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We’re blowing out the preseason cobwebs at the Coaches Box, which means we take a while to warm up… but once we’re hot we go for two hours!

We rip straight into the Collingwood win three weeks ago, and that means discussing Tarkyn Lockyer and Heath Shaw and the new handball-happy Magpie gameplan. We also give our thoughts on whether Anthony Corrie is best 22 material. Chris Masten topped the AFL Dream Team points for the Eagles, while premiums Matt Priddis and Daniel Kerr are also mulled over.

In the Bulldogs game, Shaun Higgins is a big fantasy story, while Brad Johnson and Jarrad Grant are also fantasy-relevant forwards. Hayden Skipworth jumped out of the box on the Essendon side as another mid-price forward. David Hille was #2 Dream Team ruck last year, and Molly gives his opinion on whether he can back that performance up. Bachar Houli has back eligibility and thus is on the radar, especially for Super Coach. Finally on the Dons, the boys chew over the four-tall forward structure and what it could mean for fantasy favourites Scott Lucas and Scott Gumbleton.

Daniel Rich looked the goods in the Brisbane match, while Jared Brennan struggled manfully with the full ruck load. Josh Drummond and Jed Adcock are tempting us all in the backline. Brendon Goddard and Nick Dal Santo swapped positions on the GOld Coast, with Sam Gilbert being tested as a third tall forward.

Fremantle is full of fantasy players this year, with Stephen Hill drawing close attention in an otherwise barren wasteland at his price range. Meanwhile, Paul Hasleby is fast becoming a lock in the mid-price midfielders. Of the rookies, Greg Broughton and Clancee Pearce impressed with their games while Des Headland continued to sit out the preseason. For Richmond, Andrew Raines looked great but might find it hard to fit into the Tiger backline, with Jordan McMahon, Joel Bowden and Chris Newman already filling up the small defender slots. Forward premiums Nathan G. Brown and Matthew Richardson keep on keeping on, with Brett Deledio set to graduate to full premium status this year and Robin Nahas at the start of his career.

Carlton’s Bryce Gibbs played his way into plenty of fantasy squads last week, as did Ryan Houlihan and Mitch Robinson. Chris Yarran picked up a knock early while Jefferey Garlett had a lovely little cameo. For the Kangaroos, Jack Ziebell impressed Molly to the extent where he almost declared the kid a lock. Drew Petrie and Lachie Hansen played ring-a-rosey at CHF and CHB, leaving the question of whether Hamish McIntosh and Todd Goldstein can hold up the ruck open. Molly’s still a big supporter of the oft-injured Jesse W. Smith, so m0nty asked him to justify his faith.

Then the Hawk Hour began. m0nty was big wraps for Travis Tuck, but had to ask Molly to rank the other candidates for the coupel of other open midfield spots: Ben McGlynn, Josh P. Kennedy, Jarryd Morton, Brendan Whitecross, Cameron Stokes and Garry Moss are all ranked, with discussion extending down the rookie list to Matt Suckling and Haydn Kiel. Talk from coach Clarkson about Liam Shiels and Ryan Schoenmakers being in the mix for Round 1 is filtered for truth. Mitch Thorp’s job down back is the subject of a lot fo comment on Hawthorn boards, with some questioning whether he’s cut out to be a backman. Up forward, Lance Franklin could only watch as Jarryd Roughead won the game with his fifth goal in an uncharacteristic sharpshooting performance, putting further doubt on Beau Dowler getting early games. Reluctantly, the boys drag themselves away from going through every single player on the Hawthorn list and talk about some Demons, with Jack Grimes and Ricky Petterd worthy of comment. James Frawley’s audition as third defensive tall was also dissected. m0nty talks up Brad Green’s prospects to rise to ABC levels but Molly soon shoots him down. With no Jeff White at Melbourne, Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson will have to carry the ruck, which leads to the question of whether there is any fantasy value to be had in either player in 2009.

For Geelong, 2009 looks a lot like 2008, with the old firm of Gary Ablett jnr, Jimmy Bartel and Joel Corey in full cry from the first bounce, though it’s difficult to figure out which one to take if you could only pick one, as many fantasy coaches are forcing themselves to do ifor the sake of their structures. In the Cat backline the continuing saga of Tom Harley’s injury means that Andrew Mackie’s status as fantasy premium has to be queried, as no one is sure yet whether Mackie will be called upon to take more defensive duties, or Dan McKenna will be picked to cover, or Darren Milburn will slot in as third defensive tall behind Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor. m0nty also asks Molly whether he’s right in talking down James Kelly and talking up Simon Hogan in his round 1 team projection posts. Molly went to see this game live, so he has first hand knowledge of the games of Chris Knights and Brent Reilly, who got a fair bit of midfield time in the absence of Nathan Van Berlo. Simon Goodwin played half back, while Taylor Walker went off injured, causing m0nty to splutter about Crow fans crowing too much about the upside of their kids. Lest he be accused of picking on them, m0nty does have some nicer things to say about David Mackay.

Finally in the Manuka game, Rhyce Shaw looks quick and Adam Goodes is still rotating through the forward line, with Ed Barlow also featuring in his bid to play in place of the injured Michael O’Loughlin. The Swan ruck division is yet to be finalised with Jesse White being tried both forward and back, Daniel Currie suffering through an interrupted preseason and Canadian rookie Mike Pyke looking more lost than a moose in the Simpson Desert. On the Port side, Travis Boak is rated, while the flashy games of Wade Thompson, Jason Davenport and Hamish Hartlett are also reviewed.