Prediction 2025 - Best 23 + Emergencies - Rolling

[SurreyBlue]

With the chatter suggesting JSOS to CHB and Kemp as 3rd tall fwd next year, I’m keen to hear peoples thoughts on how that might look on paper, barring injuries of course.

How do we fit all of JSOS, McLovin and Haynes into our starting back 6 along with Weits? Is playing all 4 of them together going too tall? Mitch will most likely miss a couple with niggles (although he’s been relatively healthy these last couple of seasons)

Saad - Weit - Haynes
Newy - JSOS - McLovin Boyd/Cowan/Doc

Great call VG. IMO, the JSoS to the backline should not be happening.

We need him forward as a second ruck. The added value for leaving McKay as a stay home forward with Charlie 100% of the time is just too great.
McG, Haynes, Weitering are the obvious 3 back - probably preferred by the MC, but I feel we need to keep playing Young with Weits. With these 4, we have the plus 1 down back, although I don't rate McGov as a tall and others don't rate Young.
Doesn't mean we don't need a developing KP defender but in our best 22 for 2025, my guess currently, it's these 4.

IMO, I would trial Kemp as a half forward and interchange him with SoS / TdK when rucking. Kemp is versatile and athletic and can play multiple roles.

Our coaches need to get flexible!

 

[BluStreak]

Great call VG. IMO, the JSoS to the backline should not be happening.

We need him forward as a second ruck. The added value for leaving McKay as a stay home forward with Charlie 100% of the time is just too great.
McG, Haynes, Weitering are the obvious 3 back - probably preferred by the MC, but I feel we need to keep playing Young with Weits. With these 4, we have the plus 1 down back, although I don't rate McGov as a tall and others don't rate Young.
Doesn't mean we don't need a developing KP defender but in our best 22 for 2025, my guess currently, it's these 4.

IMO, I would trial Kemp as a half forward and interchange him with SoS / TdK when rucking. Kemp is versatile and athletic and can play multiple roles.

Our coaches need to get flexible!

For me, Jsos would be interchange as he is versatile.
But my concern is that Harry plays much better when he is more involved in the game rather than a stay at home forward.
I would have Kemp/JSOS as a stay at home forward and give both Harry and Charles the freedom to roam. Change our forward set up so that defenders can not just sit on H or C all the time.

Have either Kemp or JSOS operating from the goal square with the smalls hovering and H & C as HHF, each taking a run down opposite wings so that our backs have alternate outlets.

 

[JustOneTime]

With the chatter suggesting JSOS to CHB and Kemp as 3rd tall fwd next year, I’m keen to hear peoples thoughts on how that might look on paper, barring injuries of course.

How do we fit all of JSOS, McLovin and Haynes into our starting back 6 along with Weits? Is playing all 4 of them together going too tall? Mitch will most likely miss a couple with niggles (although he’s been relatively healthy these last couple of seasons)

Saad - Weit - Haynes
Newy - JSOS - McLovin Boyd/Cowan/Doc

Personally think McGovern with his speed can play small. If it was out of Cowan, Boyd and Mcgovern to take a non KPP tall, i'd still pick Mcgovern and allow him to bully which is what he too loves.

Haynes type is required because he actually understands the intercept role. I wouldn't use Haynes in any other capacity.

Weitering and Saad are self explanatory.

The hole is the key defender potatoe role (Payne, Petty, Collins type). We dont have one and young is an interceptor who happens to be tall. Despite the height difference, Young and Haynes should be competing for interceptor to suit their actual abilities. Having said that, young is deplorable aside from a free intercept mark so Haynes easily for me. I'm hoping like hell for Hawthorn's phillips/DGB/JSoS to fill this 'need'.

Newy v Doc maybe with no real preference. Might just slightly prefer Doc.

Cinc/cowan for the last spot. Boyd needs his best form and he is stuck as a role inbetweener based on his current traits.