Pre-season Media Watch: “Where’s Your Club At?”

Make sure you check out articles like this one, and take mental notes (or even write stuff down if you’re as tragic as me) on who is looking good and who isn’t. Take note of who are having limited pre-seasons as usually that means players may not be up to scratch early on in the season.

The latest “Where’s your club at?” article from the official AFL website is a ripper. Here are some DT relevant notes I took from it:

• ADELAIDE:
  Richard Tambling won’t be into full training until the new year. He could be a bargain pick of 2011.
• BRISBANE:
  Big man Jonathan Brown and big knob Brendan Fevola are still a long way off joining the main group. JB usually has limited pre-seasons and is to be expected. Fev will be bloody cheap, as his average dropped over 30 points last year.
• CARLTON:
  Matthew Kruezer is returning from a knee injury and isn’t training. Quite a few would have him penned in as an improving ruck. Could be struggling for round one.
• ESSENDON:
  DT dick tease, Brent Prismall is working hard… if he is in Hird’s good books, then he could be someone to reach premium status in 2011.
• FREMANTLE:
  Look out for Tendai Mzungu as one of the most popular bench players in 2011. He is likely to be listed as a defender and is mature age… ticking a lot of boxes.
• GOLD COAST:
  Names will continue to float around for these guys. We’ll be having a crack at picking best 22s closer to the start of the season.
• HAWTHORN:
  Cameron Bruce will get picked up in the pre-season draft. Will play, but is maybe a bit too old.. and expensive.
• MELBOURNE:
  Look out for Addam Maric who will be close to rookie priced. A great bench option for those who are going for the league win. Colin Sylvia could be a great fwd/mid pick up again. Ricky Petterd is recovering from a shoulder reco… but will be under-priced and well worth a look at.
• NORTH MELBOURNE:
  I have Drew Petrie penciled in as my 2nd ruck, but he won’t join training until the new year. Cameron Richardson is a rookie priced player to monitor.
• PORT ADELAIDE:
  Marlon Motlop wants Nathan Krakouer’s half back position. Hasn’t set the DT world on fire, but will come very cheap and is training well. Robbie Gray will hopefully trick heaps of people… but then I suppose if I don’t pick him, he’ll have is break out year we all thought he could have had in 2010.
• RICHMOND:
  Under priced midfielder, Nathan Foley, is pretty much only running at the moment.
• WEST COAST:
  Number 4 draft pick, Andrew Gaff has been talked up… so hopefully he’ll be a chance to join the Eagles midfield.
• WESTERN BULLDOGS:
  Dream Team slut, Brian Lake, won’t be running until mid-January after multiple operations. He should be one of the first considered as his DT numbers are that of a premium defender these days, but the limited pre-season could hurt. Monitor his progress.

Do you have any other things to add from other articles you’ve read recently?