2025 Best 23

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I am genuinely shocked at how many people are going with Prestia, Taranto and Hopper as our starting mids.

All everyone did (including me ) last year and year before was bemoan how slow and lack lustre our midfield has been.

I just can’t see how we progress our game with those 3 in the same midfield.

It’s not balanced enough.

All are good players in their own individual rights, but as a collective trio it just doesn’t work.

They have to mix it up.
 

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Michaels said:
I am genuinely shocked at how many people are going with Prestia, Taranto and Hopper as our starting mids.

All everyone did (including me ) last year and year before was bemoan how slow and lack lustre our midfield has been.

I just can’t see how we progress our game with those 3 in the same midfield.

It’s not balanced enough.

All are good players in their own individual rights, but as a collective trio it just doesn’t work.

They have to mix it up.
Click to expand...

Taranto is a no brainer, will play. Prestia I think will also play hopefully when Taranto is having a spell. (I think the team needs these 2 in the side during a match, perhaps not at the same time).

If all 3 are injury free and fit, it will be very interesting to see if the club has the cojones to mix it up. I don't have faith in Hopper, i think we got sold an injured player, think his knees just don't allow him to run out too many consecutive games. McAuliffe needs more game time, and I really hope to see Smillie in there early with Lalor when injury free.
 
Michaels said:
I am genuinely shocked at how many people are going with Prestia, Taranto and Hopper as our starting mids.

All everyone did (including me ) last year and year before was bemoan how slow and lack lustre our midfield has been.

I just can’t see how we progress our game with those 3 in the same midfield.

It’s not balanced enough.

All are good players in their own individual rights, but as a collective trio it just doesn’t work.

They have to mix it up.
Click to expand...
One at a time is the only way imo

Problem is that all three are next to useless in other positions (maybe Tarranto has some ability as a half forward)

Solution must come from interchanging off bench sub or dont play at all .Hopper and Prestia will prob be injured anyway.

Should be giving as much mid time to smiley Lalor macculiff as possible anyway.
 
Michaels said:
I am genuinely shocked at how many people are going with Prestia, Taranto and Hopper as our starting mids.

All everyone did (including me ) last year and year before was bemoan how slow and lack lustre our midfield has been.

I just can’t see how we progress our game with those 3 in the same midfield.

It’s not balanced enough.

All are good players in their own individual rights, but as a collective trio it just doesn’t work.

They have to mix it up.
Click to expand...
While we're blooding the kids like Smillie McAuliffe and eventually Lalor I believe we need the older guys leading the way especially early in the year. Around the bye I'd like to see the younger guys have shown enough that we can do away with the requirement to play all the older guys, which probably means Prestia gets shuffled out.

We'll likely get a much clearer idea of how Yze is thinking in the new year when match simulation ramps up
 
_RT_ said:
While we're blooding the kids like Smillie McAuliffe and eventually Lalor I believe we need the older guys leading the way especially early in the year. Around the bye I'd like to see the younger guys have shown enough that we can do away with the requirement to play all the older guys, which probably means Prestia gets shuffled out.

We'll likely get a much clearer idea of how Yze is thinking in the new year when match simulation ramps up
Click to expand...

What's the pay off having those 3 in there together if we are going to cop the exact same issues from the past 2 years?

Just not sure how that is helpful.

I think 2 can start in there but we must find a different 3rd.

MRJ, Campbell or even someone like Mansell.

We cannot walk into 2025 with zero foot speed in the guts again.
 
Michaels said:
What's the pay off having those 3 in there together if we are going to cop the exact same issues from the past 2 years?

Just not sure how that is helpful.

I think 2 can start in there but we must find a different 3rd.

MRJ, Campbell or even someone like Mansell.

We cannot walk into 2025 with zero foot speed in the guts again.
Click to expand...
In my 23 at present I have a starting 3 of Taranto Prestia and Smillie with Hopper and McAuliffe coming off the bench, with the expectation that where possible we have 2 experienced players in with a kid for the most part and then if we need to we can throw all 3 of the older guys in together.

Don't mind the idea of Maurice being thrown in similar to how the Dees use Pickett as a difference maker.
 

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Michaels said:
And we will get slaughtered accordingly
Click to expand...
How we line up R1 doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things. What I don't want to see is us throwing the kids like Smillie and Lalor to the wolves and asking them to star from day 1. Surround them with experience and let them build into the roles we'll ask them to play from 2026/2027
 
_RT_ said:
In my 23 at present I have a starting 3 of Taranto Prestia and Smillie with Hopper and McAuliffe coming off the bench, with the expectation that where possible we have 2 experienced players in with a kid for the most part and then if we need to we can throw all 3 of the older guys in together.

Don't mind the idea of Maurice being thrown in similar to how the Dees use Pickett as a difference maker.
Click to expand...
The make up you have suggested Is spot on IMO.

Have 2 of them in there at any one time with the other coming off the bench.
 
_RT_ said:
How we line up R1 doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things. What I don't want to see is us throwing the kids like Smillie and Lalor to the wolves and asking them to star from day 1. Surround them with experience and let them build into the roles we'll ask them to play from 2026/2027
Click to expand...
Don't disagree with that but the point still remains that taranto, Hopper and prestia should not co-exist in the same midfield at the same time if we learnt anything at all from the last 2 years
 
Michaels said:
I am genuinely shocked at how many people are going with Prestia, Taranto and Hopper as our starting mids.

All everyone did (including me ) last year and year before was bemoan how slow and lack lustre our midfield has been.

I just can’t see how we progress our game with those 3 in the same midfield.

It’s not balanced enough.

All are good players in their own individual rights, but as a collective trio it just doesn’t work.

They have to mix it up.
Click to expand...


Who else are you going to put in there? We drafted 10 kids, zero mature age recruits and then lost 3 of our top 5 fastest movers in Bolton, Rioli & Baker. The young mid's didn't show enough in 2024 to be seriously pegged for a starting role & no one in their right mind should be including rookies in their starting 18.

The draft was pretty exciting and a small moment of joy, but reality needs to kick back in now & be prepared for a absolutely brutal 2025. This side is lopsided between old and very slow, injury prone &, very young,likely not going to be "AFL ready in size or endurance" to be expected to make a immediate impact.

I spent zero time looking into the recruits pre the draft but after reading multiple articles, highlight videos since the draft, i think the club had a good crack with the players they selected - only 1 or 2 reaches that are then excused due to some nice "slide" pick-ups ( ie Faull then Armstrong ) & the trade with Nth was a great decision, no matter what 2025 brings.

I do wish however we could have traded up to get that pick #3 as i think Jagga will be a immediate, great long-term midfielder. A guy who can't help but get 20-30 touches every weekend, possibly ready to go with Hopper, Prestia, Nank being the bulls that protect him would have been a good fit.

The 2025 crop don't appear to be "instant impact" types, but long-term promising prospects. As far as 2025 is concerned, its going to be a bloodbath unless we have 2 of these kids have "Judd / Walsh" debut seasons. The backline looks possibly sound, but i think they will be overwhelmed based on our weak midfield.

My best 23 is what i think it might look like half way through 2025, where a few injured blokes are back in contention but, likely, the old brigade are being the benefit of the doubt to allow the rookies to get some VFL time in first. This would be assuming no one has gotten injured & the guys currently injured are progressing as expected. Not necessarily the team i'd want - but i think they will lean much harder on the older brigadee before riding the kids, unless they immediately spark.

B: Broad Balta Young
HB: Vlaustin Blight Short
C: Ralph-Smith Hopper Ross
HF: MRJ Brown Lalor
F: Ryan / Kosi Lynch Mansell
FOLL: Nank. Taranto. Prestia
Bench from : Gibcus. Ryan/Kosi, Smillie, McAuliffe. Dow. Banks, KMac. Campbell. Trainor. Bauer. Miller. Clarke. Sonsie

I'd prefer Brown down back, along with Gibcus. A backline of Gibcus. Brown, Balta with hopefully/likely 1 of Blight/Young

The thing that stands out to me is, just how slow this side looks - there could be some very overwhelming losses if a fast team gets on top of us early. They will play guys like Kosi, Ryan, Miller well before Faull, Armstrong etc. They have given these guys semi long-term contracts on real/some money - they are paying them like they are expecting them to be playing seniors.

With no injuries, the side looks weird, but ok. But, If any one, or more, of Balta, Vlaustin, Lynch, Taranto, Nank, goes down - the side will decline very fast in their portion of the field. The exciting part is that outside the top 7 players, 8 to 40 are very even and positions will really be week to week i think until a side picks itself. Its prime for some of these guys to take a leap and get paid. However, the ceiling of quite a few is very suspect. There is potentially another season of 8+ changes in the next 2 years if the likes of Dow, Miller, Ryan, Kosi, Sonsie, Campbell, Blight, Lynch, Prestia, KMac have poor seasons, due to either form or repeated injures etc.
 
Last edited:
RJK Tiger said:
Who else are you going to put in there? We drafted 10 kids, zero mature age recruits and then lost 3 of our top 5 fastest movers in Bolton, Rioli & Baker. The young mid's didn't show enough in 2024 to be seriously pegged for a starting role & no one in their right mind should be including rookies in their starting 18.

The draft was pretty exciting and a small moment of joy, but reality needs to kick back in now & be prepared for a absolutely brutal 2025. This side is lopsided between old and very slow, injury prone &, very young,likely not going to be "AFL ready in size or endurance" to be expected to make a immediate impact.

I spent zero time looking into the recruits pre the draft but after reading multiple articles, highlight videos since the draft, i think the club had a good crack with the players they selected - only 1 or 2 reaches that are then excused due to some nice "slide" pick-ups ( ie Faull then Armstrong ) & the trade with Nth was a great decision, no matter what 2025 brings.

I do wish however we could have traded up to get that pick #3 as i think Jagga will be a immediate, great long-term midfielder. A guy who can't help but get 20-30 touches every weekend, possibly ready to go with Hopper, Prestia, Nank being the bulls that protect him would have been a good fit.

The 2025 crop don't appear to be "instant impact" types, but long-term promising prospects. As far as 2025 is concerned, its going to be a bloodbath unless we have 2 of these kids have "Judd / Walsh" debut seasons. The backline looks possibly sound, but i think they will be overwhelmed based on our weak midfield.

My best 23 is what i think it might look like half way through 2025, where a few injured blokes are back in contention but, likely, the old brigade are being the benefit of the doubt to allow the rookies to get some VFL time in first. This would be assuming no one has gotten injured & the guys currently injured are progressing as expected. Not necessarily the team i'd want - but i think they will lean much harder on the older brigadee before riding the kids, unless they immediately spark.

B: Broad Balta Young
HB: Vlaustin Blight Short
C: Ralph-Smith Hopper Ross
HF: MRJ Brown Lalor
F: Ryan / Kosi Lynch Mansell
FOLL: Nank. Taranto. Prestia
Bench from : Gibcus. Ryan/Kosi, Smillie, McAuliffe. Dow. Banks, KMac. Campbell. Trainor. Bauer. Miller. Clarke. Sonsie

The thing that stands out to me is, just how slow this side looks - there could be some very overwhelming losses if a fast team gets on top of us early. They will play guys like Kosi, Ryan, Miller well before Faull, Armstrong etc. They have given these guys semi long-term contracts on real/some money - they are paying them like they are expecting them to be playing seniors.

With no injuries, the side looks weird, but ok. But, If any one, or more, of Balta, Vlaustin, Lynch, Taranto, Nank, goes down - the side will decline very fast in their portion of the field. The exciting part is that outside the top 7 players, 8 to 40 are very even and positions will really be week to week i think until a side picks itself. Its prime for some of these guys to take a leap and get paid. However, the ceiling of quite a few is very suspect. There is potentially another season of 8+ changes in the next 2 years if the likes of Dow, Miller, Ryan, Kosi, Sonsie, Campbell, Blight, Lynch, Prestia, KMac have poor seasons, due to either form or repeated injures etc.
Click to expand...
I mentioned earlier who else can roll in there, IMO Rioli Jnr, Mansell, Campbell, McAullf, even Short could all roll through as the 3rd starting mid. We just need the 3rd player in there to have a bit of toe for balance reasons.

By half way through Smillie will be a permanent feature in there with Lalor not far behind hopefully.
 
Michaels said:
I am genuinely shocked at how many people are going with Prestia, Taranto and Hopper as our starting mids.

All everyone did (including me ) last year and year before was bemoan how slow and lack lustre our midfield has been.

I just can’t see how we progress our game with those 3 in the same midfield.

It’s not balanced enough.

All are good players in their own individual rights, but as a collective trio it just doesn’t work.

They have to mix it up.
Click to expand...
is that highlighting the subtle difference between
nominate for Best 22 (based on proven 1st ability with a dose of speculation )
vs
how to work your bench and rotate the players going thru the midfield

Prestia , Taranto & Hopper are the obvious mids due to past performances
do you start each quarter with Taranto & Hopper plus one of (Dow , McAullife , MRJ, Hugo, Green , Smillie , Sonsie )
and then when rotating bring in Prestia and then two of the others ?
 
Michaels said:
Don't disagree with that but the point still remains that taranto, Hopper and prestia should not co-exist in the same midfield at the same time if we learnt anything at all from the last 2 years
Click to expand...

I have to disagree on this Hopper, Prestia & Taranto issue.

In 2023 Taranto, Hopper and Prestia only played 8 games where all 3 attended at least 50% of centre bounces. Nank missed 4 of those games.

Our games with all 4 playing in 2023:

Round 1 2023 - we drew with Carlton
Round 2 2023 - we beat Adelaide
Round 4 2023 - we lost to Western Bulldogs by 5 points.
Round 17 2023 - we beat Sydney

In 2024 Taranto, Hopper and Prestia only played 3 games where all 3 attended at least 50% of centre bounces. Nank missed 1 of those games.

Our games with all 4 playing in 2024:

Round 18 lost to GWS by 24, notably had 53 to 36 inside 50s.

Round 24 lost to GC by 28, notably had 60 to 49 inside 50s.

In round 23 all played but attended a lower % of CBAs. Ross attended 69% and we got slaughtered by Hawthorn and lost the inside 50s, 65 to 41.

We obviously need to be looking to the future in the midfield but, if fit, they should be in the team and part of the rotations. I think our biggest issue has been the other players rotating through the midfield. Smillie, Lalor and an improved tank McAuliffe may help that. Ross was also playing well prior to injury so hopefully he can recapture that form. There is still a bit of a speed issue but speed isn’t everything if the midfield sets up correctly and reads the taps.
 
Ceehook said:
is that highlighting the subtle difference between
nominate for Best 22 (based on proven 1st ability with a dose of speculation )
vs
how to work your bench and rotate the players going thru the midfield

Prestia , Taranto & Hopper are the obvious mids due to past performances
do you start each quarter with Taranto & Hopper plus one of (Dow , McAullife , MRJ, Hugo, Green , Smillie , Sonsie )
and then when rotating bring in Prestia and then two of the others ?
Click to expand...
Maybe, depends on everyone's term of best 22.

Is it best 22 for the team or best 22 based on the individuals who play that role the best irrespective of other individuals or balance.

Personally if I'm picking a best 22 it's with the view of being the best team 22 which includes balance in positions, which I'd why I'd never have those 3 in the starting mid spots together.

But yeah to your point there are plenty of other layers like midfield rotations etc!
 
docko911 said:
I have to disagree on this Hopper, Prestia & Taranto issue.

In 2023 Taranto, Hopper and Prestia only played 8 games where all 3 attended at least 50% of centre bounces. Nank missed 4 of those games.

Our games with all 4 playing in 2023:

Round 1 2023 - we drew with Carlton
Round 2 2023 - we beat Adelaide
Round 4 2023 - we lost to Western Bulldogs by 5 points.
Round 17 2023 - we beat Sydney

In 2024 Taranto, Hopper and Prestia only played 3 games where all 3 attended at least 50% of centre bounces. Nank missed 1 of those games.

Our games with all 4 playing in 2024:

Round 18 lost to GWS by 24, notably had 53 to 36 inside 50s.

Round 24 lost to GC by 28, notably had 60 to 49 inside 50s.

In round 23 all played but attended a lower % of CBAs. Ross attended 69% and we got slaughtered by Hawthorn and lost the inside 50s, 65 to 41.

We obviously need to be looking to the future in the midfield but, if fit, they should be in the team and part of the rotations. I think our biggest issue has been the other players rotating through the midfield. Smillie, Lalor and an improved tank McAuliffe may help that. Ross was also playing well prior to injury so hopefully he can recapture that form. There is still a bit of a speed issue but speed isn’t everything if the midfield sets up correctly and reads the taps.
Click to expand...
Fully respect the reply and view, but I just don't think it passes the eye test.

They are just too slow as a combined trio IMO
 

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