Opinion 2013 Best 22

[Gone Critical]

B: Toovey Brown Maxwell
HB: Shaw Reid Russell
C: Thomas Pendlebury Seedsman
HF: Beams Lynch Sidebottom
F: Fasolo Cloke Macaffer
R: Jolly Swan Ball
I: Goldsack, Elliot, Young

Anyone of Didak, Johnson, O'Brien, Sinclair, Krak, Blair, Keefe and Dwyer could find themselves in there subject to form. Not very sure about Martin to date

Blair is an absolute certainty as is Harry and Krak. Didak would be if fit and Johnson v close. Don't think you will find Russell in the team. Ball is listed as 2-3 weeks away in the injury report (5/3) so will probably return via the VFL. Don't think both Caff and Goldy will be both picked in the 21.

So I would add Blair, Krak and Harry. Take Ball Russell and Caff out of your 21 and pick the sub from Sinclair, Caff or Johnson. Probably go Johnno.

 

[forwardflanker]

Blair is an absolute certainty as is Harry and Krak. Didak would be if fit and Johnson v close. Don't think you will find Russell in the team. Ball is listed as 2-3 weeks away in the injury report (5/3) so will probably return via the VFL. Don't think both Caff and Goldy will be both picked in the 21.

So I would add Blair, Krak and Harry. Take Ball Russell and Caff out of your 21 and pick the sub from Sinclair, Caff or Johnson. Probably go Johnno.

Yeah I guess that's the team I would pick based on a combination of preseason form, natural improvement and team balance.

As you said Blair is a certainty for round 1 and Harry and Johnson are likely to be best 22 if fit by round one as well. I think it will be tough for Krak to start in the 22 given the good form of the other small forwards and also that he didn't look in great shape in the first praccy.

My feeling with Blair is that if he is in the best 22 he is probably 20-22nd picked and the last picked midfielder/forward. I'd prefer our last picked midfielder/forward to have a bit more running power and height than what Blair gives us. Our other fringe players - Elliot, Sinclair, Macaffer, Goldsack all are clearly more valuable in terms of height, muscle and running capacity. Didak and Krakouer clearly have him covered in the skills department.

I didn't put Didak in because it would take a minor miracle to get him back to 2010 physical shape. As far as I'm concerned anything other than him being 100% is not worth it because he is a poor contributor in the defensive parts of the game at the best of times.

You could toss a coin on who plays out of O'Brien, Johnson and Russell imo. Johnson probably deserves more respect but Russell is the new guy and also I think we should be very careful about how old a side we put on the park. A lot of people in their sides have gone for a lot of experience but I think that if we go for too many older or taller players we are going to be lose a significant edge then if we selected guys like Elliot, Sinclair, Macaffer, Goldsack who whilst they might not have the runs on the board yet are in peak physical condition and make up what they lack in skill by running sides into the ground.

 

[loki04]

Blair is an absolute certainty as is Harry and Krak. Didak would be if fit and Johnson v close. Don't think you will find Russell in the team. Ball is listed as 2-3 weeks away in the injury report (5/3) so will probably return via the VFL. Don't think both Caff and Goldy will be both picked in the 21.

So I would add Blair, Krak and Harry. Take Ball Russell and Caff out of your 21 and pick the sub from Sinclair, Caff or Johnson. Probably go Johnno.

Going backwards with those changes of Dids and Johno as walk up starts much like the phasing out of Fraser, O'bree and Tarkyn in 2010 some of the established players will see less senior action this year.

 

[Woods4life]

Round 1 Team:

B: A.Toovey, N.Brown, N.Maxwell
HB: P.Seedsman, B.Reid, H.Shaw
C: C.Young, S.Pendlebury, H.O'Brien
HF: S.Sidebottom, Q.Lynch, A.Fasolo
F: A.Krakouer, T.Cloke, B.Macaffer/Elliot/Goldsack
R: D.Jolly, D.Swan, D.Beams
I: L.Ball, J.Blair, B.Johnson
sub: B.Macaffer/Elliot/Goldsack

That half-back line up looks like an efficient unit for footskills and rebound. The forward pocket/lead-up half forward position will be contended by any one of Caff, Elliot and Goldy IMO with the second best player in line delegated the sub role. I don't believe there is room for Macaffer AND Goldsack in the same team. Regardless of the latter's versatility his best role is as a lead-up forward.

Not 100% sold on O'Brien as a wingman but I see the potential for him to develop in the position and provide a unique contribution to our game plan as a defensive winger. Especially so considering our lack of 2-way running in 2012.

Very impressive line-up considering players like Thomas and Didak will be slowly introduced back into the side. Lets hope the impressive form of our youth will continue to push for selection as they did in the West Coast match; the resulting 22 by september could be a surprise when compared to everyone's early write-ups in this thread!

I agree with pretty much everything you've said. Well done

 

[PremierPie13]

I agree with pretty much everything you've said. Well done

Thanks mate, good to be appreciated!

 

[DaVe86]

I think what we've seen so far this pre-season is that Macaffer and Seedsman walk straight into the team. Hard to say who gives way. Possibly Goldsack and Johnson. But these 2, along with Young, Lynch and Luke Ball strike me as been the main changes to the side that played the prelim final in 2012.

 

[cleomenes]

It's so tough to see the way to go (and what a good thing that is). On every line, there are more people that I want to play than there are positions. For 6 forward spots, there are at least 8 that I don't want to leave out, on the centreline there are 6 for three slots, although an injured Thomas reduces it to 5. In the followers/interchange, there are 6 for 5, and on the backline there are 8 for 6. I have assumed that Ball and Keeffe are unavailable and not to be counted. Only Jolley and Cloke are uncontested. Good luck to the selectors. The cricket team would love this dilemma.

 

[Mame]

Hardest parts for me are Johnson and Didak. I really hope they can both string some games together this year but it aint looking good:

Johnson games record:
2010 - 19
2011 - 13
2012 - 5

Didak games record:
2010 - 20
2011 - 17
2012 - 9

 

[carnthepies19]

B: Maxwell - Brown - Russell
HB: Shaw - Reid (Frost) - Seedsman
C: Young - Ball (J.Thomas/Kennedy) - Beams
HF: Sidebottom - Lynch - Fasolo (Macaffer)
F: Elliott - Cloke - Krakouer
Foll: Jolly - Pendlebury - Swan

Int: D.Thomas (Johnson/O'Brien) - Toovey - Blair
Sub: Kennedy/Sinclair/J.Thomas/Didak

Guys in the brackets are the replacements for the guys in doubt for rd1.
So I've left O'Brien & Johnson out because I think Seedsman & Russell are ahead of them at this stage. If one were to dip or become injured O'Brien gets the nod first.
Caff is out (same with Goldsack) because I think I prefer having more smalls than the third tall/mid sizer forward. Plus Goldy wasn't all too flash over nab cup. If one of the small forwards were to get injured/form dip they'd be the first considered.

I think that's a fairly strong lineup which leaves some very good experience in the VFL. Johnson, Didak, Goldsack, Hudson. That's a pretty good core for the younger boys to learn from.

 

[Gone Critical]

Best for 2013 is very hard but round 1 is becoming clearer

This is mine

Maxwell Brown Toovey
Shaw Reid Russell
Sidebottom Pendles O'Brien
Elliott Lynch Seedsman
Goldsack Cloke Mooney

Jolly Beams Swan

Blair Young Clarke Johnson

Injury/Not ready - Ball Krak Fasalo Didak Thomas Keefe

Maybe still not that clear

 

[Old Spice]

Very, very tough exercise. Excluding Thomas and Ball first up:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Sidebottom - Beams - Young
HF: Elliot - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Russell - Kennedy

Sub: Didak

Imagining a full list, which wont happen:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Thomas - Beams - Young
HF: Sidebottom - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Kennedy - Ball

Sub: Didak

The first team is a bit light on midfielders and heavy on defenders.

There's nothing hard and fast about it though. If we want to put the press on full-tilt, we may need to have Sinclair, Elliot or even Mooney in there.

 

[DermiesLuvChild]

Very, very tough exercise. Excluding Thomas and Ball first up:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Sidebottom - Beams - Young
HF: Elliot - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Russell - Kennedy

Sub: Didak

Imagining a full list, which wont happen:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Thomas - Beams - Young
HF: Sidebottom - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Kennedy - Ball

Sub: Didak

The first team is a bit light on midfielders and heavy on defenders.

There's nothing hard and fast about it though. If we want to put the press on full-tilt, we may need to have Sinclair, Elliot or even Mooney in there.

I think that either Caff or Goldsack will be in Round 1 (3rd marking forward), probably at the expense of Fasolo.

 

[Old Spice]

I think that either Caff or Goldsack will be in Round 1 (3rd marking forward), probably at the expense of Fasolo.

If Fasolo is fit he gets a guernsey ahead of Cafe and Goldsack I think - two players I really like but who I think were a bit ordinary last night. I'm sure they can play much better than that, but Fasolo is a one-touch player who can convert. That said, not safe, nowhere near it.

 

[Jelly Bean]

I think what we've seen so far this pre-season is that Macaffer and Seedsman walk straight into the team. Hard to say who gives way. Possibly Goldsack and Johnson. But these 2, along with Young, Lynch and Luke Ball strike me as been the main changes to the side that played the prelim final in 2012.

I don't think that is as cut and dry as you suggest. They may be in the team in round 1 (given our injuries), but I don't know if they are in the club's best 22. I guess we won't see until we have an empty injury list (which will probably never happen).

 

[the mighty T]

Very, very tough exercise. Excluding Thomas and Ball first up:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Sidebottom - Beams - Young
HF: Elliot - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Russell - Kennedy

Sub: Didak

Imagining a full list, which wont happen:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Thomas - Beams - Young
HF: Sidebottom - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Kennedy - Ball

Sub: Didak

The first team is a bit light on midfielders and heavy on defenders.

There's nothing hard and fast about it though. If we want to put the press on full-tilt, we may need to have Sinclair, Elliot or even Mooney in there.

That impressed by Bennedy were you Spice?

Can't argue with either side but i'm not too sure about Dids at this stage and im pretty confident we'll see both of Sinclair and Elliott in for round 1

 

[Gone Critical]

If Fasolo is fit he gets a guernsey ahead of Cafe and Goldsack I think - two players I really like but who I think were a bit ordinary last night. I'm sure they can play much better than that, but Fasolo is a one-touch player who can convert. That said, not safe, nowhere near it.

I agree esp with Caff. Fas if fit is automatically in, Goldy will play as long as over the ankle fully. Fas I suspect though is getting unlikely as he is yet to play. Does anyone know what's up?

MacCaffer needs time yet. He did some nice things in NAB cup round 1 but that is the softest footy for the year with the no of players being rotated through the 2 game format. People are not making allowances for what he has to back form. I would love Caf of 2010 finals to be playing but the truth is 2011 was wrecked by injury and 2012 knee reco.

Knee reco alone is hard enough for a player to come back from but if you add he was also out most of the season before and even in 2010 was only on the edge of the senior team you appreciate the challenge he has. After 2011 he was off the list if Leon had taken up the offer made to him. Caff needs VFL time and probably a bit of it to regain confidence and regain his place. Anyone who saw him in the VFL late last year will attest how far away he was

Caff has never been an automatic selection and to think he will slot seemlessly back into the 22 after missing so much footy is unrealistic. Last night's form was probably a much truer indication of his place than round 1 NAB. Be patient with the guy its only the exceptions such as Lenny Hayes or maybe, hopefully Krak who step straight back from a non LARS ACL. Caff probably needs half a season to regain his feet

 

[Jelly Bean]

I agree esp with Caff. Fas if fit is automatically in, Goldy will play as long as over the ankle fully. Fas I suspect though is getting unlikely as he is yet to play. Does anyone know what's up?

MacCaffer needs time yet. He did some nice things in NAB cup round 1 but that is the softest footy for the year with the no of players being rotated through the 2 game format. People are not making allowances for what he has to back form. I would love Caf of 2010 finals to be playing but the truth is 2011 was wrecked by injury and 2012 knee reco.

Knee reco alone is hard enough for a player to come back from but if you add he was also out most of the season before and even in 2010 was only on the edge of the senior team you appreciate the challenge he has. After 2011 he was off the list id Leon had taken up the offer made to him. Caff needs VFL time and probably a bit of it to regain confidence and regain ghis place. Anyone who swa him in the VFL late last year will attest how far away he was

Caff hasnever been an automatic selection and to think he will slot seemlessly back into the 22 after missing so much footy is unrealistic. Last night's form was probably a much truer indication of his place than round 1 NAB. Be patient with the guy its only the exceptions such as Lenny Hayes or maybe, hopefully Krak who step straight back from a non LARS ACL. Caff probably needs half a season to regain his feet

I agree, I'm not sold on Caff just yet. Great to see him back, but I think he will need a fair bit more time before we start suggesting he has cemented a spot.

 

[Old Spice]

That impressed by Bennedy were you Spice?

Can't argue with either side but i'm not too sure about Dids at this stage and im pretty confident we'll see both of Sinclair and Elliott in for round 1

It's more a case of a midfield rotator in the absence of Ball and Thomas early. But once they're back he goes back to the pack. He's faster than Dwyer and Martin and could be a damaging forward option to go through the middle. We have plenty of small running defender options.

I'm putting Dids in as he looked sharp but was interrupted pre-season. But the forward pressure aspect might see him out as a prospect in the structure.

 

[Quicky]

Very, very tough exercise. Excluding Thomas and Ball first up:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Sidebottom - Beams - Young
HF: Elliot - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Russell - Kennedy

Sub: Didak

Imagining a full list, which wont happen:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Thomas - Beams - Young
HF: Sidebottom - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Kennedy - Ball

Sub: Didak

The first team is a bit light on midfielders and heavy on defenders.

There's nothing hard and fast about it though. If we want to put the press on full-tilt, we may need to have Sinclair, Elliot or even Mooney in there.

Do you think Didak and Krakouer are fit? I don't think we will be selecting underdone players. My suspicion would be Macaffer and Sinclair are better chances for round one selection.

 

[Old Spice]

Do you think Didak and Krakouer are fit? I don't think we will be selecting underdone players. My suspicion would be Macaffer and Sinclair are better chances for round one selection.

If neither of those are fit, I'll go Sinclair and Cafe.

 

[the mighty T]

It's more a case of a midfield rotator in the absence of Ball and Thomas early. But once they're back he goes back to the pack. He's faster than Dwyer and Martin and could be a damaging forward option to go through the middle. We have plenty of small running defender options.

I'm putting Dids in as he looked sharp but was interrupted pre-season. But the forward pressure aspect might see him out as a prospect in the structure.

I agree with you there, i think hes a more damaging option than either of those more senior blokes and is a little more versatile. I think if dids is to get into the side its got to be on a wing, playing a more outside role or as the sub where he can have that impact.

 

[kevind]

Best possible side
B Toovey Keefe Maxwell
HB Shaw Reid Seedsman
C Young Ball Thomas
HF Fasolo Cloke Beams
F. Goldsack Lynch Krakouer
R. Jolly Pendlebury Swan
Inter Sidebottom, Blair, Johnson, O'Brien

The first 3 weeks are a worry. North at Ethiad, Carlton then Hawthorn were bad results the last time we played and it looks likely we will go in without Ball and Thomas at least. In fact, after coming off a knee op, it is expecting a lot of Ball to get back to form this year.

Of the players missing form the above side.

Macaffer would have to go close, but I don't think he averages anywhere near the same goal average as Goldsack. He has better hands and is more a one touch player, but Goldsack is a far better mark , more accurate kick and is more adaptable.

I'm not a fan of Elliot. His only AFL standard strength IMO is his overhead marking and at his size it's the less prefered skill to have. He is particularly poor at crumbing, an absolute pre-requisite for a small forward and his kicking leaves a lot to be desired. If only Elliot and Witts could swap their particular strengths.

Sinclair has a few good qualities but is too likely to waste good opportunities. He chases well but does not have the strength to make tackles stick. Hard to see him kicking more than 10 goals for the year as a permanent small forward and that is not good enough.

Dwyer, Josh Thomas, Marley Williams and Martin don't look AFL level to me. All are poor disposers.

Jordan Russell??? There is something amiss with this guy. Have watched a few games he played for Carlton and I don't know what it is. Maybe he has not gotten over the hip operation.

Witts is a competitor and has a physical presence but is a way off from matching it with the better AFL ruckmen. He will not make it as a forward. Is a poor reader of the ball in flight, so is unlikely to be able to take marks up forward. Thank God we got Hudson. He will play several games this year to give the ageing Jolly a rest.

Like the look of Kennedy, from the Brissie game. Could see him playing as a small forward at times this year. But what is it with recruiting this multitude of vertically challenged players??? Enough is enough. Sydney and Geelong won the last 2 flags with teams full of big bodied players.

Mooney is interesting. Lacks footy smarts but shows some skills. Lots of speed when chasing although he is a lot slower with ball in hand.

Frost could be a player, but a bit rough around the edges atm. Nathan Brown. Like Russell, I don't know what it is with Brown. Will probably play most of the year as a key defender as Keefe will struggle to return this year, but he is a player I have never been convinced about.

If all goes well , we could have a shot at the flag, but those first few weeks of the season could see us off to a rocky start.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

Very, very tough exercise. Excluding Thomas and Ball first up:

B: Maxwell - Brown - Toovey
HB: Shaw - Reid - Seedsman
C: Sidebottom - Beams - Young
HF: Elliot - Lynch - Fasolo
F: Krakouer - Cloke - Blair
Foll: Pendlebury - Jolly - Swan

Int: O'Brien - Russell - Kennedy

Sub: Didak

Surely you blokes are going to pick a 3rd tall defender to cover the North forwards this time?

 

[Gone Critical]

Surely you blokes are going to pick a 3rd tall defender to cover the North forwards this time?

Not sure about that. Last few years we have matched really well against NM. Last match at Etihad you smacked us but we did have the staggers at that stage of the year. Will be interesting to see where match ups go. Only real 3rd tall defender option we have currently is Jack Frost who is a rookie so not even eligible for selection unless elevated next week.

 

[Gone Critical]

I'm not a fan of Elliot. His only AFL standard strength IMO is his overhead marking and at his size it's the less prefered skill to have. He is particularly poor at crumbing, an absolute pre-requisite for a small forward and his kicking leaves a lot to be desired. If only Elliot and Witts could swap their particular strengths.

I think Elliott may win you over. Hos overhead marking is a standout but so is his defensive pressure. We missed that in 2012. Also thought he used pressure and then created from the spillages very effectively against WCE. His game is developing. I am hopeful of a biy year for him