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Five things for Dockers and West Coast fans to watch for in the AFL pre-season

The AFL's pre-season is a mix of phoney war and true blood where teams test their players and tactics to see what hits and what misses.

The competition, which is now called the JLT Community Series, will take place over four weeks, with each club to play three games over that period with no overall winner from the round robin comp.

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So while none of it really counts, the action is a pretty good yardstick for judging how each team could fare in 2017.

The Eagles play their first match this Saturday against the GWS Giants at Narrandera Sports Stadium, and Freo kicks off next Saturday in a Derby with West Coast at Wonthella Oval.

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So with an eye to the coming regular season, Tim Carrier from WAtoday and Justin Rake from the Mandurah Mail take a look at what Eagles and Dockers fans can look out for in the pre-season.

Let's start with Tim's tips for the West Coast Eagles.

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5 things West Coast Eagles fans need to look out for in pre-season:

1. THE RUCK

It's an obvious one to start on but the biggest question surrounding West Coast this season is how does our ruck division stand up in the absence of Nic Naitanui.

Nic Naitanui is back on the training track for the first time after undergoing knee surgery late last year.

Nic Naitanui is out of the equation for now

If Scott Lycett had been fully fit it wouldn't really be a question at all - the decision would just have been who supports him. However, Lycett's PCL surgery leaves considerable doubt as to whether he'll stand up to the rigours of a full season and whether he'll be able to impact games early in the season.

This means the performance of the injury-prone Nathan Vardy, the ageing Drew Petrie and the largely untested Fraser McInnes in the preseason - and whether they can all make it through the JLT Cup unscathed - will be something every Eagles fan will be closely watching.

2. SAM MITCHELL'S WORTH

From one obvious question to another. What impact will new Eagles midfielder and former Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell have on West Coast's midfield?

Not just with the ball in hand as an elite user of the football but, also in terms of leadership and guidance for the Eagles younger onballers like Dom Sheed, Liam Duggan, Andrew Gaff (who's still just 24), Elliot Yeo and Jackson Nelson. Also will Adam Simpson use Mitchell exclusively through the midfield or will we see him rotating through a half-back flank like he did in several seasons at the Hawks?

3. WHICH WAFL YOUNGSTERS WILL STEP UP TO AFL LEVEL?

Having been in 'premiership mode' the last couple of seasons, the Eagles have had a relatively settled best 22 and haven't had a chance to blood many youngsters.

Tom Cole was the only West Coast draftee from 2015 to get a game last season and he only played twice. Liam Duggan and Jackson Nelson have seen more game time but the six other National and Rookie picks West Coast drafted in 2014 and 2015, who are still on our list, have only played one game between them.

The first match of the JLT Cup will answer some of those questions with up to seven debutants set to take the field against GWS.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Josh Kennedy and Lewis Jetta of the Eagles celebrates a goal during the 2016 AFL Round 23 match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval on August 26, 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Who will step up and support Josh Kennedy up forward?​

4. KICKING GOALS

Who will play at the feet of West Coast's dual Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy? All the early noise from the Eagles preseason training was that crafty goal-sneak Willie Rioli was set for an early debut in a crumbing role not seen at the club since Phil Matera.

However, an untimely hamstring tear ended Rioli's run so it appears there could be an opening in the best 22. Adam Simpson has indicated Mark LeCras will play closer to home this season but he's more of a leading forward than a crumber. Josh Hill and Jamie Cripps are the other incumbents due more to a lack of competition than consistent performances so can someone like Malcolm Karpany or first round pick Dan Venables force their way in?

Or could Simpson spring a real surprise and use the warm-up games to trial Lewis Jetta in a crumbing role which he has the skills for?

5. THE CAPTAIN'S FORM

Three seasons ago he was our best and fairest winner. Last season he being touted as trade bait. He's still in our leadership group and on Saturday Eric Mackenzie will captain the club again for the first time since 2014.

However, does he have a future at the club with the emergence of Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass? Mackenzie will have his work cut out for him trying to secure a spot in the club's best 22 - most likely at the expense of Will Schofield - and will likely need to show some added attacking flair to his solid defensive game in the JLT Cup if he is going to do so.

Now let's switch to Fremantle, with the Mandurah Mail's Justin Rake taking us through the Docker's talking points.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 28: Tom Boyd of the Bulldogs and Aaron Sandilands of the Dockers contest the ruck during the round 23 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium on August 28, 2016 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Who will play second fiddle to Sandilands?

5 things Fremantle Dockers fans need to look out for in pre-season:

1. THE NEW LOOK FORWARD LINE

There's been plenty of talk about Fremantle's remade forward line over the off-season. The arrival of Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten not only injects some desperately needed youth and talent, but it could also give new life to Hayden Ballantyne.

We know what Michael Walters is capable of in a forward pocket, but if you surround him with a firing Ballantyne and perhaps a speedy Ed Langdon or a healthy Harley Bennell, the Fremantle attack becomes potent both in the air and at ground level.

2. THE TRIPLETS

From what we can tell so far, the 2014 draft was kind to the Dockers. It gifted them the trio of Lachie Weller, Connor Blakely and Ed Langdon, who will all look to make an impact in their third years at the club.

Fremantle's horror 2016 gave them the needed game time to develop, and now they have a chance to really help the club push back into a relevant position. Reports from the training track say they're working hard, so look for big games from them in the JLT Community Series.

3. LOGUE'S LOCATION

Fremantle went all out for tall timber in the draft, but where will top-10 pick Griffin Logue find his feet? He looks to be a natural key backman, but reports suggest his elite endurance and better-than-expected skills could see him even running through the middle. He might be trialled in a number of different positions in the pre-season bouts.

Ready for action: Nat Fyfe is back after a serious leg injury.

Nat Fyfe is Captain - but where will he lead the team from?

4. FYFE UP FORWARD

A healthy Fremantle is a flexible Fremantle, which could allow Nat Fyfe to spend time deep in the forward line and make use of his other-worldly ability to take a contested grab.

Personally, I like my Fyfe served best in the middle, but if the Dockers can keep most of their forward assets out of the hospital wards they would have the luxury of spelling Fyfe off the ball with rotations involving Walters, Bennell, Ballantyne or Brad Hill. The idea must have Ross Lyon drooling.

5. SANDILAND'S SECOND FIDDLE

It's no secret which of their ruckman the Dockers want on the field, but with the sun gradually setting on Aaron Sandilands' career, it's unlikely they get a full season out of him.

Their second pick in the draft was the bulky bulldozer Sean Darcy, who they will be hoping can develop into a serviceable ruckman. So far so good, reports suggest, but he's a project. For the time being, it looks like Jon Griffin will remain an important back-up to Sandilands, but he will still need to perform well in the pre-season games to earn his spot.

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