Prediction 2025 - Best 23 + Emergencies - Rolling

[carlton_99]

Heres a good breakdown of Boyd, Newman, Saad etc re getting the ball in his hands more. Obviously theres more to it than just numbers, Newman was fantastic at getting himself into the right positions... But If you gave Boyd half of Newmans share of Kick-Ins, looked to feed him the ball more and allowed him to play up the ground more where he'd be more involved I could easily see him getting up around that 20-25 disposal range rather in the mid-low teens.

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For comparison, a team like the WBD breakdown where they look to get the ball in Bailey Dale's hands at practically every opportunity.

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And GWS another

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Yep kick ins is a big one for me. It really doesn't seem like we have much of a strategy for them. Would love Boyd to take them when he is on - can't just be 50m kick to defensive wing every time

 

[carlton_99]

It looks like we want to use Ollie and Saad as rebounding and Gov as distributor.

Losing Newman, who also defended well, we need another distributor, which we won't find in one player, hence why I believe we need to tweak some roles

Cowan, Boyd or Haynes

Given we still need a small/medium lockdown, I'd use Cowan and Boyd as distributor

Weitering - KPD
Haynes/Young - KPD
McGovern - 3rd tall interceptor/distributor
Cowan - small/mid-sized defender/distributor
Boyd - small defender/distributor
O.Hollands - rebounding
Saad - rebounding

It's a pretty good balance imo - but eventually I do want to see Cowan have more freedom to use his run and burst from HB which might be more difficult with Saad/O.Hollands taking that role.

I would also like to see him get more minutes up the ground - for instance I thought he did a brilliant job on Miers when he followed him to stoppages. Had 8 tackles that game from memory and in that type of role he can use his toughness more. I should note this doesn't mean he needs to play as a mid but if he is on someone like a Miers or Rankine who will get midfield minutes I would let him follow them there.

 

[CJMB]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Doch take up Nicks’ role at HB.

Ollie providing support off the bench.

I just figure seeing as Ollie's training at halfback and Doc's been continuing the wing/mid/hff that they'd continue that. Probably Ollie playing that high half back role that's just further up the ground, and Doc slightly ahead as the defensive side winger. Probably not all that different really, 6 of one, half a dozen the other, etc

 

[JustOneTime]

Thanks for the response. Surprised to see that he played 19 games, he did not really stand out that much to me. He is best

22, I agree. JSOS does seem to have his work cut out, will not be surprised to see him have a really good season for us all

the same.

I think some of the stats around Boyd are very misleading. 10% losses on def one on ones sounds great. But stats can lie like a rug. Quaynor had a terrible season and averages 13% losses so sounds like Boyd is better defensively than Quaynor.

The truth is quaynor contested more than double Boyds one on ones (22 to 10) meaning Quaynor is helping out defensively twice as much as boyd is in a match and in a season where Quaynor didnt even have a good season.

Boyd just doesnt involve himself enough! I loved his Brisbane pre-lim game in 2023 so there is hope. Maybe he could play Newman;s rebound role and say good bye to lockdown. The thing here is most of the guys under 190 want that role and will fight for it. I'd back hollands to beat Boyd for it let alone others.

 

[JustOneTime]

I don't get the talk of Haynes as the second KPFer, it just doesnt make sense. 192cm and 88 last time weighed. The comparison with May who is over 100kgs doesn't work. Haynes plays interceptor, not lockdown.

The important thing for a KPDer is to hold their ground and you cant do that giving away 10kgs. Kemp was 89 and how did he cope? Well he kept falling over. JSoS at 92kg is still too light but 88/89 is a joke.

 

[CJMB]

I don't get the talk of Haynes as the second KPFer, it just doesnt make sense. 192cm and 88 last time weighed. The comparison with May who is over 100kgs doesn't work. Haynes plays interceptor, not lockdown.

The important thing for a KPDer is to hold their ground and you cant do that giving away 10kgs. Kemp was 89 and how did he cope? Well he kept falling over. JSoS at 92kg is still too light but 88/89 is a joke.

Height & weight isn't the be all and end all. Jack Buckley looks to only have about an inch and a kilo or two on Haynes. Nathan Murphy was a similar size, same for Kolodjashnij and Henry at Geelong.

He's not playing the number one spot, he's the second tall. If Weitering is unavailable then Young is the backup.

 

[JustOneTime]

Height & weight isn't the be all and end all. Jack Buckley looks to only have about an inch and a kilo or two on Haynes. Nathan Murphy was a similar size, same for Kolodjashnij and Henry at Geelong.

He's not playing the number one spot, he's the second tall. If Weitering is unavailable then Young is the backup.

It is not the weight and height only. It is also the fact that he has played the interceptor role; more like a third tall.

i'll wait for the teams. I just cant believe they will be that stupid.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

I just figure seeing as Ollie's training at halfback and Doc's been continuing the wing/mid/hff that they'd continue that. Probably Ollie playing that high half back role that's just further up the ground, and Doc slightly ahead as the defensive side winger. Probably not all that different really, 6 of one, half a dozen the other, etc

Newman going down possibly changes things.

Another experienced AA quality HBF to replace him looks a better option for mine.

Doch is much stronger above the ball, defensively than Ollie.

Prefer to keep Ollie on the wing or off the bench.

 

[gbatman]

I just figure seeing as Ollie's training at halfback and Doc's been continuing the wing/mid/hff that they'd continue that. Probably Ollie playing that high half back role that's just further up the ground, and Doc slightly ahead as the defensive side winger. Probably not all that different really, 6 of one, half a dozen the other, etc

I think they will rotate a bit. Will see both in defence and on a wing I think.

 

[Bennyboy7777]

Team Update (Post Newman Injury)

B: Cowan Weitering McGovern
HB: Saad Haynes Hollands
C: Acres Cripps Binns
HF: Hollands McKay Williams
F: Moir Curnow Motlop
OB: TDK Cerra Walsh
IC: Docherty Hewett Smith Fogarty

Unlucky: Lord, Kemp, Cottrell, Silvagni

I like this team! You can add one more as sub.

 

[Arr0w]

Another perspective

Naming your AFL team's best 23 for 2025

We've listed predicted best sides for all 18 clubs.

www.zerohanger.com

FB: Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jordan Boyd
HB: Oliver Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
C: Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Blake Acres
HF: Elijah Hollands, Harry McKay, Matt Cottrell
FF: Jesse Motlop, Charlie Curnow, Zac Williams
FO: Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra
I/C: Lachie Cowan, George Hewett, Jagga Smith, Lachie Fogarty
SUB: Cooper Lord

Others to consider: Brodie Kemp, Marc Pittonet, Orazio Fantasia, Jack Silvagni, Corey Durdin, Jaxon Binns, Ashton Moir, Lewis Young, Alex Cincotta

 

[bigblueboy]

Another perspective

Naming your AFL team's best 23 for 2025

We've listed predicted best sides for all 18 clubs.

www.zerohanger.com

FB: Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jordan Boyd
HB: Oliver Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
C: Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Blake Acres
HF: Elijah Hollands, Harry McKay, Matt Cottrell
FF: Jesse Motlop, Charlie Curnow, Zac Williams
FO: Tom De Koning, Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra
I/C: Lachie Cowan, George Hewett, Jagga Smith, Lachie Fogarty
SUB: Cooper Lord

Others to consider: Brodie Kemp, Marc Pittonet, Orazio Fantasia, Jack Silvagni, Corey Durdin, Jaxon Binns, Ashton Moir, Lewis Young, Alex Cincotta

Very close I reckon. Moir instead of Fogarty and Smith starts at HF ahead of Cottrell.

 

[gbatman]

I think injury is the only thing keeping Moir and Smith out. Both bring strengths and plenty of talent in areas the team is really weak in. I think Lord should play but I am not sure he will be selected. He IMO, has the best defensive traits of all our onballers on the list. He too brings something we are desperate for.

As far as I see it, picking much the same team will give us much the same result. Picking these players mentioned and getting games into them will give us an immediate boost but also bump us up a level long term and by long term, I mean season's end.

Same goes for Kemp, he's practically a new addition to the team going forward. He may need games to settle in, he may not.

Really looking forward to a team where players look up and they see a wide spread of quality targets and not just Harry and Charlie.

I haven't listed Binns in my best 22 but for those who have, I do like it. I think if given a run of games he could settle in pretty well. Work rate and footy IQ are important. We have had a few in the side the last few seasons who just have very little natural footy smarts.

 

[JustOneTime]

Pre-season games will be the decider for a few of the non lock players. Boyd, JSoS, Young, Cottrell, Fogarty, Jagga, Moir, Kemp, and Binns. Jagga may be a lock. I'm guessing a bit on Cowan and Haynes being a lock.

 

[Arr0w]

Very close I reckon. Moir instead of Fogarty and Smith starts at HF ahead of Cottrell.

Seems likely

Think that back 7 is close to concensus amongst most supporters and scribes

Between the arcs + Hewett and Smith also similar

Forward line is where I believe spots are really up for grabs

 

[bigblueboy]

Seems likely

Think that back 7 is close to concensus amongst most supporters and scribes

Between the arcs + Hewett and Smith also similar

Forward line is where I believe spots are really up for grabs

Been considering this in the past 24 hours and keep thinking that Weitering is both our best interceptor and lockdown defender. I do wonder if we would be better setting up like this down back -

Boyd Phillips Cowan
Saad McGovern Weitering
Haynes/Hollands

My query with Haynes is that his best footy is as an interceptor. Same with McGovern. Can Phillips to play lockdown on the opposition’s best KPF?

 

[Arr0w]

Been considering this in the past 24 hours and keep thinking that Weitering is both our best interceptor and lockdown defender. I do wonder if we would be better setting up like this down back -

Boyd Phillips Cowan
Saad McGovern Weitering
Haynes/Hollands

My query with Haynes is that his best footy is as an inceptor. Same with McGovern. Can Phillips to play lockdown on the opposition’s best KPF?

I have been consistent that we should add Phillips to the list, essentially he is a Sam Collins type

That would release Weitering to play on the 2nd KPF / interceptor

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Weitering is one of the best one on one shut down players in the competition, you put him on the opposition’s best or most dangerous player, besides Cameron upfield at CHB…
The opinion of him being released to more of an interseptor further up the ground only makes sense if we had another defender who was equally capable of shutting down the other best key forwards themselves, we currently have nobody near his class and output who comes close to alow him to play that role…
He’s our number one KPD, if we had another KPD of near quality then things would be different…

 

[Michael Jezz]

Boyd weitering Cowan
Saad Mcgovern Ohollands
Walsh Cripps Acres
Eholns Mckay Motlop
Williams Curnow Moir

Tdk Hewett Cerra

Smith Lord Cottrel Jsos

Sub Binns

I don't think Docherty is best 22 or a better sub than Binns
Walsh plays wing to extend his career

 

[Zlatan]

Yes: Moir, Binns, Lord, Cowan and Smith in the 23.

No: ANY player that continuously bombs the ball forward without looking up. Don’t care how big the name is.

 

[TerryWallet]

Saad Weitering Haynes
Cowan Gov O.Hollands

Binns Cripps Acres
TDK Cerra Walsh

E.Hollands McKay Smith
Motlop Curnow Williams

Hewett Kemp Open Open

 

[gbatman]

E Holland's role could change this season. Last season it was half forward flank and onball. I think he could be used as more of a utility type this season. Playing a bit of wing and half back as well.

I'm most excited about our forward line. Forward line has been the main reason for our poor ball movement. We get to that end and have nowhere to go. It hasn't been near enough good enough to take us to flag contender and carried by two coleman medalists. Could all change this year, we knew this years ago and recruited accordingly, now they are ready to go.

Should see Kemp, Williams, Moir and hopefully a fitter Motlop and Durdin contributing there. More players with a forward's brain and overhead talent fixes a lot of what is wrong offensively with our side.

Our ball movement really bottlenecks when we look to go into he forward end of the ground. The talent and smart positioning is not there. We pretty much go to Harry and Charlie because the others aren't talented enough and positioned well enough.

We also have O Hollands going to half back and Docherty in the team. Smith is also a boom recruit with elite running and footy smarts.

So E Hollands may be up for a role change as well. His versatility is valuable. Spots on the wing and possibly in defence in running positions becoming open and less of a need and more competition up forward could see him play a different role in the team.

Smith and Docherty will also bring that utility player who can play everywhere to the team as well. Something we have lacked a little in previous seasons.

I can see E Hollands being a part of what happens when our wings and half backs rest as well as when our onballers rest. I still think he will spend time forward but can see him being shifted about a bit. He has the talent and athleticism to play in most positions IMO, similar to Docherty.

 

[gbatman]

Weitering is one of the best one on one shut down players in the competition, you put him on the opposition’s best or most dangerous player, besides Cameron upfield at CHB…
The opinion of him being released to more of an interseptor further up the ground only makes sense if we had another defender who was equally capable of shutting down the other best key forwards themselves, we currently have nobody near his class and output who comes close to alow him to play that role…
He’s our number one KPD, if we had another KPD of near quality then things would be different…

I think you are right. Most likely has been Durdin but he is always injured. The best we looked in this regard was a few years ago when Oscar McDonald was fit for two or so games and that time at the end of 2023 when Marchbank was fit for a couple of games.

Weitering is pretty much a lock for fullback and we can hope to find a CHB out of Silvagni or Haynes.

I'm open minded about Phillips. I think he is worth having a look at.

Match sims and practice matches will be interesting as we try players. Phillips or Durdin taking on that fullback role to release Weitering is not impossible but just feels a little unlikely.

I think we will have to wait and see.

 

[BigFrizz36]

I think some of the stats around Boyd are very misleading. 10% losses on def one on ones sounds great. But stats can lie like a rug. Quaynor had a terrible season and averages 13% losses so sounds like Boyd is better defensively than Quaynor.

The truth is quaynor contested more than double Boyds one on ones (22 to 10) meaning Quaynor is helping out defensively twice as much as boyd is in a match and in a season where Quaynor didnt even have a good season.

Boyd just doesnt involve himself enough! I loved his Brisbane pre-lim game in 2023 so there is hope. Maybe he could play Newman;s rebound role and say good bye to lockdown. The thing here is most of the guys under 190 want that role and will fight for it. I'd back hollands to beat Boyd for it let alone others.

Could also be partially explained by the fact that Quaynor played 23 games and Boyd 18 if we don't count the Hawthorn game where he was injured early and didn't touch the ball for the whole game. I get your point though, I thought that Boyd stagnated a bit last season, maybe Newman going down will change the nature of his role a bit.

 

[carlton_99]

The truth is quaynor contested more than double Boyds one on ones (22 to 10) meaning Quaynor is helping out defensively twice as much as boyd is in a match and in a season where Quaynor didnt even have a good season.

Being caught in more one-on-one situations than another player does not mean you are helping out defensively more.