Prediction 2023 Best 22 Teams and discussion

[Ysaye]

On reflecting on the year just gone, I think our best 22 has been:

2022 "Best" team
7 Defenders: Pearce, Cox, Chapman, Young, Clark, Ryan, Walker
3 Wingers: Aish, Acres, O'Driscoll
5 Midfielders: Darcy, Brayshaw, Serong, Brodie, Mundy
7 Forwards: Taberner, Lobb, Logue, Switowski, Walters, Frederick, Shultz

In 2023 Mundy will have retired, whilst my guess is that Acres and Lobb will have moved on whilst I think we will also have brought in Jackson, who I see as being able to play as a utility that could play in the forward line, midfield or maybe even the wing. The other major factors at play are Fyfe getting fit, Amiss and his projection, as well as Erasmus who has been banging down the door all season.

In reality a best 22 never actually plays; it sometimes solidifies itself at the end of a season and is a reflection on the selection committee's natural biases/preferences towards certain players over another. For example - bringing O'Driscoll back in after one rather average game in the WAFL, or Amiss being brought back into the finals series. In many instances, it is not what the best 22 is, but rather what it is not, and also what players it does not include.

The team I think that the selection committee would like to open with in 2023 is shown below:

2023 "Best" team
7 Defenders: Pearce, Cox, Chapman, Young, Clark, Ryan, Walker
3 Wingers: Aish, O'Driscoll, Jackson
5 Midfielders: Darcy, Brayshaw, Serong, Brodie, Fyfe
7 Forwards: Taberner, Amiss, Logue, Switowski, Walters, Frederick, Shultz

This team is likely to still be characterised by some significant talent in the back half, with the experiences of finals this year likely to further embolden the offensive capabilities. The midfield and wings remain overall on the young side and there is no real silky boot amongst them, but Jackson will bring an extra dimension of size to this group, and Fyfe returning would give an experienced hand. In the forward line, the loss of Lobb as a tall forward will reduce the contested marking prowess, but Amiss will bring some different aspects including a ton more speed and skill.

The interesting bit will be whether Erasmus can break into this lineup; the biggest vulnerability appears to be Brodie or maybe the perennially injured Switowski. As Chris25 said in another thread, in many senses Henry's strengths/weaknesses profile is not suited to the style of this team, and I think you could argue a similar thing with Sturt, however they do offer perhaps more offensive reliability by foot, and any improvement by either in terms of fitness and defensive power IMO would quickly see them in the conversation piece. Hamling, Wilson and Hughes provide significant backup in the defence side of things. I am also interested to see how well Johnson progresses over the off-season; I tend to think that he will need another season in the WAFL, but he is projects to provide a great skillset with size to a number of parts of this team.

2023 "Best" team (updated after trade period)
7 Defenders: Pearce, Cox, Chapman, Young, Clark, Ryan, Walker
3 Wingers: Aish, O'Driscoll, O'Meara
5 Midfielders: Darcy, Brayshaw, Serong, Brodie, Fyfe
7 Forwards: Taberner, Amiss, Jackson, Switowski, Walters, Frederick, Shultz

Note I previously had Jackson in as a winger / ruck but it sounds like the plan based on the commentary through the trade week is that we intend to play him as a forward / ruck. Looking at the fringe of the team, which is the best place to look at how deep we go or otherwise:

Hanging on: Taberner (based on injury frequency), Brodie (form in finals / contenders for his spot), Switowski (injury freq)
The Contender List: Corbett, Erasmus, Sturt, Henry, Johnson, Treacy, Wilson

Still can't help but think that Erasmus will bust his way into our team next year, despite have lots of strong veteran competition.

 

[more_of_bito]

Premiership 2026

Young(26) Pearce(31)Walker(26)
Clark(28) Cox(28) Chapman(25)
NOD(25) Serong(26) Worner(24)
Erasmus(24)Treacy(26) Switta(29)
Jackson(26) Amiss(24) Fredrick(27)

Darcy(28) Brayshaw(28) Johnson(24)

O'Meara(32) Brodie(31) Aish(33) Ryan(30) Schultz(29) Corbett(29) Sturt(27) Benning(24)

If you take 3years of everyone’s age it’s the 2023 Premiership team

 

[Spirit Level]

Erasmus is gong to bash the door down this year.

Also looking forward to Johnson making a debut

 

[Scham]

Another fantastic trade period by Bell and Walls!!! We're a stronger team now both in the short term but also in the long term when we'll be pushing for a flag.

We can just sit back now and wait with confidence to see who Walls and his team add in the draft and Cat B further strengthening our list and filling any needs.

It's been a long, long time coming when a Freo supporter can be so proud and comfortable with how the club is operating.

The future is so bright!

 

[Sturty2Hurty]

Where is this 23-player, no sub thing coming from? The only place I've seen it mentioned (incessantly, it seems) is this board.

Anyone know the provenance of this proposal/rumour?

Trade radio were talking about it. Kinda linked to the Grundy discussion

 

[Lach72]

Where is this 23-player, no sub thing coming from? The only place I've seen it mentioned (incessantly, it seems) is this board.

Anyone know the provenance of this proposal/rumour?

Trade radio mentioned it in relation to Richmond keeping Ivan Soldo.

They said that Richmond believes there will be a shift to 23 no sub and losing Soldo would cause them to lose flexibility

 

[ignoramus]

Thanks. Interesting that there's been no follow-up piece on afl.com.au. Makes me wonder about the extent to which this is a proposal being seriously considered by AFL HQ (or considered at all). It wouldn't be the first time that a hypothetical was reported as an inevitability by the footy media.

 

[MadMundy]

FB: Ryan, Pearce, Young
HB: Chapman, Cox, Clark
C: Aish, Brodie, Frederick
HF: Walters, Amiss, Schultz
FF: Switkowski, Taberner, Fyfe
FOL: Darcy, O'Meara, Brayshaw
INT: Serong, Walker, O'Driscoll, Corbett, Jackson

I'm sure I've missed some people but that's the best I can come up with right now.

 

[Dale147]

Post trade period

 

[greatgatsby]

Post trade period

Thanks Dale147. I've often wondered why the West does so little actual writing about football and instead relies on getting the views of former Freo players. It appears the answer is that said players are comfortable using words such as 'egregious' when discussing the actions of a football club.

 

[rgauci]

B: Chapman A.Pearce Ryan
HB: Clark Cox Young
C: A.Brayshaw Fyfe O’Driscoll
HF: Frederick Amiss Switta
F: Schultz Taberner Jackson
R: Darcy Serong JOM

Int: Wilson, Brodie, Treacy, Erasmus, Walters

2nd 22
B: Walker Hamling Hughes
HB: ????? ????? ?????
C: Worner Johnson Henry
HF: Colyer Kuek Banfield
F: Sturt Benning Corbett
R: ????? ?Crowden? Aish

Need ruckman, on ballers, medium and small forwards, rebounding HB’s. A key forward and key back also good.

I’m not against Aish being best 22, but I prefer the grunt work of Brodie and I think Erasmus will explode.

 

[Righteo]

Brayshaw/Serong/Brodie/JOM/Fyfe/Erasmus is a tantalising set of best 22-calibre mids but can we fit them all in? And if not, who makes way? Keeping in mind that Jackson and possibly even Chappy can run through the middle too. Fyfe will play significant time up fwd (I'm assuming) but it still seems a bit unbalanced and one-paced. With Acres gone and no Sharp I've been leaning more towards Andy to the wing.

Thoughts?

 

[wakojako]

Brayshaw/Serong/Brodie/JOM/Fyfe/Erasmus is a tantalising set of best 22-calibre mids but can we fit them all in? And if not, who makes way? Keeping in mind that Jackson and possibly even Chappy can run through the middle too. Fyfe will play significant time up fwd (I'm assuming) but it still seems a bit unbalanced and one-paced. With Acres gone and no Sharp I've been leaning more towards Andy to the wing.

Thoughts?

Andy to wing
Ras replaces Andy
JOM replaces Mundy

 

[_007_]

Brayshaw/Serong/Brodie/JOM/Fyfe/Erasmus is a tantalising set of best 22-calibre mids but can we fit them all in? And if not, who makes way? Keeping in mind that Jackson and possibly even Chappy can run through the middle too. Fyfe will play significant time up fwd (I'm assuming) but it still seems a bit unbalanced and one-paced. With Acres gone and no Sharp I've been leaning more towards Andy to the wing.

Thoughts?

I don't think you can play 5 pure inside mids successfully, I think Brodie will be squeezed out of the side and that Fyfe would want to show some form.

 

[Joao]

Fyfe is going to play HFF a lot I reckon. Ras will have to wait if we are fully fit.

Contrary to what I thought, JoM is apparently a good HFF so maybe he'll spend some time there as well.

 

[wakojako]

Fyfe is going to play HFF a lot I reckon. Ras will have to wait if we are fully fit.

Contrary to what I thought, JoM is apparently a good HFF so maybe he'll spend some time there as well.

I don't want Fyfe anywhere near the center next year. He needs to learn the HHF role. If we make the granny we can play him there where he will be as fresh as a dasiy (like Danger was).

 

[Mikevk123]

B- Ryan Cox Chapman
HB- Clark Pearce Young
C- Aish Brodie O’Driscoll
HF- Corbett Amiss Switkowski
F- Schultz Taberner Walters
FOLL- Darcy Fyfe Brayshaw
I/C- Jackson, Serong, O’Meara, Fredrick

Emergencies
Henry, Walker, Erasmus, Hamling, Hughes, Wilson, Sturt, Johnson

 

[Swiggy]

Fyfe Amiss Walters

Frederick. Jackson. Switkowski

O’Driscoll. Brayshaw. Aish

Young. Cox. Clark

Ryan. Pearce. Chapman

Darcy. Serong. Brodie

Walker O’meara Schultz Tabnerner

Hopefully Johnson Erasmus Sturt Henry and Treacy push for spots, will be interesting to see how Corbett goes, don’t think he’s a walk up start.

 

[Van_Dyke]

Where is this 23-player, no sub thing coming from? The only place I've seen it mentioned (incessantly, it seems) is this board.

Anyone know the provenance of this proposal/rumour?

lot of journos seem to think it's happening (ralph, trade radio, daniels)

 

[theGav56]

Brayshaw/Serong/Brodie/JOM/Fyfe/Erasmus is a tantalising set of best 22-calibre mids but can we fit them all in? And if not, who makes way? Keeping in mind that Jackson and possibly even Chappy can run through the middle too. Fyfe will play significant time up fwd (I'm assuming) but it still seems a bit unbalanced and one-paced. With Acres gone and no Sharp I've been leaning more towards Andy to the wing.

Thoughts?

I think it is a good move. Obviously a great two way runner, plus he has a perfect balance of attack and defence.

 

[88mph]

I reckon JOM is going to have his best season ever - gonna be huge.

 

[coldlunch]

the reality of who gets squeezed out of the midfield is whoever is injured. how often have we ever had our best players in one line all available for a significant stretch?

 

[Joao]

I don't want Fyfe anywhere near the center next year. He needs to learn the HHF role. If we make the granny we can play him there where he will be as fresh as a dasiy (like Danger was).

If he's fit, he'll spend some time in there for sure.

 

[wakojako]

If he's fit, he'll spend some time in there for sure.

No way am I pushing Brodie out for Fyfe.

 

[Joao]

No way am I pushing Brodie out for Fyfe.

He doesn't have to go out. Fyfe clearly isn't playing 80% mid but he also isn't playing 0%. What the actual % is I don't know, but it's definitely more than 0.