Prediction 2023 Best 22 Teams and discussion

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B: Ryan, Pearce, Clark
HB: Chapman, Cox, Young

C: Brayshaw, O'Meara, O'Driscoll

HF: Switkowski, Taberner, Frederick
F: Jackson, Amiss, Schultz

F: Darcy, Fyfe, Serong

I: Brodie, Walker, Walters, Aish, Erasmus

Pissed off at being left out:
Treacy, Wilson, Johnson, Henry, Sturt

I think that nearly everyone agrees that that is the Best 23 (with slightly different permutations as to positions)...but of course injury will mean that we will probably see one or two out from that list by the start of the season.
 
I think that nearly everyone agrees that that is the Best 23 (with slightly different permutations as to positions)...but of course injury will mean that we will probably see one or two out from that list by the start of the season.
Seeing this side play is certainly a mouth watering prospect. 👊📈
 
I think that nearly everyone agrees that that is the Best 23 (with slightly different permutations as to positions)...but of course injury will mean that we will probably see one or two out from that list by the start of the season.
Plus preseason is likely to throw up other options.

I could see Corbett or Sturt pushing hard for a berth for example. Johnson may be fast tracked given the vacancy on the wing.

I also don't discount a slightly more radical approach to roles given the positional diversity some of them have.

There is a bit of a mystery bag about our set outside of defence.
 

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B: Ryan, Pearce, Clark
HB: Chapman, Cox, Young

C: Brayshaw, O'Meara, O'Driscoll

HF: Switkowski, Taberner, Frederick
F: Jackson, Amiss, Schultz

F: Darcy, Fyfe, Serong

I: Brodie, Walker, Walters, Aish, Erasmus

Pissed off at being left out:
Treacy, Wilson, Johnson, Henry, Sturt
Shut the gate. Reckon this is spot on. Seriously look at that bench.

Sturt needs to kick 10 goals in the first 3 games at Peel to get anywhere near best 23
 
B: Ryan, Pearce, Clark
HB: Chapman, Cox, Young

C: Brayshaw, O'Meara, O'Driscoll

HF: Switkowski, Taberner, Frederick
F: Jackson, Amiss, Schultz

F: Darcy, Fyfe, Serong

I: Brodie, Walker, Walters, Aish, Erasmus

Pissed off at being left out:
Treacy, Wilson, Johnson, Henry, Sturt

Identical to mine. Reckon starting Brayshaw on the wing is definitely a winning move, opens up so many possibilities for our mid configuration
 
Identical to mine. Reckon starting Brayshaw on the wing is definitely a winning move, opens up so many possibilities for our mid configuration
That's my thinking with Brayshaw too. I probably don't see it as a locked in position for him, especially with Aish in the side. He is our best player so we want him at the coal face, but we're also we'll stocked for ball winners. How Fyfe shapes up will make a big difference.
 
Shut the gate. Reckon this is spot on. Seriously look at that bench.

Sturt needs to kick 10 goals in the first 3 games at Peel to get anywhere near best 23
Sturt pissed off if not included is a great thing. Treacy too. Both could be in this side.

Definitely agree Sturt needs to be challenged to bang the door down. With the trade and draft period we've had there is a clear message for Sturt.
 
That's my thinking with Brayshaw too. I probably don't see it as a locked in position for him, especially with Aish in the side. He is our best player so we want him at the coal face, but we're also we'll stocked for ball winners. How Fyfe shapes up will make a big difference.
I think that Fyfe could be the square peg? Where is his best position and can he
still be that contested beast.
As an impact player rotated from the bench and used bursts, the five interchange
bench is probably going to be the most interesting aspect of the season.
The Cats seemed to manage Dangerfield well, I think we should be doing the
same.
 
Brayshaw goes alright in the guts. Always think there needs to be a pretty pristine argument for moving a player out of a position they are dominating.
 
I think that Fyfe could be the square peg? Where is his best position and can he
still be that contested beast.
As an impact player rotated from the bench and used bursts, the five interchange
bench is probably going to be the most interesting aspect of the season.
The Cats seemed to manage Dangerfield well, I think we should be doing the
same.
Only 4 on the bench plus a strategic sub in 2023
 
I don't think a guy like Wagner won't be included at his age if we drafted him.

I think he may start Round 1 on the wing.
At that pick, recruiting for depth is absolutely on the cards. He might be a good candidate for the sub role at this point as well.

I'd still love to see Fyfe have a solid go at the wing in the pre-season.
 

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Best 22s at this stage are extremely challenging. A lot can change, so it's really like pissing in the ocean.

The interesting players, position wise, for me next season are Brayshaw and Fyfe.

The idea of Brayshaw to the wing, is really interesting and I must say, seems to tick a lot of boxes. The only issue is, when was the last time a guy who finished top 5 in the Brownlow was shunted out of the midfield onto the wing? Surely you want your best player in the heat of the action, getting his hands on the ball as much as possible?

Regarding Fyfe, I'm really not sure. He screams to me, at this stage of his career, to be the ideal hard working half forward, who is a nightmare matchup for opposition backs, but also has the tank to push down the ground and impact stoppages and help with ball movement out of the backline. For some reason, this just hasn't worked and I'm not sure if we persevere again next season. I'm also not sure if Fyfe starts at the first centre bounce next year.

Digressing a little, I still think the individual who will have the most impact upon any push towards the top four and higher next year is JL.

We have so many moving parts and possible levers to pull from a team structure perspective, a lot will ride on his shoulders in getting the settings right.
 
Best 22s at this stage are extremely challenging. A lot can change, so it's really like pissing in the ocean.

The interesting players, position wise, for me next season are Brayshaw and Fyfe.

The idea of Brayshaw to the wing, is really interesting and I must say, seems to tick a lot of boxes. The only issue is, when was the last time a guy who finished top 5 in the Brownlow was shunted out of the midfield onto the wing? Surely you want your best player in the heat of the action, getting his hands on the ball as much as possible?

Regarding Fyfe, I'm really not sure. He screams to me, at this stage of his career, to be the ideal hard working half forward, who is a nightmare matchup for opposition backs, but also has the tank to push down the ground and impact stoppages and help with ball movement out of the backline. For some reason, this just hasn't worked and I'm not sure if we persevere again next season. I'm also not sure if Fyfe starts at the first centre bounce next year.

Digressing a little, I still think the individual who will have the most impact upon any push towards the top four and higher next year is JL.

We have so many moving parts and possible levers to pull from a team structure perspective, a lot will ride on his shoulders in getting the settings right.
Angus Brayshaw.

Won them a flag too.

Andy would do the same in a heartbeat if asked.
 
I haven't had a shot at a best 22 so not really qualified to have a crack. But I will say;

2 players dropped from our defence seems incredible to me.

I'd be disappointed if O'Driscoll isn't first choice wing.

Serong forward with Switkowski on the bench doesn't get me excited. I know he can play there, but adding him to Walters and Schultz feels like it is not as sparky as it can be.
Interesting side note, what would the ranking of our wing players be?
I'd have Aish before O'Driscoll personally, although I'm a bit of an unabashed fan of his given his versatility and some of the games he played last year.

If I try to limit it to players who have lined up on the wing (or appear to have been recruited for it), my best attempt would be;

Brayshaw
Aish
O'Driscoll
Henry
Wagner
Hughes
Colyer
Worner

Brayshaw mainly for how well his strengths work for the wing, even if he has played predominantly on the ball.
Henry/Wagner/Hughes was a tough one because they're quite different.
The interesting piece would then be some other options - Johnson, Clark (although appears unlikely to move), Wilson (never seem to be played out of defence.
 
Interesting side note, what would the ranking of our wing players be?
I'd have Aish before O'Driscoll personally, although I'm a bit of an unabashed fan of his given his versatility and some of the games he played last year.

If I try to limit it to players who have lined up on the wing (or appear to have been recruited for it), my best attempt would be;

Brayshaw
Aish
O'Driscoll
Henry
Wagner
Hughes
Colyer
Worner

Brayshaw mainly for how well his strengths work for the wing, even if he has played predominantly on the ball.
Henry/Wagner/Hughes was a tough one because they're quite different.
The interesting piece would then be some other options - Johnson, Clark (although appears unlikely to move), Wilson (never seem to be played out of defence.

For mine I have the wing lineup order as:

First Choices: Aish (fat side) and O'Driscoll (skinny side)
Second Choices: O'Meara (fat side) or Serong (skinny side)
Third Choices: Wagner (fat side) or Henry (skinny side)
Fourth Choices: Hughes (fat side) or Worner (skinny side)
 
What's the news out of the WAFL with their grand final going back to preliminary final week. That would hopefully mean that the WAFL season starts earlier, unlike last year where it didn't begin until mid-April.

Last year the Rd 1 of the WAFL was Rd 5 of the AFL which made it difficult for fringe players to push for early selection.
 
My only contributions to all this discussion is:

I would be playing Amiss in all games he is reasonably able to play. If his body needs management then such is life, but unless he has a significant loss of form he should be out there.

I would love to see Jordan Clark on the wing. I don’t think it will happen but he looks a natural winger to me. I liked his second half of the season (and there was nothing wrong with the first half), so he looks a natural hbf too. If he is hbf I want him taking some kick-ins, run and carry is what we need.
 
Fyfe could seriously be considered for a wing position. We have plenty of midfielders.
a) It would keep him in the thick of it.
b) His aerial prowess would provide a fantastic release option out of the back line instead of the perennial Ryan to Cox play.
c) He has the tank.
d) His field kicking (unlike his goal kicking) is pretty good, certainly no worse than Acres and
e) his one on one contests are excellent.

Speed would be the only one box not ticked but he wouldnt be the open side winger he would be the contested congested side winger.

He is not a forward for a premiership team as his goal kicking is not good enough. His Brownlow glory days as a centre mid contested beast are basically over. Its time for the final stage of the champs career and it could be on the wing. You cant tell me Fyfe wouldnt be better than Acres on the wing?
 
B: Ryan, Pearce, Walker
HB: Clark, Cox, Young
C: Aish, Fyfe, O'Driscoll
HF: Frederick, Taberner, ****
F: Amiss, Jackson, Walters
R: Darcy, Brayshaw, Serong
I: O'Meara, Brodie, Schultz, Chapman, Erasmus (sub)

**** = Switkowski's spot in most sides, but I strongly believe we need to play a quick/agile medium forward for team balance. Sturt, Emmett and even Stubbs to battle it out over the pre-season. I think Corbett makes us top heavy if we are playing the 3 talls.
 

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Prediction 2023 Best 22 Teams and discussion

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