Part 1 - Adelaide to GWS
FACTORING in form, fitness and injury concerns, our writers select the best 22 your club can put on the field for round one of the 2014 premiership season.
Adelaide
B: Luke Brown, Ben Rutten, Rory Laird
HB: Brodie Smith, Daniel Talia, Brent Reilly
C: David Mackay, Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane
HF: Lewis Johnston, Josh Jenkins, Richard Douglas
F: Andy Otten, James Podsiadly, Eddie Betts
FOLL: Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Matthew Wright,
INT: Brad Crouch, Shaun McKernan, Sam Kerridge
SUB: Mitch Grigg
Dynamic duo James Podsiadly and Eddie Betts are certain starters for Adelaide's round one clash against the 'J-Pod's' former side Geelong. Andy Otten has a looked a genuine second marking option deep in attack, but has the ability to move into defence when needed and Shaun McKernan has shown enough this summer to secure a first-up opportunity. He needs to perform early in the season though or risk losing his spot to a host of other forwards vying for selection. Matt Crouch's stellar pre-season and NAB Challenge form would surely have him on the cusp of round one selection but he might just need to prove himself at SANFL level before making his AFL debut. - Harry Thring
Brisbane Lions
B: Joel Patfull, Daniel Merrett, Mitch Golby
HB: Ryan Harwood, Justin Clarke, Jed Adcock
C: James Aish, Daniel Rich, Pearce Hanley
HF: Sam Mayes, Luke McGuane, Dayne Zorko
F: Josh Green, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lisle
FOLL: Matthew Leuenberger, Brent Moloney, Tom Rockliff
INT: Trent West, Jack Redden, Ryan Lester
SUB: Claye Beams
Calf injuries to Brent Staker and Ash McGrath make selections a little easier for round one against Hawthorn. Coach Justin Leppitsch has been reluctant to use tagger Andrew Raines through the pre-season, so a job on Sam Mitchell first-up seems unlikely. The major decision will come over which tall forward will support Jonathan Brown and Luke McGuane. Jordan Lisle is likely to get first crack, but don't be surprised if Michael Close nabs the spot. - Michael Whiting
Carlton
B: Zach Tuohy, Michael Jamison, Ed Curnow
HB: Matthew Watson, Andrejs Everitt, Andrew Walker
C: Kade Simpson, Brock McLean, Bryce Gibbs
HF: Dale Thomas, Lachie Henderson, Troy Menzel
F: Jeff Garlett, Jarrad Waite, Chris Yarran
FOLL: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Mitch Robinson
INT: Rob Warnock, Dylan Buckley, David Ellard
SUB: Tom Bell
Carlton will be without two of its senior players, Chris Judd and Andrew Carrazzo, for the opening part of the season as they overcome Achilles and calf injuries respectively. That leaves a couple of spots open, but there aren't too many surprises in this Carlton squad. Dale Thomas, if he can regain his best Collingwood form, will be a magnificent addition, and Andrejs Everitt might have played himself into a spot after the NAB Challenge. The same applies too for slight midfielder Dylan Buckley, who has played only one game in two seasons with the club. - Callum Twomey
Collingwood
B: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey
HB: Clinton Young, Lachlan Keeffe, Brent Macaffer
C: Steele Sidebottom, Luke Ball, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Dane Swan, Travis Cloke, Ben Kennedy
F: Jesse White, Ben Reid, Jamie Elliott
FOLL: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury (C), Dayne Beams
INT: Josh Thomas, Taylor Adams, Tyson Goldsack
SUB: Sam Dwyer
Mystery surrounds a number of positions in Collingwood's team. Marley Williams and Jarryd Blair have already been ruled out for round one. Ben Reid is likely to play up forward, but that depends on Nathan Brown and Lachlan Keeffe holding down the key defensive posts. Ben Kennedy has had a great pre-season and Steele Sidebottom is set for more midfield time in 2014. Pleasingly, Clinton Young is finally fully fit and ready to attack the season. The Pies chalked up two wins and one loss from the NAB Challenge and practice games, but are very much in the unknown bracket heading into season 2014. - Ben Guthrie
Essendon
B: Dustin Fletcher, Michael Hurley, Mark Baguley
HB: Michael Hibberd, Cale Hooker, David Myers
C: David Zaharakis, Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell
HF: Paul Chapman, Jake Carlisle, Jackson Merrett
F: Kyle Hardingham, Joe Daniher, Nick Kommer
FOLL: Paddy Ryder, Brent Stanton, Brendon Goddard
INT: Leroy Jetta, Ben Howlett, Heath Hocking
SUB: Travis Colyer
This team takes into account the hamstring injury Jason Winderlich has suffered, and the slow pre-season of Courtenay Dempsey, who hasn't played a practice game yet. It would appear unlikely both would be ready to take on North Melbourne in round one. Michael Hibberd's hamstring may be right by game day. Youngsters Martin Gleeson, Jason Ashby and Zach Merrett are all pushing for AFL debuts sooner rather than later after solid NAB Challenge performances. - Callum Twomey
Fremantle
B: Paul Duffield, Zac Dawson, Lee Spurr
HB: Michael Johnson, Luke McPharlin, Cam Sutcliffe
C: Stephen Hill, Ryan Crowley, Tendai Mzungu
HF: Nat Fyfe, Matthew Pavlich, Chris Mayne
F: Michael Walters, Jack Hannath, Hayden Ballantyne
FOLL: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Michael Barlow
INT: Matt de Boer, Lachie Neale, Danyle Pearce
SUB: Tom Sheridan
Just two changes to the Dockers' Grand Final side. Nick Suban is out suspended for round one so Tom Sheridan will get his opportunity as the sub. He has had a very good pre-season and played well in the last practice match so he gets his chance ahead of Hayden Crozier. Jack Hannath comes in for the injured Zac Clarke. Matt Taberner was also in the mix for this spot but Hannath is a bigger body and has shown in the pre-season he can go forward and provide a solid target. Colin Sylvia will spend the first week with Peel Thunder and will need to earn his way in. Garrick Ibbotson and Zac Clarke are still a few weeks away. Clancee Pearce is unlucky to miss but could come in depending on match-ups. - Alex Malcolm
Geelong
B: Cameron Guthrie, Tom Lonergan, Jared Rivers
HB: Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright
C: Mathew Stokes, James Kelly, Mitch Duncan
HF: Jordan Murdoch, Josh Walker, Jimmy Bartel
F: Travis Varcoe, Tom Hawkins, Josh Caddy
FOLL: Dawson Simpson, Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood
INT: Mark Blicavs, George Horlin-Smith, Billie Smedts
SUB: Taylor Hunt
The Cats have been hit hard by injuries, with key forward Nathan Vardy (knee) ruled out for the year and midfielder Allen Christensen (back) unlikely to be sighted until the middle of the year. Star half-forward Steven Motlop (knee) has also been ruled out of their round one clash with Adelaide. Joel Selwood is set to play in round one, but he will be underdone after foot and hamstring problems. Josh Walker is likely to get first crack at replacing Vardy. - Adam McNicol
Gold Coast
B: Clay Cameron, Matthew Warnock, Trent McKenzie
HB: Matt Shaw, Steven May, Sean Lemmens
C: Jarrod Harbrow, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli
HF: Jack Martin, Tom Lynch, Harley Bennell
F: Aaron Hall, Sam Day, Charlie Dixon
FOLL: Tom Nicholls, Gary Ablett, Jaeger O'Meara
INT: David Swallow, Brandon Matera, Danny Stanley
SUB: Timmy Sumner
The make-up of Guy McKenna's team to play Richmond has been weakened with the disrupted pre-season to young full-back Rory Thompson. The 22-year-old has overcome hip surgery and a bout of gastro but has not played any footy. Matthew Warnock will do a solid job in his absence, though. Sean Lemmens has impressed during his first pre-season and seems to have snuck ahead of Greg Broughton for a half-back role, while either Timmy Sumner or Aaron Hall will support the big forwards. Sumner would be unlucky to miss out, but would still make an ideal sub. - Michael Whiting
Greater Western Sydney
B: Josh Hunt, Stephen Gilham, Curtly Hampton
HB: Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
C: Adam Treloar, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Jonathon Patton, Jonathan Giles, Rhys Palmer
F: Devon Smith, Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel
FOLL: Shane Mumford, Tom Scully, Stephen Coniglio
INT: Tom Boyd, Dylan Addison, Adam Tomlinson
SUB: Jed Lamb
For the first time in its short history, GWS is enjoying some serious competition for spots and a number of players could justify a place in its best 22. Tom Bugg and rookie Josh Kelly are probably the most unlucky to miss out, while Zac Williams, Liam Sumner, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Lachie Plowman and Aidan Corr are among those sure to play senior football this year. But the additions of Hunt, Shaw, Mumford et al mean positions are harder to crack. Defender Tim Mohr will also likely slot into the backline once he returns from a foot injury. - James Dampney