ADELAIDE
C: Patrick Dangerfield, Tyson Edwards, David Mackay
Foll: Ivan Maric, Bernie Vince, Scott Thompson
Maric should lead the ruck ahead of Brad Moran, who's had an injury-interrupted pre-season. Vince and Thompson are so important to the Crows' midfield, but Thompson could also spend some time in attack. There are concerns over Nathan van Berlo's fitness, which could open the door for young onballer Rory Sloane. Dangerfield and Mackay will be expected to have a greater impact this season, while Edwards, Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod will continue to play pinch-hitting roles. Michael Doughty, Brad Symes and Brent Reilly are likely to rotate from half-back.

BRISBANE LIONS
C: Travis Johnstone, Daniel Rich, Jared Brennan
Foll: Mitch Clark, Simon Black, Luke Power
The Lions have plenty of midfield options. Black and Power will again form the crux of the engine room, while NAB AFL Rising Star Rich will add extra class. Johnstone played 16 matches last year, including the Lions’ two finals, and along with the versatile Brennan could fill a role here. The first ruck position will be an intriguing battle. Matthew Leuenberger and a now-fit Jamie Charman will push hard but Clark, who was close to All-Australian selection last year, has the runs on the board. Others certain to come into contention for midfield slots include Cheynee Stiller, the super-promising Jack Redden, Troy Selwood and emerging youngster James Hawksley.

CARLTON
C: Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson, Aaron Joseph
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Brock McLean
There's been lots of talk about Kreuzer in attack, but he'll likely continue to lead the ruck early in the season and pinch-hit up forward until Rob Warnock can play a larger role on the ball. Chris Judd misses through suspension with Gibbs, Simpson and Murphy automatic starters. Joseph's breakout 2009 season earns him the right to a starting berth with the coach hopeful McLean can put his shaky start in navy blue behind him. Warnock and Shaun Grigg are on the bench in this scenario with Richard Hadley desperately unlucky to be squeezed out. There's plenty of positive buzz around the Blues' most recent first-round draft pick, Kane Lucas, but he'll have to earn his stripes in the VFL first.

COLLINGWOOD
C: Dale Thomas, Scott Pendlebury, Sharrod Wellingham
Foll: Darren Jolly, Dane Swan, Luke Ball
Recruits Jolly and Ball will feature in a new-look midfield in 2010. The Pies will swing the rotations frequently although Jolly, Swan and Pendlebury should be regular centre-square starters. Ball's grunt will be welcomed, but pace will be sought. That's why Thomas and Wellingham could be used through the middle of the ground. Alan Didak will again see plenty of midfield action but the coach might also want his best kick near goal. The speedy Leon Davis will play midfield at times too. Cameron Wood is likely to be Jolly’s main back-up and then there's a swag of running options. Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams, Shane O’Bree and perhaps even Josh Fraser could also enjoy a midfield stint.

ESSENDON
C: Kyle Reimers, Jobe Watson, Andrew Welsh
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Brent Prismall, Brent Stanton
Mark McVeigh would relegate Reimers to an interchange spot if he wasn't suspended for round one. Watson and Welsh will provide experienced heads while Ryder's excellent 2009 leaves him as No.1 big man. David Hille will start forward, but his amount of ruck time will depend on whether Tom Bellchambers wins a spot in the 22. Prismall looks a picture of fitness after a solid pre-season and Stanton's consistency makes him a certain starter. Bachar Houli and David Zaharakis will provide good back-up while the pre-season has shown Travis Colyer and Jake Melksham won't have to wait long for debuts.

FREMANTLE
C: Stephen Hill, Paul Hasleby, Garrick Ibbotson
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Ryan Crowley
With Rhys Palmer's recovery from a knee reconstruction ruling him out of the early rounds and Matthew Pavlich moving forward, Mundy looks set for a permanent switch into the midfield after a strong pre-season. Chief tagger Crowley will be a welcome inclusion after injury ruined his 2009, while Sandilands is a familiar presence in the ruck. Hasleby and Ibbotson are also regulars in the middle, while Hill will only improve as he lights up a wing. Nick Suban will rotate between the midfield and defence, while prized recruit Anthony Morabito should have an instant impact at senior level.

GEELONG
C: Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Ling, Travis Varcoe
Foll: Brad Ottens, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood
Just looking at the ruck division makes you swoon: Ottens, Ablett, Selwood. Add Brownlow Medallist Bartel, new captain Ling and new winger Varcoe, who tore it up in the intra-club in Sydney and was fairly prominent against North Melbourne in the NAB Cup, and it's as damaging as ever. Ottens had a boating accident in the off-season but is a lock to play round one after a horror 2009 which only saw six matches (including the premiership, so it did have an upside). Joel Corey is due back early in the season from his knee, no room for James Kelly or David Wojcinski, which tells you how good this unit is.

HAWTHORN
C: Michael Osborne, Brad Sewell, Shaun Burgoyne
Foll: Simon Taylor, Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell
Robbie Campbell's retirement has left Taylor as the No.1 ruckman for the Hawks, with Brent Renouf still his understudy. The onball brigade is among the best in the competition and has been boosted by Burgoyne's arrival from Port Adelaide. Burgoyne has been recovering from knee surgery but the rumblings from Hawthorn suggest he is in line for a round one start. Lewis, Sewell and Mitchell are no-brainers while Luke Hodge could also be set for more midfield time if his NAB Cup game against Richmond is anything to go by. Osborne will cover for the suspended Chance Bateman to begin with, but will then rotate off the bench with Xavier Ellis.

MELBOURNE
C: Cale Morton, Brent Moloney, Aaron Davey
Foll: Mark Jamar, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald
Expect Morton to spend more time on the wing in 2010, after playing a large portion of last year across half-back. Skipper McDonald, reigning club champion Davey and runner-up Moloney will form the nucleus of the midfield, with Nathan Jones and young guns Jack Trengove and Tom Scully all part of the rotations. They would be included on the bench at this point. Bruce (hamstring) remains a vital cog and should be right to resume for round one. Jamar is also building towards the season proper and will be important for Melbourne as its likely No.1 ruckman.

NORTH MELBOURNE
C: Matt Campbell, Jack Ziebell, Leigh Harding
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Liam Anthony, Andrew Swallow
McIntosh remains North's best ruckman, but should receive a full season of support from Todd Goldstein. Anthony's outside running complements Swallow's work at the contested ball. New coach Brad Scott's quick, attacking game plan will see goalkickers Campbell and Harding used on the wings initially, especially as Daniel Wells builds match fitness. Ziebell has improved his aerobic capacity and strength between seasons to emerge as the ideal centreman; he can hit targets through the corridor or drop to the back of the square for defensive cover. Cruize Garlett and Levi Greenwood complete this young group from the bench.

PORT ADELAIDE
C: Hamish Hartlett, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
Foll: Dean Brogan, Dom Cassisi, Travis Boak
As the Power's only experienced big man, Brogan is certain to carry the majority of the ruck load with Justin Westhoff and the untried Matthew Lobbe in support. Boak, Hartlett and Steve Salopek will be expected to step up in the absence of Shaun and Peter Burgoyne and Chad Cornes, who has moved back to defence. Pearce and Robbie Gray will provide some flair while Cassisi, Kane Cornes and Matt Thomas will pitch in with the grunt work. David Rodan (knee) has been moved to the long-term injury list and is ineligible to play until at least round two.

RICHMOND
C: Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio, Matt White
Foll: Troy Simmonds, Trent Cotchin, Daniel Jackson
Martin shone in the NAB Cup loss to Hawthorn, racking up the most possessions for the Tigers. He needs to work on his defensive side, but it was a great start. Deledio won his second Jack Dyer Medal last year, and White gives plenty of speed. Simmonds was given a one-year extension over summer to lead the ruck again, Cotchin has finally managed a pre-season and Jackson continues to improve. Nathan Foley is unlikely to play round one as he recovers from ankle surgery, while Andy Collins and Angus Graham should find bench spots.

ST KILDA
C: Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna, Brett Peake
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Lenny Hayes, Clint Jones
Luke Ball's defection to Collingwood and the sacking of Andrew Lovett don't seem so disastrous when you look at the depth the Saints still have in the middle. Montagna and Hayes are two of the best in the business while Jones is a walk-up start after a stellar 2009. Fremantle recruit Peake has looked good over the pre-season and brings pace to the wing. Hayes, Gram and Gardiner have had minor injury problems over summer but should prove fit. Gardiner is still the first-choice ruckman ahead of Steven King and Ben McEvoy. Nick Dal Santo and Brendon Goddard have been floated as potential half-forwards this year.

SYDNEY SWANS
C: Ryan O’Keefe, Jude Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh
Foll: Shane Mumford, Brett Kirk, Kieren Jack
An outstanding pre-season has Mumford in the box seat to claim the No.1 ruck role vacated by Darren Jolly. Otherwise, the Swans’ first-choice midfield looks remarkably similar to that which finished 2009 in such strong form. O’Keefe, Kirk, Bolton and McVeigh know each others’ games inside out, while Jack’s ability to play as a tagger or a goalkicking mid is invaluable. The improving Craig Bird adds support from the bench, while Mark Seaby will relieve Mumford.

WEST COAST
C: Chris Masten, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
Foll: Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Adam Selwood
With a fit Cox and Kerr returning to familiar roles, West Coast's likely midfield for round one looks impressive. Masten will improve and has held down a wing in trial matches, while clearance king Priddis and No.1 tagger Selwood are established in their positions. Rosa looks a probable starter on the other wing, though midfield rotations will be regular. Nic Naitanui will pass through the ruck, while Andrew Embley and Brad Ebert should switch between the forward line and midfield. Youngsters Luke Shuey and Brad Sheppard have impressed pre-season and will push for bench roles, as will Tom Swift and recruit Bradd Dalziell.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
C: Liam Picken, Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Daniel Cross
Last year Picken showed ability to run with talented midfielders and the super-fit Boyd took his game to another level. Cooney fought through knee problems but is now at his best. Hudson is their No.1 ruckman with Will Minson - who might not be right for round one - to play off the bench with Barry Hall to give the Dogs extra marking strength up forward. Griffen is yet to have a break-out season and all indications say this could be it while Cross' supreme fitness and work ethic make him hard to overlook as the starting rover. Callan Ward will start on the bench, while Nathan Eagleton overcomes a knee problem.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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