sante
Emu
We don't get smashed in the air, generally.
Cloke got hold of Rance 2 seasons ago, Warnock got the better of the centre bounces in the 2013 EF, but in 2014, I don't really remember us getting our smashings in the air. So, I'm not sure Maric, Vickery and Griffiths can all play on the ground at the same time, especially if we have Rance, Chaplin and Astbury all in the back half.
IMO, our poorest performances in 2014, as a whole team, came when we 1) don't win the contested ground ball, 2) didn't spread well, both ways.
My best 22, for what it's worth, is hoping for a little more grunt and poke around the packs, and good coverage over the open grass through the middle.
FB: Morris, Astbury, Grimes
HB: Houli, Rance, Lennon
C: Ellis, Cotchin, Edwards
HF: Deledio, Griffiths, Knights
FF: Martin, Riewoldt, Pettard
Fol: Maric, Miles, Vlaustin
I: Hunt, McDonough, Foley, Grigg (s)
So, depending who we are playing, I'd leave out Vickery and Chaplin. I think Pettard and Grimes (respectively) give almost as much in the air and cover the ground a lot quicker.
No room for Conca? I personally think Foley will struggle to be best 22 as the year unfolds. I think we will go with both Tyrone and Griff and be shorter in defence. Out of Astbury/Grimes though, Chaplin is a lock unfortunately