Preview 2024 Best 22 Discussion

[Dockeroo]

Just trying to think of ways to get a top 10 pick level talent into the team!

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Just trying to think of ways to get a top 10 pick level talent into the team!

I will accept almost any position other than HBF. I would almost rather he play 2nd ruck than there

 

[Spirit Level]

Just trying to think of ways to get a top 10 pick level talent into the team!

The beauty is we don't need to force him into the team, it's up to him to force his way in.

 

[theGav56]

Not in my book.

He's possibly the one player that I'm no where near as positive on as other Freo supporters.

I still think our wings are up for grabs. Sharp obviously will be given every chance, but apart form that, I'd be more than happy to rotate some mids through there until someone is deemed worthy. JOM/Johnson/Brayshaw are all candidates to spend time there.

I think O'Driscoll has some good attributes, but clearly is a work in progress. That's exactly how I see Erasmus. Not criticising either of them or judging them prematurely. Both have some size, running power, and both have some kicking issues. To me they are both in the category of being players who really need to be playing best 22 in order for them to best develop. WAFL won't do it.

Did they play against each other on the wing during pre-season?

Just to add by way of comparison, the manner in which the club has developed MJ has been super impressive. He is on the cusp of being a genuine weapon. We really are getting more aspects of the club working at a better level.

 

[theGav56]

I'm not denying he did, but it was against the pigeons. Idc what our starting b22 I just want players to be held accountable and to earn their spots.

Well, I agree with that, but you were also advocating shifting JOM to the sub so we could include Erasmus. Erasmus hasn't earnt that spot; he's sitting on the cusp.

 

[wakojako]

Well, I agree with that, but you were also advocating shifting JOM to the sub so we could include Erasmus. Erasmus hasn't earnt that spot; he's sitting on the cusp.

Yeah it was just a suggestion because I'm not convinced on the midfield/forward mix yet. Let's hope we see some creativity with the player selection this season instead of the conservative nonsense from last season.

 

[FreoGirl]

If WC make him an offer he can't refuse, and offer us a trade we also can't refuse, then that pooh may hit the fan. But I struggle to see why Erasmus would move from a club on the rise to a club which is going to be in the swill for a long time.

As a competitive beast he should be backing himself to force his way into our best side. And I'm happy to be optimistic about Fyfe, but I hope our season isn't based on him being available for every available game. if not because of injuries, I am in the camp that thinks we should manage him as our trump card. That equals opportunity for Erasmus. And if Sturt continues to look lacklustre there could be an opportunity forward too.

In the sim we rotated midfielders to the wing. Sharp is clearly our best runner, but is he a better option than us going with a midfielder rotation in that position? Is NOD welded in place?

I feel he has the potential, but he needs more time to develop. I believe he is/was a WCE supporter?

 

[Docker82]

If WC make him an offer he can't refuse, and offer us a trade we also can't refuse, then that pooh may hit the fan. But I struggle to see why Erasmus would move from a club on the rise to a club which is going to be in the swill for a long time.

As a competitive beast he should be backing himself to force his way into our best side. And I'm happy to be optimistic about Fyfe, but I hope our season isn't based on him being available for every available game. if not because of injuries, I am in the camp that thinks we should manage him as our trump card. That equals opportunity for Erasmus. And if Sturt continues to look lacklustre there could be an opportunity forward too.

In the sim we rotated midfielders to the wing. Sharp is clearly our best runner, but is he a better option than us going with a midfielder rotation in that position? Is NOD welded in place?

Long term there's room for everyone.

Inside mids: Brayshaw, Serong, Young, Erasmus and Johnson
Wingers: Sharp, NOD

That's probably it for genuine mids but Simpson will probably be part of our forward group and spend a decent amount of time in the midfield.

If Draper comes on I wouldn't be surprised if Chapman pushes up the field and pushes one of those wingers out.

 

[blue shark]

I feel he has the potential, but he needs more time to develop. I believe he is/was a WCE supporter?

I thought Erasmus looked better than any young WC player out there in the scratchie.
His kicking was pretty good, he is getting there and to lose him now IMO is
a mistake.
We need those bigger bodies in the midfield rotations, and once Fyfe, and if
Brodie wants out we will be in trouble.
Johnson could play on the wing/mid, his combo with Neil will be worth the wait.

 

[freo1997]

Seems like Sharp will be competing against Nod as the specialist winger.

The other wing spot will be rotating with the surplus amount of mids we have eg; JOM, AB and Johnson.

Sharp may miss out on rd1 if Noddy plays ok this Friday. That flu may be a little set back for him to make a rd1 debut.

 

[FreoMatt]

That’s my pick as well.
Amiss
Treacy
Jackson
Walters
Sturt
Frederick
Emmett
Top 7, Switta gets the 20% Jackson is in the ruck, or a little bit more if Jackson spends some time as a mid, although JLo basically squashed that idea in his last presser stating Jackson was needed forward to take the best KPD away from Amiss.
No room for JOM, Simpson or Erasmus in my forward line.

Ok if you haven’t got Switter in your best 7 forwards but he is still in the side and JOM is the sub, then you can only have 7 mids (Darcy, Fyfe, Young, Serong, Brayshaw, Johnson, Sharp/NOD, so no Erasmus, Brodie or one of Sharp/NOD

 

[Dockeroo]

I feel he has the potential, but he needs more time to develop. I believe he is/was a WCE supporter?

If there’s one thing that has proven irrelevant in footy - it’s who a player grew up supporting.

Johnson
Clark
Erasmus
Amiss

Are just 4 examples off the top of my head that were huge eagles fans as kids.

Over at WCE Ginbey and Yeo were huge dockers fans.

It means nothing when they grow up.

 

[pK75]

Ok if you haven’t got Switter in your best 7 forwards but he is still in the side and JOM is the sub, then you can only have 7 mids (Darcy, Fyfe, Young, Serong, Brayshaw, Johnson, Sharp/NOD, so no Erasmus, Brodie or one of Sharp/NOD

Switta and Jackson share the 8th midfield spot.
That’s my hypothetical that will never happen, JOM will get a start and one of those forwards will miss out.

 

[Troy Cooked It]

We don't know what the future holds for Fyfe and his availability over the next two seasons. Assuming best case scenario that Fyfe plays half/majority of games you can be sure Ras isn't waiting on the sidelines until Fyfe's retirement and nor should he. We have three first rounders, future picks and we can use Ras and other players for draft capital to bring in a midfielder if we need one. I would prefer to retain Ras but it wouldn't be a disaster if we lose him.

On a side note Chad's contract ends 2025 which is the same year as Ras. If we can land him that's a premiership side.

I think O'Driscoll has some good attributes, but clearly is a work in progress. That's exactly how I see Erasmus. Not criticising either of them or judging them prematurely. Both have some size, running power, and both have some kicking issues. To me they are both in the category of being players who really need to be playing best 22 in order for them to best develop. WAFL won't do it.

Did they play against each other on the wing during pre-season?

Just to add by way of comparison, the manner in which the club has developed MJ has been super impressive. He is on the cusp of being a genuine weapon. We really are getting more aspects of the club working at a better level.

Look this could be a bit of fan fiction playing out in my mind and hey why not reality is what you make of it and all...

I think our goal posts in developing young players as fans needs to shift and align with what I believe the club is beginning to do and bring to the club culture and development. If the aim is sustained success that the likes of Geelong have had over the past 15 years, a good place to look would be their development. (Not in light of the more recent events of sacrificing their list to have another go at a flag which they won but are looking at a west coast sized hole in a couple years.)

Freo are shifting out from the phase of youth development and into a state of performing. We aren't sacrificing footy performance anymore for giving a top pick a nice run at it. Our youth playing now are playing because they are in our best 22 players on the list, not because they are being prioritised anymore for development over older players that could perform better then them. The leadership and management I think will be backing in our culture that this is a place Erasmus wants to stay and put in the long yards, as we would with Treacy if McDonald gets traded to us.

Erasmus unfortunately for him, does not get a walk-up start in the midfield like Brayshaw and Cerra received. We now get to have a great marker of culture in if he hangs around or not for these coming years. Its really clear he can fill a Fyfe shaped hole in our midfield in 2 years time, which surely he can see that and knows he is best placed to make that position his. But as top 10 pick no-one would begrudge him wanting to see game time at the highest level. If our culture is good enough he will stick around and put his motivation into continuous improvement to force his way in. Geelong had such a majority of their teams from 2008-2023 spend 3-4 years in VFL developing, ensuring when they get the chance they their most ready, with not many leaving. I think this mindset really pushes the performances to a higher level across the team, as you would expect and at some point one player is going to be on the other side of the best 22, and for me Erasmus is exactly the player I would have on that side.

 

[BigRang]

Look this could be a bit of fan fiction playing out in my mind and hey why not reality is what you make of it and all...

I think our goal posts in developing young players as fans needs to shift and align with what I believe the club is beginning to do and bring to the club culture and development. If the aim is sustained success that the likes of Geelong have had over the past 15 years, a good place to look would be their development. (Not in light of the more recent events of sacrificing their list to have another go at a flag which they won but are looking at a west coast sized hole in a couple years.)

Freo are shifting out from the phase of youth development and into a state of performing. We aren't sacrificing footy performance anymore for giving a top pick a nice run at it. Our youth playing now are playing because they are in our best 22 players on the list, not because they are being prioritised anymore for development over older players that could perform better then them. The leadership and management I think will be backing in our culture that this is a place Erasmus wants to stay and put in the long yards, as we would with Treacy if McDonald gets traded to us.

Erasmus unfortunately for him, does not get a walk-up start in the midfield like Brayshaw and Cerra received. We now get to have a great marker of culture in if he hangs around or not for these coming years. Its really clear he can fill a Fyfe shaped hole in our midfield in 2 years time, which surely he can see that and knows he is best placed to make that position his. But as top 10 pick no-one would begrudge him wanting to see game time at the highest level. If our culture is good enough he will stick around and put his motivation into continuous improvement to force his way in. Geelong had such a majority of their teams from 2008-2023 spend 3-4 years in VFL developing, ensuring when they get the chance they their most ready, with not many leaving. I think this mindset really pushes the performances to a higher level across the team, as you would expect and at some point one player is going to be on the other side of the best 22, and for me Erasmus is exactly the player I would have on that side.

Far too well thought out, too well written, and way too sensible for Bigfooty.

 

[Miltz]

Just trying to think of ways to get a top 10 pick level talent into the team!

I’d rather see Johnson/ Young rotate back through there to open up midfield time for Raz. Need solid foot skills coming out of the back half.

 

[vidwhal]

Lachie Schultz is a budget Tom Emmett.

100%*



*contractually obliged but I do have big hopes for the man!

 

[Fred Ziffel]

100%*



*contractually obliged but I do have big hopes for the man!

I reckon Tom Emmett is going to turn heads.
Won’t be long and we’ll be saying Lachie is not a big loss at all.

 

[DQ 4EVER]

When we play saints
Kick to whomever NWM is standing
Great kick, but a useless defender
Unless of course, the gift that keeps on giving, Liam Henry is "manning" someone (supposedly)


On SM-G960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[gungho]

Walker Pearce Ryan
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Fyfe Brayshaw
Freddy Treacy Walters
Jackson Amiss Emmett

Darcy Young Serong.

Int. Johnson, Aish, Banfield, Switta.

Sub JOM

Notes: The cupboard is starting to look a bit bare for the elite small/medium forwards. Banfield, Freddy, Switta and Emmett can all be good on their day but do not score enough goals, and Walters is slowing down. We need an A grader in there pronto. Apart from that (and missing one really good wing) this team could go a really long way IMO. The triple J threat up forward will terrorise teams for the next 10 years. (Crazy to consider that they are 20, 21 and 22 years of age currently!)

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Walker Pearce Ryan
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Fyfe Brayshaw
Freddy Treacy Walters
Jackson Amiss Emmett

Darcy Young Serong.

Int. Johnson, Aish, Banfield, Switta.

Sub JOMi

Notes: The cupboard is starting to look a bit bare for the elite small/medium forwards. Banfield, Freddy, Switta and Emmett can all be good on their day but do not score enough goals, and Walters is slowing down. We need an A grader in there pronto. Apart from that (and missing one really good wing) this team could go a really long way IMO. The triple J threat up forward will terrorise teams for the next 10 years. (Crazy to consider that they are 20, 21 and 22 years of age currently!)

Ive go Draper as a definite in our best 22. I think he'll enable Cox to spend time forward and he'll also be awesome playing on smaller players when Cox is back.

 

[Joao]

Ive go Draper as a definite in our best 22. I think he'll enable Cox to spend time forward and he'll also be awesome playing on smaller players when Cox is back.

Cox isn't going to play forward when JJJ are there, except maybe as a desperate Q4 strategy to chase the game.

I know we're not scoring, but its actually not because of the tall forwards, it's everyone else that's the problem. Amiss is going at 2gpg and Treacy 1.8. Even if Jackson just matches Tabs, we're getting enough from them. We need the smalls and mids to contribute much more.

 

[Footskill]

Can't see cox succeeding as a fwd consistently although many think he has the attributes, but doesn't seem to translate game day. Even the first game of this season he wasn't showing much.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Cox isn't going to play forward when JJJ are there, except maybe as a desperate Q4 strategy to chase the game.

I know we're not scoring, but its actually not because of the tall forwards, it's everyone else that's the problem. Amiss is going at 2gpg and Treacy 1.8. Even if Jackson just matches Tabs, we're getting enough from them. We need the smalls and mids to contribute much more.

Im saying Cox could go forward when Jackson is rucking if Draper rotates onto the second tall in the backline. Allowing us to always have three talls forward.

 

[Purple Jesus]

Im saying Cox could go forward when Jackson is rucking if Draper rotates onto the second tall in the backline. Allowing us to always have three talls forward.

Jackson is only playing forward in if Darcy is playing, who will rest forward.