Preview 2025 Best 22 Discussion

[Sherriff Incorporated]

You can’t leave a player of Drapers talent level playing WAFL footy for a year after playing 22 AFL games the season previously.

Every team in the league would be calling his agent to trade him in on next years trade period if that happens.

Would be happy with Chapman to a wing too.

Chappy on the wing and O'Meara to never play wing again is the move that has to happen in my opinion.

 

[Polo342]

Where does Odriscoll play if Chapman goes to wing? Assuming Sharp is on other

 

[Dockeroo]

Where does Odriscoll play if Chapman goes to wing? Assuming Sharp is on other

Nod and Sharp can fight out for the wing spot between them.

Neither are that good that they can be assured a permanent place in the team.

Or just get rid of JOM like sheriff said

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Where does Odriscoll play if Chapman goes to wing? Assuming Sharp is on other

We normally play 3 wings or at least rotate 3 players wing. For most of last season it was O'Meara, Johnson and Sharp rotating with Banfiled spending time there in the games Johnson spent more time onball. I'd have Johnson replace Fyfe so he spends most of his time onball and then have NOD play the wing/onball role Johnson played last season. So my wingers would be NOD, Chapman and Sharp. Johnson could rotate a bit there still but spend most of his time onball.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I agree bar I don't have O'Meara in the team and I do have Freddy and Draper. I think Draper will again improve and be a best 22 with Chapman moving to te wing (so O'Mearas spot) and Id have Freddy in the team instead of new small forward.

Freddy isn't a small forward. Happy for him to play wing, forward flank, or even sub.


But we need a quality small forward in our side.

But I am getting ahead of myself, as we may not get a small forward this year.

 

[Big Animal]

Treacy Amiss Bolton
Switta Jackson Freddy
Chapman Young Sharp
Clark Cox Baker
Ryan Pearce Walker

Darcy Serong Brayshaw

Sturt Draper, Johnson Erasmus
Sub- Fyfe

 

[jakefooty23]

Treacy Amiss Bolton
Switta Jackson Freddy
Drizzy Young Sharp
Clark Cox Chapman
Ryan Pearce Walker
Darcy Serong Brayshaw
Sturt, Draper, Erasmus, Johnson
Sub-Walters/Fyfe

 

[Rhufus]

FF: Sturt Amiss Jackson
HF: Bolton Treacy Frederick
C: Chapman Brayshaw Sharp
HB: Wagner Cox Clark
FB: Ryan Pearce Walker

R: Darcy Serong Young

I: Ras Fyfe Switta NOD

S:JOM

Pushing for a spot:

Forwards/centre:
Walters
Voss
Banners
Simpson
Delean

Back:
Draper
Davies
Aish
McDonald
Worner

Talls:
Reidy
Knobel

Depth:
Brodie
Emmett
Stanley

again... where has Johnson gone??

 

[eastfreo75]

Best 23
Key Backs: Pearce, Cox
Med: Chapman, Ryan
Small: Walker, Clark, Wagner/Baker

Ruck: Darcy
Mids: Serong, Brayshaw, Young, Johnson, Fyfe, Erasmus
Wingers: NOD, Sharp

Ruck/Forward: Jackson
Key Fowards: Tracey, Amiss
Med Forwards: Sturt
Small: Bolton, Switta and Freddy.

 

[Docker82]

Best 23
Key Backs: Pearce, Cox
Med: Chapman, Ryan
Small: Walker, Clark, Wagner/Baker

Ruck: Darcy
Mids: Serong, Brayshaw, Young, Johnson, Fyfe, Erasmus
Wingers: NOD, Sharp

Ruck/Forward: Jackson
Key Fowards: Tracey, Amiss
Med Forwards: Sturt
Small: Bolton, Switta and Freddy.

It’s about right but if Erasmus can replace Fyfe I’m probably moving past him completely and putting JOM back in. I like NOD on the inside so there’s room for JOM in the team with two wingers IMO.

JOM is not the superstar that his reputation prior to coming to Freo suggested but he still adds just enough that he’d play for most clubs.

Can’t help but think we’re going to waste another year finding out just how much more cooked Walters and Fyfe are unfortunately. Hopefully if that does happen if doesn’t cost us Erasmus or NOD because I think if we keep everyone else you’ve listed in your post (plus a few extras for some depth) and find some forward pressure from somewhere 2026 should be rather exciting.

 

[eastfreo75]

It’s about right but if Erasmus can replace Fyfe I’m probably moving past him completely and putting JOM back in. I like NOD on the inside so there’s room for JOM in the team with two wingers IMO.

JOM is not the superstar that his reputation prior to coming to Freo suggested but he still adds just enough that he’d play for most clubs.

Can’t help but think we’re going to waste another year finding out just how much more cooked Walters and Fyfe are unfortunately. Hopefully if that does happen if doesn’t cost us Erasmus or NOD because I think if we keep everyone else you’ve listed in your post (plus a few extras for some depth) and find some forward pressure from somewhere 2026 should be rather exciting.

JOM and Fyfe really disappointing in the last game.

They needed to stand up and they didn't deliver.

Games like that really make me go off on a player.

 

[Schauermann]

Without trades yet, something like:

B: Ryan Pearce Walker
HB: Chapman Cox Clark
C: Sharp Young O'Driscoll
HF: Switta Treacy Frederick
F: Jackson Amiss Sturt
R: Darcy Serong Brayshaw
B:Wagner Johnson Erasmus Fyfe
Sub: Simpson
Emergency: Draper JOM Walters


Wouldn't mind Draper in, pushing Chapman to wing and 1 wingman to bench. And that makes the think the first out there should be Fyfe unless he plays very good footy making us a contender.

 

[Docker82]

JOM and Fyfe really disappointing in the last game.

They needed to stand up and they didn't deliver.

Games like that really make me go off on a player.

I think Fyfe looked slow and cooked as a player for the last month tbh. JOM just had a few poor moments.

Having said that maybe it’s just me hoping because 30 year old JOM should really have two years left if he’s good enough - that’s what his contract is.

Fyfe we should’ve given one year to back in 2023. It was reasonably obvious even then. Walters less so due to his form but still at that age we shouldn’t be repeating that mistake next time the opportunity arises.

 

[eastfreo75]

I think Fyfe looked slow and cooked as a player for the last month tbh. JOM just had a few poor moments.

Having said that maybe it’s just me hoping because 30 year old JOM should really have two years left if he’s good enough - that’s what his contract is.

Fyfe we should’ve given one year to back in 2023. It was reasonably obvious even then. Walters less so due to his form but still at that age we shouldn’t be repeating that mistake next time the opportunity arises.

I most likely had Fyfe over JOM because he is a spiritual leader of the club.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Treacy Amiss Bolton
Switta Jackson Freddy
Drizzy Young Sharp
Clark Cox Chapman
Ryan Pearce Walker
Darcy Serong Brayshaw
Sturt, Draper, Erasmus, Johnson
Sub-Walters/Fyfe

My exact 22 bar Wagner in the team with Johnson as sub and Fyfe/Walters out of the team. Its so rare that everyone's available Johnson will be in the 22 most weeks anyway. In my team Chapman's playing wing.

 

[GingerDocker]

Am I the only one here who doesn't see Chappy as a winger?

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Am I the only one here who doesn't see Chappy as a winger?

I think most of the people seeing him as a winger (like myself) are actually saying he should be tried on a wing and moved back to defence if it doesn't work. Eg like we did with Michael Johnson years ago around the same time Mundy was moved to the midfield. We tried MJ rotating onall for brief periods in games and it didnt work so he was quickly moved back to full time defence. We did the same thing with Mundy and it did work.

 

[dropbear101]

Am I the only one here who doesn't see Chappy as a winger?

he likes to take agressive kicks. not so much last year but 2022 that was a hall mark of his game.

i think an aggressive kicker into the forward half would be awesome.

 

[GingerDocker]

I think most of the people seeing him as a winger (like myself) are actually saying he should be tried on a wing and moved back to defence if it doesn't work. Eg like we did with Michael Johnson years ago around the same time Mundy was moved to the midfield. We tried MJ rotating onall for brief periods in games and it didnt work so he was quickly moved back to full time defence. We did the same thing with Mundy and it did work.

he likes to take agressive kicks. not so much last year but 2022 that was a hall mark of his game.

i think an aggressive kicker into the forward half would be awesome.

I see his main attribute as being able to play that true third tall defender who rolls off their opponent, intercept marks or impacts the contest and runs off with pace while delivering well.

Running him into the ground by converting him into an enduro beast on the wing seems counter intuitive and in no way maximises his skill set.

Plus, we currently have no other player on our list who plays this role.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

I see his main attribute as being able to play that true third tall defender who rolls off their opponent, intercept marks or impacts the contest and runs off with pace while delivering well.

Running him into the ground by converting him into an enduro beast on the wing seems counter intuitive and in no way maximises his skill set.

Plus, we currently have no other player on our list who plays this role.

I think Draper plays this role really well but he's been forced to play on second talls. I also think Cox can play the third tall intercept role if Draper can put on a bit more muscle so he can rotate on second and third talls.

 

[Big Animal]

I think most of the people seeing him as a winger (like myself) are actually saying he should be tried on a wing and moved back to defence if it doesn't work. Eg like we did with Michael Johnson years ago around the same time Mundy was moved to the midfield. We tried MJ rotating onall for brief periods in games and it didnt work so he was quickly moved back to full time defence. We did the same thing with Mundy and it did work.

yeah I agree and think we'd be stupid not to try. He's 193, great footy brain, great skills, doesn't stop. Reminds me of Bont and I would like to see what he does forward of the centre square and around the stoppage. Worst case, he gets sent back.

 

[jakefooty23]

My exact 22 bar Wagner in the team with Johnson as sub and Fyfe/Walters out of the team. Its so rare that everyone's available Johnson will be in the 22 most weeks anyway. In my team Chapman's playing wing.

I just think while we have the sub we may aswell use it to our advantage. I'd prefer Johnson to be playing full games for peel gaining confidence then him playing 1 quarter. I think fyfe and or walters could flourish in a sub role coming on and having more in the tank then the rest of the team. But I do see your point. I love Wagner but I prefer having size in the backline, definitely lose abit of speed not having Wagner's creativity off half back but I think with Chapman, Walker and Clark we can make do.

 

[theGav56]

Am I the only one here who doesn't see Chappy as a winger?

It's definitely in the unknown category for me, largely brought around by:

• the need find a solution to our wing position, which is at best being kept warm by O'Meara
• Chapman being a unique player with skills that seem to be transferable to other positions
• other developing defenders, notably Draper and Worner, who could fill that position.

With O'Driscoll looking good I don't see the need

 

[theGav56]

he likes to take agressive kicks. not so much last year but 2022 that was a hall mark of his game.

i think an aggressive kicker into the forward half would be awesome.

His kicking this year was not great.

 

[pK75]

His kicking this year was not great.

Had his moments though, that kick to leading Pearce in the Collingwood game was perfection. It’s little glimpses like this that have people salivating about what he could do moving even slightly closer to our goal.
A combo of Sharp (speed/ endurance) NOD (bust speed/ contested ball/ scoring) and Chapman (contested marking/kicking) would be awesome and very hard for opposition to match up on.
Draper being able to play 2nd or 3rd tall makes it actually possible.