"We can't control what the opposition does. We can only concentrate on what we do.''

It is usually bollocks.

Every coach worthy of the name keeps one baleful eye on the opposition, even as he casts the other over his own troops. Enough of your blokes beat their direct opponent, then you're a fair way along the road to beating the opposition.

Dream team isn't exactly the same. If a team is involved in a weekly team-versus-team league, there isn't a way to nullify your opponent's players, as much as that might help.

Hell, it is very likely the two teams will have half a dozen of the same players - Gary Ablett Jr and Michael Barlow anyone?

But the principle of considering the opposition when you're at the selection table isn't dead in dream team. You just apply it differently.

In this case, it helps to consider a player's likely opponent when deciding whether to select him or not.

If you have Geelong players, for example, get on them this week. Because (as a Richmond supporter it makes me sick in the guts to say this) the Cats play the Tigers this week, and that's likely to mean big points.

Anyone who has loaded up on Geelong is already in the box seat. Three of the top five scorers (Gary Ablett, Paul Chapman and Jimmy Bartel) hail from down Corio way.

Apart from the fact these three are likely to score 100 points or more anyway, consider this week they are likely to be manned by a skinny teen in an ill-fitting black and yellow singlet - it's an ugly thought for a Tiger fan but a juicy one for a dream team coach.

Up forward, this should also work. A Geelong forward is likely to get a lot of opportunities thanks to the afore-mentioned trio this week.

Pods and Stevie J, come and play. A Richmond forward on the other hand...

The principle also applies to individual contests. It's probably unwise to chose a ruckman who is likely to be directly opposed to Aaron Sandilands.