Preview 2025 Best 22 Discussion

[pK75]

B: Walker Pearce Ryan

HB: Chapman Cox Clark

C: Sharp Brayshaw O'Driscoll

HF: Freddy Treacy Switkowski

FF: Bolton Amiss Jackson

F: Darcy Young Serong

I: Johnson Erasmus Wagner Sturt

S: Banfield



I'm not sentimental obviously.

This is our 2026 premiership team (if we don’t get Warner or Kozzie next year) so why not run with it now.
We need to sever the cord on our “old wise heads” of Walters, Fyfe and JOM, they aren’t able to stand up in the big games anymore (some would say JOM never has, for freo anyway).
Personally think NOD offers more than JOM does now and Johnson/Ras offer more than Fyfe/Banfield do. It’s purely the stats about average team age being in a certain range to be a “contender” that is keeping them in the team, but when you have this much young talent, just let them grow together and see what happens!

 

[Spirit Level]

This is our 2026 premiership team (if we don’t get Warner or Kozzie next year) so why not run with it now.
We need to sever the cord on our “old wise heads” of Walters, Fyfe and JOM, they aren’t able to stand up in the big games anymore (some would say JOM never has, for freo anyway).
Personally think NOD offers more than JOM does now and Johnson/Ras offer more than Fyfe/Banfield do. It’s purely the stats about average team age being in a certain range to be a “contender” that is keeping them in the team, but when you have this much young talent, just let them grow together and see what happens!

He might be on the way out but there's no need to disrespect the guy by straight up lying about him

 

[Mags98]

i think sturt could have a fritsch type season next year. oppo will need to focus heavily on bolton and treacy primarily and amiss will demand that attention as well. then we have this smart, quick, accurate mid fwd who can take advantage of a mismatch or space hes provided. kicked 20 in half a dozen games, could really push on towards 40 after finally getting a run of games and some confidence in himself.

**** me we might actually be stacked in the forward line for the first time ever

 

[Firesharter]

Has any team gone from not playing finals for a couple of years and winning the flag?

 

[Spirit Level]

Melbourne

 

[rgauci]

Ryan Pearce Chapman
Walker Cox (or Draper) Clark
O’Driscoll Serong Sharp
Switkowski Jackson Frederick
Bolton Treacy Amiss
Darcy Brayshaw Young
Int: Wagner Sturt Johnson Erasmus

Sub: Fyfe

 

[Outshined]

The most talent-laden side in club history?

On paper I'd argue the current 22, especially with the addition of Bolton, exceed the individual quality of the 12-15 squad. Ditto 03-07.

On paper being the sticking point given we've had very little return over the last couple of years. Not many excuses left in 2025.

 

[Joao]

The most talent-laden side in club history?

On paper I'd argue the current 22, especially with the addition of Bolton, exceed the individual quality of the 12-15 squad. Ditto 03-07.

On paper being the sticking point given we've had very little return over the last couple of years. Not many excuses left in 2025.

The pointy end of 2012-15 is still better. We need a number of current players to step up to match or at least close the gap.

If they can do that, I think the bottom half is far superior and will separate even more over time.

 

[pK75]

He might be on the way out but there's no need to disrespect the guy by straight up lying about him

What “big games” had JOM stood up in for Freo? How is my statement lying about him?

 

[Purpletown]

Shai Bolton is on the dockers best 23 now.

Can dockers be a finals side with all 3 of Frederick, Bolton and Walters in the best 23?

Walters is no longer in our best 23. He has been a great servant of our club but father time has caught up with him.

 

[Spirit Level]

What “big games” had JOM stood up in for Freo? How is my statement lying about him?

Well I probably need to preface this by saying I see all games as big games as every game impacts how the season pans out.

A couple of examples, both from 2024:

vs St Kilda - Freo were in danger of kicking themselves out of the game, couldn't kick a goal to save their life and were leaving the door open for the Saints. JOM bobs up and kicks a difficult goal from 45 near the boundary to big us breathing space then again to kick the sealer.

vs West Coast - Freo struggling for the 2nd time against West Coast and they're looking like running away with it. JOM bobs up at half time to kick a big goal from 50 on the siren to keep Freo in the game and give momentum heading into the 2nd half

 

[pK75]

Well I probably need to preface this by saying I see all games as big games as every game impacts how the season pans out.

A couple of examples, both from 2024:

vs St Kilda - Freo were in danger of kicking themselves out of the game, couldn't kick a goal to save their life and were leaving the door open for the Saints. JOM bobs up and kicks a difficult goal from 45 near the boundary to big us breathing space then again to kick the sealer.

vs West Coast - Freo struggling for the 2nd time against West Coast and they're looking like running away with it. JOM bobs up at half time to kick a big goal from 50 on the siren to keep Freo in the game and give momentum heading into the 2nd half

Definitely a couple of good moments, that saints game was probably the best game he’s played for Freo, did a great negating role on B Hill but also contributed to our transition. The last four games of the season I would call “big games” as everyone knew we only needed to win one to make the finals and unfortunately, like Fyfe and Walters, JOM didn’t stand up when we needed the experienced players to lead the way.
To my way of thinking, that’s what those guys are supposed to bring, experience, leadership and level headedness, which they all failed to deliver in our time of need.
Two are absolute club champions, and one was brought in to help negate the loss of Mundy, but if they aren’t bringing those traits to the table, we’re better off moving on the way we seem to have with Aish.

 

[Docker82]

The pointy end of 2012-15 is still better. We need a number of current players to step up to match or at least close the gap.

If they can do that, I think the bottom half is far superior and will separate even more over time.

Pavlich, Sandilands, McPharlin and Fyfe were generational.

As good as Serong and Brayshaw are they aren’t at the level were they’re genuinely consistently top 2-3 players in their position across the league for 5-6 years straight. Those four were.

 

[Joao]

Pavlich, Sandilands, McPharlin and Fyfe were generational.

As good as Serong and Brayshaw are they aren’t at the level were they’re genuinely consistently top 2-3 players in their position across the league for 5-6 years straight. Those four were.

Agree.

I do think we have half a dozen or so who can get to those levels, but certainly nobody yet. Especially not in Pavlich's or Fyfe's class.

But I don't think its a bad thing. Don't want to be too reliant on a handful. We are more evenly spread than we were then.

 

[Outshined]

Pavlich, Sandilands, McPharlin and Fyfe were generational.

As good as Serong and Brayshaw are they aren’t at the level were they’re genuinely consistently top 2-3 players in their position across the league for 5-6 years straight. Those four were.

Yeah completely agree with you and Joao that the top 5-6 in that Freo side were better quality than we currently have now. I'd add prime Mundy to that list too.

In saying that, it was quite a top heavy side and Lyon's coaching really got the absolute best out of guys like De Boer, Sutcliffe and Mzungu. Every team will have its role players but I'm thinking that we might now have a more even spread of talent across the 18 than we did back then.

 

[greatgatsby]

Melbourne

Yep if you accept this stuff, Melbourne had our 2022 season in 2018, underperformed for two years and won the flag handily in 2021. Their 2021 is our 2025?

 

[Spirit Level]

Yep if you accept this stuff, Melbourne had our 2022 season in 2018, underperformed for two years and won the flag handily in 2021. Their 2021 is our 2025?

They also picked up Jackson in the middle like we did

 

[FreoRicci]

Still have a feeling Fyfe and JOM will be in the 2025 B22

 

[FreoRicci]

B: Walker Pearce Ryan

HB: Chapman Cox Clark

C: Sharp Brayshaw O'Driscoll

HF: Freddy Treacy Switkowski

FF: Bolton Amiss Jackson

F: Darcy Young Serong

I: Johnson Erasmus Wagner Sturt

S: Banfield



I'm not sentimental obviously.

Spot on team.

Erasmus and Johnson should be having a ripper pre season to be Best 22.

Sturt is my Smokey.

Guy is ready to kick 40+ and go off on the third medium defender with Bolton and Frederick being looked after.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Pavlich, Sandilands, McPharlin and Fyfe were generational.

As good as Serong and Brayshaw are they aren’t at the level were they’re genuinely consistently top 2-3 players in their position across the league for 5-6 years straight. Those four were.

Imagine the damage we would have done with those four if the 6 6 6 rule and the current ruck rule were in place back then. They were literally four of the best one on one players in the whole competition

 

[Spirit Level]

Forward line is primed to explode IMO. Jye and Treacy with another pre-season under the belt, Sturt finally with some consistency and another preseason and Bolton taking some of the attention away from Freddie.

 

[Docker82]

Yeah completely agree with you and Joao that the top 5-6 in that Freo side were better quality than we currently have now. I'd add prime Mundy to that list too.

In saying that, it was quite a top heavy side and Lyon's coaching really got the absolute best out of guys like De Boer, Sutcliffe and Mzungu. Every team will have its role players but I'm thinking that we might now have a more even spread of talent across the 18 than we did back then.

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.

 

[Big Flappy]

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.

Mundy not just under rated on the east coast

 

[Docker82]

Still have a feeling Fyfe and JOM will be in the 2025 B22

Unpopular opinion on here but JOM should be.

Play NOD as an inside mid - He’ll be a weapon in there.

 

[Docker82]

Mundy not just under rated on the east coast

If anything Brayshaw (2022) and Serong (2023/2024) have probably already produced full seasons that were better than any single season of Mundy’s career.

Where I give Mundy the extra points is when I compare his whole career to others as he was basically a top 20 midfielder in the competition (and yes, was top 5-10 at times) from 2009-2021 and was still pretty handy before that and in 2022.

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.