5 Squared is a new series that will aim to give you the best advice and educated opinions on the big topics facing DT coaches. This edition features the 3 DT Talk pioneers Warnie, Roy and Calvin, rookie expert Chook of Chook’s Rooks fame, and weekly Bullets writer Tbetta.

1. Do you think Hawthorn will remain the high-scoring DT side that they were last year?

Calvin – Yeah I do, can’t see why not. But in saying that you’d be paying top dollar for the guys who went through the roof last year due to their high possession footy. I can’t see their ‘style’ of game changing one bit.

Chook – Rather than hoofing it long and hoping, Hawthorn developed their pin-point, short-kicking (and DT-lucrative) game plan to counter the zone. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few teams changed their defensive structure against the Hawks to pay a little more attention to their high-quality kickers, such as Matt Suckling, this year. At any rate, the chickens have largely flown the coup – 2011 was the year to load up on Suckers and Liam Shiels, not 2012.

Warnie – Yep! Sure thing. They will win more games this year too which will be a bonus to their scoring you’d like to think.

Tbetta – I’m not sold. While their game plan will ensure they remain one of the higher fantasy-scoring teams, I don’t think it should influence player selection like it did last year. Other clubs seemed to catch on, and you’ll notice young accumulators in Suckling (avg 98 R1-14, 80 R15-24) and Shiels (avg 111 R1-15, 88 R16-24) had significantly lower scoring over the 2nd half of the season.

Roy – I think they will win more games and their scoring will reflect that with a slight improvement from most of the relevant DTers.

2. Team Ablett or Team Swan? 

Warnie – Ahh, Team Ablett. As much as I love the fantasy pig in Swanny, Gazza has the nice draw and more ‘upside’ for the early part of the season. Swanny will grace my team a few weeks in.

Tbetta – I had always been a Swan man myself – I used to jealously despise any team that Ablett graced, especially through his golden years at Geelong. But after Gaz saved my season by stepping up in Swan’s absence in the middle of 2011, I can safely say I’m on Team Ablett.

Roy – Due to having a pre season this year, being on a rapidly improving team and having a sensational draw I say Ablett by a nose. Having said that, traditionally I’m a Pig fan so I need to find a way to get them both. Let’s face it, a team is not complete until they are both sitting there. I don’t want another year of hoping 1 of these guys have a bad game only to see 150 against their name and 300 as my opponents captain.

Chook – I’m yet to start a season with Swan and that looks unlikely to change this year. The Pig will be there by season’s end, but it’s Team Ablett for me. As a DT coach who spends more time rookie-watching than anything else, I always stuff up these “which premium?” decisions anyway. Can I say Team Shiel?

Calvin – Being the captain expert… I’m Team Both. Trying my arse off to start these guys when round 1 ticks over. Yeah they will both drop in price and others will pick them up cheaper… but I would have had them for 5 rounds before people jump on, double it as my captain! – Calvin off to a flying 2012 start!

3. Who is the one player you’ve banished to the ‘Never Again’ list – forever? 

Roy – Shaun Higgins…… words can not describe how I feel about Higgins. He has a life ban from destROY, I’d sooner pick Zac Dawson.

Chook – I ‘ve managed to avoid the Higgins and Heath Shaw pain of recent years, so I’ll finger Colin Sylvia. As a Demons supporter, I expected so much more.

Calvin – Where do I start… Higgins, Sylvia, Montagnahhh oh Montagna is cheap this year with a really good draw, but I just can’t do it out of pure hatred!

Tbetta – Normally I like to stay calm and look at every player at his merits (I mean, am I really considering Porpz again?) but the one player I refuse to touch is Higgins. Never, ever, ever again. Ever.

Warnie – There are so many, but I think Shaun Higgins has finally done his dash. Colin Sylvia a close second.

4. What are your thoughts on the ruck situation this year, given the burst of options we seem to have? 

Chook – Firstly, how nice is it to have a wide open ruck race again this year? With viable options in the premium, mid-price and rookie categories, it’s difficult to go too wrong. At the same time, nailing the “perfect” combo is perhaps harder than  ever. Mummy is tempting me, but at this stage it’s McEvoy and Stephenson/Giles, although I’ll likely wimp out before lock-out and opt for a second big gun.

Calvin – Starting one premo ruck with a cheapy. With my plans to upgrade the ‘cheapy’ to a premo come bye time. Which premo to start with… Tossing up between McEvoy and L’Berger.

Warnie – Ben McEvoy is a lock as #1 for me with Big O and Giles safely in there. Still deciding whether to play a rookie in the #2 slot, or just go a Set and Forget. Then there is the DPP I am playing with to slot Sam Rowe in there mid season.

Tbetta – I’m having some sleepless nights thinking about the ruck-line this year! I’ve always been a Set & Forget sort of guy, and all my pre-season planning has started out that way. But, with the seemingly solid job security of some of the rookies there this year, I’m actually considering going in with only one premo… Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Roy – I’m being very mindful of teams that have either recruited or have a second ruck returning from injury Eg. McIntosh and Hudson.

5. Who’s your pick for break-out player of the year? 

Warnie – As a Bombers man, I’m going to throw it out there and go with David Zaharakis. He’s a massive chance to boost his average well over 100 ppg.

Tbetta – I think it has to be someone who was regularly vested last year. Someone who can now crack the first 21 and stay there (avoiding vest-affected scores), on top of natural development. For that reason, I’m looking at Gaff and Christensen, and I’m edging towards the latter of the two at this very, very early stage.

Roy – I think Koby Stevens will have a really good year providing his body holds up and Steele Sidebottom will increase his average by at least 15 ppg.

Chook – I’m with Tbetta on this one. Christensen and Gaff loom as massive breakout candidates if they can steer clear of the green and red vests and continue their late-season form from 2011. An Angus (the bull, not Monfries) sized nut sack is required to take the punt on Gaff, given his price and position, but everyone should be clambering aboard the Christensen bandwagon.

Calvin – Swanny to break out a 140+ average ha ha… nah, maybe not so much a ‘break out’ year but a ‘Bounce Back’ year. I’m tipping big things from Browny, Porpz and maybe even Didak who are very under priced in 2012 due to injuries/form.

Last year we had around 2000 people join in one of the biggest DT groups in the world. We are going around once again and want you to be involved.

We are looking for a sponsor to give a prize away (otherwise it might just end up being signed Calvin’s Captains notes or maybe 2007 Prospectus). So if you have a company that would like some exposure on the biggest AFL Dream Team website, then contact us (warnie@dreamteamtalk.com) and we’ll try to work something out!

Signing up to the group is easy. If you’re already registered with your Dream Team, then click this link but, if for some reason you aren’t already registered, then use this link to sign up.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE GROUP!

AFL Dream Team is now open for 2012 and with it comes our second episode of the preseason. Roy, Calvin and Warnie look at the game and the new features including the Assistant Coach (which we write for, please support our work by subscribing… only $20 for the season!). Warnie chats to Nathan Buckley about all things Collingwood and DT, Roy and Calvin grill Andrew Swallow from North Melbourne and we hear from Jonathon Patton, Chad Wingard, Lin Jong and Elliott Kavanagh at the Draftee Induction.

Do you want to WIN AN AFL PROSPECTUS? Well, get us an intro from someone famous and email it to warnie@dreamteamtalk.com and if you are aired, you will receive a signed (or defaced) copy from us! Wowee! Thanks to the guys from How Ridiculous for their video for this episode!

Stay tuned to our website at www.dreamteamtalk.com for heaps of articles this preseason and throughout the 2012 AFL Dream Team season. Also, stay connected with us through all of the social media outlets below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPxp0MaguzY

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Stay tuned during the evening for our second DT TALK preseason episode of the year featuring interviews with Nathan Buckley and Andrew Swallow as well as more of Meet the Draftees (Jonathon Patton, Chad Wingard, Lin Jong and Elliott Kavanagh). Get involved in the chat to be the first to see that and possibly a sneak peek at some of the features of DT2012! Wowee!

This is the biggest night for far for AFL Dream Team in 2012… come on the journey with us!

The first episode of DT TALK for 2012 has Roy, Calvin and Warnie looking at the game and it’s changes for the new year as well as look at some rookies we should have on our “Rookie Radar” (say it like Calvin). The boys were invited to the AFL Players Association “Draftee Induction” at Etihad Stadium. Hear from draftees Brandon Ellis (Richmond), Stephen Coniglio (GWS) and Orren Stephensen (Geelong) about their preseason and why you should pick them. Tim Mohr (GWS) also chats to Roy and Warnie about how the Giants are looking in their debut season… make sure you take notes!

The next episode ‘should’ be out on February 1 with all of the stuff you need to know as AFL Dream Team opens for the 2012 season. Stay tuned for more rookie talk, an interview with Andrew Swallow and much, much more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1QWWoTJimg

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Firstly you need a Sportingbet account, so sign up here!

Calvin:

Scottie Thompson @ $51

As we all know, Scottie Thompson has one hell of an easy draw this year. He plays the GWS, Suns and Port twice and in my book that adds up to 18 votes right there!

Sam Mitchell @ $9

I’m not a huge Sam Mitchell fan, but with the Hawks getting better and better he will certainly poll well just like last year when he nearly won the thing despite being suspended. He polled 30 votes… this would have won him the Brownlow in any other of the 14 seasons leading up to this one. He’s a ball magnet right under the umpire’s eye!

Roy:

Michael Barlow @ $41

Over a career spanning just 22 games and 9 of them on the back of  a return from serious injury, Barlow has managed 12 Brownlow votes, showing his work is not going unnoticed from the umpires. From all reports, he has been smashing it on the track and looks set to have an even greater impact than his rookie year where he was right up there in the count until breaking his leg.

Gary Ablett @ $11

Gazza was not expected to poll many votes last year in a team that struggled for a win but he proved the doubters wrong (23 votes). This year, he will be playing for an improved team that has been gifted a nice draw. It also appears that he has been able to spend a lot more time on the track during the pre season this year, indicating he will smash it from the first bounce.

Warnie:

Lance Franklin @ $41

I see the Hawks as a huge chance to finish top 2 in 2012 and riding on that hope is the big Budwood. My brain massively says no. I’ve had him plenty of times in Dream Team, this man give away more free kicks than anyone else and is a constant suspension worry. Buuutttt… if he can get through a full season, he will be a key reason why the Hawks might be top 2. Chance for 100 goals again? Maybe. Hopefully umpires and see how valuable a big man can be to a team and offer up votes to Buddy. At $41, he is ‘good value’.

Bryce Gibbs @ $56

I can’t believe Roy didn’t put Gibbsy in here before me. Well, to be honest… my safe bet would have been Gazza, soft draw and all. But I’m liking the value in Bryce Gibbs. Yes, there is Juddy and Murphy that will take a whole heap of votes away from him, and rightly so. But if Gibbs can play that midfield role – as outlined in the Deck of DT on him and the media talk – then he is every chance to get votes. I don’t know. It might just be because a mate did a multi-bet when Gibbs was paying over 100-1 with the Blues making the top 4 and Roy was excited about it. I’m way too easily led.

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Join our Sportal.com.au Tennis Dream Team for this years Australian Open. This is a pretty simple competition where you set and forget it… how I see it, it’s a big tipping comp. Pretty simple to enter and gives you something to follow over the next couple of weeks leading up to the real DT starting on Feb 1.

Click here to join our Tennis Dream Team League
CODE: 691108

While you mightn’t really know what you’re doing, you’ll be able to get a bit of a look at the basis of AFL Dream Team for 2012 with some of the features there. For example, the tabs on the side, new Twitter league, and the social media like coaches box where you can comment just like Facebook.

Anyway, join us… discuss strategy, betting on the tennis or whatever here related to the Australian Open!

It’s a pretty easy competition to be involved in and you have the chance to win $50,000.

If you’re NOT a SportingBet member, then you can still enter… you don’t have to have an account to enter. Too easy!

We have set up a DT TALK League to get on board so when you get into it, use the following code and join us on our way to winning $50K!

CODE: 233036

JOIN NOW!

We’ve been running this website and producing our YouTube clips and live shows over the last 5 years. Recently we were approached to be involved in a Fantasy Footy TV show and shoot a pilot. We did this a few weeks ago and we are pumped with how it came up.

Roy, Calvin and Warnie are all involved in the show (with a cameo from Chopper) as well as Mark Howard from Channel 10 co-hosting, 3-time premiership player and Brownlow medalist Jason Akermanis and Miranda Skerman who has been involved with Dream Team and other AFL content on the official AFL website.

We would appreciate all of our DT TALK fans/visitors/members/etc to support us with this exciting venture and cross your fingers with us to get us picked up! You can help by:

1. “Liking” The Fan Show AFL page over on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheFanShowAFL
2. “Following” us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheFanShowAFL

Pretty simple. When things get posted on The Fan Show AFL page, hit like on them… throw in a comment, etc.

So anyway… here are a couple of videos of what we have done and some images from the set, etc. It will be an awesome production. We are very excited about it and we’re sure any DT fan will love it. Think DT TALK on a much bigger scale.

Calvin, Roy, Howie, Miranda, Warnie and Aker - Hosts of The Fan Show!

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Use this as your discussion forum for the big award tonight and let us know your thoughts about who you think will win the big thing and some of your favourite bets that you’re placing this evening.

Warnie, Roy and Calvin will post in the comments before the count starts to let you know what we’re on at SportingBet.