2019 Pre-season magazine (17)

ULTIMATE KEEPER
LEAGUE

2018 SEASON REVIEW

ULTIMATE KEEPER
LEAGUE

2018 SEASON REVIEW

2018 UKL GRAND FINAL

V

2076 1909

ULTIMATE KEEPER
LEAGUE

2018 SEASON REVIEW

ULTIMATE KEEPER

DANGERGAWNLEAGUE
MEDAL2018 SEASON REVIEW

TOM MITCHELL
DEFENESTRATORS - 32 VOTES

JACK MACRAE
PUTTANESCA CHIEFS - 18 VOTES

BRODIE GRUNDY
PUTTANESCA CHIEFS - 18 VOTES

MAX GAWN
MAHERSHALALHASHBAZ - 13 VOTES

JARROD WITTS
SOLOMON'S SOLDIERS - 12 VOTES

PREMIERS IN 2018

PUTTANESCA
CHIEFS

HOME & AWAY: 14 WINS 3 LOSSES
1ST ON THE LADDER

36 WINS, 19 LOSSES ALL-TIME

Three flags in a row? LINE LEADERS:

2018 was a great year for the Chiefs. It always is when you win RORY LAIRD -
the flag. 19 GAMES AT 108.21

And in the end, it wasn’t particularly close.The premiership JACK MACRAE -
defence got off to a shaky start in the pre-season when Sam 17 GAMES AT 127.53
Docherty went down with an ACL, but his absence was covered
by the scoring progression from many of their young guns. BRODIE GRUNDY -
19 GAMES AT 123.53
The Chiefs enter 2019 chasing their third successive flag,
armed with defenders #1, #2 and #8. Midfielders #2 and #7, JACK GUNSTON -
ruck #1, and forward #2. There is no shortage of firepower 18 GAMES AT 87.89
here.

Docherty is gone, picked up in the bargain bin by the Soldiers
after suffering another ACL. But it’s hard to see anything less
than another strong showing in the coming season. This is a
young list dripping with talent. They have two players under
the age of 25 who averaged over 120.

Maybe another coach will pick them to miss the finals though.

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Jack Macrae
17 games

2168 points
127.53 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 7th place
2017: 2nd place
2018: 1st place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: A
Best Pick: Round 9, pick 90 - James Harmes,

17 games @ 85.24

There aren’t many hits here, but the hits were outstanding –
particularly picking from the 10 slot.

The selections in the opening five rounds were largely
forgettable, but Hugh Greenwood in round 6 was great value.
The Crow was a mainstay in the Chief’s squad, playing 15
games at a rate of 92.73

But James Harmes at the end of ninth round edges Greenwood
out for best selection. His forward eligibility and rampant
scoring throughout the fantasy finals - He averaged 105.7 over
the last 8 weeks of the AFL season – making him a valuable
member of the squad moving forward.

Adding two players who slot straight into a premiership team,
after winning the flag the year before no less, is remarkable.

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MARC2Hn d P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

ROUGHNECKS

HOME & AWAY: 14 WINS 3 LOSSES
2ND ON THE LADDER

35 WINS, 24 LOSSES ALL-TIME

Did they miss their best shot? LINE LEADERS:

After two seasons falling at the penultimate hurdle, the CONNOR BLAKELY - 89
Roughnecks were no doubt pleased to push beyond and fall a ADAM TRELOAR - 112.18
week later. Progress, however small, is progress nonetheless. STEFAN MARTIN - 103.79
DEVON SMITH - 106.37
There were plenty of highlights for the blue and gold. Devon
‘fritz’ Smith broke out, playing every game, and claiming the
number one forward spot in the All-Australian team. He was
rampant in the finals, scoring at a rate of 128.5 (compared to
59 the year before).

Jaeger O’Meara finally got on the park. Tim Taranto averaged
over 90 in his second season. Hayden Crozier was mainstay in
the defence after being claimed off the waiver mid-season.

Goddard has retired, Ablett is a year older, and Hannebery
looks like a broken vessel. It’s fair to ask how many more
opportunities this team will get as presently constructed.

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Adam Treloar
11 games

1234 points
112.18 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 6th place
2017: 3rd place
2018: 2nd place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: B+
Best Pick: Round 2, pick 16. Tim Taranto

18 games @ 90.83

A lottery ticket draft for the Roughnecks, with a smidge fewer
hits than they were probably hoping for.

Cam Rayner didn’t feature in a single head-to-head game, but
nabbing the number 1 pick from the AFL rookie draft is not an
opportunity you necessarily expect picking toward the end of
the round. Coach Ritchie will consider keeping the young
Lion hoping for rapid development over the next season.

Hewett was a bust, Maynard was serviceable, but Taranto was
the shining beacon of the Roughnecks draft, and looks set to be
a long-term keeper for the Blue and Gold. Christensen and
Murray were frequently in the starting 22, while Clark, Cerra
and Higgins are solid prospects worthy of keeper
consideration.

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MARC3Hr d P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

THE LOVE
SPARKLES

HOME & AWAY: 7 WINS 10 LOSSES
6TH ON THE LADDER

24 WINS, 32 LOSSES ALL-TIME

An improbable Prelim LINE LEADERS:

Greg’s Sparkles were the second team in the league’s short JAKE LLOYD -
history to make the preliminary finals from sixth place. It’s 20 GAMES AT 101.8
enough to make one wonder if finishing third is a curse.
CALLAN WARD -
Knocking out the Defenestrators in the opening round of the 20 GAMES AT 97.2
finals is the undoubted highlight on the season. It’s probably
the highlight of their time in the competition. SCOTT LYCETT -
4 GAMES AT 97
It was an unusual season. Despite the aforementioned
triumphs, the Sparkles lost more games than they won. They JESSE HOGAN -
only had one player break the 100 point average, a defender – 18 GAMES AT 92.83
Jake Lloyd. Five midfielders averaged in the 90s. None of them
were named Tom Rockliff, who disappointed with a 79-point
average. Toby Greene could barely get on the park. Their two
first round selections, Josh Smith and Rhys Mathieson,
appeared in only 5 games between them.

And they still made the preliminary finals.

2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Jake Lloyd
20 games
2036 points
101.80 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 9th place
2017: 6th place
2018: 6th place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: B
Best Pick: Round 9, pick 87: Jamie Cripps

19 games @ 81.47

The first round was a disaster as we’ve already covered, and
little value was gained from their third selection in Stevens –
though that was in unfortunate circumstances.

But there were also several strong selections who were
mainstays in the 22 throughout the season. Atkins in the third
round, Bruest in the fifth, and McVeigh in the sixth, were very
solid performers. Cripps in Round 9 was arguable the pick of
the bunch, featuring in all 19 games for the Sparkles. Berry at
pick 106 was a very nice get, and his average would’ve been
higher had he not been on the bench for some of his 100+
scores.

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MARC4Ht h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

SHIRE
SCOURERS

HOME & AWAY: 10 WINS 7 LOSSES
5TH ON THE LADDER

38 WINS, 21 LOSSES ALL-TIME

How does this happen? LINE LEADERS:

The competition’s inaugural premier is the little engine who ELLIOT YEO -
could. Only two of their players, Yeo and Sidebottom, averaged 20 GAMES AT 104.8
over 100 – but even without the heavy hitters of their peers,
they still managed to make the Preliminary Finals for the third STEELE SIDEBOTTOM -
straight season. 20 GAMES AT 102.15

There are question marks heading into 2019. Their fourth SAM JACOBS -
highest scorer, for example, was delisted by their AFL club. But 20 GAMES AT 81.8
the forward line remains a strength, with Menegola (forward
#4) and Heeney (forward #7) retaining their coveted dual- SAM MENEGOLA -
position status. 20 GAMES AT 99.05

Coach Schonfeldt’s results have long drawn a sense of
incredulity from some of his peers. But they’ve also created an
aura of inevitability. Nobody wants to face them because deep-
down, no matter the scoring trend, no matter the player outs,
you know you’re every chance to crash and burn. Your train
derailed as the little engine keeps chugging along.

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Elliot Yeo
20 games
2096 points
104.80 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 2nd place
2017: 5th place
2018: 5th place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: A
Best Pick: Round 8, pick 79 - Ed Langdon

17 games @ 91.18

Langdon and Hopper lead the way in what was a very solid
draft from the inaugural premier.
Bellchambers, Short and Armitage were also valuable
contributors. Coming away with 5 players who were frequent
members of your starting 22, whilst being firmly in the
premiership mix, is great.
Even Hardwick at pick 169 managed to play 8 games.

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MARC5Ht h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

MAHERSHALAL
HASHBAZ

HOME & AWAY: 11 WINS 6 LOSSES
4TH ON THE LADDER

38 WINS, 19 LOSSES ALL-TIME

Deja Vu LINE LEADERS:

2018 replicated 2017 for MSHB. They finished the home & away TOM MACDONALD -
season in 4th place both years. They played the Scourers in 14 GAMES AT 89.93
their first elimination final both years. And they lost that game
both years. DAYNE BEAMS -
18 GAMES AT 107.78
The season ends aren’t the only stable element of the franchise.
They’ve been a model of consistency throughout the MAX GAWN -
competition’s history – they’re second on the all-time league 19 GAMES AT 112.32
ladder. But they’ve struggled to meet the heights of season 1,
where they were the presumptive premiers heading into the JUSTIN WESTHOFF -
Grand Final. And lost to… *checks notes* … the Scourers. 18 GAMES AT 100.72

Last season was a mixed bag on the player performance front.
Gawn, Beams, and Heppell performed admirably, but Merrett,
Zorko and Steven were down on their usual lofty heights.
Westhoff, Dunkley, Phillips and McDonald made a leap, but
McGrath, Dixon and Sheed didn’t.

A flag with this group is still entirely possible. But is it
slipping away?

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Max Gawn
19 games
2134 points
112.32 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 1st place
2017: 4th place
2018: 4th place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: C
Best Pick: Round 18, pick 175

Jarrad Waite
11 games @ 82.36

MSHB had a rough draft.

Their first two picks, Charlie Dixon and Taylor Walker,
averaged 70.79 and 50.33 respectively. Their best pick from
the first 10 rounds, Bayley Fritsch, would’ve singled
handedly pushed this grade to a B – if he hadn’t been
dropped and subsequently picked up by the Puttanesca
Chiefs. Worpel would've been another nice get if he was still
on the list at seasons end.

Waite in Round 18 was great value, and Bailey Williams at
105 was a solid contributor who may be kept moving
forward.

But there isn’t much else to see here.

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MARC6Ht h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

DEFENESTRATORS

HOME & AWAY: 13 WINS 4 LOSSES
3RD ON THE LADDER

40 WINS, 18 LOSSES ALL-TIME

Can they finally break LINE LEADERS:
through?
JAMES SICILY-
Topped the league in scoring for the third year running. Failed 12 GAMES AT 94.83
to make the Grand Final for the third year running. And Tom
Mitchell snapped his leg in half during the pre-season. TOM MITCHELL -
19 GAMES AT 133.53
Luck does not live here.
TOBY NANKERVIS -
But even without the two-time Dangergawn Medallists, the 16 GAMES AT 92.69
Defenestrators will head into the season as one the premiership
fancies. They boast 5 other midfielders who averaged over 100, BRANDAN PARFITT -
and that doesn’t include Rory Sloane. 8 GAMES AT 82.88

The defence is similarly strong. Not Chiefs strong, but not
many squads have 5 defenders who averaged over 80 in 2018.
The forward line is a potential issue. Dahlhaus and Kennedy
slipped from previous highs, while the usually reliable ginger
Lynch had an illness-afflicted year.

But this is nit-picking. They’ve lead the league in scoring every
year in the competition’s history. Eventually that consistency
has to be rewarded. Will season 2019 be their Port Adelaide
2004?

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Tom Mitchell
19 games

2537 points
133.53 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 5th place
2017: 1st place
2018: 3rd place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: B+
Best Pick: Round 7, pick 67

Shannon Hurn
18 games @ 89.39

There is a bit of flotsam here, but nabbing All-Australians in
the pre-season draft is always a win.
Shannon Hurn is one of the best draft picks across all the
teams. West Coast were a plentiful well for coach Zerna,
with LeCras and Darling also featuring in over a dozen
games. Getting a player who averages over 80 in 11 games in
round 17, as the Defenestrators had in Webster, is
tremendous. Hartlett was very productive before doing his
ACL, while Parfitt was great value at pick 77.

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MARC7Ht h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

THE REDSHINS

HOME & AWAY: 7 WINS 10 LOSSES
7TH ON THE LADDER

22 WINS, 31 LOSSES ALL-TIME

On the outside looking in LINE LEADERS:

Coach Symes’ Tiger heavy outfit improved on season 2017 to TOM CUTLER -
become the clear-cut best team outside the finals. In the end, 11 GAMES AT 90.18
they missed out on percentage alone.
LIAM SHIELS -
Had they been able to cobble together another, who knows 15 GAMES AT 99.13
where their season would have ended? NIC NAITANUI -
12 GAMES AT 80.58
Probably the following week. Against the Defenestrators.
TOBY MCLEAN -
Part of the problem is the cobbling – it seems to be how all 16 GAMES AT 99
their victories come about. The list didn’t have any 100+
averages, but it did have two on 99 – Shiels and McLean.

They’ve got enough solid players to put together a winning
score, but it tends to rely on their opponents playing poorly.
With the young Soldiers on the rise, and the Bailout Plan
under new management, can they continue to rely on beating
up the foot of the ladder?

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Toby McLean
16 games

1584 points
99 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 4th place
2017: 8th place
2018: 7th place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: B+
Best Pick: Round 3, pick 23:

Ben Cunnington
17 games @ 96.35

A solid draft from The Redshins. Anytime you can
acquire two players who average over 90 (Cunnington,
and Ellis-Yolmen in Round 15 – though he only played in
8 games), you've had a good evening.

Scott Selwood at pick 3 was disappointing, as he
managed only 7 games at 71. But Ricky Henderson in
Round 4 was another reliable citizen, playing 14 games
at 87.79, while Masten featured in 15 games.

Sier at 193 would've been a wonderful final round
bargain had he still found himself on the list at season's
end.

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MARC8Ht h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

SUCH IS FYFE

HOME & AWAY: 4 WINS 13 LOSSES
8TH ON THE LADDER

24 WINS, 29 LOSSES ALL-TIME

Getting older... LINE LEADERS:

It was a disappointing season for team in purple, only KADE SIMPSON -
managing four wins despite an older, experienced list. 16 GAMES AT 92.81

Part of is down to luck, a recurring bugbear for the club. A SCOTT PENDLEBURY -
poorer version of the Defenestrators if you will, they have a 16 GAMES AT 104.13
penchant of bringing the best out of their peers. Case in point,
they scored 917 more points than The Redshins in 2018, and AARON SANDILANDS -
won three less games. 10 GAMES AT 77

But a look beneath the surface offers answers to why the team DAVID MUNDY -
that finished the inaugural season in third place has tumbled 17 GAMES AT 91.41
since.

There was relative stability, with their 10 highest scoring
players all featuring in more than a dozen games. Three of
them – Pendlebury, Selwood and Duncan, averaged over 100.
But the averages of these leading lights is trending in the
wrong direction. The aforementioned 3 were all down on their
2017 averages. So to were Simpson, Jones, Lewis, and the Hill
brothers.
There were some bright spots. Polec had a career year, while
Thomas had a throwback to his scoring of a decade ago.
But they were too few.
Coach McClaren has shown he has no qualms offloading
ageing stars to help refresh his list – though he’s not been as
aggressive as coach Bridge. Will 2019 force more aggressive
ULTIMATE KEEPER LEAGUE
list turnover at SiF, or will the experienced veterans return to

2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Scott Pendlebury
16 games

1666 points
104.13 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 3rd place
2017: 7th place
2018: 8th place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: B
Best Pick: Round 1, pick 4

Isaac Smith,
19 games @ 90.42 (traded to Roughnecks)

A couple of hits spare the club a harsher grade. Pick 4 Isaac
Smith was a dependable member of the squad, and an asset
coach McClaren was able to leverage to acquire 3 young
prospects and a second round pick in the upcoming draft.

Third round pick Nathan Wilson was a dependable member
of the 22, playing in 15 games. But he only averaged 70.40.
Fourth round pick Hayden Crozier finished the year
strongly, but had been long dropped by SiF at that stage,
with the Roughnecks reaping the benefit.

From there it’s a largely forgettable list, but some quality
gets toward the end of the draft salvage things. We’ve
already mentioned Dale Thomas, who probably has a fair
shout at the best draft pick award. Matt Taberner the round
before was also looking like a steal, averaging 76 in head-
to-head matches before getting injured and missing much of
the season.

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MARC9Ht h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

SOLOMON'S
SOLDIERS

HOME & AWAY: 3 WINS 14 LOSSES
9TH ON THE LADDER

9 WINS, 42 LOSSES ALL-TIME

Only 2 spoons in the kitchen LINE LEADERS:

The Soldiers only won 3 games last year, but they pushed some ANGUS BRAYSHAW-
of the heavyweights. They lost by less than 50 to the Scourers, 14 GAMES AT 105.29
less than 30 to the Roughnecks, and only 6 to
MaherShalalHashBaz. They’re clearly on the improve, led by PATRICK CRIPPS -
Cripps and Angus Brayshaw, two young guns who averaged 17 GAMES AT 107.29
over 105.
JARROD WITTS -
Not winning is less than ideal, but it does open the door for 16 GAMES AT 98.13
you to take advantage of the bargain circuit. This year they’ll
add Brad Crouch to their midfield courtesy of the Roughnecks. BLAKE ACRES -
And the following season, they’ll add Sam Docherty. 9 GAMES AT 87.11

Indeed, this is a team that has been on talent acquisition since
around round 3 of season 2016, and it’s starting to pay
dividends. Cripps and Brayshaw are the leading lights, but
Bontempelli, Acres, Martin, Petracca, de Goey, McCluggage,
Powell-Pepper, Milera and Angus’s brother Andrew form an
enviable group of young talent.

Throw in Crouch and a return to form for Neale and suddenly,
this is a team that can push for finals.

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Patrick Cripps
17 games

1824 points
107.29 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 10th place
2017: 10th place
2018: 9th place

2018 Draft Review

Grade: A
Best Pick: Round 2, pick 19:
Tim Kelly - 19 games @ 89
(traded to Puttanesca Chiefs)

The Soliders were armed with a bevy of picks – 7 in the first
21, and set about collecting as many young prospects as they
could. Number 1 Pick Andrew Brayshaw was an easy selection,
and somebody who will feature on many keeper lists for years
to come. LDU at pick 5 had a poor debut season, and it will be
interesting to see if coach Bridge decides to keep him.

At pick 19 they nabbed the best first year player in Tim Kelly.
While Kelly didn’t stick around, he and fellow second round
pick Paddy Dow opened the door for the Soldiers to acquire
Marcus Bontempelli. They won’t be disappointed with that
outcome, but Kelly does threaten to be the best fantasy prospect
from the exchange.

There were less hits in the second half of the draft, where it
really does become a lottery. But we won’t hold that against
them. The opening rounds is where they were able to add
several important assets.

LEAGUE

MARC1H0 t h P L A C E I N 2 0 1 8

THE BAILOUT
PLAN

HOME & AWAY: 2 WINS 15 LOSSES
WOODEN SPOON

10 WINS, 41 LOSSES ALL-TIME

The only way is up LINE LEADERS:

2076It was a rough year for The Bailout Plan. BRAD SHEPPARD -
14 GAMES AT 74.71
Despite having two bonafide guns in Ross and Fyfe, supported
by a host of able – if not elite - midfielders, they only managed SEB ROSS -
to win two games. 16 GAMES AT 103.5

Not filling a complete roster some weeks doesn’t help, but the CALLUM SINCLAIR -
completely baron backline is where a lot of the damage was 17 GAMES AT 94.24
done. Their best operator was Tom Jonas, who averaged in the
mid-70s and was the 35th ranked defender. Yikes. ROBBIE GRAY -
Up forward is a bit better, but the leading light in Robbie Gray 15 GAMES AT 88.33
isn’t among the truly elite, and also happens to be on the way
wrong side of 30.

But the winds of change are blowing down the line. New
management is in town, and coach Bernardi has already
brought in new talent – parting with picks 11 and 21 to acquire
Zaharakis and Wallis from The Love Sparkles.

How quickly can they climb the ladder? There are assets to
work with, but they don’t have the quality the Soldiers have.
Surpassing the two win total from last year should be
achievable, but finals may be out of reach in year 1 under the
new coach.

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2019 SEASON PREVIEW PAGE X

Seb Ross
16 games
1656 points
103.5 avg

Home & Away finishes
2016: 8th place
2017: 9th place
2018: 10th place

2018 Draft Review

2076 Grade: B
Best Pick: Round 1, pick 2: Callum Sinclair

17 games @ 94.24

Callum Sinclair’s stellar season puts this draft firmly in B
territory straight off the bat. Tom Hawkins in round 3 was
another great pick, sandwiched between other key forward
selections like Charlie Dixon and Taylor Walker. Harry
Morrison at pick 92 is another good get for the future.

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