harry Perryman, Tim Membrey
Unavailable: Dan Houston (suspended), Will Hoskin-Elliott (building fitness – will be named on bench if fit)
Dan Houston’s unavailability eases what will be a squeeze for positions behind the ball. Reef McInnes has impressed over summer as a tall back. The key forwards will be a query: Tim Membrey will play, as will Brody Mihocek – so do they play Mason Cox as changing ruck, or use Dan McStay as second ruck?
New: Isaac Kako
Unavailable: Matt Guelfi (hamstring)
Peter Wright probably gets the first chance to back up Sam Draper in the ruck, but Nick Bryan or Todd Goldstein could challenge him if he doesn’t start well. Jye Menzie and Alwyn Davey jnr are in the small forward mix, while prized draftees Elijah Tsatas and Ben Hobbs, Archie Roberts, Jaxon Prior and Saad El-Hawli are others to watch.
New: Shai Bolton
Unavailable: Odin Jones (spinal surgery), Sean Darcy (knee and ankle)
There is still an injury/fitness watch on Sean Darcy (knee), Nat Fyfe (knee) and Michael Walters (knee). The addition of playmaker Shai Bolton is a major boon. It’s now over to coach Justin Longmuir to get this team playing strong, consistent football.
New: Bailey Smith
Unavailable: Cam Guthrie (foot)
Geelong’s list runs so deep that legitimate round one contenders Mark O’Connor, Jed Bews, Jack Martin, Jhye Clark, Oisin Mullin and Mitch Knevitt have been left out. If Sam De Koning plays in the ruck, the Cats might consider blooding Connor O’Sullivan at full-back. Mitch Duncan will need to play well to hold his spot as youngsters are breathing down his neck.
New: Elliott Himmelberg, Daniel Rioli, Leo Lombard, John Noble
Unavailable: Jed Walter (suspension)
Recruits Elliott Himmelberg, John Noble and Daniel Rioli should play straight up, but former Tiger Rioli suffered a knee injury in November.
New: Jake Stringer
Unavailable: Ryan Angwin (ankle)
Jake Riccardi should retain his place as a tall forward who can spell Kieren Briggs in the ruck, even with Jake Stringer arriving. But the Giants love loading up on speedy types. Conor Stone, Xavier O’Halloran, Jacob Wehr, Toby McMullin, Phoenix Gothard and James Leake should all receive more opportunities after the off-season departures, while Harvey Thomas played 22 games in his debut season.
New: Tom Barrass, Josh Battle
Unavailable: Mitch Lewis (knee), Calsher Dear (back stress fracture)
The Hawks are loaded for talent, having been bolstered by key recruits Josh Battle and Tom Barrass. Mitch Lewis, on the mend from a knee reconstruction, is a wait and see, but Calsher Dear faces months on the sidelines.
New: Harvey Langford, Xavier Lindsay, Harry Sharp
Unavailable: Kysaiah Pickett (suspension), Jake Melksham (hamstring), Koltyn Tholstrup (bone stress), Judd McVee (hamstring)
The unavailability of Kysaiah Pickett and Jake Melksham places further strain on the Dees’ forward line, which remains an area of concern. Prized draftees Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay, and ex-Lion Harry Sharp, will push hard for an immediate debut. Langford’s arrival, the returns of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, and the emergence of Trent Rivers as a midfielder places pressure on Tom Sparrow.
New: Luke Parker, Caleb Daniel, Jack Darling, Finn O’Sullivan
Unavailable: George Wardlaw (hamstring), Callum Coleman-Jones (ACL)
The loss of George Wardlaw hurts, but the Roos’ recruiting of experienced talent in Jack Darling and Caleb Daniel bolsters them. Luke Parker’s best is behind him, but he adds experience and depth.
New: Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards, Joe Berry
Unavailable: Todd Marshall (Achilles), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (back)
Injuries to Todd Marshall and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher were bad enough, but Esava Ratugolea is also in doubt for round one. Jack Lukosius will have a big role from the outset up forward, while Jeremy Finlayson and Ollie Lord are possibly fighting for the same spot. Travis Boak is no longer an automatic selection and will face pressure from the club’s emerging youth.
New: Sam Lalor, Harry Armstrong, Josh Smillie, Jonty Faull
Unavailable: Noah Balta (suspension), Josh Gibcus (ACL), Judson Clarke (ACL), Mykelti Lefau (ACL)
It’s officially the dawn of a new era at Punt Road, now Dustin Martin has gone. While several premiership heroes remain, it’s all about building the next team to compete consistently for finals. We’ll see plenty of fresh faces this season, including a handful in round one.
New: Harry Boyd
Unavailable: Dougal Howard (shoulder), Mattaes Phillipou (leg), Paddy Dow (infection), Liam Henry (knee)
On paper the Saints look workmanlike other than their young talent, who have power and endurance to burn but need experience. Tobie Travaglia and Angus Hastie are pushing and will get an opportunity, with Travaglia training on a wing. The Saints’ flankers could run teams off their legs early, but they are still a developing side.
New: Riley Bice, Riak Andrew, Ned Bowman
Unavailable: Jesse Dattoli (back), Logan McDonald (ankle), Hayden McLean (groin), Will Edwards (leg)
The Swans have a couple of injury question marks for their first game on March 7, but the bulk of their grand final team should feature against Hawthorn.
New: Liam Baker, Jack Graham, Matt Owies
Unavailable: Elliot Yeo (knee, ankle), Dom Sheed (ACL)
Liam Baker will bring some class into the Eagles’ line-up whether it’s off half-back or on the ball. Jack Graham gives them grunt on a wing and Matt Owies a little more bite around goal. Bo Allan will play early. The ruck is a flip-of-the-coin choice between Matt Flynn and Bailey Williams.
New: Matt Kennedy, Josh Dolan, Cooper Hynes
Unavailable: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal issues), Adam Treloar (calf), Liam Jones (hamstring), Jason Johannisen (hamstring)
The Dogs will have a different complexion for their opening game as Liam Jones and Adam Treloar are injured and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is on a flexible training program. Bailey Smith, Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel are gone from the club, too.
Graphics by Stephen Kiprillis and Matthew Absalom-Wong
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