Opinion 2025 rank our players 1- 15

[AFC979810]

The three potentially controversial exclusions are Tex (see Thilthorpe, and that Fogarty overtook him last year) and Curtin who I'm anticipating this year will be more of a building into his career campaign then one where I expect him to become a key contributor..

Draper is the big unknown for me, hence 14th. He could go as high as top 5 depending how we use him in preseason matches.

Yeah - for me the toughest 2 to keep out of our top 15 were Crouch and Tex.

Tex is going to be very interesting this year. By round 8 he will be 35 years young. The good news is that we have plenty of scoring firepower without him and with FOG and TT taking over he should be getting the 3rd best tall defender. Think he can still rip a game apart, but it will be in spurts in 2025.

Think we will try and stretch defenses this year and have our forward line look a little like it did in 2017. TT,FOG,Walker,Curtin = Tex, Jenkins, Lynch, McGovern.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Yeah - for me the toughest 2 to keep out of our top 15 were Crouch and Tex.

Tex is going to be very interesting this year. By round 8 he will be 35 years young. The good news is that we have plenty of scoring firepower without him and with FOG and TT taking over he should be getting the 3rd best tall defender. Think he can still rip a game apart, but it will be in spurts in 2025.

Think we will try and stretch defenses this year and have our forward line look a little like it did in 2017. TT,FOG,Walker,Curtin = Tex, Jenkins, Lynch, McGovern.

I think it depends on the criteria. If its your absolute first 15 picked in the best 23 or is it the top 15 most important at the club.

 

[AFC979810]

I think it depends on the criteria. If its your absolute first 15 picked in the best 23 or is it the top 15 most important at the club.

Yeah its a great thread topic.

Also need to consider when you are picking the side. Froggy said this year.

Are people picking the side at the end of the year or just round 1? A lot of our top 15 are entering that magical 40-70 game marker where they become really consistent quality footballers - Rachele, TT, Soligo, Peatling, Max, Murray are in this group. Can probably include Keane in it as well since he is a little more mature.

Its interesting - our rd 1 side in 2024 had 10 players with under 50 games experience in it.

Realistically - at most we will be playing 6 in 2025 - Draper, Curtin, Max, Worrell, Keane and Peatling. 2 of those players will turn 25 during the season. The more I am looking at the positives of our list - the more exciting I am getting. Can't for one month from now for Nicks to rip my heart out.

 

[Golumless]

Yeah - for me the toughest 2 to keep out of our top 15 were Crouch and Tex.

Tex is going to be very interesting this year. By round 8 he will be 35 years young. The good news is that we have plenty of scoring firepower without him and with FOG and TT taking over he should be getting the 3rd best tall defender. Think he can still rip a game apart, but it will be in spurts in 2025.

Think we will try and stretch defenses this year and have our forward line look a little like it did in 2017. TT,FOG,Walker,Curtin = Tex, Jenkins, Lynch, McGovern.

Honestly, I completely forgot about Crouch. Though, I don't think he'd make my top 15 this year, as I did rank a lot of the known quantities lower than I would have in a normal year. Adelaide hopes hinge on its kids stepping up and becoming the guys you can build a club around (well, that and getting more offensive power into the half back line). Outside of Rankine who became that guy, most made made good progress last year, but didn't quite bridge that gap.

The other thing is there was a small sample size last year that Tex could be effective in that third tall role. Though, I suspect we'll be looking at numbers this year which was the equivalent of early-career Fogarty, where it's all sub 10 disposals/1-1.3 goals production. Which is ok from a third tall, providing TT/Fog are being an effective 1-2.

I also think we'll go for something similar to fit Curtin in, and I hope it's just for one season. It does go back to being a campaign about flashes with limited (to no) influence if Adelaide jumps up or not.

I was the opposite, I found it difficult really justifying anyone past 13th (hence Draper at 14th who is a ? for me). Though, I just though of one who probably should have been 15th, in Milera. If he quickly bounces back to 2023 form it goes a long way to fixing the half back line alongside Hinge/Cummings, however, that's unlikely due to the ACL.

 

[Samcro24]

Jones
Keays
Berry
Murphy
Crouch
Curtin
Thilthorp
Rachelle
Murray
Pedlar
Edwards
Dawson
Tex
Soligo
Cook

 

[cleanhands]

Jones
Keays
Berry
Murphy
Crouch
Curtin
Thilthorp
Rachelle
Murray
Pedlar
Edwards
Dawson
Tex
Soligo
Cook

Too obvious

 

[FR0GGY]

Too obvious

Where’s your list!

 

[cleanhands]

Where’s your list!

Too hard that’s something I have to think about

 

[FR0GGY]

Too hard that’s something I have to think about

Soft.
I’ll start for you.
1. Jones

 

[cleanhands]

Soft.
I’ll start for you.
1. Jones

Actually not sure he makes my 15

 

[FR0GGY]

Actually not sure he makes my 15

Ah now you’re thinking about it! Good man!

 

[Scorpus]

1. Dawson

I have Dawson ranked above Rankine because we have mediocre leadership and without him we'd be ****ed in that area. Also he's a consistent, proven midfield weapon in his prime.

2. Rankine

Clubs aren't successful without elite midfielders that transition forward and kick goals. Would take him above every other player listed below comfortably.

3. Rachele

I think if we were really optimizing the side we would run Rankine and Rachele as tandem mid-forward threats and it would be one of the most lethal combinations in the AFL. Coming into his fourth season where he should be ready to explode. Unfortunately looks like he will be hamstrung by playing exclusively as a forward

4. Thilthorpe

Key forwards are extremely important and those with elite skills and mobility are very hard to come by. He looks and plays like a beast when he's on.

5. Fogarty

An accurate goal kicker that regularly contributes on the scoreboard is very important, especially when they are in their prime. Has all the tools to be a dominant 50 goal player in tandem with Thilthorpe in the forward line

6. Soligo

Is clearly our third best midfielder and should be a regular in most stoppages. Clean hands, excellent decision making, ball winner and plenty of room for growth.

7. Curtin

When ranking players I'm thinking about it as a draft where if you don't take the player they are a risk of going to an opponent. I rate Curtin extremely highly and would take him above players that are more easily replaceable (eg defenders). How easily could we find another player that's tall, athletic, has great disposal and could play almost anywhere?

8. Peatling

Midfielders are the most important position on the field. Peatling is probably our fourth best based on his performances at GWS and will form a key part of our rotation

9. Cumming

Transition from defence to forward line is extremely important in modern AFL and the keys for that are strong half backs and wings. I was looking across our list and my recollection of how Cumming played at GWS and I'm pretty sure he will be our best outside distributor with his skills and athleticism.

10. N. Murray

Our best key defender. Like his mix of defense and offense, gives his all on the field and has strong athleticism.

11. Hinge

Will be our second best distributor setting up attacks from defense. You don't win games of AFL unless you have strong outside players

12. Keane

I think right now Keane edges ahead of Worrell and is the better interceptor. Seems to just be a naturally elite reader of the ball in the air.

13. Neal-Bullen

I don't rate the half forward role as highly as other roles, but he's a very reliable ball winner and goal kicker in this position, plus he provides leadership

14. Draper

There is no way an explosive, damaging midfielder isn't in our top 15 players, even if he hasn't played a game yet. He's exactly the player we need to succeed.

15. Michalanney

I rate him as a player but I don't especially rate his role as being overly important, at least not to the point where I would pick him ahead of midfielders, forwards or key defenders

Next 3 (in no particular order): Worrell, Keays, Walker