Some more thoughts from the 'Pros'

[flyboy77]

I think Bolton likes having a Lamb type up forward and Lamb seems to work very well with Pickett.

I doubt they would have played Lamb twice, and pretty much full games, if he wasn't very much likely to start round 1.

And let's not forget he owes Houli big time!

Sure, ultimately the likes of Dow, Garlett and/or Lang may well overtake him but the guy can play his role very well.

sPS will play, no question. The guy is silk.

Will Dow get a gig round 1?

I'd like to hope so - for all the ra ra about the Tigers and their smalls, I don't think they're overly quick and Dow has that explosiveness to hurt them.

Bottom line is there a seriously healthy amount of competition for spots - both with the talls and the smalls...

The Rance question - maybe one of Marchbank or Weitering takes him? Or even Cam O'Shea in a cameo role - it's take one (intercept player) to know one?

Richmond could be forced to make four changes to their premiership team in round one as they sweat on the fitness of midfielder Dion Prestia and Bachar Houli.

With Nathan Broad serving a club-imposed suspension in the first three rounds and Daniel Rioli unlikely to be ready by round one after ankle surgery from an injury suffered in the grand final, several spots could be available for the season opener against Carlton.