sregit
Premiership Player
When did Grimes decide to make a comeback?
2025 Best 23
- Thread starter daftmike
- Start date
- Tagged users None
IMO Banks is better as a half forward or half back. on the wing he seems like his feet are quicker than his brain and he gets all out of position. I would like to see Brauer tried on the wing. He is good both offensively and defensively and he is quick for his size.
- Dec 18, 2005
- 22,455
- 15,929
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Richmond
Michaels
Brownlow Medallist
- Feb 4, 2006
- 17,136
- 53,573
- AFL Club
- Richmond
Here is my attempt at picking a best 22 for Round 23 in 2025.
Going to be plenty of different views on this which is great! Will be fascinating to see how our team evolves.
Going to be plenty of different views on this which is great! Will be fascinating to see how our team evolves.
At this point I'd have the following players all but locked in for r1 (pending fitness), with 6 spots still up for grabs.
FB- Broad - AAAA - Brown
HB- Short - AAAA - Vlastuin
C- Banks - Hopper - Ralpsmith
HF- Lalor - Lynch - Campbell
FF- Mansell - Bauer - MRJ
R- Nank - Taranto - Ross
I/C- Prestia - BBBB - CCCC - DDDD - EEEE
AAAA = Two of Miller, Blight & Kosi
BBBB = One of Smillie & McAuliffe
CCCC = One of Trezise, Smith & Trainor
DDDD = One of Ryan, Fawcett & Gray (2nd ruck)
EEEE = One of Green, Sonsie & Alger
Anywhere from 1 - 5 debutantes.
FB- Broad - AAAA - Brown
HB- Short - AAAA - Vlastuin
C- Banks - Hopper - Ralpsmith
HF- Lalor - Lynch - Campbell
FF- Mansell - Bauer - MRJ
R- Nank - Taranto - Ross
I/C- Prestia - BBBB - CCCC - DDDD - EEEE
AAAA = Two of Miller, Blight & Kosi
BBBB = One of Smillie & McAuliffe
CCCC = One of Trezise, Smith & Trainor
DDDD = One of Ryan, Fawcett & Gray (2nd ruck)
EEEE = One of Green, Sonsie & Alger
Anywhere from 1 - 5 debutantes.
My bad was supposed to be Balta and Gibcus with Trainor in the Grimes role.
Should not be a lock for a spot imo.
He showed some limited improvement from what was a low starting point last year. Did start to show some physical acceptance of the game but is Still nowhere near a consistent acceptable level for a winger or hb.
Needs to get his hands on the ball much more and he needs to use the ball better and continue to get physical.
Happy to see him given a crack early season but if honest i prefer complete change and play Campbell on his wing.
I also prefer Banks who has also been underwhelming with similar complaints but he at least has some hurt factor with ball in hand.
If he stagnates this year i would look to move him on at end of season.
Lots of love for Bauer atm from a lot of people. Me included i like the cameo's we have seen and the glimpses given.
Not having a go at him there are bits and pieces you see and you cannot but help think wow we just need to develop him.
We now need to demand more than a cameo or two or a glimpse here or there.
The trouble it seems at both vfl level and Afl level in an old Jack Dyer euphemism, he is too often where the ball aint.
He is a lovely strong mark better in the air than his 192cm. He moves over the ground well, while not quick he has more than adequate pace. He looks a good kick and he seems to have a bit of composure with ball.
My trouble you actually have to have the ball to hurt the opposition.
Personally i think he would thrive with the play in front of him and that means defense. We now have so many highly touted key forwards we don't know what to do with them. What We dont have is a lot of 192cm third tall types like Broad or dare i say it Grimes coming thru.
Anyway thats the good and the bad for me with this guy.
I sort of have an eye on the list and what we don't have moving forward. With 9 key forwards and no young third tall defender types i like the idea of Bauer in defense not to mention i think he is better suited to the role.
Not having a go at him there are bits and pieces you see and you cannot but help think wow we just need to develop him.
We now need to demand more than a cameo or two or a glimpse here or there.
The trouble it seems at both vfl level and Afl level in an old Jack Dyer euphemism, he is too often where the ball aint.
He is a lovely strong mark better in the air than his 192cm. He moves over the ground well, while not quick he has more than adequate pace. He looks a good kick and he seems to have a bit of composure with ball.
My trouble you actually have to have the ball to hurt the opposition.
Personally i think he would thrive with the play in front of him and that means defense. We now have so many highly touted key forwards we don't know what to do with them. What We dont have is a lot of 192cm third tall types like Broad or dare i say it Grimes coming thru.
Anyway thats the good and the bad for me with this guy.
I sort of have an eye on the list and what we don't have moving forward. With 9 key forwards and no young third tall defender types i like the idea of Bauer in defense not to mention i think he is better suited to the role.
FB- Broad - Blight - Brown
HB- Short - Miller - Vlastuin
C- Ross - Hopper - Macca
HF- Lalor - Ryan - Campbell
FF- Baeur - Lynch - MRJ
R- Nank - Taranto - Prestia
I/C- Sonz - Banks - McAlife - Raffle it x 2-see back ups.
When fit Balta, Gibcus, Smillie straight in
Hugo, Mansell, Kosi, Tresize = solid back ups
Smith, Green, Dow - thereabouts if dominating 2s
no offence to others but let them find their feet first
HB- Short - Miller - Vlastuin
C- Ross - Hopper - Macca
HF- Lalor - Ryan - Campbell
FF- Baeur - Lynch - MRJ
R- Nank - Taranto - Prestia
I/C- Sonz - Banks - McAlife - Raffle it x 2-see back ups.
When fit Balta, Gibcus, Smillie straight in
Hugo, Mansell, Kosi, Tresize = solid back ups
Smith, Green, Dow - thereabouts if dominating 2s
no offence to others but let them find their feet first
Last edited:
Good one....
mansell not getting a gig after all and sundry pumping his tires up at every chance would be hilarious
handy enough player but I just don't think he is strong enough overhead or at getting thu heavy traffic and using it to full advantage. still young, would like him to beef up, him and hugo around 72kg only according to stats.
sante
Emu
Mansell will play every game if he stays fit
rfctigerarmy
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Bauer FF, rest can **** off
probably will. no argument there. couldn't see him getting close to it in a top4 side like lions, gws, cats etc. tho. don't want to knock the kid too much as he seems a great role model and tireless worker but for me he's a push-up King type of player, good honest battler but a fair bit away from being at the required level.
Based on today's sim or just like him?
sante
Emu
Yep. Think I said as much in another thread, if he’s our best player, then we are in trouble.
sante
Emu
In the VFL
rfctigerarmy
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Just like him, I don't watch sims
Wilma Flintstone
Cancelled
- Mar 22, 2023
- 12
- 24
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Banned
- #320
I can't wait until next Monday when we have our first practice match for the year.
I disagree. If he’s leading the way at training it is a good indicator he will improve this year. He’s just ticked over 50 games which is where most players start to show their most improvement as they get comfortable at AFL level. He also had a strong second half of last year.
The only question mark is does he have more freedom to impact the scoreboard without Martin, Bolton, Baker etc. playing OR will he struggle with more attention from opposition defenders.
I think we’ll see an improved offensive performance from all our smaller forwards as they no longer will be second fiddle to our gun players that don’t chase. Teamwork will make the dreamwork!!!
Most of 2025 will be spent working out the best 23 for 2026.
There seem to be a lot of players with a similar level of credentials.
Likely available and fully fit first half of the season best 23(so leaving out all the ACL's):
Back 7
Balta Miller Blight
Short Vlastuin Broad Brown
Wing 3
Ross Banks Ralphsmith
Mid 4
Hopper Prestia Smillie Taranto
Forward 7
Lynch Bauer ????? Ryan
Rioli Campbell Lalor Mansell
23rd
Trezise
Some parts of this team will not function ideally.
1. Ryan playing forward when not rucking, so that could as easily be Koschitzke unless Balta is moved out of the backline again.
2. We don't have a breakaway inside mid option and that is not ideal.
3. We don't have a lockdown defender option for dangerous small forwards. Trezise as 23rd may be useful in that role. If Brown is winning all the sprints I wonder if he can keep up with guys like Charlie Cameron when running back towards goal.
Otherwise, I think the balance is ok. Just the class and experience will find a team like this out - for now.
There seem to be a lot of players with a similar level of credentials.
Likely available and fully fit first half of the season best 23(so leaving out all the ACL's):
Back 7
Balta Miller Blight
Short Vlastuin Broad Brown
Wing 3
Ross Banks Ralphsmith
Mid 4
Hopper Prestia Smillie Taranto
Forward 7
Lynch Bauer ????? Ryan
Rioli Campbell Lalor Mansell
23rd
Trezise
Some parts of this team will not function ideally.
1. Ryan playing forward when not rucking, so that could as easily be Koschitzke unless Balta is moved out of the backline again.
2. We don't have a breakaway inside mid option and that is not ideal.
3. We don't have a lockdown defender option for dangerous small forwards. Trezise as 23rd may be useful in that role. If Brown is winning all the sprints I wonder if he can keep up with guys like Charlie Cameron when running back towards goal.
Otherwise, I think the balance is ok. Just the class and experience will find a team like this out - for now.
footywire Hugo 81kg, Mansell 77kg
thanks for your research, I now believe you that your source is more accurate and up to date than mine. https://www.draftguru.com.au/lists/2025/richmond
wegetpumped
Norm Smith Medallist
Players in the system for 4 years or more and people think they will improve got rocks in there heads Probably more hope than anything else. Mansell Dow Sonz etc
