Brisbane Lions: AFL Dream Team Picks

This series of ‘club preview’ posts are written by DT TALK regular contributors choosing their 5 players they have on their watchlist from the respective club. These aren’t who we think will be the top 5 highest scoring players… and are not necessarily in order. They are just our opinions of the 5 players who we have on our watchlist heading into the 2012 season.

Warnie’s five from the Lions.

1. Tom Rockliff (MID), $554,200.

We love the Rockwiz… so much so that we are now his Victorian player sponsors! After increasing his average heaps last year, Roy’s man crush has filtered down through all invovled with DT Talk and we’ll back him in as being one of the top 5 midfielders again this year.

2. Jack Redden (MID), $540,100.

Rocky’s housemate had a break out year last season taking his average to 109. I can see him keeping this up and would be a massive point of difference for your Dream Team. Going off the last couple of NAB Cup games, Reddo finished with 132 DT points from 29 touches and  whopping 9 tackles against the Blues on the weekend and 92 points against the Crows coming from 29 disposals also.

3. Pearce Hanley (DEF), $396,600.

The Irishman took his DT average to 82.5 last season playing every game. He gathers plenty of ball in the back half for the Lions and on the weekend, it was just the same with a score of 87 points coming from 25 disposals and 7 marks. Currently in only 1.5% of teams, Hanley could be a unique ‘premium’ defender for you with the Round 11 bye.

4. Matthew Leuenberger (RUC), $459,100.

The Burger rounds out the RedRock Burger combo after a smashing 2011 season where he finished the year with an average of 92.8 from all 22 games. He’s looking like a durable ruck option playing 22 games for the last two years. Using the Assistant Coach projections, he is tipped to score 123 first up. Nice! Many have jumped off him because of the recruitment of Ben Hudson (I see him as security) and first round pick Billy Longer. Leuenberger is a beast and will continue to pump out a 90+ average this season.

5. Sam Docherty (DEF/MID), $130,200.

I’ve snuck Docherty in here purely because he will get his first NAB game this week and is one of the few DEF/MID ‘rookie’ priced options that are worth considering. The kid was taken at #12 in the 2011 draft and averaged 66 at the Under 18 Championships  and 86 in the TAC Cup last year. Keep an eye on him this week as one of the few first year players knocking on the selection door for Round 1.

OTHERS ON THE WATCHLIST: I need to mention Dayne Zorko (MID/FWD, $104,200) here. The 24 year old is ready made and despite a pre-season hip injury, he should play game early on. Maybe a downgrade target. Jonathan Brown ($331,400) is heaps cheap this year but we won’t see him in the first couple of weeks after another facial injury that required surgery. Elliott Yeo ($98,700) has racked ’em up in the pre-season but didn’t play on the weekend and most likely won’t figure. I do also like the look of Jed Adcock ($417,700) as a premium defender too.

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