2018 AFL SEASON PREVIEW
COACH: Nathan Buckley. CAPTAIN: Scott Pendlebury. LAST SEASON: 13th (9-12-1). INS: Sam Murray (Sydney). OUTS: Lachie Keeffe (GWS), Jesse White (ret), Henry Schade (del), Ben Sinclair (ret), Jackson Ramsay (del). MAIN MEN: Adam Treloar (pictured),
Scott Pendlebury and Taylor Adams are the key cogs in the engine room but Ben Reid must be the go-to guy in attack.
ONE TO WATCH: Darcy Moore has talent but will it be put to better use in defence? He won’t have Tyson Goldsack (knee surgery) for support.
UNDER THE PUMP: Once touted as a possible No.1 draft pick, one-time Lion James Aish was in and out of the team in 2017 as he struggled for form.
FINAL WORD: With no major ins – unlike previous seasons – Bucks will rely on getting the best out of the troops he already had at his disposal, making big moves such as shifting Moore to defence. But will it be like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic? COACH: Alastair Clarkson. CAPTAIN: Jarryd Roughead. LAST SEASON: 12th (10-11-1) INS: Jarman Impey (PA), James Worpel (draft). OUTS: Luke Hodge (Bris), Josh Gibson (ret), Jack Fitzpatrick (ret), Bill Hartung (NM), Ty Vickery (ret).
MAIN MEN: Tom Mitchell (pictured) was the only Hawk to average more than 23 disposals last season (35). Jaeger O’Meara (21) and Liam Shiels (21) must provide more support.
ONE TO WATCH: Harry Morrison, the cousin of Tom Rockliff, grabbed 21 touches in his one and only game in the final round last year and can expect a lot more games this season. UNDER THE PUMP: Once their strength, the attack is now an Achilles heal. Tim O’Brien, Ryan Schoenmakers and Roughead are the talls needing to lift.
FINAL WORD: The experience the kids got last year will hold them in good stead, along with the return of Cyril Rioli ( just seven games last year), Ben Stratton and James Frawley (eight each) but still look weak in the guts, and will be looking middle of the road. COACH: John Longmire. CAPTAIN: Josh Kennedy.LAST SEASON: 5th (15-9). INS: Matthew Ling (draft). OUTS: Kurt Tippett (ret), Sam Murray (Coll), Brandon Jack (del), Michael Talia (del), Shaun Edwards (ret), Jeremy Laidler (ret). MAIN MEN: Lance Franklin
(pictured) remains at the peak of his powers, having collected a fourth Coleman Medal. Now just wants a third premiership medallion. Skipper Kennedy, Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery lead an awesome on-ball brigade.
ONE TO WATCH: It takes a special talent to become a Swans regular in his first year. Will Hayward did that.
UNDER THE PUMP: Callum Sinclair will assume No.1 rucking duties with the injury to Sam Naismith (unless Tippett comes out of what was a surprise retirement).
FINAL WORD: A perennial premiership contender and nothing changes this year. Just surely a better start after going 0-6 last season. COACH: John Worsfold. CAPTAIN: Dyson Heppell. LAST SEASON: 8th (12-11). INS: Devon Smith (GWS), Adam Saad (GC), Jake Stringer (WB). OUTS: Craig Bird (del), Heath Hocking (del), James Kelly (ret), Brent Stanton (ret), Jobe Watson (ret).
MAIN MEN: Spearhead Joe Daniher
(pictured) is the reigning best and fairest while skipper Heppell can show he’s among the league’s midfield elite.
ONE TO WATCH: Kyle Langford has been given Jobe Watson’s No.4 jumper. Now he wants his spot in the midfield.
UNDER THE PUMP: In the final year of his contract, Matthew Leuenberger is playing for his future. Stringer also has plenty to prove. FINAL WORD: Having had the best trade period, there’s some firepower in that forward line. Enough to potentially catapult deep into September. COACH: Simon Goodwin. CAPTAINS: Jack Viney, Nathan Jones. LAST SEASON: 9th (12-10). INS: Jake Lever (Adel), Harley Balic (Frem). OUTS: Jack Watts (PA), Jack Trengove (PA), Heritier Lumumba (ret, Jake Spencer (del), Colin Garland (ret).
MAIN MEN: Max Gawn (pictured) has lost 8kg but is determined to regain the mantle as the game's best big man. Last year spearhead Jesse Hogan lost his father to cancer, was diagnosed with testicular cancer himself and suffered a broken collarbone 2018 can only be better.
ONE TO WATCH: There were no second-year blues for Clayton Oliver, averaging the fourth most disposals in the AFL on his way to his first best and fairest. What will he produce in his third? UNDER THE PUMP: The ill-disciplined Tomas Bugg hasn't been in the side since June. Has his spot - and respect - to earn back. FINAL WORD: Finals is a must, but, with their tough and talented midfield - and now intercept king Lever in defence - they are capable of far bigger things. COACH: Adam Simpson. CAPTAIN: Shannon Hurn. LAST SEASON: 6th (13-11).INS: Brendon Ah Chee (PA), Liam Ryan (draft). OUTS: Matt Priddis (ret), Sam Mitchell (ret), Sam Butler (ret), Drew Petrie (ret), Sharrod Wellingham (del), Josh Hill (del).
MAIN MEN: Just denied a third straight Coleman Medal last year,
Josh Kennedy remains a beacon in attack, while Elliot Yeo and Andrew McGovern are deserved All-Australians. Yeo (pictured) is also the reigning best and fairest winner.
ONE TO WATCH: Young forward Liam Ryan gets his chance after booting 73 goals in the WAFL.
UNDER THE PUMP: With Mitchell and Priddis gone, Jack Redden and Chris Masten have chances to get their motors running in the engine room. No excuses.
FINAL WORD: The Eagles have lost an 1411 games of experience. Young legs will need to pick up the pace if they're to make the finals again. COACH: Stuart Dew. CAPTAINS: Steven May, Tom Lynch. LAST SEASON: 17th (6-16). INS: Lachie Weller (Frem), AaronYoung (PA), Harrison Wigg (Adel). OUTS: Gary Ablett (Geel), Adam Saad (Ess), Brandon Matera (Frem), Trent McKenzie (PA), Matt Shaw (Carl), Jarrad Grant (del), Mitch Hallahan (del), Keegan Brooksby (del), Daniel Currie (del).
MAIN MEN: The skippers, full forward Lynch and fullback May are top-shelf bookends. May (pictured) already spurned offers to switch allegences. Will Lynch do the same?
ONE TO WATCH: Will Brodie. His Round 23 effort against the Power (23 disposals, 6 tackles) gave us a glimpse of his talents. There’s so much more to come.
UNDER THE PUMP: The Suns gave up pick No.2 in the draft to sign Gold Coast product Lachie Weller on a reported five-year, $4m deal. Pressure much?
FINAL WORD: Must show they’re on the right track, if for no other reason than to ensure the out-of-contract Lynch re-signs. COACH: Brad Scott. CAPTAIN: Jack Ziebell. LAST SEASON: 15th (6-16) INS: Billy Hartung (Haw). OUTS: Sam Gibson (Adel), Aaron Mullett (Carl), Lachie Hansen (del), Corey Wagner (del), Lindsay Thomas (PA), Andrew Swallow (ret).
MAIN MEN: Ben Brown (pictured) is now a genuine elite key forward, coming off a 63-goal season. In the mould of Michael
Voss, skipper Ziebell is the driving force out of the middle - and dangerous when in attack.
ONE TO WATCH: Last year's No.4 draft pick Luke Davies-Uniacke is a walk-up start in the midfield.
UNDER THE PUMP: Both have been plagued by injury - 33 games between them in the past two years - but the time has come for Mason Wood and Jed Anderson to reach their potential. Ruckman Todd Goldstein is facing increasing pressure from the emerging Queenslander, Brayden Preuss.
FINAL WORD: The Roos remain in rebuild mode, and you know what that means. Another tough year ahead. COACH: Luke Beveridge. CAPTAIN: Easton Wood. LAST SEASON: 10th (11-11). INS: Jackson Trengove (PA), Hayden Crozier (Frem), Josh Schache (Bris), Aaron Naughton (draft). OUTS: Robert Murphy (ret), Matthew Boyd (ret, Jake Stringer (Ess), Stewart Crameri (Geel), Travis Cloke (ret). MAIN MEN: Marcus Bontempelli
(pictured), be it in the midfield or attack, is the key. New skipper Wood has not only taken on the captaincy he’s now forward. ONE TO WATCH: West Australian backman Aaron Naughton only just turned 18 but already looks capable of taking some of the game’s gun key forwards.
UNDER THE PUMP: So many premiership heroes – Tom Boyd, Tom Liberatore, Clay Smith – are shadows of their ‘16 selves. FINAL WORD: Who’s gonna kick the goals? Cloke, Stringer and Crameri are gone, Tom Boyd is struggling, Jack Redpath (knee) is sidelined. Come on down Schache.