TOPIC:

It's anyone's guess what this week's team will look like if the pre-season scratchy's are anything to go by.

We haven't seen Braut, Lockyer, Schofield, Hayden at all so I reckon we can rule them out, but other than that the line-up will be a toss of the coin.

I'm all for giving the ressies and colts some game time in the seniors during the pre-season, but having such a large turnover at this time of the year can't be good for team stability, consistency or a settled line up.  Time will tell I suppose.

Perth have some quality recruits. They beat Peel. They are at home. Good chance to get over us.i think we'll put a competitive team on the paddock. I think farone will get another crack at it, after last week. I like B...rd (can't spell his name) as a creative, speedy, half back. Very thin, though. Expect wagontrain to ruck. Henderson to get a start.  

I’m just hoping that the games a bit closer from a Perth perspective than last year’s opening. Is Perth fans were pretty up and about at qrt time.

Injury to Avery makes me think Subi will win this. Perth can't take a trick. 

Johnny Leonard wrote:

Injury to Avery makes me think Subi will win this. Perth can't take a trick. 

Footy can be cruel JL. We have 4 of our biggest and best defenders out. Avery, Schlensog, Ewing and Johnston. This definitely swings this game in your favour. German is going to have to get creative.

4 of our mids group from last byear are out in Schoey, Giro, Hayden and Braut plus ruck/forward Kentfield and as BC said likely that Lockyer will not start, so expect it will be a tight contest

Here's the initial line up.  Lockyer playing ressies so must have had an interrupted pre-season.  No sign of Braut, Schofield, Kentfield or Hayden.

FF 17 Leigh KITCHIN 18 Ben SOKOL 14 Ryan BORCHET
HF 53 Benjamin GOLDING 10 Jack MAYO 15 Wil HICKMOTT
C 56 Judd Kelman 1 Greg CLARK 4 Jake STERGIOU
HB 11 Marlin Corbett 2 Galen Savigni 35 Drew ROHDE
FB 8 Angus DEWAR 31 Henry Berenger 23 Noah ASH

FOLLOWERS
41 Kody Eaton
39 Jaimon ALONE
22 Luke FOLEY

INTERCHANGE
38 Keeshawn COOK
28 Connor FARAONE
34 Jordan FARAONE
40 Ky Franceschini
27 Campbell Henderson
13 Liam HICKMOTT
37 Rylie MORGAN
49 James Sullivan

A few surprises there. Interesting centre line. Presuming Borchett will help out in the ruck. Forward line worries me a bit. 

Yes Borch and Jack to help out Eaton who is finally showing something in the ruck, lets see if he can build on that.
I like Savigni at CHB, not overly tall but a great intercept mark and good pace. Great to see Kelman, Corbett and and hopefully Cook suit up for their first game for us, all showed enough in the scratchies. On the bench, apart from Hickmont it will be a raffle who gets the remaining 3 spots, for me, J. Faraone after goals last week, Morgan as he's a really hard at it mid and Cook who has some real class about him and knows where the goals are.

Will be closer than most think as our mids stocks are way down on what they could be.

I watched Franceschini in the scratchy against the ferals and thought he really showed something. Very hard at it and mixed it with their big bodied mids, so hope he gets a chance.