Staying under cap means tough calls
I’VE been red-hot on Rory Sloane all pre-season.
But with Round 1 just days away he’s been sacrificed. Sorry, Rory, it’s not you, it’s me.
Well, it’s actually that bloody SuperCoach salary cap.
Downgrading Sloane to Tom Liberatore has freed up $225,000 and that’s helped finalise Browny’s Bruisers.
Even though Sloane looks to have had a very good preseason, he’s shown over the past couple of years he’s susceptible to a tag.
Liberatore has looked like the 2016 version this year and with his new set of Simpsons tattoos, and my theory is he would only be showing off fresh ink if he had supreme confidence in his body.
I know I’ve been bullish about Joe Daniher as my speculative pick, but even the most ardent Essendon supporter couldn’t carry him for six weeks while he’s on the sidelines with a calf. In comes Lincoln McCarthy for Daniher to complete the forwards.
In defence, I love James Sicily. He’s an intercept marker, a good kick and, under the tutelage of Al Clarkson, he would’ve matured this off-season.
I can relate to that. After the 2004 grand final, Leigh Matthews grabbed me by the ear and said, “Pull your head in” and I think Clarkson would’ve done the same with Sicily.
His new teammate, Jack Scrimshaw, also gets a game in my team. Scrimshaw never settled at the Gold Coast, but back home in familiar surrounds, he’s impressed, particularly against Richmond in the JLT.
At a good height, he seems to be able to find the footy and he can take some marks.
My No.1 rule for picking defenders is to find intercept markers and designated kickers under the new kick-in rule.
Brodie Smith and, at times, Michael Hibberd fall into this category. Smith has the added bonus of injecting speed into the Adelaide midfield.
My old mate Tom Rockliff had a calf injury last year and missed his first pre-season at his second club.
But after a full summer and in familiar surrounds, I expect him to return to be the SuperCoach stud he used to be.
Rockliff isn’t known for his leg speed, and missing pre-season affects players who lack pace more than it does others.
Rivals won’t be able to tag Rocky either with Robbie Gray, Ollie Wines and Travis Boak in Port’s team.
Rockliff is a high possession winner and an elite forwardhalf distributor who is set for a big year. With Michael Voss, Rockliff’s old senior coach, in charge of Port’s midfield, he’ll know how to best utilise Rocky’s qualities.
I’ve got three Port Adelaide boys on my bench as cash cows – Xavier Duursma, Zak Butters and William Drew – and have been swept up by the Michael Gibbons love-in.
Finding rookie forwards was hard work but with Mark LeCras retired and Jamie Cripps injured, I expect Jack Petrucelle ($123,900) to have an impact as a high-pressure forward early.
Petrucelle is a self-titled Ferrari – stemming from a draft combine interview – and you won’t want a Ferrari to sit in the garage too long.
Adelaide’s top pick, Chayce Jones, looks very composed and I like his tackling pressure. It’ll be hard to get big midfield minutes but he looks like he can contribute straight away as a forward.
I couldn’t afford both premium ruckmen and have gone with Max Gawn over Brodie Grundy, purely because he’s had a healthier summer.
Max has the ability to float forward and kick a goal and he’s the No.1 ruckman for intercept marks, as he often plays a kick behind the ball.
I think premiership ruckman Scott Lycett can have an impact at Port, particularly with Paddy Ryder injured.