WHAT'S in a name when it comes to choosing a line-up for Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009?
Plenty, according to Richmond favourite Matthew Richardson who has just finalised his 30-man squad for the coming season.
"I've put Mike Pyke in – just because I like his name," Richardson told afl.com.au.
"He doesn't have to do anything for me [in the Dream Team competition]; he just looks good on the team sheet."
'Richo' will oversee a league of some of the biggest names of the game, including Carlton captain Chris Judd, Hawthorn's Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge, West Coast premiership ruckman Dean Cox, Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich, dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes and No. 1 draft pick Jack Watts.
"They’re all pretty successful guys … I’ve got a feeling that it might become a little bit competitive as the year goes on, that’s for sure," he said.
"I wouldn’t mind beating Goodesy especially."
Richardson, who at 34 will be the oldest player in the AFL when the season kicks off, said he hadn't even contemplated clicking on his own name when selecting his team.
"There's no way known I'm putting myself in my own team," he said.
"That's like people who pick their best-ever teams and put themselves in – I've never been a fan of that, so there was no way known I was putting myself in my team."
However, Richardson couldn't look past 17-year-old Watts at the tasty price of $150,600.
"I’ve got down to the forward line and didn’t have a lot of coin left there," he said.
"He's pretty cheap and he's got big wraps on him, so I thought I’d put him in. I hope he puts me in his!"
The veteran has Dream Team experience but admitted that training and club commitments made it tough for players to log on regularly and make changes to their teams.
Failing to trade when members of his squad were injured or dropped have been Richardson's downfall. But with pride on the line and the responsibility of representing the Tigers, he would be more aware of the Dream Team landscape this time around.
"When you’re so involved at the one team you don’t really know how guys at other teams are going, so it’s hard work," he said.
"I didn’t log on weekly, so people that were really getting into it had me covered as soon as my team got a few injuries. I wasn't replacing them and I was gone.
"I've got a bit more notice this year and I'll be on the ball. I'll definitely be having a look every week."
Richo's Dream Team
Defenders: Heath Shaw (Coll), Grant Birchall (Haw), Nick Malceski (Syd), Matthew Scarlett (Geel), Andrew Raines (Rich), Sam Gilbert (St K), Darren Glass (WC), Shannon Hurn (WC), Matt Maguire (St K)
Midfielders: Gary Ablett (Geel), Luke Hodge (Haw), Nathan Foley (Rich), Jed Adcock (Bris), Brett Peake (Frem), Stephen Hill (Frem), Daniel Rich (Bris), Jack Ziebell (NM)
Rucks: Dean Cox (WC), David Hille (Ess), Angus Graham (Rich), Mike Pyke (Syd)
Forwards: Lance Franklin (Haw), Simon Goodwin (Adel), Ryan O'Keefe (Syd), Ryan Gamble (Geel), Ryan Houlihan (Carl), Scott Lucas (Ess), Jack Watts (Melb), Wade Thompson (PA), Robin Nahas (Rich)
Click here to read how Richo went about choosing his Toyota AFL Dream Team for 2009.
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Click here to register for Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
Dream Team watch – Matthew Richardson is rated a $434,600 midfielder/forward in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
