Banter 2017 - Best 22

[Mr Blicavs]

Kolo / Lonegran Henderson Bews
Touhy Taylor Thurlow / Ruggles
Duncan Menengola Guthrie
Motlop Stanley Cockatoo
Menzel Hawkins Cowan

Smith Dangerfield J Selwood

Interchange / emergencies: S Selwood Blicavs Mackie Lang McCarthy Gregson


3 way rotation through CHF with the rucks * (Smith, Stanley, Blicavs)

I read an article last week from one of the Journos, who reckons we will go one better than a Preliminary final this year.
I'm optimistic about being in the mix, but that's a top 6 side at best

 

[Bobby_]

Do not agree. Key piece in the defensive zone last season.
He'll be picked and many will be unhappy, I'll have a satisfied smile

You can smile and go through a box of tissues all you want, doesn't change the fact that Blicavs' position as a midfielder is not as certain as what it was 18 months ago.
He will need to improve on his output from last year because I see Horlin-Smith, Lang and Cockatoo stepping up this year.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

You can smile and go through a box of tissues all you want, doesn't change the fact that Blicavs' position as a midfielder is not as certain as what it was 18 months ago.
He will need to improve on his output from last year because I see Horlin-Smith, Lang and Cockatoo stepping up this year.

Never said mid did I. Have said all summer, 2nd ruck, and I stand by that now.

 

[Mr Blicavs]

You can smile and go through a box of tissues all you want, doesn't change the fact that Blicavs' position as a midfielder is not as certain as what it was 18 months ago.
He will need to improve on his output from last year because I see Horlin-Smith, Lang and Cockatoo stepping up this year.

I see Blicavs getting the 3rd Ruck rotating through the bench & CHF this year.

 

[Bobby_]

I see Blicavs getting the 3rd Ruck rotating through the bench & CHF this year.

I don't mind that.
Said it a while ago that we should just see if he can play forward because if it's not there, it has to be down back given Lonergan and Taylor will hang up the boots within a year of each other.

As a midfielder, I think he's average at best. Not enough tricks to his game to hurt the opposition.
Needs to focus on being a stopper like Lonergan.

 

[Bobby_]

Never said mid did I. Have said all summer, 2nd ruck, and I stand by that now.

Exactly how I see it which means Stanley is no longer in the team (if Taylor's playing CHF).

 

[Mr Blicavs]

I don't mind that.
Said it a while ago that we should just see if he can play forward because if it's not there, it has to be down back given Lonergan and Taylor will hang up the boots within a year of each other.

As a midfielder, I think he's average at best. Not enough tricks to his game to hurt the opposition.
Needs to focus on being a stopper like Lonergan.

He's got a lot of attributes to be a sold competitor against rotating ruckman. Size, strength, leap, stamina. my only concern is his overhead marking and his decision making under pressure. He'll get some tagging rules at some stage too I would have thought.

 

[Mr Blicavs]

Exactly how I see it which means Stanley is no longer in the team (if Taylor's playing CHF).

No way Taylor plays as a permanent foward. Not with Mackie and Lonegran on their last legs.
I prefer him as a swing man, going foward occasionally...and I see Hendo going foward at different stages too.
With a fit Kolo and Thurlow, and dash off the half back from Touhy, I'm really liking the versatility that our defence offers this year. It's exciting!

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Exactly how I see it which means Stanley is no longer in the team (if Taylor's playing CHF).

tbh I don't think we'll be rigid. There'll be games where that the strategy and others where the team set up is different. I'm sure there will be games where the makeshift CHF is Stanley and Taylor is in defence.

 

[DanA]

I really hope we are quite rigid. We had very little continuity last season and even going into the final I thought Scott had no clue what our best team was. Certainly in my mind it should not have had four KPD's.

 

[Bobby_]

I really hope we are quite rigid. We had very little continuity last season and even going into the final I thought Scott had no clue what our best team was. Certainly in my mind it should not have had four KPD's.

We did the same thing in round one against Hawthorn and they came back from a 6 goal deficit to tie the game and it was ultimately due to the smalls of Hawthorn completely getting by our tall defenders.

One wonders if Henderson was fit and cleared to play in the QF, Hawthorn probably have the run to finish off the game.

 

[Partridge]

Exactly how I see it which means Stanley is no longer in the team (if Taylor's playing CHF).

Don't see Stanley playing seconds. All the big guys are likely to be playing no matter what.

 

[bulletproof]

Kolo Henderson Touhy
Thurlow Taylor Cowan
Duncan Guthrie Menegola
Motlop Stanley Cockatoo
Menzel Hawkins Mcarthy

Smith Dangerfield J Selwood

Interchange: S Selwood Blicavs Lang Ruggles

Senior back up- Lonergan, Mackie, Murdoch, Horlin-Smith, Gregson, Black
Development games - Stewart, Parfitt, Gardner, Cunico, Parsons

 

[Lana]

In fact it seems he has not improved his contested marking

2013 = 14
2014 = 7
2015 = 19
2016 = 14
http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/M/Mark_Blicavs.html

That surprises me.

I don't think that puts his numbers in any context. Of the 187 players who averaged 18 disposals a game or more last year only 16 players recorded 14 or more contested marks during the year.

 

[Vdubs]

You can smile and go through a box of tissues all you want, doesn't change the fact that Blicavs' position as a midfielder is not as certain as what it was 18 months ago.
He will need to improve on his output from last year because I see Horlin-Smith, Lang and Cockatoo stepping up this year.

They been looking good at training have they?
Blicavs has adaptability as his second name, and will be working on his next position- whether that is tagging the big bodied guns one week- Pendles, Cripps, Bont, or-key defence another, etc. A guy like that who has worked his butt off for team and coach, is not going to down without fighting for a spot.

 

[Vdubs]

Kolo Henderson Touhy
Thurlow Taylor Cowan
Duncan Guthrie Menegola
Motlop Stanley Cockatoo
Menzel Hawkins Mcarthy

Smith Dangerfield J Selwood

Interchange: S Selwood Blicavs Lang Ruggles

Senior back up- Lonergan, Mackie, Murdoch, Horlin-Smith, Gregson, Black
Development games - Stewart, Parfitt, Gardner, Cunico, Parsons

You clearly don't rate Bews or have forgotten him- surely he gets on back-up list, or I would have him ahead of Ruggles most weeks.

 

[Jon Douglas]

Best 22 I will take, at this point in the season, as the starting 22 game 1, 2017.

We have some injuries - so Gregson is out of contention before we open the gate. I read Scooter is in the rehab group with Menzel - but I will assume they will be ready to go in a month or so. But this will need monitoring. Both are best 22 IMO.

So my starting 22 round 1 - and just to make it a bit difficult - and the positions they will line up.

Taylor at CHF because that is where he is training at present (personally I am unsure about moving the best CHB in the league).

Lonergan will play - and he becomes even more vital if Taylor departs the backline. No matter how good Henderson is at CHB for us he is unlikely to be as good as Harry in that position. Kolo GFC has been getting as much senior experience as they can - so he seems a certainty to me. Tuohy will help us fill the hole left by Boris - and he can play of quick forwards, likes to run and a good kick - so will play and I think play quite well once we have a settled line up and he is acclimatised to the Geelong way of doing things.

Thurlow - should be right to go round 1 and we will see if he trusts his knee and how much touch he has lost in the last 12 months. It may take him some time to get up to speed. But again I think Geelong sees a future in this player - so once he has some touch and confidence he will be in the line up. Henderson will obviously play and I think he will be a bit of a slow burner for us. He will be ok and slowly work his way to being a key part of the backline. Hopefully this year but we will see. Not sure why Mackie is on the outer with so many posters but last time I looked he was best 22 all 2016 season. He is getting paid well - lets put him to work. It probably will be his last year but he will be a starter in the opening round IMO.

Duncan I think can have a better season than his last, Dangerfield is a gun and just maybe this is the year of the Cockatoo. Sounds like he is training well and from past selection in the senior side - he seems to be one GFC really think can be a serious player but when that happens is up for debate. Because of his serious upside I think they may start the season with him and see how he goes in say the first 4 games. Then reassess.

Motlop wants to play more midfield - well he needs to earn that right. He needs to start on the HFF, kick goals, run down players, harass the opposition, get a bit more ball, etc. If he fires he can be a very damaging player but he needs to fire more often and when he does not fire he still needs to find a way to contribute. Then he can get some more midfield time - and assess how that works out. Lang needs games as well so he plays mainly as a FP but gets some midfield time. McCarthy could be a real find. Just needs more senior games and no injuries.

Smith and Stanley could become a pretty decent ruck combination - they just need to 10 % on last season's stats. Then Scooter needs to get fit, play most games and play well in the role given to him. I think he can do that - and if he does our midfield is better for it. Like Menegola and like Guthrie. If Menegola can average what he has done in 2016 (in only a few games) over the season I will be ecstatic. We need Guthrie to go improve again because if he does our midfield becomes quite potent. You need 3-4 A grade mids these days to be a serious threat - and a host of very good players running thru the middle - to be a very good side. We have Danger and Selwood as our A graders. I think that Scooter, Guthrie and Menegola could all be B+ players for us - and that is equivalent to having another A grade mid.

I think a lot depends on our midfield getting better if we are to seriously challenge - and that cannot come Joel or Danger. Basically if you are optimist you think that most of Kolo, Thurlow, Cockatoo, Lang and McCarthy will be better players this year - and noticeably so. The old guys and A graders will be as consistent as ever - and Duncan, Motlop, Blitz and Scooter will have better seasons. And for the icing Smith, Stanley and Guthrie improve by 10 %.

So much possibility in the Geelong side but who would know how it will actually play over the whole season ? I think Top 8 - and if much of the above happens - then Top 4. Can so many good things happen for the Cats in one season ? That has not happened in a while now.

Kolo Lonergan Tuohy
Thurlow Henderson Mackie
Duncan Dangerfield Cockatoo
Motlop Taylor Menzel
Lang Hawkins McCarthy

Smith J Selwood S Selwood

Interchange: Blicavs Stanley Menegola Guthrie

 

[BIGANT]

Two weeks out how does opinions think we'll go in v the hawks. Being in adl, it'll be interesting to see who they bring over v the cow's. Essendon in bendigo is the last match, will the mc take a full strength team for that game?

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[Pure_Ownage]

Kolo Henderson Touhy
Thurlow Taylor Cowan
Duncan Guthrie Menegola
Motlop Stanley Cockatoo
Menzel Hawkins Mcarthy

Smith Dangerfield J Selwood

Interchange: S Selwood Blicavs Lang Ruggles

Senior back up- Lonergan, Mackie, Murdoch, Horlin-Smith, Gregson, Black
Development games - Stewart, Parfitt, Gardner, Cunico, Parsons

Stewart over Cowan for me but the pre season games will be telling on that.

I also probably prefer taylor at chf with one of stanley/blicavs as 2nd ruck or out of the side. But i would change that depending on how the early rounds go.

I also think bews/ruggles for the last defender spot (and probably the last spot in the 22) is pretty line ball and might be so all year.

I do wonder whether they will retain mackie in the 22 or not.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

They been looking good at training have they?
Blicavs has adaptability as his second name, and will be working on his next position- whether that is tagging the big bodied guns one week- Pendles, Cripps, Bont, or-key defence another, etc. A guy like that who has worked his butt off for team and coach, is not going to down without fighting for a spot.

Really? I feel his versatility is vastly overstated.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Two weeks out how does opinions think we'll go in v the hawks. Being in adl, it'll be interesting to see who they bring over v the cow's. Essendon in bendigo is the last match, will the mc take a full strength team for that game?

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We're only one week away from playing Hawthorn. Not two.

 

[David the Cat]

Sounds like people should be considering Bews up forward from stories emanating from the Cats website.

 

[bulletproof]

You clearly don't rate Bews or have forgotten him- surely he gets on back-up list, or I would have him ahead of Ruggles most weeks.

Forgot him!

 

[Jon Douglas]

Stewart over Cowan for me but the pre season games will be telling on that.

I also probably prefer taylor at chf with one of stanley/blicavs as 2nd ruck or out of the side. But i would change that depending on how the early rounds go.

I also think bews/ruggles for the last defender spot (and probably the last spot in the 22) is pretty line ball and might be so all year.

I do wonder whether they will retain mackie in the 22 or not.

I know little of Stewart other than he came from a local Geelong league and it was Scarlett who bought him to the club. Then played in the VFL side and did well. I hardly saw a VFL game last season. 23 year old (soon to be 24), 190 cm, mature bodied 88kgs - backman. It seems a few posters think he may be ok.

Can someone more knowledgeable than I on Stewart give me a bit of an assessment on his VFL season and how he is going at training presently.

Much appreciated.

 

[Vdubs]

Really? I feel his versatility is vastly overstated.

So you can define him as a one position player?