Chris Kendall's 2016 Team Previews - Sportsbeat

CK's 2016 team previews, as published each week in Sportsbeat this year.

2016 SANFL TEAM PREVIEWS – PART ONE

Adelaide Reserves:

Primary INS – Wayne Milera (Central District), Jonathon Beech (West Adelaide), Tom Doedee (Geelong Falcons), Paul Hunter (Redland)
Primary OUTS - Anthony Wilson (Norwood), Brodie Martin (Sturt), Jack Osborn (Sturt), Sam Kerridge, Matthew Wright (Carlton), Sam Siggins (delisted), Brent Reilly, James Podsiadly (retired)

The Adelaide Reserves are always difficult to line up, due to the fortunes of their senior side, but nobody could have missed their barnstorming finish to 2015, when they finished within a whisker of a finals berth. Much of that, however, was led by Podsiadly, so finding a new key attacking focus will be crucial if they are to repeat the dose in 2016. Some of their younger AFL draftees and trades, such as Troy Menzel and Dean Gore may see SANFL action early and this could be a catalyst to a bright start to the season. Can certainly make a case for them at the business end, particularly if the AFL side does not have too many injuries.

PREDICTION: Fifth

Central District:
INS – Elliott Kavanagh (Essendon), Nick Holman (Carlton), Jacob Templeton (returns from Woodville/West Torrens), Darcy Fort (Footscray), Fraser Fort (Geelong Falcons)
OUTS – Wayne Milera (Adelaide), Bryce Retzlaff (returns to Queensland), Ben Mabon (returns to Victoria), Paul Thomas (retired), Jackson Potter, Jacob Olsson (NSW), Jesse Kemp (country football)

The Bulldogs were nearly the fairytale story last season, with a strong finish to the season being rewarded with a preliminary final berth after ending the finals chances of Norwood and Port. Coach Roy Laird continued to write one of the more formidable coaching resumes of the modern era and has proven again that he can adapt and meet the challenge of reinventing the game plan and the psyche of the list. The loss of Thomas will be massive, both in terms of leadership and pure class, but now hands the opportunity to younger players to step up and take the mantle. Mabon’s and Retlaff’s departures rob them of some height around the ground, but Darcy Fort should step neatly into Mabon’s role. Suspect they will just miss finals action, but that is more a reflection of the strength of a couple of other lists, rather than a knock on the Bulldogs.

PREDICTION: Sixth

Glenelg:
INS: Dylan Reinbrecht (Norwood), Rhys O’Keefe (North Adelaide), Ben Sawford, Jack Haarsma (Port Magpies), Tim Sumner (W/WT/Gold Coast), Ruory Kirkby (returns from overseas), James Sellar (returns – South Fremantle), Ziggy Vitkunas, Harley Montgomery (Sturt, via country leagues), Luke Harder (Port, via country)
OUTS: Bailey Williams (Western Bulldogs), Matt Allen (West Coast), Mason Redman (Essendon), Sam Lonergan (Launceston), Lewis Hender (North Adelaide), James Hinge, Josh Trembath, Dylan McNeil, Lachlan Button, Shaun Tapp, Hayden Jolly (all retired/work/study)

Considerable turnover at Brighton Road, although a number of the departures were not regular senior players in 2015. Many of the arrivals bring recent SANFL experience, with Sawford’s 40 possessions against Glenelg in round 17 last year catching the Tiger eye sufficiently to make him a recruiting target. Kirkby’s presence in attack will be invaluable in supporting Clint Alleway, while Reinbrecht will add further grunt to the inside midfield division.
Many of the ins will be handy depth, but it remains to be seen just how much they can combine with the rest of the list to add further steel to a spine that looked a little thin at times in 2015. Glenelg do look a little light in defence still, and while they will certainly improve this year, it is difficult to see them pressing for finals action.

PREDICTION: Ninth

North Adelaide:
INS: Jordie McKenzie (Melbourne), Matt McDonough (Richmond), Sam Gordon, Mitch Harvey (Port), Lewis Hender (Glenelg), Luke Wharton (Belconnen)
OUTS: Ryan Burton (Hawthorn), Oleg Markow (Richmond), Cameron Hewett (Port), Lewis Johnston, Luke Mitchell (Norwood), Rhys O’Keefe (Glenelg), Heath Caldwell (Darwin), Toby Schulz, Darren Shillabeer, Jesse O’Brien, Alan Obst, Todd Miles (all retired/country football)

The biggest recruit for the Roosters sits in the coaches box, with former Port assistant Josh Carr taking the reins at Prospect. His no-nonsense approach has already been stamped, with a number of players shown the door, with only limited numbers coming in the opposite direction. McKenzie will add steel in the middle and McDonough undoubted class, but the biggest query sits over their ability to kick winning scores. A number of talls leaving also leaves them very vulnerable in the key posts and any lengthy injury run similar to 2015 will really test their depth considerably. Carr will certainly improve them off-field, but it looks a forlorn task to have them climbing the ladder significantly.

PREDICTION: Tenth

Interesting and welcome previews.

Thanks, CK.

2016 SANFL TEAM PREVIEWS PART TWO

Norwood:

INS – Jarryd Cachia, Matthew Fuller, Anthony Wilson (all returning from AFL), Lyndon Hupfield (GWS Academy), Josh Miller (Glenelg), Lewis Johnston, Luke Mitchell (North Adelaide), Andrew Kirwan (returns from overseas),

OUTS – Luke Partington (West Coast Eagles), Luke Surman (Hawthorn), Michael Newton, Andrew McInnes (returning to Melbourne), Mitch Wilkins (Victoria), Kane Murphy (returns to NSW), Dylan Reinbrecht (Glenelg), James Allan (retired), Liam Davis (overseas)

A disappointing elimination final exit for the Redlegs in 2015, after three consecutive premierships, has stoked the fire in the playing group to return to the top of the tree in 2016. A trio of players returning from AFL offer inside grunt (Cachia), speed (Wilson) and precision disposal (Fuller), which complements the addition of Johnston in attack. If the latter can recapture his dominant best at the Parade, then a 60 plus goal season is on the cards, while Miller’s recruitment will place pressure upon Sam Baulderstone in ruck to maintain his standards. This season will also be a good test for coach Ben Warren, with the second half of 2015 stretching his coaching development after less than 50 games in the hot seat. Very hard to see them missing the top three and can make a real case for the summit.

PREDICTION: Second

Port Magpies:

Primary INS: Aidyn Johnson (Bendigo Pioneers), Dan Houston (Oakleigh Chargers), Cameron Hewett (North Adelaide), Riley Bonner, Will Snelling (West Adelaide).

Primary OUTS: Andrew Moore (Richmond), Ben Sawford, Jack Haarsma (Glenelg), Sam Gordon, Mitch Harvey (North Adelaide), Brad Coulson (Sturt), Jarred Redden (delisted – Woodville/West Torrens), Tom Logan (retired), Sam Russell Mason Shaw, Johann Wagner (delisted).

Much like Adelaide, it can be hard to line up the Magpies each season, but their list already looks formidable, depending on injuries at AFL level. They will certainly miss the leadership of Logan and the steel of Moore around the middle, but if the likes of Bonner and Snelling play the majority of the season at SANFL level, then they will add plenty around the ground. The game plan of first time senior coach Chad Cornes will be interesting to watch, particularly given his experience building a fledgling GWS as an assistant coach, and if he can translate much of that promise when leading his own side, then the Magpies should play with plenty of flair and quick ball movement. Look a near monty for the finals.

PREDICTION: Third

South Adelaide

INS: Tom Fields (returns from Carlton), Cameron Hitchcock (Port Adelaide via Ironbank), Richard Newell (West Adelaide), Cameron DeVisser (Ironbank).

OUTS: Brent Macleod, Frazer Dale (return to Victoria), Lachlan Boyd, Michael Ross, Sam Tharaldsen (local football)

Limited turnover at Noarlunga during the off-season, although the loss of Macleod and to a lesser extent, Dale, will place further pressure on the midfield rotations for coach Brad Gotch. The return of Fields, however, is a massive boost in defence, with his raking clearances by foot being a major catalyst for the Panthers rise in 2014. Newell adds high level outside speed and if Hitchcock can replicate his best crumbing work in attack, that will be very welcome for an outfit that averaged less than 68 points a game last year. While there is no doubting the class around the ball with the likes of dual Magarey Medallist Joel Cross and Nick Liddle, there still appear some other clubs ahead of them in the pecking order.

PREDICTION: Seventh

Sturt:

INS: Scott McMahon (North Melbourne), Brodie Martin (returns – Adelaide), Aiden Riley (returns – Melbourne), Jack Osborn (Adelaide), Brad Coulson (Port Magpies), Dillon Mullins (Woodville/West Torrens), Patrick Wilson (returns)

OUTS: Jordan Dawson (Sydney), Jackson Allen (returns to QLD), Rory Taggert (returns to Victoria), Michael Coad, Matthew Duldig, Angus Kurtze (all retired), Angus Bruggemann, Lee Staple, Sam Smith, Tom Bartlett, Will Paynter, James Wundke (all regional/country football)

The return to Unley of incoming coach Martin Mattner gives the Double Blues a real impetus for the new season, particularly given his background during a highly successful era at Sydney. Much of this, however, is tempered slightly by some major departures in the key posts, with the loss of one of the most dominant SANFL ruckmen in Kurtze a major blow. While past their best in 2015, Coad and Duldig will leave holes in attack which look hard to fill quickly. McMahon will add poise, and there is no doubting the class of Martin and Riley around the ground, but the recruitment of Mullins was hit with a major blow as his broken leg sustained in the trial against South. There looks a huge load on Osborn in the ruck division and it is also hard to see where consistent winning scores will stem from. Will need all of Mattner’s magic to lift them significantly.

PROGNOSIS: Eighth

West Adelaide

INS: Zac O’Brien (Brisbane), Trent Stubbs (East Coast Eagles), Michael Hagan (Northern Territory), Tyson Slattery (returns), Lachlan Ryan, Josh Ryan (Mildura)
OUTS: Aaron Francis (Essendon), Matt Hayball (Geelong), Tom Keough (Gold Coast), Riley Bonner, Will Snelling (Port Adelaide), Jonathon Beech (Adelaide), Richard Newell (South Adelaide), Andrew Hayes, James Ezard, (retired), Riley Milne (study)

The reigning premiers were hit with a number of AFL departures, although not all found significant senior game time in 2015. Ezard’s leadership will be missed, but his last two seasons were injury riddled, while Newell struggled to consolidate a league spot. O’Brien was hotly pursued by a number of clubs and adds class through the midfield, while Slattery’s return was an unexpected bonus for coach Mark Mickan.

The game style seen in 2015 was a significant step forward after years of frustration, and while their trial game form has been very indifferent, there looks a strong case for the Bloods to go back to back in 2016. They will undoubtedly need luck in the medical rooms and also be prepared for opponents to have studied their game plan at length over summer. There certainly looks a genuine chance, however, for West to continue their drought breaking run.

PREDICTION: First

Woodville/West Torrens

INS: Nick O’Brien (Essendon), Cameron Giles (Carlton), Jarrad Redden (returns – Port Adelaide)

OUTS: Fraser Thorlow (Queensland), Sam Martyn (Canberra), Jacob Templeton (Central District), Dillon Mullins (Sturt), Albert Dunstan (country)

Limited movement in both directions at Oval Avenue, but the arrivals bring recent AFL experience and the subsequent high expectations will be the challenge that some other recent AFL recruits failed to live up to. Coach Michael Godden showed his willingness to adapt to changing tactics last season and was rewarded with a grand final berth, but that match will have remained in the collective psyche all summer. In particular, the heavy reliance on Michael Wundke in attack will need to be addressed if the Eagles are to be less predictable when moving into the forward 50. Pace still looks an issue, however, but if James Boyd can return to his ball gathering best after an injury interrupted 2015, this will add further options to work at the feet of Redden. On face value, however, a couple of opponents seem set to go past them.

PREDICTION: Fourth

Great write-ups, CK.

I nearly fell over when I saw you'd tipped the Bllods. Well done.

Predictions are always just opinions, but the previews are great.