Preview 2025 Best 22 Discussion

[stax on the mull]

We were talking about how players contributed to our run in 2012-2015 and possibly talking about the top three players across the competition in KPFs (Pavlich), KPDs (McPharlin), rucks (Sandilands) and midfielders (Fyfe). I don’t think this underrating Mundy at all and I don’t this those capable of taking off those purple glasses would disagree with me.

Counterpoint to that is that Mundy is the only one out of that group that actually plays full seasons over that peak period of 2012-15.

Fyfe misses most of 2012, Sandilands most of 2012 and 2013. Pavlich misses most of 2013. McPharlin only plays in one year of finals (2013).

Mundy is the best player for Freo in the 2013 GF.

 

[Docker82]

Counterpoint to that is that Mundy is the only one out of that group that actually plays full seasons over that peak period of 2012-15.

Fyfe misses most of 2012, Sandilands most of 2012 and 2013. Pavlich misses most of 2013. McPharlin only plays in one year of finals (2013).

Mundy is the best player for Freo in the 2013 GF.

Sort of goes with my point though. Part of reason Mundy was so good was how consistently good he was.

But there’s a reason Pavlich and Sandilands have so many All Australians. They were so good compared to others that played their roles that Vic Bias couldn’t rob them. Fyfe won two Brownlows and probably wins a third if not for a BS suspension in 2014.

If you want to see a player underrated on the east coast look no further than McPharlin. I don’t think there was a better KPD in the 5-6 years he was at his best. Our record in finals with vs without him speaks for itself.

 

[King Huskii]

My best 22 plus sub

Ryan Pearce Walker
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Young NOD
Freddy Tracey Bolton
Sturt Amiss Jackson

Ruck Darcey Brayshaw Serong
Int Switta Wagner Johnson Erasmus
Sub Aish

Pace and skills personified

Emg Simpson Reidy Fyfe

 

[theGav56]

My best 22 plus sub

Ryan Pearce Walker
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Young NOD
Freddy Tracey Bolton
Sturt Amiss Jackson

Ruck Darcey Brayshaw Serong
Int Switta Wagner Johnson Erasmus
Sub Aish

Pace and skills personified

Emg Simpson Reidy Fyfe

Controversial with the sub
.
Will be interesting to see if Aish can force his way into contention or not. Won't be easy. Very versatile player

 

[Mikevk123]

B- B.Walker B.Cox L.Ryan
HB- J.Clark A.Pearce H.Chapman
C- J.Sharp H.Young N.O’Driscoll
HF- S.Bolton J.Treacy S.Switkowski
F. S.Sturt J.Amiss M.Fredrick
FOLL- S.Darcy A.Brayshaw C.Serong
I/C- L.Jackson, M.Johnson, N.Erasmus, J.Aish, C.Simpson

Emerg- Wagner, Draper, Voss, Brodie

 

[freoextra]

As much as I love Mundy he doesn’t belong in the same conversation as Pavlich, McPharlin, Sandilands and Fyfe.

He belongs in the same discussion as Serong, Brayshaw, Young, Bolton etc. Still a bloody good player but he’s not winning 4+ All Australians or Brownlow medals - And btw McPharlin not getting 4+ All Australians is criminal. He was easily that good but tbf to the All Australian selectors coaches trying play him forward where he wasn’t as good and his injuries didn’t help.

I was going to make a similar comment about McPharlin. I don’t think any other supporter outside Freo would bracket him with Pavlich, Sandilands and Fyfe, they honestly have no understanding of how good he was.

 

[King Huskii]

Controversial with the sub
.
Will be interesting to see if Aish can force his way into contention or not. Won't be easy. Very versatile player

Aish can sub in and play mid or back. I like him as sun however all sub players need more game time so I'd see Erasmus and Simpson getting the vest

 

[go_the_dockers]

Aish can sub in and play mid or back. I like him as sun however all sub players need more game time so I'd see Erasmus and Simpson getting the vest

Assuming we get a few new outside runners with 14 and 30, then I think they would make a good sub.

They probably won't have the fitness to run out games, but you should be able to make an impact late.

 

[bellie4pm]

B: Walker, Pearce, Ryan
HB: Chapman, Cox, Clark
C: Sharp, Brayshaw, NOD
HF: Bolton, Amiss, Frederick
F: Switkowski, Treacy, Jackson

Followers: Darcy, Serong, Young

I: Johnson, Erasmus, Draper, Sturt, Simpson

Find a weakness in that team if they're all fit and firing. Elite.

Simpson or wagner? Other than that, lock it in, keep it healthy and polish the silverware

 

[Purpletown]

My best 22 plus sub

Ryan Pearce Walker
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Young NOD
Freddy Tracey Bolton
Sturt Amiss Jackson

Ruck Darcey Brayshaw Serong
Int Switta Wagner Johnson Erasmus
Sub Aish

Pace and skills personified

Emg Simpson Reidy Fyfe

No room for Josh Draper?

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I see JOM is the new Banfield everyone keeps out of the 22 despite there being no chance he misses?

 

[wakojako]

I see JOM is the new Banfield everyone keeps out of the 22 despite there being no chance he misses?

People actually believe Simpson will be playing but not JOM, delusional.

 

[88mph]

My best 22 plus sub

Ryan Pearce Walker
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Young NOD
Freddy Tracey Bolton
Sturt Amiss Jackson

Ruck Darcey Brayshaw Serong
Int Switta Wagner Johnson Erasmus
Sub Aish

Pace and skills personified

Emg Simpson Reidy Fyfe

Pace and skills? Did you see Cox recently?

I'm not convinced he's in the 22 anymore unless he has a crazy preseason

 

[mightymouse75]

My best 22 plus sub

Ryan Pearce Walker
Clark Cox Chapman
Sharp Young NOD
Freddy Tracey Bolton
Sturt Amiss Jackson

Ruck Darcey Brayshaw Serong
Int Switta Wagner Johnson Erasmus
Sub Aish

Pace and skills personified

Emg Simpson Reidy Fyfe

That is 1 solid team if NOD can keep producing, Johno and Ras can step up.
Aish can reset himself and Wags will be the escaped goat

 

[King Huskii]

No room for Josh Draper?

Yes there is. He is quality for his age but i can't push Pearce or Cox out unless injured and don't want to go too tall.

Injuries happen and he'd be the next in line. He's one of my favourite up and coming players.

 

[King Huskii]

That is 1 solid team if NOD can keep producing, Johno and Ras can step up.
Aish can reset himself and Wags will be the escaped goat

Fingers crossed top 4

 

[Joao]

I choose to believe Simpson is going to have a blinder of a pre-season and put himself right in the mix to be the 23rd man.

 

[BirdPerson]

I see JOM is the new Banfield everyone keeps out of the 22 despite there being no chance he misses?

This board does have a hate boner for JOM but the hot new young things bumping him from the team are now somewhat seasoned and hitting their straps. On the wing rotation, I think it's pretty reasonable for JOM to be behind:

• Sharp: currently our best wingman
• Johnson: best 22 all year, can play inside or outside
• NOD: has shown he can produce at the level, certainly B22 form to end the year

After that, he's competing with 1 of [Fyfe/Erasmus] for a spot in the guts (unlikely), or more likely he's duking it out with Banners/Aish/Walters/[whichever of Fyfe/Erasmus isn't in the 22] for the sub role.

I'm sure JOM will still play plenty of games due to injury, form etc. but he's right on the cusp of B23 and could easily fall outside it. It also probably depends where Fyfe and Sonny sit coming into Round 1 - seems likely to me that at least one of Fyfe/Walters/JOM are in the team taking the field.

For me:
B - B.Walker A.Pearce L.Ryan
HB - J.Clark B.Cox H.Chapman
C - J.Sharp A.Brayshaw N.O’Driscoll
HF - S.Bolton J.Treacy S.Switkowski
F - L.Jackson J.Amiss M.Frederick
FOLL - S.Darcy C.Serong H.Young
I/C - C. Wagner, M.Johnson, S.Sturt, N. Fyfe
Sub - JOM (over B. Banfield, N.Erasmus, J.Aish, M. Walters)

Next men in:
KPD - Draper, OMac
Gen. Def - Aish, Worner
Ruck - Reidy
Guts - Erasmus, Brodie
Wingers - JOM, Banfield
KPF - Voss
Gen. Fwd - Banfield, Walters, Simpson

With Erasmus hopefully cementing his spot once he gets a chance.

 

[Mags98]

I choose to believe Simpson is going to have a blinder of a pre-season and put himself right in the mix to be the 23rd man.

i choose to believe every player will have a blinder of a pre-season and follow it up with a blinder of a season and we win every by 10 goals

pretty keen

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

This board does have a hate boner for JOM but the hot new young things bumping him from the team are now somewhat seasoned and hitting their straps. On the wing rotation, I think it's pretty reasonable for JOM to be behind:

• Sharp: currently our best wingman
• Johnson: best 22 all year, can play inside or outside
• NOD: has shown he can produce at the level, certainly B22 form to end the year

After that, he's competing with 1 of [Fyfe/Erasmus] for a spot in the guts (unlikely), or more likely he's duking it out with Banners/Aish/Walters/[whichever of Fyfe/Erasmus isn't in the 22] for the sub role.

I'm sure JOM will still play plenty of games due to injury, form etc. but he's right on the cusp of B23 and could easily fall outside it. It also probably depends where Fyfe and Sonny sit coming into Round 1 - seems likely to me that at least one of Fyfe/Walters/JOM are in the team taking the field.

For me:
B - B.Walker A.Pearce L.Ryan
HB - J.Clark B.Cox H.Chapman
C - J.Sharp A.Brayshaw N.O’Driscoll
HF - S.Bolton J.Treacy S.Switkowski
F - L.Jackson J.Amiss M.Frederick
FOLL - S.Darcy C.Serong H.Young
I/C - C. Wagner, M.Johnson, S.Sturt, N. Fyfe
Sub - JOM (over B. Banfield, N.Erasmus, J.Aish, M. Walters)

Next men in:
KPD - Draper, OMac
Gen. Def - Aish, Worner
Ruck - Reidy
Guts - Erasmus, Brodie
Wingers - JOM, Banfield
KPF - Voss
Gen. Fwd - Banfield, Walters, Simpson

With Erasmus hopefully cementing his spot once he gets a chance.

I'm 90% sure regardless he'll start round 1 and it will be on others to push him out. He plays his role fine for the most part and isn't in the same tier of cooked as a couple other veterans that people like to dump him with.

Noddy himself supposedly said JL had him earmarked for a HBF role next year which makes sense to me and I can see him taking Wagner's spot as the 7th defender. More chance of squeezing him in there then on the wing IMO

 

[Alfonz]

I was going to make a similar comment about McPharlin. I don’t think any other supporter outside Freo would bracket him with Pavlich, Sandilands and Fyfe, they honestly have no understanding of how good he was.

Yep, always gets ignored in that Hodge trade. Not saying it was a good trade cause we probably could have got McPharlin another way. But if you used pick 1 on a player who had McPharlin's career, you would not be complaining. See Weitering. And McPharlin was better than him. Such a shame he was hobbled at the end of the season in 2013 (played lame) and 2015.

 

[BirdPerson]

Noddy himself supposedly said JL had him earmarked for a HBF role next year which makes sense to me and I can see him taking Wagner's spot as the 7th defender. More chance of squeezing him in there then on the wing IMO

That's interesting, I would've thought he'd battle for more inside time if anything.

Initial thought is I'd prefer him somewhere he can kick a goal and he has a good mix of size and pace through the middle. But curious to track that over pre-season

 

[TheMcManusNose]

I see JOM is the new Banfield everyone keeps out of the 22 despite there being no chance he misses?

Some of us like to speculate and put forth our own opinions about what is actually our "best 22" rather than what we think the club thinks it is.

For me, I think prioritsing Johnson/Erasmus/NOD over JOM means we are better at the end of the year and going forward.

 

[dominguez]

No room for Josh Draper?

I don't think we're playing Cox, Pearce, Chapman, Ryan and Draper together. It's too tall. Draper is at Peel unless we have an injury IMO, and even then Oscar McDonald probably plays before him.

 

[dominguez]

Some of us like to speculate and put forth our own opinions about what is actually our "best 22" rather than what we think the club thinks it is.

For me, I think prioritsing Johnson/Erasmus/NOD over JOM means we are better at the end of the year and going forward.

On 2024 form if I'm picking a side for a prelim I'm taking the experience of JOM over Johnson/Erasmus.

A lot can change in 11 months though.