2021 - Best 22

[brad cooper]

Im bored so ill do 2023

Gould Melican Lloyd
Mills DGB McInerney
Stephens Hewett Blakey
Heeney ? Hayward
Papley ? Gulden

? Rowbottom Campbell

McCartin Florent ? ?

McCartin a bit stiff not to be in starting 18 given you've got a bloke not yet to debut, a player we haven't even drafted yet and if you can't find a spot for him in the backline surely he gets a spot in the forward line ahead of 2 key position question marks

 

[WillHayward]

McCartin a bit stiff not to be in starting 18 given you've got a bloke not yet to debut, a player we haven't even drafted yet and if you can't find a spot for him in the backline surely he gets a spot in the forward line ahead of 2 key position question marks

Hahah. True.
Sometimes fantasy over runs reality .

 

[brad cooper]

Hahah. True.
Sometimes fantasy over runs reality .

whilst where at it, think you should find a spot for Dawson!

lots of talent there, the ruck and key forwards being the glaring hole in the team, something if we address in the 2021 and 2022 trade/free agency/draft periods could see us as a contender for that 2023 season.

 

[S120]

Obviously it's too early to do this because our list is nowhere near finalised, but I love doing best 22's so to hell with it. This is without our Academy picks, pick 3, and potential ins like Paddy McCartin to this point.

Cunningham - Rampe - Mills
Lloyd - McCartin - Dawson
McInerney - Parker - Stephens
Florent - Franklin - Blakey
Papley - Reid - Heeney
Hickey - Kennedy - Rowbottom

Hewett - Sinclair - Fox - Hayward

I considered Melican at FB but I think now that Aliir is gone, I'd opt to use Mills more permanently in that floating intercept role because Rampe and McCartin can take the biggest, strongest KPF's. Having Melican in to do that would mean Rampe can move down to play as the interceptor or play on smalls but realistically, when we come up against the best key forwards, I'd want Rampe taking one of them. He's still excellent at it. That means Mills plays the intercepting role and Fox comes in at Melican's expense because of his athleticism and versatility (assuming Fox gets re-signed). And also I trust him more. Dawson is a really interesting one. I would want to solidify him in a position from now on but he's good all over the ground. I'd stick with him in defence when we have a full compliment of players and let him rebound at will with Lloyd - if Heeney was hurt, that'd be a different story, I'd play Dawson forward at that point. Then Cunningham is the lock down small defender which I've been wanting him to be for years, very happy he's now there.

The midfield is tricky. Hickey and Sinclair are obviously the rucks with Sinclair spending most time forward. But then we've got a glut of guys who would want midfield or wing time: Kennedy, Parker, Florent, Rowbottom, Hewett, McInerney, and Stephens. I'd want to lock in at least two wingmen the way other clubs like Brisbane and WCE and Richmond have. Maybe two wingmen who play the majority of time and then another one or two who can moonlight there when the main men need a rest. So McInerney is gonna be one for sure, to me he's got the ideal set of skills to be a really good wingman. I'd go with Stephens on the other - long-term that isn't gonna be exclusively where he plays (I think he'll be playing more inside as he gets stronger kinda like Andrew Gaff

3

Andrew Gaff

Age

32

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.6

5star

K

15.9

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

24.5

5star

K

15.6

5star

HB

8.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.0

3star

CL

2.5

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

0.6

3star

) but again he's got the skillset to do it right now to a good level. They're both young which isn't ideal really but I'd have Florent and Blakey playing time there as well. As for on-ball, inside midfield time that leaves me with a rotation of Kennedy, Parker, Rowbottom, Florent, and Hewett. I'd like Kennedy to spend less time on the ball this year and more time across HF a la David Mundy

16

David Mundy

Age

39

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.1

5star

K

11.2

4star

HB

11.8

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.3

5star

CL

5.1

5star

D

15.7

4star

K

6.7

3star

HB

9.0

4star

M

2.3

2star

T

2.7

4star

CL

3.7

5star

D

27.8

5star

K

15.4

5star

HB

12.4

5star

M

5.8

5star

T

6.2

5star

CL

7.2

5star

at Freo and probably the same with Parker (but playing deeper forward). Rowbottom and Florent play as much time on the ball as possible with Hewett.

Forward line. Papley and Heeney are left forward as much as humanly possible with Franklin (again, assuming he's fit which, who knows anymore). Sinclair and Reid are there to add height, although I can see going with just one of them because of Heeney's prodigious ability in the air. Blakey plays as a high half-forward pushing up to the wings and into the midfield at times. Hayward, as ever, is a bit of a floater and I remain unsure if he'll ever really fulfil his potential because he's just not gonna be the focus of any forward line with Franklin, Heeney and Papley in it - but nevertheless, he's around. He'll need to be chasing and tackling like a demon though because it's not the fastest forward line out there. I can see bringing in a Wicks to add some pressure (assuming he gets re-signed), perhaps at the expense of a tall as mentioned earlier.

Will be very interested to see who we pick at 3 - DGB appears to be the thinking which I can now understand a little more, although I don't love the prospect of picking a defender that high. To me, it should be midfielders or tall forwards as a general rule. But I don't know much about any of this bunch so I'll leave that to others. Campbell and Gulden I think will definitely get game time in this side at some stage across HF and as a small forward in Gulden's case.

 

[caesar88]

Is it just me or does anyone else really want to see Dawson & Heeney on a forward flank each?

 

[BloodySwan]

Is it just me or does anyone else really want to see Dawson & Heeney on a forward flank each?

I want 3 Dawson's. 1 for midfield, defence & attack

 

[Kiama Chris]

I want 3 Dawson's. 1 for midfield, defence & attack

Actually I want Dawson notionally on a wing, floating between HF and HB. Blakey on the other wing with McInerney rotating with them, Stephens, Hayward and Papley.

 

[caesar88]

I want 3 Dawson's. 1 for midfield, defence & attack

I feel like we've tried the Dawson off HB thing though and it's kinda been good without being great. And I don't think he offers anything different to what we've already got in the midfield. (He's similar to Mills in that regard.)

I really liked his game against GWS when he was playing predominantly forward, marking at HF, getting closer to goals to lead up, kicking inside 50, all those things he does really well. I think he'd only be even better at those things if he were playing as a third tall to two other key forwards, kinda like how Gunston played with Buddy & Roughead.

 

[Millky95]

I feel like we've tried the Dawson off HB thing though and it's kinda been good without being great. And I don't think he offers anything different to what we've already got in the midfield. (He's similar to Mills in that regard.)

I really liked his game against GWS when he was playing predominantly forward, marking at HF, getting closer to goals to lead up, kicking inside 50, all those things he does really well. I think he'd only be even better at those things if he were playing as a third tall to two other key forwards, kinda like how Gunston played with Buddy & Roughead.

I so wanted him to kick a bag that day

 

[TheMase]

I feel like we've tried the Dawson off HB thing though and it's kinda been good without being great. And I don't think he offers anything different to what we've already got in the midfield. (He's similar to Mills in that regard.)

I really liked his game against GWS when he was playing predominantly forward, marking at HF, getting closer to goals to lead up, kicking inside 50, all those things he does really well. I think he'd only be even better at those things if he were playing as a third tall to two other key forwards, kinda like how Gunston played with Buddy & Roughead.

I’ve often felt that Dawson gets lost a bit leading up to the ball whilst forward of the ball. That game however gave me a bit more hope that he is capable of it.

 

[caesar88]

I’ve often felt that Dawson gets lost a bit leading up to the ball whilst forward of the ball. That game however gave me a bit more hope that he is capable of it.

You're not wrong there at all. And yet I also think he gets lost at half back, where he's neither our most prolific marker or our most attacking weapon. Other than one or two signature great kicks out of defensive 50 per match, he's just sort of... there, not having a big impact. I feel like he's too talented for that.

The reason I like the idea of him being on a flank with Heeney is because I think they'd each give us a different look. Heeney is more your leading, push up to a wing marking target, Dawson more of a stationary target that I think could benefit from playing as a third tall closer to goal, like I said similar to Gunston. So I think he could really benefit from playing in the same forward group with Buddy and another key forward.

It would be a case of being able to stop one, but the other potentially getting off the chain.

 

[scaryness]

Our best kickers hitting targets inside 50 are Lloyd (by a mile), Dawson, Cunningham and Franklin.

3 of them are in the defensive half and the other is meant to be the target.

Getting 1 or 2 of those defenders up the ground would do wonders.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Our best kickers hitting targets inside 50 are Lloyd (by a mile), Dawson, Cunningham and Franklin.

3 of them are in the defensive half and the other is meant to be the target.

Getting 1 or 2 of those defenders up the ground would do wonders.

Dawson and Cunningham are both terrific with long kicking to advantage. Lloyd and Blakey are good with short or medium kicking. A few of the younger ones are starting to look OK, McInerney in particular.

 

[Bear31]

Our team for round 1?
Easy.

Buddy Franklin!

Why does -Ted and Buddy end up on every thread.

 

[Bear31]

Is it just me or does anyone else really want to see Dawson & Heeney on a forward flank each?

Heeney on a forward flank and also inside 50. Have to capitalize on his marking strength. Is he in top few in contested marking?

 

[Punts]

Dawson Malceski role for me

 

[Bom Trowne]

Why do I see no mention of Zac Foot

 

[BloodySwan]

Why do I see no mention of Zac Foot

The kid who played 2 games before getting dropped?

 

[Bom Trowne]

The kid who played 2 games before getting dropped?

Yeah? Surely have to persist with him. Melbourne boy with a lot of talent, Under Parker's wing.

 

[RUNVS]

Yeah? Surely have to persist with him. Melbourne boy with a lot of talent, Under Parker's wing.

Probably will, but he isn't in the discussion of best 22 at the moment.

 

[TheMase]

Yeah? Surely have to persist with him. Melbourne boy with a lot of talent, Under Parker's wing.

I am not convinced he is a midfielder, if he makes it at all, so not sure Parker is the right mentor. Could be wrong.

Strikes me as the kind of guy that ends up a back pocket (If he makes it).

 

[Nool Carpenna]

Damn the 4pts... I’m going for attractive footy

Fox Rampe Melican
Gould McCartin Mills
Blakey Lloyd Cunners
Franklin Kennedy Dawson
Papley Heeney Reid
Hickey Parker Rowbottom

Hayward Clarke Stephens... probs Macca but yet to see his accountability tested.

Solid back 6 although it will be tested against tall sides. Happy for Dane to be the key... I thought he was pretty ordinary early last year until he curbed his flamboyance and knuckled down to the demands of dealing with the oppo’s main man.
Melican does well against a second when he is fully fit and Fox I think can continue to develop given the opportunity to settle in a role.
To me McCartin shines in a reactive role rather than proactive... No question marks around Mills... and Gould could be anything... or nothing... I just like lol
Love the thought of my middle line spearing the ball into the 50... don’t won’t Lloydy in space as he invariably slows shit down. Add the onballers and a few games together and I’m imagining some lovely crisp clearances.
And with a decent share of entries, I’d back that front 6 to make any team nervous.... the arc is very threatening and creates a lot of space around the goal square.

 

[TheMase]

To me McCartin shines in a reactive role rather than proactive...

That is so true. I have said he doesn’t command space as a forward but that’s a much better way of putting it.

 

[caesar88]

Dawson Malceski role for me

I'd prefer to see Rampe in this role. He plays with more aggression and urgency and just has those attacking instincts. Hopefully McCartin & Melican can form a good KPD partnership and free Rampe up to do so.

 

[S120]

That is so true. I have said he doesn’t command space as a forward but that’s a much better way of putting it.

Yeh that's something I've just come to think in the last few days too actually. If you look at the best key forwards like Hawkins, Kennedy, Bud, Lynch, Riewoldt they all have the seemingly innate sense of commanding space and understanding how to draw the ball to them. I think a lot of lesser forwards don't quite have that knack to take the bull by the horns and make things happen in congested space. It's why those guys often go to the other end and flourish. McCartin strikes me as precisely this kinda guy.

Can go forward and do a good job but I'm very excited to see just how good he can be as a defender.