Bring on next Season!

[Sagerian]

Getting back to a serious rugby discussion (although the difference between blue and purple is interesting and one that should be fleshed out more), which players do you think the Force will get rid of as they are bound to be over the player limit, particularly if/when Ryan Cross signs? A few people on other forums are picking 'Dorf over MacKay for 10, no room in the centres for him so what do you do with him? Staniforth moving to the wing with Gits and Cross in the middle?

[Burgs]

With Cross, I would think you would have to start the season with:
10. MacKay
11. Mitchell/Shepherd
12. Giteau
13. Cross
14. Staniforth
15. Shepherd/Mitchell

Big call for Hilgendorf, Pelesasa and Ioane but you wouldn't recruit Giteau, Mitchell and Cross without starting them.
It is inevitable that there will be more injuries and that is when the better players from this season will get their re-call.
With Tawake pretty much a confident prospect and a Lock still not out of the question we are potentially looking at six new contracted playes plus Pocock (unless his was an extend Apprentice contract) with only eight one year contracts:
Vitori Buatava
Pek Cowan
Tim Davidson
Luke Doherty
Dave Fitter
Tajhon Smallman-Mailata
John Welborn
AJ Whalley

So unless they are able to buy out (or down grade to Apprentice and drop some apprentice's) some underperforming longer contracted players then it would seem only one of the above would be staying.
Longer contracts (all two year) that I would be re-assessing on performance (and purely so as not to lose some of the above off contracts above, or below Aprrentice's) would be:
Scott Daruda
Brock James
Alexander Peden
Brett Stapleton
Mat Windle

The Apprentice players have also been a mixed bag too:
Gavin DeBartolo
Josh Fuimaona
Pat O'Connor
David Pocock
Haig Sare
David TeMoana
Ben Ward

I would suggest that the tour to SA and the three on the Australian Under 21's will be make or break for many for S14 '07.
All of the above (except for the retiring Welborn) are involved in one of those two outings.

[Bails]

Totally agree Burgs. The SA Tour and any subsequent matches will be the time for some of the Academy players to step up. I am surprised that there isn't a structure of fixtures for the Academies of all S14 sides.
Like in the Premiership in UK - all Premiership sides run an Apprentice team in their own League. Scouts go to these games and the futures of those young players often change after strong showings. It allows for the apprentice players to earn some money and also get some action 'in anger'?

[Flat-top]

Picking up on a comment made by Sage, what is the player limit? Sorry if its obvious to the rest of you but something I've not heard of before.