Preview 2025 Best 22 Discussion

[Troy Cooked It]

JLs 23

Walker Pearce Ryan
Clark Cox Wagner
Johnson Brayshaw Sharp
Darcy Serong Young
Switta Treacy JOM
Bolton Amiss Jackson

Fyfe, Freddy, Chapman, Sturt
NOD
-Switta, JOM and Johnson all giving mid rotations.
-Backline with great balance for intercept, lockdown and rebound
-Forward line almost our biggest strength with height, speed and goal nous (Is this real life?)

Contentious points we are all likely to debate over preseason:

Fyfe - I want to point out that last year was Fyfes first full season in god knows how long where he basically had to figure out what his body was capable of again. I’m genuinely expecting to see an improvement from him in his influence on games. If he gets through pre season*. 100% will be picked because he is a champion are we aren’t the kind of club to be ruthless (rightly or wrongly).
Walters- Unlike Fyfe he is just without doubt too slow on the burst and too weak in contests to be playing 1s, love him but it’s clear as day Father Time has got him. Leadership could be crucial for Simpson, Delean and hopefully Berry/Hanneford at Peel.
JOM- will start in JLs rd1 lineup. We locked in on playing extra mids throughout the year to give better rotation and he is flexible and clean with the footy to play half fwd and wing.
NOD- great impact as sub but definitely needs more development time on ball and can see him in and out regularly over Johnson who has more runs on the board.
Bolton- not contentious at all I just still can’t believe I am writing his name into our best 23 predictions how good!

Fyfe, JOM, Johnson, Chapman, Sturt, NOD and Wagner are really the only players up for debate at match committee over the year. Will be pushed by Erasmus, Worner, Draper, Walters, Simpson and Brodie.

 

[Wray27]

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

Title is a best 22 discussion not who JLos likely 22 will be.

 

[Hamann188]

Wing inside small forward vs wing inside and half back. Think selection committee rate jom above aish too - leadership group etc. time will tell

Does the leadership group get reset in the new year?

Maybe JOM doesn't get a look in this year.

 

[wakojako]

Title is a best 22 discussion not who JLos likely 22 will be.

Didn't read the T&Cs

 

[ubiquitous226]

Didn't read the T&Cs

Clearly some opinion coming across as fact, a best 22 discussion can be either - what we want, or what we think will be rolled out.

Additionally, it's a little like Emmett last year, but flashes or attributes (or 2 games!) doesn't mean a player will be a good consistent contributor to the team.
I personally think Simpson has shown very little to be included in any best 22 yet.

 

[poshman]

thats a crazy perdicton as dockers best record is 4 years in a row under Ross Lyon from 2012 to 2015.

If dockers finish 9th or 10th next season, Longmuir is likely to be sacked and we either get a good experienced coach in or a Assistant coach from victoria.

I know what our best record is. We are going to surpass it.

The team Ross inherited was talented but older. This team is talented and younger.

I’m all in on the decade of dominance. Not sure if JL is the man to do it with. Certain that we have the players and pieces required.

 

[poshman]

JLs 23

Walker Pearce Ryan
Clark Cox Wagner
Johnson Brayshaw Sharp
Darcy Serong Young
Switta Treacy JOM
Bolton Amiss Jackson

Fyfe, Freddy, Chapman, Sturt
NOD
-Switta, JOM and Johnson all giving mid rotations.
-Backline with great balance for intercept, lockdown and rebound
-Forward line almost our biggest strength with height, speed and goal nous (Is this real life?)

Contentious points we are all likely to debate over preseason:

Fyfe - I want to point out that last year was Fyfes first full season in god knows how long where he basically had to figure out what his body was capable of again. I’m genuinely expecting to see an improvement from him in his influence on games. If he gets through pre season*. 100% will be picked because he is a champion are we aren’t the kind of club to be ruthless (rightly or wrongly).
Walters- Unlike Fyfe he is just without doubt too slow on the burst and too weak in contests to be playing 1s, love him but it’s clear as day Father Time has got him. Leadership could be crucial for Simpson, Delean and hopefully Berry/Hanneford at Peel.
JOM- will start in JLs rd1 lineup. We locked in on playing extra mids throughout the year to give better rotation and he is flexible and clean with the footy to play half fwd and wing.
NOD- great impact as sub but definitely needs more development time on ball and can see him in and out regularly over Johnson who has more runs on the board.
Bolton- not contentious at all I just still can’t believe I am writing his name into our best 23 predictions how good!

Fyfe, JOM, Johnson, Chapman, Sturt, NOD and Wagner are really the only players up for debate at match committee over the year. Will be pushed by Erasmus, Worner, Draper, Walters, Simpson and Brodie.

I don’t think Chappy will come close to losing his spot in the team. Who is going to replace him? We don’t have a player like him and other than Clark is by far our most skilled backman.

 

[FreoRicci]

Wing inside small forward vs wing inside and half back. Think selection committee rate jom above aish too - leadership group etc. time will tell

Small forward? That’s news to me.

 

[pK75]

Small forward? That’s news to me.

He definitely played forward this year. Up to you if you classify him as a small or medium, same height (184cm) as Frederick (183cm)

 

[theGav56]

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.

The question of whether O'Meara is selected or not has little to do with the things you raise in your post.

It has everything to do with the conservative, risk averse nature of Longmuir.

 

[MakeshiftMartyr]

I like to split mine over both Fremantle and Peel, to highlight any potential holes in depth.

Fremantle
FB: Ryan Pearce Walker
HB: Clark Cox Chapman
C: Sharp Fyfe* O'Meara*
HF: Bolton Treacy Switkowski
FF: Sturt Amiss Frederick

Fol: Darcy Serong Brayshaw
Int: Wagner Jackson Walters* Young

Peel
FB: Draper Murphy Worner
HB: Aish McDonald [medium defender]
C: [wing] Erasmus* O'Driscoll*
HF: Emmett Voss Simpson
FF: Banfield [kpf] Delean

Fol: Reidy Brodie Johnson
Int: Davies Knobel Jones

* Players that will likely start in the team, but ideally need to be pushed out by the end of the year. We've got Fyfe and O'Meara covered with Erasmus and O'Driscoll if they come on, we still need a Walters replacement in the draft.

I know Walls said we were pretty stacked for defenders, but I feel like we could do with a medium to replace Hughes. A decent value KPF would be nice to replace Tabs, too.

Two of Berry/Hannaford and Shanahan/Faull, with a late wing option could set us up nicely.

 

[Jezzitizle]

The question of whether O'Meara is selected or not has little to do with the things you raise in your post.

It has everything to do with the conservative, risk averse nature of Longmuir.

I think it is more about what he values, which quite rightly isn’t what most fans value.

He wants leadership, experience and players who stick to their role. He also likes players who can play multiple positions.

Keep in mind it may also be driven by the line coaches, I’m sure they have a massive say in selection in their area.

Not to say I think we should select Jaeger, but I disagree it is just about being risk averse.

 

[Boppo]

The question of whether O'Meara is selected or not has little to do with the things you raise in your post.

It has everything to do with the conservative, risk averse nature of Longmuir.

If JOM wa still at the Hawks he would be nudged into retirement.

 

[Purpletown]

If JOM wa still at the Hawks he would be nudged into retirement.

The way Hawthorn operate it's possible JOM jumped before he was pushed when he came to Freo. Hawks are quite ruthless with older players at times.

 

[eastfreo75]

I know what our best record is. We are going to surpass it.

The team Ross inherited was talented but older. This team is talented and younger.

I’m all in on the decade of dominance. Not sure if JL is the man to do it with. Certain that we have the players and pieces required.

We have a better talls up forward than the Ross team. Pavlich, Mayne and Clarke as a group is inferior to Amiss, Treacy and Jackson.

Fun times ahead.

 

[Docker82]

The way Hawthorn operate it's possible JOM jumped before he was pushed when he came to Freo. Hawks are quite ruthless with older players at times.

Think he gets a rough deal on this board tbh. He would’ve ended up somewhere else in the AFL if Hawthorn had moved him and we hadn’t been interested. There was interest from GWS prior to him coming to us. Think there’s a number of other clubs that could’ve been interested too.

 

[Rhufus]

I like to split mine over both Fremantle and Peel, to highlight any potential holes in depth.

Fremantle
FB: Ryan Pearce Walker
HB: Clark Cox Chapman
C: Sharp Fyfe* O'Meara*
HF: Bolton Treacy Switkowski
FF: Sturt Amiss Frederick

Fol: Darcy Serong Brayshaw
Int: Wagner Jackson Walters* Young

Peel
FB: Draper Murphy Worner
HB: Aish McDonald [medium defender]
C: [wing] Erasmus* O'Driscoll*
HF: Emmett Voss Simpson
FF: Banfield [kpf] Delean

Fol: Reidy Brodie Johnson
Int: Davies Knobel Jones

* Players that will likely start in the team, but ideally need to be pushed out by the end of the year. We've got Fyfe and O'Meara covered with Erasmus and O'Driscoll if they come on, we still need a Walters replacement in the draft.

I know Walls said we were pretty stacked for defenders, but I feel like we could do with a medium to replace Hughes. A decent value KPF would be nice to replace Tabs, too.

Two of Berry/Hannaford and Shanahan/Faull, with a late wing option could set us up nicely.

Im pretty sure Johnson will be in the firsts. Conservative as JLo is, surely he doesnt play Fyfe, JOM and Sonny all in the one team again?

 

[hoss]

Switta for Freddy? Freddy will be kicking goals this year I guarantee it. That's what we need from our forwards.

I hope you're right. He went backwards last year. Not sure he's in my best 22 on that form.

On Pixel 7 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Docker82]

Im pretty sure Johnson will be in the firsts. Conservative as JLo is, surely he doesnt play Fyfe, JOM and Sonny all in the one team again?

JOM is not in the same conversation as Fyfe and Walters.

I think JOM was honestly being picked on merit by the end of the season if he wasn’t earlier. Fyfe and Walters are getting picked because they’re club legends and we’re hoping they can get back to producing what they did 2-3 years ago.

 

[_007_]

Fyfe's been average for 5 years now.

 

[go_the_dockers]

JOM is not in the same conversation as Fyfe and Walters.

I think JOM was honestly being picked on merit by the end of the season if he wasn’t earlier. Fyfe and Walters are getting picked because they’re club legends and we’re hoping they can get back to producing what they did 2-3 years ago.

I really think Fyfe was solid for at least part of last year. I think he was a bit worn out, by the end of the season, and probably should have been rested for a few games.

I was Erasmus and Fyfe, to play half the year as an inside mid.


I think Walters was cooked last year, and he should be near the best 22 this year.

 

[Purple Suit]

I really think Fyfe was solid for at least part of last year. I think he was a bit worn out, by the end of the season, and probably should have been rested for a few games.

I was Erasmus and Fyfe, to play half the year as an inside mid.


I think Walters was cooked last year, and he should be near the best 22 this year.

Walters was pretty cooked but he still had more to offer than our other reserve small forwards. 1.6 goals per game in 23 to 1.0 goals per game in 24. Emmett went at 0.5 goals per game. Delean no where near an AFL game.

He was also the sub and injured a bit so probably not the same time on ground.

I also think he offers a lot of onfield leadership. His hammy injury at the end of the year coincided with our 4 game losing streak. (1 as sub v Port).

Bolton coming in moves Walters out of the best 22 but he’s still my number 1 small forward backup option until proven otherwise, even if his output is less than before. He might even have a form bounce if he was carrying an injury last year & it’s cleared up.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Walters was pretty cooked but he still had more to offer than our other reserve small forwards. 1.6 goals per game in 23 to 1.0 goals per game in 24. Emmett went at 0.5 goals per game. Delean no where near an AFL game.

He was also the sub and injured a bit so probably not the same time on ground.

I also think he offers a lot of onfield leadership. His hammy injury at the end of the year coincided with our 4 game losing streak. (1 as sub v Port).

Bolton coming in moves Walters out of the best 22 but he’s still my number 1 small forward backup option until proven otherwise, even if his output is less than before. He might even have a form bounce if he was carrying an injury last year & it’s cleared up.

At least Emmett offers forward pressure. Hopefully we get Berry in the draft, and then the forward 7 will be something like this.

Rotation: Switta
Hf: Jackson Treacy Bolton
F: Berry Amiss Sturt

Depth: Frederick, Emmett, JOM, O'Driscoll, Walters, Dealan

I still would love one more forward pocket, who is happy to play deep. Maybe next year, if Dealan does not make it.

Where do you rank Narkle amongst the depth players?

I have equal with Walters, and infront of Dealan, but behind the rest.

 

[CapitalA]

Anyone seen a 2 time Brownlow medalist around here?

Hopefully not. He's cooked.

 

[Purple Suit]

At least Emmett offers forward pressure. Hopefully we get Berry in the draft, and then the forward 7 will be something like this.

Rotation: Switta
Hf: Jackson Treacy Bolton
F: Berry Amiss Sturt

Depth: Frederick, Emmett, JOM, O'Driscoll, Walters, Dealan

I still would love one more forward pocket, who is happy to play deep. Maybe next year, if Dealan does not make it.

Where do you rank Narkle amongst the depth players?

I have equal with Walters, and infront of Dealan, but behind the rest.

Not sure on Narkle, an AFL body but not skill set. I value depth & I think we need some so aren’t too fussed, I just hope he doesn’t cost us a game.

I can’t see any pick at 14 just walking straight into our side. If they did, they would be a special player.