2015 Round 1 Line up

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I must of missed it but what is this basis that Picken is going to be played as a small defensive forward this season. A lot of people are suggesting this could be happening but I'm unsure where this noise is coming from.

Also word of Goodes starting this season frightens me only room for one of him or M.Boyd, can't add anymore slow inside mids into our team already its stacked. Also no room for Hunter, hes been flying this preseason.

Picken's been training with the forwards for most of the pre-season, including in the intra-clubs. I don't think he'll play there all the time but I certainly think it's going to be a big part of his rotation this year.

Hunter was an oversight - take your pick from the bench. I think Wood and Stevens will both be vital this season given the experience/bigger body while Bev seems extremely impressed with Jong. Johannisen may be the one but I'm loathe to take out one of the few guys with genuine footspeed.

 

[Dogsman16]

Picken's been training with the forwards for most of the pre-season, including in the intra-clubs. I don't think he'll play there all the time but I certainly think it's going to be a big part of his rotation this year.

Hunter was an oversight - take your pick from the bench. I think Wood and Stevens will both be vital this season given the experience/bigger body while Bev seems extremely impressed with Jong. Johannisen may be the one but I'm loathe to take out one of the few guys with genuine footspeed.

Its a pretty close team to what I would have (which I have changed 9 times in the past 6 weeks) only really I would swap Goodes for Hunter. But goodes certainly needs to be upgraded and a competent replacement if Boyd/Wally/Libba went down.

FB: Wood, Roughead, Morris
HB: Biggs, Talia, JJ
C: Murphy, Bontempelli, Macrae
HF: Dahlhaus, Redpath, Hrovat
F: Stringer, Boyd, Hunter
R: Minson, Libba, Wallis
Int: Jong, Picken, Stevens/Grant
Sub: M.Boyd
Emg: Cordy, Daniel, Dickson

Would really like to push Murph onto the wing to give us more attacking flair, also Biggs effectively replaces Higgins role, but we need Woody and JJ to stand up and cement those positions. Also have Dahlhaus more high half forward and we could swap Grant for Stevens if the team remains to one paced. Wouldn't be taking any footspeed out of that side since its in such high demand.

 

[flyingfishdang]

A team built off of off-season happenings so far (note - I don't necessarily agree with everything here, but this is a team built around who's impressing and what we've heard about new roles etc, mixed in with some of my own opinion):

M. Boyd Roughead Morris
Biggs Talia Murphy

Bontempelli Liberatore Macrae

Picken Redpath Stringer
Hrovat T. Boyd Dahlhaus

Minson Wallis Goodes

Jong Wood Stevens
Johannisen

EMG: Cordy Dickson Hamling​

Foot skills are a massive issue, as is pace, but we're going to have trouble with both of them regardless of what team we play. Focus on playing the best players available. Winning the contested ball, team defense and a coherent forward structure are going to be vital to any victories playing a team like this.

Take out Goodes, put Jong on the ball and place hunter on the bench and I reckon this is pretty spot on.

 

[BEaston]

Off the top of my head without looking at our list boyd in a pocket is a massive laugh , you don't play a 201cm 104kg million dollar man in a foward pocket especially having redpath in his place who at the moment is a dud .. Wallis and jong both on ball haha that is a huge laugh so he wants 3 mids in the middle jong Wallis and libba if this happens we will lose by 100 points every week Hrovat has shown more than hunter and jong should be on the field would nearly play Murphy up foward and give someone a chance off half back that has good foot skills

What a rubbish, mostly incoherent post.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Goodes could definitely be the one that makes way but from what I've seen he's almost certainly best 22 running through the midfield (as much as I hate to admit it). If we're picking our best side I think he's in there - but I'd personally play Hunter over him as well.

 

[Dogsman16]

If there is an area that I would have to choose for us to go backwards (absolutely have to) its certainly on the inside. We have arguably the best contested mid in the game in libba (the stats say) so why don't we pair him up with Wally then pick a stack of players who either use the ball really well (murph, biggs, hrovat, Bonts, macrae) and/or blinding speed (Jong, Dahlhaus, JJ, Wood) and have them rotate through the forward and midfield or the backline and midfield. Bonts, Hrovat, Macrae, Jong can all chop out in the guts and throw one of the best taggers in the business in Picken and then it looks really well rounded. If we are beaten by experience this year so be it. I cannot standing losing from a lack of run, pace and height at either end any longer.

So much easier to gain experience than pace and skills.

 

[the conch]

A team built off of off-season happenings so far (note - I don't necessarily agree with everything here, but this is a team built around who's impressing and what we've heard about new roles etc, mixed in with some of my own opinion):

M. Boyd Roughead Morris
Biggs Talia Murphy

Bontempelli Liberatore Macrae

Picken Redpath Stringer
Hrovat T. Boyd Dahlhaus

Minson Wallis Goodes

Jong Wood Stevens
Johannisen

EMG: Cordy Dickson Hamling​

Foot skills are a massive issue, as is pace, but we're going to have trouble with both of them regardless of what team we play. Focus on playing the best players available. Winning the contested ball, team defense and a coherent forward structure are going to be vital to any victories playing a team like this.

Hunter? And our best kick Daniel if you prioritise foot skills?

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

If there is an area that I would have to choose for us to go backwards (absolutely have to) its certainly on the inside. We have arguably the best contested mid in the game in libba (the stats say) so why don't we pair him up with Wally then pick a stack of players who either use the ball really well (murph, biggs, hrovat, Bonts, macrae) and/or blinding speed (Jong, Dahlhaus, JJ, Wood) and have them rotate through the forward and midfield or the backline and midfield. Bonts, Hrovat, Macrae, Jong can all chop out in the guts and throw one of the best taggers in the business in Picken and then it looks really well rounded. If we are beaten by experience this year so be it. I cannot standing losing from a lack of run, pace and height at either end any longer.

So much easier to gain experience than pace and skills.

I both agree and disagree. I think we can afford to lose a little on the inside of the contest but I don't think it's the time to be ditching what little experience we have in order to bring in raw, inexperienced players that kick the ball a bit better or run a bit faster. Any team we play is going to be young, and any team we play is going to be helping to develop players for the future - but they'll be helped more when there are experienced heads out on the ground aiding them in learning the nuances of the game at the highest level, and to some extent protecting them while they do so.

It's a balancing act for sure. I don't think it's the time to blow it up and play the kids in every line of the ground. Yes, they may kick the ball well and they may run a bit faster but we're losing the strength, intelligence, experience, gut-running ability and more of the experienced heads. It's time to win games of football. Putting what little experience we have in the side gives us the best chance to do so until they're overtaken by the likes of McLean, Daniel, R. Smith, C. Smith etc.

 

[Yojimbo]

Hunter? And our best kick Daniel if you prioritise foot skills?

As Bevo has come from Hawthorn i can see him using a similar system which
i call the triangle of terror. Mid/Forwards are our strength so why not play to
your strengths. 1st triangle, Bontempelli, Crameri and Stringer. 2nd triangle
Dahlhaus, Hrovat and Hunter. One from each in the middle, two down Fwd
add bench rotations for rests and a different look. Then you can incorporate
Daniel and Honeychurch as form dictates. Hawthorn are the kings of rotation
hopefully we can be too.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Hunter? And our best kick Daniel if you prioritise foot skills?

Daniel's an interesting case and you could certainly slot him in somewhere given pre-season form. We have a lot of players playing for the high half-forward role though. I also get the sense that Bev is going to give all of the draftees time and not throw them straight into the team - especially after this quote:

We have a pretty good ‘mosquito fleet’ – Dahlhaus, Hrovat, Hunter, Honeychurch and we, obviously have brought some new kids in, who I don’t really want to talk about but you never know whether one of them is going to step up.

 

[the conch]

Daniel's an interesting case and you could certainly slot him in somewhere given pre-season form. We have a lot of players playing for the high half-forward role though. I also get the sense that Bev is going to give all of the draftees time and not throw them straight into the team - especially after this quote:

I reckon that's good stuff from Bev.
(I might be on the rebound but I feel pretty positive about the Doggies year ahead.)

 

[TBOW]

I would rather see Stevens trialled as a defensive forward than have Picken up there.

Koby should have the speed/tank/strength/mongrel to go with most and is much more dangerous when the ball is going the other way. Especially overhead.

I also feel like I have seen him set up well in the forward line from centre bounces & take a few marks from centre clearances.

 

[TBOW]

Goodes could definitely be the one that makes way but from what I've seen he's almost certainly best 22 running through the midfield (as much as I hate to admit it). If we're picking our best side I think he's in there - but I'd personally play Hunter over him as well.

Are you assuming that Smith goes LTI?

He would probably punch Bevo in the face if he gets told that.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Are you assuming that Smith goes LTI?

He would probably punch Bevo in the face if he gets told that.

I thought he was still a few months out from competition? He did it late July iirc.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Are you assuming that Smith goes LTI?

He would probably punch Bevo in the face if he gets told that.

I know Clay's as tough as nails, but have you seen the guns on Bevo? I'd have money on him in a fight against just about anyone.

 

[fronkalicious]

A team built off of off-season happenings so far (note - I don't necessarily agree with everything here, but this is a team built around who's impressing and what we've heard about new roles etc, mixed in with some of my own opinion):

M. Boyd Roughead Morris
Biggs Talia Murphy

Bontempelli Liberatore Macrae

Picken Redpath Stringer
Hrovat T. Boyd Dahlhaus

Minson Wallis Goodes

Jong Wood Stevens
Johannisen

EMG: Cordy Dickson Hamling​

Foot skills are a massive issue, as is pace, but we're going to have trouble with both of them regardless of what team we play. Focus on playing the best players available. Winning the contested ball, team defense and a coherent forward structure are going to be vital to any victories playing a team like this.

Boyd, Picken, Wallis, goodes, jong, wood and Stevens........west coast might kick a record score off turnovers.

Understand and agree with the philosophy that we don't have enough well rounded, 2 way players dannnnnnn, but I'd much prefer we erred on the side of speed, ball users and guys that make good decisions than stack the team with tough nuts that are hugely deficient in these areas. It's definitely pick your poison for beveridge though. Be interesting to see which way he leans.

 

[Hrovat24]

Boyd, Picken, Wallis, goodes, jong, wood and Stevens........west coast might kick a record score off turnovers.

Understand and agree with the philosophy that we don't have enough well rounded, 2 way players dannnnnnn, but I'd much prefer we erred on the side of speed, ball users and guys that make good decisions than stack the team with tough nuts that are hugely deficient in these areas. It's definitely pick your poison for beveridge though. Be interesting to see which way he leans.

I agree but try get it through everyones heads

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Boyd, Picken, Wallis, goodes, jong, wood and Stevens........west coast might kick a record score off turnovers.

Understand and agree with the philosophy that we don't have enough well rounded, 2 way players dannnnnnn, but I'd much prefer we erred on the side of speed, ball users and guys that make good decisions than stack the team with tough nuts that are hugely deficient in these areas. It's definitely pick your poison for beveridge though. Be interesting to see which way he leans.

Just out of curiosity though how would you combat that? Realistically the only players with good skills that I've left out are Grant (only sometimes), Z. Cordy (shoulder and not ready for AFL), McLean (probably not quite ready), Roberts (doesn't get much of the ball regardless), Webb (not ready), Hamilton (not ready), Prudden (fit?), Dale (not ready), Darley (fighting for a stacked position) and Daniel (could fit in somewhere). I want these types of guys to be knocking Goodes' and Boyd's doors down to boot them out of the side this year but I just don't think we can afford to do it yet. I don't really want our side to be stacked with so many average ball users either but each of them offers something we need.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

I don't mind the Goodes selection.

He's a mature body, his disposal will look considerably better if our ball movement isn't as infuriatingly slow and space is created, and to date, he actually hasn't been played at AFL level in the position that he's excelled in throughout his VFL career.

Provided we've also got guys like Daniel (ready to go) and Hrovat (better utilised in the midfield) distributing the ball in congestion, there can be a balance between our older butchers and the younger dead-eyes.

 

[black pup]

Goodes in best 22, I cannot see that.
His place is where he sit's, on the Rookie list.
Defeats everything Beveridge has done to play a 33 yo, slow and kicking not good enough.
He needs to be playing at VFL level with Footscray developing our young talent, strong tough body, best footballer in VFL. GOODES has a big job to do at Footscray VFL.
Backward step in both directions to play Goodes in AFL, he has a most important job to do at Footscray,

 

[fronkalicious]

Just out of curiosity though how would you combat that? Realistically the only players with good skills that I've left out are Grant (only sometimes), Z. Cordy (shoulder and not ready for AFL), McLean (probably not quite ready), Roberts (doesn't get much of the ball regardless), Webb (not ready), Hamilton (not ready), Prudden (fit?), Dale (not ready), Darley (fighting for a stacked position) and Daniel (could fit in somewhere). I want these types of guys to be knocking Goodes' and Boyd's doors down to boot them out of the side this year but I just don't think we can afford to do it yet. I don't really want our side to be stacked with so many average ball users either but each of them offers something we need.

I have hunter, crameri/grant (pending suspension) and Dickson in place of 3 of those guys. I'd go for goal-kicking and creativity instead.

I'd only pick 1 of jong/Stevens and 2 of boyd/Wallis/Picken/goodes. Team balance is going to be huge this year.

 

[Cori]

Here we go again:

B: Wood Roughead Morris
HB: Murphy Talia Biggs
C: Macrae Bonti Grant
HF: Hunter Redpath Picken
F: T. Boyd Stringer Dahlhaus
Foll: Minson Libba Wallis

Int: Stevens, M. Boyd, Jong
Sub: Hrovat

Just on recent talks regarding trialled positions and preseason form. I don't mind the idea of Grant playing as sub and Jong starting on the wing. That centre line is 190cm+. Italicised players playing both midfield and forward or back; Picken being used everywhere.

 

[Bazza Bulldog]

Darley (fighting for a stacked position)

Not sure what you mean by stacked? Perhaps 'stacked' with options, but I'd say that our HBF, BP positions are anything but stacked with players who have cemented their spot.

Murphy - yes
Picken - yes, but average ball user. I'd prefer him to play HF/FP.
Wood - almost ... but I'm still not sold on him as a defender due to inconsistent ball use and decision making
JJ - lots of potential, but no lock yet
Biggs & Darley - perhaps in a similar position to each other.

Others Prudden, Webb, Kelly ... are rookies. Given that we'll likely play Roughie, Morris and 1 other tall (Roberts would be my choice), I'd say that only 1 (Murphy) of the other 3 backline positions are set.

 

[footyfan000001]

Been plenty of talk regarding position changes. I reckon our Round 1 team will look something like this:

B: Wood Roughead Morris
HB: Murphy Talia/Hamling Biggs
C: Grant Jong Macrae
HF: Stringer Crameri Dickson
F: Picken (on Hurn) T.Boyd Dahlhaus
R: Minson Liberatore M.Boyd

INT: Stevens Bontempelli Hunter
SUB: Hrovat

Rotations: M.Boyd to the backline, Wood to wing, T.Boyd in ruck, Dahlhaus/Hunter/Bonti/Stevens through forward and midfield, Picken takes either dangerous small forward or attacking backman.

Not sure if we can play both Wallis and Jong in same 22? Struggling to fit both in if everyone is fit.

EMG: Wallis Daniel Redpath

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Not sure what you mean by stacked? Perhaps 'stacked' with options, but I'd say that our HBF, BP positions are anything but stacked with players who have cemented their spot.

Murphy - yes
Picken - yes, but average ball user. I'd prefer him to play HF/FP.
Wood - almost ... but I'm still not sold on him as a defender due to inconsistent ball use and decision making
JJ - lots of potential, but no lock yet
Biggs & Darley - perhaps in a similar position to each other.

Others Prudden, Webb, Kelly ... are rookies. Given that we'll likely play Roughie, Morris and 1 other tall (Roberts would be my choice), I'd say that only 1 (Murphy) of the other 3 backline positions are set.

My point was that all five of those names are above Darley at this point in time and not all of them will play. If you're naming a best 22 it's hard to get Darley in there from my perspective.