For what it's worth I spoke with Hartlett on Friday at training / family day.
I can't begin to say how impressed I was with his attitude, one of the nicest guys you could possibly meet.
So much time for myself and another guy there with me, and we had a great chat about all things.
He knows exactly where he is at, he loves the club with an absolute passion, and I have no doubt that we can all rest easy knowing that here is someone who would walk over coals to better himself, the club, his team mates and us supporters.
He is on a one year contract, is back on top of his injuries, moved well at training and fingers crossed can see out the pre season and next season.
I asked him about a report that he had chronic tendinitis in his hamstring and from his response I believe not.
His verbal response was no and his body language was surprised at the report, not surprised that I asked.
I cannot speak highly enough of him.
For what its worth our team next season should start like this and for the following reasons:
FB - Russell Ohailpin Bower
HB - Walker Thornton Scotland
C- Simpson Blackwell Grigg
HF - Betts Kennedy Whitnall
FF - Houlihan Fevola Waite
RR - Ackland Stevens Murphy
Interchange -
Bannister Bentick Hampson Fisher
That was hard and of course apologies to Wiggins, Kouta, Gibbs, Flint, Hartlett and Lappin etc.......
I could pick this side again and be slightly different.
I think in defense Ohailpin and Thornton will hold the bigger bodies, Bower will add a tall rebounding defending backmen, while Scotland and Walker will use the ball well enough and run the lines out of defense. Russell will give enough but can be interchanged with Bannister.
Across the middle Simpson showed more than enough last season, while Blackers got in there hard, ran well enough and can use the ball ok, and after a another pre season should be up for round one after the NAB cup.
I have made a calculated risk here and picked Grigg. 190 cm player, who can run well and quick with a great left foot and is over 80 kgs may just be able to give us something early on. I place him in ahead of Gibbs purely as I felt I saw more strength in his lower body than Gibbs (particularly the calves) and I think with Gibbs once we get over the romance of who he is we maybe better served waiting three or four rounds to play him.
In the forward half Kennedy must be there, a towering player who can run well, mark well and kick. Whitnall must be there beside him to teach him and add another demension while Betts can rove off them.
Naturally our coleman medalist Fev will be there, Waite can help out beside him and after training I would whack Houla in up forward to help out, alot bigger and looks fitter.
Ackland will ruck and Murph and Stevens looked the good at training.
I will select Hampson as our back up, purely because our options at this stage a short, with Fisher to rotate up front, Bannister down back, and Bentick in the guts.
I just don't see a place for Kouta at the moment, Wiggins is behind in pre season and Mclaren could hardly move.
Lappin I moved out of a back pocket and then had a list of other options all over the park before I realised I hadn't put him back in. I then thought does that tell me something.
Scotland, Walker etc will rotate through the middle. Very Happy