Are there any second- or third-year players who have trained the house down over the pre-season and could really step up this year in Dream Team?
Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams are the obvious two. They got a bit of footy into them last year. They can both find the footy, which is always good when you’re picking players for your Dream Team. Chris Dawes has been training really well over the pre-season and I imagine he’ll be putting his hand up. He’s a big lively forward, so there are a few of the big younger boys there.
Is there anyone at your club who may be shifted into a role that might help him boost his Dream Team value from last year?
Luke Ball, from what Mick’s been saying through the papers, will play a predominantly on-ball position. The on-ballers are the ones that tend to rack and stack the possessions and get the higher points. So I guess he’d be a likely one that I’d certainly have in my team.
Who is the must-have player in your Dream Team this year and why?
I reckon the must-have is Dane Swan. He got 40 or so possessions in one game last year and he averaged probably 30-odd. He’s one of those blokes that wherever he goes the footy seems to come to him. He’s just one of those players that will give you points week-in, week-out.
Are there any draftees that look set to spend a lot of time in the seniors this year?
There will certainly be a few guys who will be pushing for senior selection and will hopefully get a few games into them. Young Ben Sinclair looks a likely type. He’s a young, ball-getting player, a smaller type. The same goes for Josh Thomas. He’s another one of the younger boys who looks really well out on the track. He uses the ball well. But as far as the new blokes go, we probably drafted the older blokes more with Jolls (Darren Jolly) and Luke Ball and Simon Buckley coming along.
Who represents the best bargain buy at the club?
It probably has to be Simon Buckley, who we’ve just acquired from Melbourne. He’s trained well over the pre-season and is probably another one who’ll be looking to play senior games. I don’t know what price he is but he’s been injury-plagued throughout his career so he’s fit and flying at the minute and hopefully he can get the ball and get some points and get some games.
If all you needed was one mark to win for your Dream Team, who at your club would you want to be hitting the pack? Why?
Paul Medhurst. He can do it against the bigger bodies, whether it be holding them out, because he’s a pretty powerful guy, or if he had to jump over a pack and take a big hanger. So for me, it’d probably be Paul Medhurst.
Are there any players who spent most of last year injured, have finished rehab and are fit and ready for round one?
Sean Rusling has spent most of his career injured - he’d be the first to admit that he’s been a bit injury prone. But he’s one that’s trained well through the pre-season. But we’re pretty fortunate to have most of the boys up and running. Last year we were pretty lucky with injuries and hopefully this year we’re the same, where we don’t have too many and most of the boys will be available to play.
Who is the most consistent Dream Team performer going to be at your club and why?
I’d have to go with Swanny (Dane Swan) again, because he’s proven over the past couple of years that he just gets the footy. And whether as a team we play well, or if we’re playing not-so-well, he just seems to have a knack for finding the ball.
Which player at your club is most likely to know his own Dream Team value from week to week?
That would have to be John Anthony - or Jack, as he prefers. He likes to look up the values and see that he’s scoring pretty well.
Which player/celebrity are you keenest to get one over in the celebrity Dream Team league?
Is Leigh Matthews in it? Last year we did the ad for Dream Team together, which was a bit of fun. But he didn’t have any problem with telling me I didn’t make his Dream Team, so he’s the one I’m going after this year.
Dale Thomas is a $336,300 forward in this year’s Toyota AFL Dream Team.
2010 Toyota AFL Dream Team is now open. Click here to start playing.
