Prediction 2025 - Best 23 + Emergencies - Rolling

[Arr0w]

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

Boyd also has more 1 v 1 contests than Saad

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

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.

That’s why I’m keen on how things develop over this preseason, match sims are only a small sample size, the organized practice game and preseason game will show us early on possibly what we may have in player/s capable of playing the role, or we may need more time heading into the season before getting a better understanding, on what we actually have which will more than likely be the scenario…

 

[The Bighouse]

FB: McGovern - Weitering - Cowan
HB: OH - Haynes - Saad
C: Acres - Cripps - Binns
R: TDK - Cerra - Walsh
HF: EH - H - ZW
FF: Motlop - CC - Moir
I: Hewett - J.Smith - Docherty - Fogarty
S: Kemp
E: Lord - Boyd - Cottrell
JSOS, Pittonet, Fantasia, C.Durdin, Lemmey, Young, Wilson, HOK *Cincotta

 

[LemmingMaster]

Some good sides being shared. This is a version I believe could be selected

I'd also be interested to know what people believe our locks would be before the season has even started. Mine are bolded

Weitering McGovern
O Hollands Saad

TDK Walsh
Cripps Acres

E Hollands Curnow
Williams McKay


Cerra

Those to me seem the most likely locks, Cowan was the other I considered.

 

[LemmingMaster]

The improvement in Carlton will come from more attack from the backhalf.

Boyd/Hollands/Saad/Doch/Cowan

A better structured forward line.
Curnow/McKay with support cast of Moir/Williams/Motlop/Durdin

Another preseason for Moir and Williams forward, should improve their ability.

 

[gbatman]

The improvement in Carlton will come from more attack from the backhalf.

Boyd/Hollands/Saad/Doch/Cowan

A better structured forward line.
Curnow/McKay with support cast of Moir/Williams/Motlop/Durdin

Another preseason for Moir and Williams forward, should improve their ability.

Better midfield pressure to allow the defence to play loser and hopefully our half backs can bounce really well.

It's a good list you have mentioned.

I also reckon an explosion from our youth will allow us to go forwards. Lord, Smith, Cowan, Hollands x2, Moir, Motlop etc.

One name you forgot as a forward who will be super important to our connection with our forwards is Kemp. Going from 2 forwards who hunt the ball in the air and have an aerial game to 4+ is going to be massive for our ball movement and scoring power. Kemp and Moir also having pace and a strong ground level game is another strength we add this season. Particularly Moir who's ground level game is really strong. We also get endurance from kemp which allows him to play half forward in a similar role we have seen from Cottrell and Williams fitter means he can go to half forward as well which is a real weapon as that plus 1 around the middle.

I think we will benefit from a restructure and some new faces fairly significantly.

 

[thebluenewdeal]

Round 1 team
Weitering Mcgovern Saad
Cowan Haynes Hollands

Docherty Cripps Acres

Fogarty McKay Hollands
Motlop Curnow Fantasia

TDK Cerra Walsh

Boyd Williams Durdin Smith

 

[GoBlues!]

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.

Agree. Regurgitating the same support players up forward and expecting a different result is fanciful.

Need to have a strong 3rd target like Kemp, Moir and Smith for skill and evasiveness around the contests, along with Curnow, Harry and Williams. This would be a formidable forward line and stretch most backlines imo.

 

[gbatman]

Agree. Regurgitating the same support players up forward and expecting a different result is fanciful.

Need to have a strong 3rd target like Kemp, Moir and Smith for skill and evasiveness around the contests, along with Curnow, Harry and Williams. This would be a formidable forward line and stretch most backlines imo.

Exactly, we need more skill, speed and players who have that natural forward brain and are instinctive and get to the right positions. A lot of our makeshift forwards get lost and just aren't there. A lot don't have an overhead game so when we are moving forward they aren't options. All those names, you have extra players who have a good overhead game, pace, skills and some real genuine forward nouse.

The Midfield has needed a little rebuild due to lack of speed and mobility causing issues with our ability to apply pressure and tackle and we have tweaked things there.

Our forward line has needed a significant rebuild as it lacks the above qualities. It's got buy on failed midfielders being molded into makeshift forwards and that rarely works out well.

The importance of smaller players who are good overhead. We all remember how good Betts was and we have seen Collingwood and Brisbane win flags with a forward line where nearly all forwards are strong overhead. But their forwards were genuine forwards who read the game as a forward should and also have the skills to execute.

I'm excited about Kemp as the third tall forward. He's the modern 3rd tall. Not a ruckman sized player like the role use to be but a quicker more agile type. Moir is a similar prospect. Loves to tackle and chase, has speed and a really high level small/ground level game, but he's relatively tall and can take a mark but also reads the game so well as a forward. Motlop fit, Durdin Fit, Williams fit. Williams fit enough to play half forward really excites me and of course E Hollands as well.

We go from a poorly structured forward line lacking that spread of talent to one that has a good structure and more quality options going forward.

I like the idea of Smith going forward as well for us.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Better midfield pressure to allow the defence to play loser and hopefully our half backs can bounce really well.

It's a good list you have mentioned.

I also reckon an explosion from our youth will allow us to go forwards. Lord, Smith, Cowan, Hollands x2, Moir, Motlop etc.

One name you forgot as a forward who will be super important to our connection with our forwards is Kemp. Going from 2 forwards who hunt the ball in the air and have an aerial game to 4+ is going to be massive for our ball movement and scoring power. Kemp and Moir also having pace and a strong ground level game is another strength we add this season. Particularly Moir who's ground level game is really strong. We also get endurance from kemp which allows him to play half forward in a similar role we have seen from Cottrell and Williams fitter means he can go to half forward as well which is a real weapon as that plus 1 around the middle.

I think we will benefit from a restructure and some new faces fairly significantly.

I think sometimes the midfield pressure comes from those high half forwards.

 

[bigblueboy]

I think sometimes the midfield pressure comes from those high half forwards.

The higher you can apply pressure the harder it is for the opposition to transition and the easiest it is to play the “forward half” game Voss talks about.
It starts with the small forwards - they are the barometer of many good teams … imo our biggest query.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Blake Acres
Zac Williams, Harry McKay, Ashton Moir
Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Jesse Motlop
Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh

Elijah Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jagga Smith, George Hewett

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Emer: Cooper Lord, Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Boyd

 

[JustOneTime]

Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Blake Acres
Zac Williams, Harry McKay, Ashton Moir
Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Jesse Motlop
Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh

Elijah Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jagga Smith, George Hewett

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Emer: Cooper Lord, Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Boyd

Loving the JSoS pick. That is my backline as well. Actually, that is my team with exception of moir. I think it is Moir vs Kemp and the MC choose an extra runner. But i could be wrong if Moir/Kemp are killing the praccy games.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Loving the JSoS pick. That is my backline as well. Actually, that is my team with exception of moir. I think it is Moir vs Kemp and the MC choose an extra runner. But i could be wrong if Moir/Kemp are killing the praccy games.

We don't want Gov to defend so we need the 2nd key defender. It may be that Silvagni or Weitering head out to CHB. Haynes and Cowan can rotate through the Newman role, and I think both are smart enough to do it.

Hollands and Saad will get back to the square to help out, while Doc and Acres will follow them in about 30m out.

Silvagni can go into the ruck instead of McKay at times.

I'm counting Moir as an x factor runner, and Binns as sub adds the run we want.

That forward line is bloody exciting.

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Blake Acres
Zac Williams, Harry McKay, Ashton Moir
Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Jesse Motlop
Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh

Elijah Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jagga Smith, George Hewett

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Emer: Cooper Lord, Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Boyd

This is very close to my team also.

Noting Ollie’s training back, I’d still prefer Doc to HB and leave Ollie on a wing.

I’d move Walsh to centre making the mid-mix

TDK, Cripps, Cerra

The back mix will change depending on the oppo you’d think.

This backline is pretty tall & they’re want to cover teams with dangerous small forwards without losing our HBF run. Only Saad could fulfil that roll in this team.

Boyd & Cowan are fighting for that last spot - backline balance will be interesting.

At this stage I’d have Boyd ahead of Cowan for the bench position.

Can’t wait to see what Jagga & Moir bring.

Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
Sam Docherty, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
Ollie Hollands, Sam Walsh, Blake Acres
Zac Williams, Harry McKay, Ashton Moir
Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Jesse Motlop
Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Patty Cripps

Elijah Hollands, Jordan Boyd, Jagga Smith, George Hewett

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Emer: Cooper Lord, Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty, Lauchie Cowan.

 

[Juice030103]

Backline
Weitering Haynes Gov SOS Saad Ollie Cowan


Midfield
TDK Cripps Walsh Cez Jagga Doc Acres


Forwards
Charlie Harry Kemp Elijah Williams Fog Motlop Orazio


Sub: Moir

 

[carlton_99]

Updated best 23 for 2025 (post-Newman injury, and Silvagni/Kemp confirmed switch in positions).

FB: Cowan Weitering McGovern
HB: O.Hollands Haynes Saad
C: Acres Cripps Docherty
HF: E.Hollands McKay Kemp
FF: Williams Curnow Fogarty
FOL: TDK Walsh Cerra
INT: Boyd Hewett Smith Motlop
SUB: Cottrell

Defenders: Personally not a fan of four talls in defence with Weitering/McGovern/Haynes/Silvagni. Also, want to see Silvagni in the role for at least a bit before considering him for a spot in the back 7. Rest of the defence is pretty balanced with Cowan playing that medium defender role, Boyd having the ability to both lock down and play distributor with his elite kicking, and plenty of run from Saad and O.Hollands off HB.

Midfielders: They mostly pick themselves. Cripps/Hewett/Walsh/Cerra is a pretty good core four and will be supported by the likes of Smith, E.Hollands and likely Docherty. Think this group gives us the best chance of having a balanced midfield with Cripps/Hewett the ball hunters in the contest, Cerra/Walsh capable of winning the ball but also spreading from the contest - this helps us not only going forward but putting delay on the ball going inside 50 when our opponents win the clearance. Smith gives us someone that is able to very effectively get from inside to outside the contest which we haven't really had in years - his agility and pace should help a lot when in there. E.Hollands is a great ball user and again very good at spreading from the contest.

Ruck: TDK picks himself - like having another midfielder in there. Also has the ability to go forward if needed.

Forwards: Curnow and McKay are obvious selections. Expect E.Hollands to play largely as a high HF with midfield minutes. Looking forward to seeing how the Williams, Fogarty and Motlop combination of smalls go. I think overall they can each provide different things in their specific role. Fogarty great defensive forward and goal assist player, Williams can get up the ground and impact around stoppages, has great crumbing ability and also showed some leading ability in the 2nd half of the year. Motlop is x-factor around goals - looking forward to hopefully an improved season health-wise. Kemp takes that last position as a 3rd tall. I personally would still prefer JSOS in this role but it seems the club are locked in on him becoming a defender. Kemp needs to lead, lead, and lead a bit more. One area our tall forwards can improve in is their leading patterns so hoping with 3 down there capable of that we can start seeing more decoy runs etc to improve our efficiency inside 50.

 

[Red Bull]

Saad Weitering McGovern
Cowan Haynes Hollands
Acres Cripps Smith
Williams Curnow Hollands
Motlop McKay Moir

TDK Cerra Walsh

Kemp Durdin Lord Wilson

SUB : Docherty

Kemp forward
Durdin forward/midfield
Lord midfield
Wilson defence

Docherty has the ability to “plug and play” anywhere and with his maturity, it makes him a perfect sub to do just that.

The team needs to evolve to go to another level.
So too does Voss and his lieutenants.
We need speed, skill, smarts and exuberance added to our experienced quality core.
This team has a lovely blend of all the right ingredients.
It’s a potent, dangerous team that Voss needs to unleash and trust …

 

[katmanblue]

Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Blake Acres
Zac Williams, Harry McKay, Ashton Moir
Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Jesse Motlop
Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh

Elijah Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jagga Smith, George Hewett

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Emer: Cooper Lord, Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Boyd

I like it,but we need to get Fog in there. His win percentage in the last few years would be one of the highest in the side.

On SM-F946B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I like it,but we need to get Fog in there. His win percentage in the last few years would be one of the highest in the side.

On SM-F946B using BigFooty.com mobile app

The beauty of having depth

 

[SurreyBlue]

Nick Haynes, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni
Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Adam Saad
Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Blake Acres
Zac Williams, Harry McKay, Ashton Moir
Brodie Kemp, Charlie Curnow, Jesse Motlop
Tom De Koning, Adam Cerra, Sam Walsh

Elijah Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jagga Smith, George Hewett

Sub: Jaxon Binns

Emer: Cooper Lord, Matthew Cottrell, Lachie Fogarty, Jordan Boyd

Minor shuffles, ie. Elijah starts and Kemp or Moir bench. Gov more half back.
IMO, if all fit, this looks the closest team that Voss will run with.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Minor shuffles, ie. Elijah starts and Kemp or Moir bench. Gov more half back.
IMO, if all fit, this looks the closest team that Voss will run with.

I'm counting Kemp as the third tall i.e the Silvagni role, and Moir as the medium dynamic Martin role.

The X factor is off the charts with these two and Charlie up forward.

 

[Blue and Silver]

I am always coming back to the 23 as it's such an interesting question.

I will try a different approach, locks first

B: _____ Weitering McGovern

HB: Saad _______ _______

C: Acres Cripps Docherty

HF: _______ McKay E. Hollands

F: Williams Curnow _______

R: De Koning Cerra Walsh

I/C: Hewett _______ _______ _______

S: _______

And then we can look at our options

Back Pocket:

Need a medium defender with Newman and down.

Haynes, Cowan, JSOS and Cincotta are the other options. Cinc being hurt makes this a three way.

Tricky thing is that Centre Half-back is also open, if Haynes or JSOS can hold that down, you'd be inclined to pick Cowan.

I will go with Cowan

Centre Half-back

Lewis Young, Nick Haynes, JSOS are the contenders. O'Farrell is too young and light for the role this early. Lemmey might get shifted back, but for now I am leaving him as a forward option.

Young is the true KPD, but he has his clear deficiencies. Uncomfortable with ball in hand, and a fair but not dominant record against top shelf opponents.

Haynes can play taller, and is a crafty customer, who has in the past handle AFL keys. If he is anywhere near his All-Australian form I will happily lock him in.

JSOS is going to be down to whether or not he has proven across the pre-season to be able to manage larger opponents. He is a competitive beast and a very smart operator, so I am not concerned about learning the system, just whether he will be physically overmatched.

I will pick Haynes

Half - Back Flank

Run and carry or Small lockdown ? With Saad on the other side, you could go either direction. Run and carry is easier, as you get more liberty to play intuitively and the options here are younger.

O. Hollands, Boyd, Wilson, L. Camporeale, Charleson and Carroll are the contenders.

I would start by immediately locking in on Ollie and Boyd as the options. The others are young and lack any top level experience.

Jordan has the proven defensive edge on Ollie, and has an incisive kick to boot. He would have more capacity to lock down on an opponent than Ollie and has proven synergy with other defenders.

Ollie tantalized at the end of last season with his Half-back work. I think, alongside his physical development, a move across the half-back could unlock him as a courageous running back man a-la my favorite player Kade Simpson.

I will go with Ollie.

Half-Forward

With Elijah as the designated mid-fwd on the other flank, this spot can either be more pressure focused or forward connection focused.

The hardest kick in football is inside 50. So I will focus on selecting someone who can nail those.

Options are Fogarty, Fantasia, Motlop, Durdin, Cottrell and Moir.

Fogarty and Cottrell are both in contention on the defensive/pressure role which will be on the bench, so I will take them out of this equation.

Fantasia has the most scintillating kick of this group, but has the patchiest form at Carlton. Motlop has been getting a lot of hype over the off-season, and Durdin is behind the 8-ball starting the pre-season injured. Moir, God, he could be a superstar.

I am going to go with Jesse, hoping for that breakout year.

Forward Pocket

Mid-sized forward option is the go here, with Motlop and Williams now selected as goal-sneak types.

Moir or Kemp.

Ashton is just so appealing on pure potential, but I am not sure he's got the consistency.

Kempy did a great job as a spot-filler at the end of last year. And he has a beautiful leap.

Locking in Kemp.

Interchange 2

Pressure forward spot, Cottrell or Fogarty.

Cotts is a real goer, can play a defensive role up to a wing and can be a surprisingly dangerous forward.

Fog is a tackling machine, who can pinch hit in the mid.

Fog for mine.

Interchange 3

Backman rotation spot

Young, JSOS, Boyd, L. Camporeale, Wilson, Charleson or Carroll

I think it comes down to Jack or Jordan.

With Weitering McGovern and Haynes already in, we should go smaller, so Jordan Boyd it is.

Interchange 4

Mid Rotation

Jagga, Lord, B.Camporeale in contention for the final mid rotation.

It just gotta be Jagga

Sub:

Strange call here, but I think we need ruck security. Unless Harry is doing 30% in the middle, we need a plan if TDK goes down or needs relief.

JSOS, Pity, Hudson O'Keeefe

Hard to go past Jack as a fill in option in multiple spots.

Jack

Which ends us at

B: Cowan Weitering McGovern

HB: Saad Haynes O.Hollands

C: Acres Cripps Docherty

HF: Motlop McKay E. Hollands

F: Williams Curnow Kemp

R: De Koning Cerra Walsh

I/C: Hewett Fogarty Boyd Smith

S: Silvagni

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[Jacks Seething Rage]

Time for a Newman-less update...sigh. It's hard to balance the mooted positional changes, sprinkle in some youth and a personal desire to change things up a bit

Boyd, Weitering, Saad
O Hollands, Silvagni, McGovern
Acres, Cripps, Kemp
E Hollands, McKay, Fogarty
Motlop, Curnow, Williams

De Koning, Cerra, Walsh

Hewett, Cowan, Lord, Smith
Docherty

I can't see us playing Haynes and Silvagni down back...just too immobile. So it's pretty much a lock to happen.

I know Kemp won't play wing, but it's the POD I'd love to see - a nice sized, athletic, marking target that's pretty handy in traffic. Pigeon holing him as s third tall (back or forward) limits his best attributes for mine.

Binns has knocked pretty hard, but the hard truth is at his slight size he's going to struggle to lock down a spot. I think Smith plays from day one and Lord's trajectory late last year and over pre season is exciting.

 

[bigblueboy]

Dropping Hewett last year coincided with our decline.
With Kennedy gone, think he’s even more valuable this year.