2013 Team

[knaf]

Like your methodology dlanod. I would be pretty happy to see that team on the field.

Just a follow –up on Polkinghorne and his role in the team as a defenseive forward. In some ways he is comparable to Craig McRea who has an integral part of the early noughty teams. McRea was more a crummer than a lead up marking options but both are/werethere as role-player to support team functioning.

McRea’s career average - 12.9 disposals, 2.4 marks, 1.2 goals and 1.9 tackles
Polkinghorne 2012 average – 14.0 disposals, 3.3 marks, 0.6 goals (including one absolute game breaker) and 2.4 tackles.

I suppose Polks' place in the 22 is going to be based more on how he contributes to team structure than specific outputs. I was interested to see though that except for goals Polks is ahead of the Fly in all other stats including tackles, which surprised me.

I think Polks is going to slide in the pecking order because players like Zorko, Green, Bewick and Mc Grath and maybe Ace (although not like for like replcements) are going to contribe what Polks can and then something extra.

 

[POBT]

dlanod - nice analysis.

I wouldn't have Bewick as a "must" just yet. I think the competition for his spot is too great and I'm not convinced that his 2012 form was so good as to make him a lock. Having said that, he's probably in my best 22 on balance - but I could see a few permutations occurring which could conceivably see him miss the side for round 1 - eg Green into a pocket, Beams onto the bench.

 

[dlanod]

Wouldn't be surprised if one of the three out of Papa,Close or Bourke are trialled down back in the NAB Cup. Voss likes to throw curve balls so I'll wait and see what happens.

Kerr flagged Bourke as a potential KPD in his draft notes, so you may be on to something more than you know.

dlanod - nice analysis.

I wouldn't have Bewick as a "must" just yet. I think the competition for his spot is too great and I'm not convinced that his 2012 form was so good as to make him a lock. Having said that, he's probably in my best 22 on balance - but I could see a few permutations occurring which could conceivably see him miss the side for round 1 - eg Green into a pocket, Beams onto the bench.

Bewick was an interesting one. I think based off his form to finish last year (which is all I think we can work off at this point) makes him a must. Similarly to Lester and Polkinghorne, he also gets the benefit of the doubt because the coaching heirarchy gives him that benefit of the doubt as well. I think he could very quickly fall off if he doesn't follow up that form, but I was really only trying to pick the team as I think it may line up in week 1, i.e. not my preferred team, but what the coaching staff will do. It was also only for week 1 - it's hard enough to predict that than trying to factor in future form, not to mention injuries, improved fitness, etc.

 

[Dylan12]

i have a feeling that mcgrath might only get a few games

Considering he is our third or fourth most experienced player, coupled with the fact that he was recently signed for a further two years, I think it highly unlikely.

IMO, Ash is a grossly underrated player that has the flexibiliy and ability to play either end of the ground comfortably.

 

[Quigley]

McGrath gets a bit comfortable I think. When he is good he is easily best 22 but his form does fall away fairly frequently and in those cases he is probably not worth his spot. He seems to be at his best when he is moved around a bit and Voss has done that a few times.

 

[borrat]

Considering he is our third or fourth most experienced player, coupled with the fact that he was recently signed for a further two years, I think it highly unlikely.

IMO, Ash is a grossly underrated player that has the flexibiliy and ability to play either end of the ground comfortably.

i agree to an extent but imo anyway i dont think he will play that much could be a good supersub though

 

[Morgs_]

Kerr flagged Bourke as a potential KPD in his draft notes, so you may be on to something more than you know.

I just think that will all the talls we've acquired in the past couple of months, I think 2 out of the group will be played down back. Out of these talls Martin, Lisle, Bourke, Paparone, Close and Michael; I think two of them will be groomed as backmen. IMO Michael as raw as he is has to play as a KPF or KPB because of his size. He could be the guy that takes that gorilla forward/back when Goose/Brown finish up. I hope Vossy throws a few of the new kids down back and sees how they go.

 

[Tassie4ever]

McGrath gets a bit comfortable I think. When he is good he is easily best 22 but his form does fall away fairly frequently and in those cases he is probably not worth his spot. He seems to be at his best when he is moved around a bit and Voss has done that a few times.

Very well put.

To me it's always interesting to watch his interaction with teammates. Very seldom is there any.

 

[CallumBartlett]

Going through our senior list (plus Bartlett), I've got 17 musts:

Patfull Merrett Golby
Adcock Maguire Hanley
Rich Redden Rockliff
Zorko Brown ???
Bewick ??? McGrath
Leuenberger Moloney Raines
Int: Black ??? ??? ???

I've then got another 14 maybes, for reasons ranging from injury to role to fitness to competition for slots. All have been at least regulars in the seniors at different points:

Polkinghorne
Staker
Cornelius
Banfield
Lisle
Harwood
Beams
Karnezis
Green
Lester
Polec
Yeo
Crisp
Martin

And then the remaining nine, squeezed out either due to competition for slots (McKeever and Longer), injury to a fringe player (O'Brien) or yet to debut so no form line yet:

McKeever
O'Brien
Bartlett
Longer
Docherty
Wearden
Mayes
Paparone
Close

Given my initial team, the missing slots are a second tall forward and a forward/ruck out of Martin, Lisle and Cornelius, and three smalls or utilities on the interchange with one the sub. I like Yeo, Crisp, Polec and Harwood but I think each will have to force their way back in to a fit side. That leaves Staker and Lester as utilities, Polkinghorne, Banfield, Beams, Karnezis and Green as the smalls. The three slots I'd pick would be Staker, Banfield and Green, because we're still quite one-paced, and I rate Staker above Lester assuming his preseason goes without a hitch. The three slots I think Voss would pick would be Lester, Polkinghorne and Green.

Patfull Merrett Golby
Adcock Maguire Hanley
Rich Redden Rockliff
Zorko Brown Lisle/Cornelius
Bewick Martin McGrath
Leuenberger Moloney Raines
Int: Black Lester Polkinghorne Green

The actual spots may be rearranged between bench and field. I honestly can't split Lisle and Cornelius at this stage given we don't need Lisle's rucking as I've picked Martin as the second ruck, so I'll leave them to fight it out in the preseason.

Edit: Looking at that team, I'm pretty happy with it. Moloney has forced out Beams, as he would've been my pick for that slot otherwise. The fact that we've only really got a handful of slots to fill warms the cockles of my heart.

Really like your team only thing I would add is Staker is a must for mine he gets the Lisle/Cornelius spot and Lisle/Martin fight for the Martin spot. Also McGrath has to go back.

 

[dlanod]

Really like your team only thing I would add is Staker is a must for mine he gets the Lisle/Cornelius spot and Lisle/Martin fight for the Martin spot. Also McGrath has to go back.

Staker may or may not have the fitness base required to kick off in week 1. I'm hoping he does, but I'm not convinced he will. As for McGrath, we've simply got a plethora of riches down back but have holes up forward. I expect him to rotate between and even within games.

 

[Simba Moyo]

Fun facts brought to you by the Lions

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2012-12-14/list-facts-and-figures

 

[KissKiss]

Interesting update that. I keep forgetting how young Rich is

 

[blynd_freddie]

Going through our senior list (plus Bartlett), I've got 17 musts:

Patfull Merrett Golby
Adcock Maguire Hanley
Rich Redden Rockliff
Zorko Brown ???
Bewick ??? McGrath
Leuenberger Moloney Raines
Int: Black ??? ??? ???


Patfull Merrett Golby
Adcock Maguire Hanley
Rich Redden Rockliff
Zorko Brown Lisle/Cornelius
Bewick Martin McGrath
Leuenberger Moloney Raines
Int: Black Lester Polkinghorne Green


Edit: Looking at that team, I'm pretty happy with it. Moloney has forced out Beams, as he would've been my pick for that slot otherwise. The fact that we've only really got a handful of slots to fill warms the cockles of my heart.

A well laid out post of your hows & whys dlanod, guess I should have done the same with mine, I cannot believe I had neglected to select Moloney in my team.

B: McGrath-Merrett-Adcock
HB: Golby-Maguire-Patfull
C: Polec-Rich-Hanley
HF:Zorko-Brown-Bewick
F:Green-Martin-Staker

R:Leuenberger-Redden-Raines
INT: Rockliff-Black-Beams-Lester-Moloney*

*edit - my adjustment is to omit either Polec or Beams... I guess that's why? - I'm thinking on 2012 form it might be Polec??

 

[Groo2]

Just about everyone has Maguire locked in (no pun intended) at CHB. Think as it reaches the end of his career he is full back or nowhere. As above if McKeever or Clarke can develop into CHB this year, this would add the greater mobility the position demands, leaving Maguire as basically backup if Merrett gets injured. Or if Brown/our ruck stocks go down and Merret is needed up forward.

 

[wantok]

Just about everyone has Maguire locked in (no pun intended) at CHB. Think as it reaches the end of his career he is full back or nowhere. As above if McKeever or Clarke can develop into CHB this year, this would add the greater mobility the position demands, leaving Maguire as basically backup if Merrett gets injured. Or if Brown/our ruck stocks go down and Merret is needed up forward.

Couldn't agree more. Merrett's superior pace and aerobic ability should be best used as an attacking CHB in the Leppa mode. He not only has Leppa's spoiling ability he could also link up nicely into the midfield

Patfull Maguire Adcock

Docherty Merrett Golby

 

[RedRockBerger]

Black is not a certainty for round 1 because of his knee operation is the rumour that is floating around, this potentially means mayes gets a round 1 debut. Mark Harvey did say that we would see a lot of mayes and that he is ready to go.

 

[borrat]

interesting that not many people have doc in their best 22's

if ever there was a perfect replacement for drummond its him and the fact he can play in the midifield to

and he also lets hanley play more midfield when at half back which can only be a good thing

 

[Simba Moyo]

Black is not a certainty for round 1 because of his knee operation is the rumour that is floating around, this potentially means mayes gets a round 1 debut. Mark Harvey did say that we would see a lot of mayes and that he is ready to go.

Apparently it's just a clean up so it won't bother him further down the track, but yes, considering we're taking on the dogs v rd 1 I'd be happy to see Mayes on the park. Especially since Black is his mentor, Mayes is going to be dangerously classy.

 

[DaZorko]

I think you should change topic to 2013 premiership team, I have a funny feeling.

 

[Simba Moyo]

It was a hot one today, boys are looking good and focused. Vossy getting excited about our first 2013 player sponsor Claye Beams

http://www.lions.com.au/video/2012-12-17/voss-training-update

 

[Grimreepah]

Fun facts brought to you by the Lions

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2012-12-14/list-facts-and-figures

"Ben Hudson’s departure also means Simon Black reclaims his mantle as the Club’s oldest player (33), while rookie recruit Nick Hayes is the Lions’ youngest having only turned 18 last month."

But... according to footywire:

Hayes DOB = 11th August 1994 (18 years and four months)
Paparone DOB = 3rd September 1994 (18 years and three months)
Jordan Bourke DOB = 11th November 1994 (18years and one month)

 

[POBT]

"Ben Hudson’s departure also means Simon Black reclaims his mantle as the Club’s oldest player (33), while rookie recruit Nick Hayes is the Lions’ youngest having only turned 18 last month."

But... according to footywire:

Hayes DOB = 11th August 1994 (18 years and four months)
Paparone DOB = 3rd September 1994 (18 years and three months)
Jordan Bourke DOB = 11th November 1994 (18years and one month)

I reckon they meant Bourke.

 

[Grimreepah]

I reckon they meant Bourke.

Most likely.

 

[HPLion]

While there has been a divergence of opinion on the make up of the 2013 team there is general agreement on the improved squad depth that Voss has at his disposal. The rotation policy of the Australian cricket team is not well liked but I wonder if we might see the Lions rest and rotate players this year.

There are a number of players who could share a position over the course of 2013. For example, Docherty, Harwood, Yeo could split games on the HB and Polec, Mayes, Bewick, Karnezis at HF. Then you have any number of combinations in the midfield even to the extent of resting Simon Black periodically (each 4/5 weeks?) rather than say subbing him. The options on offer to Voss are considerable.

A rotation policy may help us run out matches and the season stronger with what is still a young team and get games into younger players such as Yeo who may not be best 22 (yet) but may mean we do not always have our best 22 on form on the field.

Would/should Voss consider rotating players /games?

 

[pauldrc]

While there has been a divergence of opinion on the make up of the 2013 team there is general agreement on the improved squad depth that Voss has at his disposal. The rotation policy of the Australian cricket team is not well liked but I wonder if we might see the Lions rest and rotate players this year.

There are a number of players who could share a position over the course of 2013. For example, Docherty, Harwood, Yeo could split games on the HB and Polec, Mayes, Bewick, Karnezis at HF. Then you have any number of combinations in the midfield even to the extent of resting Simon Black periodically (each 4/5 weeks?) rather than say subbing him. The options on offer to Voss are considerable.

A rotation policy may help us run out matches and the season stronger with what is still a young team and get games into younger players such as Yeo who may not be best 22 (yet) but may mean we do not always have our best 22 on form on the field.

Would/should Voss consider rotating players /games?

Don't exactly love the idea, but can see this becoming more and more the norm in modern footy, so yeah, I can see this happening.

Guys like Longer and Harwood probably likely to be in a similar position also....