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In this third and final part I will be going through the AFLX line-ups from the clubs playing on the second night of games at Allianz Stadium on February 17.
These clubs are Sydney, Greater Western Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Richmond and the Bulldogs.
Click here for parts one and two in the series.
Sydney
Lance Franklin Sam Reid
Dane Rampe Isaac Heeney
Luke Parker Josh Kennedy
Jake Lloyd Zak Jones
Callum Mills Gary Rohan
Emergencies: Dan Hannebery and Tom Papley.
The Swans have probably the most star studded line-up in the AFLX competition with the likes of Franklin, Parker, Kennedy and youngsters Heeney and Mills.
Starting in the middle Reid will play as the ruckman as well as a utility that can float forward and back along with Kennedy, Parker, Heeney, Lloyd and Jones all being able to play through the middle.
Rampe will lead the defenders with Mills, Lloyd and Jones are running through their leading the attack from the back. Franklin will be a monster up forward with the likes of Rohan, Heeney, Parker and Reid all able to kick goals.
A strong and dangerous Swans line-up.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
GWS
Tom Scully Dylan Shiel
Lachie Whitfield Adam Tomlinson
Tim Taranto Josh Kelly
Nick Haynes Brett Deledio
Toby Greene Heath Shaw
Emergencies: Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio.
A talented GWS line-up all across the ground starting up forward with Greene and Taranto playing as dangerous small forwards. Tomlinson will play in the ruck and can float down back and forward wherever needed.
The GWS midfield is endless Scully, Whitfield, Kelly, Shiel, Greene, Taranto, Deledio all able play in the middle. Haynes will play as intercepting defender with experienced and skilful players such as Shaw and Deledio playing alongside him.
The key to the Giants line-up is flexibility, every man can play multiple roles around the ground whenever needed and there is talent everywhere you look.
Brisbane
Dayne Beams Dayne Zorko
Eric Hipwood Alex Witherden
Charlie Cameron Luke Hodge
Cameron Rayner Daniel Rich
Hugh McCluggage Sam Mayes
Emergencies: Rhys Mathieson and Tom Cutler.
The emerging Lions name a strong squad for AFLX with Beams, Zorko, Hodge, Cameron, Rayner, McCluggage all able to run through the middle of the ground. Hipwood will play as the mobile key tall with guys like Rayner, Cameron, Zorko and McCluggage all able to play as small forwards kicking goals.
The backline will be led by the experienced Hodge along with Rich, Witherden and Mayes all capable of moving the ball quickly from defence to attack.
A strong line-up where experience has been mixed with young talent, the Lions will be much more of a force in AFLX.
Gold Coast
Pearce Hanley Jack Martin
Tom Lynch Kade Kolodjashnij
Jarrod Harbrow Aaron Hall
Lachie Weller Michael Barlow
Jarryd Lyons Touk Miller
Emergencies: David Swallow and Jack Bowes.
AFLX will be the first time the Suns play in the new era with no Gary Ablett. Tom Lynch will lead the side playing in the ruck and can push up the ground to be a mobile key forward.
All of the Suns squad are able to push through the midfield at some point if needed throughout the game. The main guys running through the middle will be Hall, Weller, Lyons, Barlow and Miller.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Up forward exciting small forward Martin will play alongside Lynch, with Miller and Barlow pushing forward at times to.
Out of defence the Suns boast a lot of skill through the likes of Harbrow, Hanley and Kolodjashnij, with Weller able to push into defence if needed.
It will be interesting how the Suns will start in AFLX under a new coach and no Ablett.
Richmond Tigers
Alex Rance Shaun Grigg
Dustin Martin Brandon Ellis
Shane Edwards Kane Lambert
Trent Cotchin Daniel Rioli
Bachar Houli Dion Prestia
Emergencies: Josh Caddy and Daniel Butler.
The reigning AFL Premiers the Tigers won their premiership off the back of skill, speed and manic forward pressure which would make them well suited to AFLX. The Tigers will go in with one tall the best defender defender in the game Rance intercepting marks all game.
Houli, Ellis and Grigg will play off Rance bringing the ball forward from defence. Martins amazing strength makes him a hard opponent and will start forward and hit the scoreboard alongside Rioli and Edwards.
Cotchin, Lambert, Prestia, Ellis, Grigg and Martin can all be damaging in the middle of the ground. Can what won the Tigers a flag help them in AFLX?
Western Bulldogs
Tom Boyd Easton Wood
Marcus Bontempelli Luke Dahlhaus
Mitch Wallis Jason Johannisen
Jack Macrae Lachie Hunter
Matthew Suckling Liam Picken
Emergencies: Caleb Daniel and Toby McLean.
A very balanced team from the Dogs starting with Boyd rucking and playing up as a key forward.
In defence led by captain Wood with speed and skill in Suckling and Johannisen playing alongside him.
A strong midfield with Bontempelli, Macrae, Hunter, Dahlhaus and Wallis all providing opportunities for the forwards. Those same five playing in the midfield are all also able to push forward and play alongside Boyd, create forward pressure and kick goals.
Picken will be playing as the swingman between forward and defence, tackling and putting on pressure. With this strong team hopefully the Bulldogs can play with the speed and ferocity that won them the premiership in 2016.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
As you can see all the teams are very strong and it will be very interesting to see how the first AFLX pans out of the three days. Who teams play, the different tactics teams will go with it will all be interesting to see the different styles of play.
I hope it is a success and as the AFL wants it to be a great way to market the sport and could be used as a good way to promote the game internationally. When it comes to this first tournament it is so hard to pick a winner because all teams are strong and we don’t know how teams will play.
But looking at it on paper I’d say the grand finals on each night will be as follows:
Hindmarsh Stadium 15th of February
Collingwood vs Geelong
Etihad Stadium 16th of February
Essendon vs Melbourne
Allianz Stadium 17th of February
Sydney vs Richmond
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.