Best 22 2012

[Atavistic]

I want guys like mcveigh, NLM, Winders, Davey to be cream/back up rather than solid 22's.. if this can happen I think we will have improved.

A fit Winderlich is a key ingredient to a fully-functioning forward line. He adds pressure and offers another marking option. Would definitely have him in the side. In our early games this year, when the ball went to ground Winderlich was the first in there tackling the opposition defenders and keeping the ball in our F50. We've missed him a great deal.

Hibberd plays his man better, maintains touch and doesn't get caught out as often as Hardingham. He also uses it better, where very often Hardingham just bombs it instead of looking for better options.

Hardingham moves too simply for me, he is a good leap and a good spoil, but he doesn't give as much on the ground, or providing an option.

The way I've seen it, Hibberd does this thing where he wheels around and kicks without looking. Hardingham bombs it to contests when under pressure, but when under no pressure he's quite reliable. His disposal efficiency has been very good this year. Whilst I really like Hardingham, I think he's suited to playing on the third tall, not on speedy guys like Betts. As you say, he's better in the air than on the ground, and Hird could consider playing him up forward in games where there is no suitable defensive match-up, because he gets caught out against fast, small forwards.

 

[SirJimi05]

Needs to get it up about ~25 IMO, unless you can do a tagging job like Hocking you need to get your hands on it more.

He is a contested ball player. If he were to average 25 touches a game he would be up their with the elite inside ball players of the competition.

The likes of Mitchell, Judd, Ablett, Watson and Pendlebury averaged just on or over 25 per game this season.

Taking all players into account there was a total of 20 players in the whole competition who averaged 25 touches per game.

If Howlett can get his average up to 20, close the gap between his good and poor games, keep his tackle count up, we have a pretty decent player on our hands.

 

[lamaros]

He is a contested ball player. If he were to average 25 touches a game he would be up their with the elite inside ball players of the competition.

The likes of Mitchell, Judd, Ablett, Watson and Pendlebury averaged just on or over 25 per game this season.

Taking all players into account there was a total of 20 players in the whole competition who averaged 25 touches per game.

If Howlett can get his average up to 20, close the gap between his good and poor games, keep his tackle count up, we have a pretty decent player on our hands.

You're right ~25 is a bit much. But ~22 would be a good target. Around 75 players averaged ~22 or up this year.

8 were from Collingwood. 8 were from Geelong. 7 were from Hawthorn. 7 were from Carlton. Only two were from Essendon.

We need Howlett and Zaharakis and Melksham and Hocking to step up there if we want to compete in the midfield.

 

[Vass38]

Hibberd Fletch Myers
Pears Hooker Heppell
Stanton Lonergan Melksham
Monfries Hurley Zaka
Crameri Carlisle Reimers

Ryder Hocking Watson

Bench Howlett Dempsey T.Bell Colyer(SUB)

Emergency Jetta Hardingham Winderlich

Fletch still our best option at full back and lets hope he has another great year in 2012.
Hooker & Pears both had injury issues and should bounce back strongly next year also.
Lonergan in the guts - was becoming a clearance king before he got injured.
Hurley obvious choice at CHF, not sure we have a traditional full forward as such, and in what little time hes spent up there this year Carlisle has done well so he gets the nod.
Both Jetta or Hardingham lost form towards the end of the season and Ive left them out of the 22 but either could easily push in, as could Winderlich depending on how he comes back from his knee.
Hille, McVeigh, Davey, NLM good depth. No one else from the list jumps out at me as demanding a spot in the 22.
Still think we are an A grade onballer and key forward away from being a really good side.

 

[TheDon35]

Always going to be horses for courses but here's a go.

Hardingham Pears Fletcher

Heppell Ryder Myers

Dempsey Watson Stanton

Zaka Gumby Monfries

Crameri Hurley Jetta

Bellchambers Hocking Lonergan

Hibberd Melksham Colyer Hille.

Just 22. Could easily have Winderlich, Howlett & Carlisle in there as well. We'll never have a best 22 to select anyway.

Really kean to settle Ryder at CHB with Pears to settle at FB. Would much rather see Myers tone down and try to recapture some of the agility he apparently showed as a junior.

Also like the thought of Dempsey on a wing though his run and cary out of defence is something that was missed this year.

Notice no McVeigh, Welsh, NLM, Dyson, Davey They should no longer be considered in a best 22.

Notice Gumby in there. This is me hoping like F*#k that he'll actually get through a pre-season and have another crack at it. More wishful thinking than anything else. Could probably be replaced with Carlisle as a third tall forward.

Not at all convinced with Hille but what do you do? IMO if we are going to see the best of Ryder then we need to play him at CHB. He could be an AA in that position. She's just above average as a forward and about average as a ruck option.

 

[beev]

B: Hibberd - Pears - Fletcher (Carlisle)
HB: Dempsey - Hooker - Heppell
C: Stanton - Watson - Melksham
HF: Monfries - Hurley - Reimers
F: Jetta - Crameri - Winderlich
Foll: Ryder - Zaharakis - Hocking
Int: Bellchambers, Lonergan, Hardingham, Howlett

 

[Slattery_20]

I just can't work it out whether *2011 1st pick* is up to it just yet, whether *guy who should've pulled the pin* will last the year; and whether *trade #3* or *under the radar round 76 pick* is a better option for FF.

It will probably depend on *12th Geelong former staffer*'s views TBH.

 

[cash game]

Basically agree with lamaros' side.

I really like our up-and-comers; would have to be the best I've seen. So exciting times, I hope.

Hibberd, Dempsey, Pears will make a big difference in the backline. Difficult to fit Heppell in the midfield; but I guess he can just just continue to run through at times. Wouldn't be suprised to see Jetta out if he doesn't get his backside into gear. Lonergan, Howlett, Colyer, NLM, Prismall (when he returns), Ross, and Riemers are all fighting for limited positions. Especially if we pick up a decent player or two in the draft. Doubt we will trade - we never do.

I really hope Melksham can go to another level and bulk up. I think Hibberd can be a player if he's in the right head space. Monfries really has to be more consistant. He can play, we all know that, but he goes missing too often. However, we know what he can do, e.g Adelaide. Will be interesting to see how Dempsey and Winderlich go on return, as their run is so crucial. Hardingham needs to regain his confidence if he is to stay in the side. Bellchambers, if he is going to replace Hille, will need to lift around the ground.

B: Hibberd Pears Fletcher
HB: Dempsey Hardingham (or Hooker/Carlisle) Heppell
C: Zaharakis Watson Melksham
HF: Monfries Ryder Crameri
F: Winderlich Hurley Jetta
R: Bellchambers Stanton Hocking

INT: Howlett Myers Carlisle Reimers

You must be jocking right with this quote you made. have you seen our midfield it struggles. Heppell is the first bloke you would pick in their with Watson. the kid is only going to get better.

 

[Childish Gambino]

Not convinced that Dempsey walks straight back into our best 22.

We all know about his long history with soft tissue injuries and coming back from a knee it might take him a lot longer to get fully confident with his body.

He is a player that relies heavily on his speed and evasive skills. It is really an unknown how he will be affected by the knee or even be the same player at all.

Another point I find interesting is how much higher people are rating him the longer he is out. It is very easy to remember the good games he has played for the club but my word he has had some stinkers.

 

[Slattery_20]

Not convinced that Dempsey walks straight back into our best 22.

Me either.

I personally wouldn't be surprised to see Melksham & Heppell switching midfield to half-back all year.

 

[Tassieboy]

You must be jocking right with this quote you made. have you seen our midfield it struggles. Heppell is the first bloke you would pick in their with Watson. the kid is only going to get better.

No I wasn't. The other midfielders I've got are Zaharakis, Watson, Melksham, Stanton, Hocking. Who would you drop from the middle? Melksham? Of course Heppell will have more midfield time this year, but he's the only one who I feel can play half back well - as he has done so. I'd easily put Hocking, Stanton, Watson, and Zaharakis ahead as midfielders at this stage.

 

[Donslad]

B: Hibberd Pears Fletcher
HB: Myers Hooker Heppell
C: Zaharakis Watson Dempsey
HF: Winderlich Ryder Crameri
F: Monfries Hurley Jetta
R: Bellchambers Stanton Hocking

INT: Howlett Melksham Carlisle Reimers

Still not quite sure why people are still putting Dempsey on a HBF. 2010 he was terrible down back and often had quite a few goals kicked on him (Jarrad Grant kicking 6)
I think he is better suited to wing personally.

 

[Tassieboy]

More to do with his run off half-back.

 

[gO_bOmBeRz]

He isn't good defensively though.

 

[Slattery_20]

I think he's (very) well suited to working his way back through the 2s.
No longer in the situation where he's a required player.

 

[gO_bOmBeRz]

I'm really really afraid when he comes back and plays he wont be the same after the ACL.

I used to love watching him, and he really looked the goods at the start of year. Backing himself, taking on players, sidesteps, weaving and his kicking is sublime.

Here's hoping he recovers 100% PLEASE !

 

[lamaros]

He'll be bigger and better than ever.

 

[gO_bOmBeRz]

I hope you're right.

 

[Tassieboy]

Very few players improve after an ACL.

 

[lamaros]

Very few players improve after an ACL.

Complete rubbish.

 

[daffo]

B: Hibberd - Pears - Fletcher
HB: Dempsey - Hooker - Reimers
C: Heppell - Watson - Melksham
HF: Monfries - Gumbleton - Stanton
F: Jetta - Hurley - Crameri
Foll: Bellchambers - Lonergan - Hocking
Int: Ryder, Zaharakis, Howlett, Winderlich(sub)

Only weird one I have is starting Reimers as a small defender.
Davey/Coyler don't get into the side.
Hibbard/Hardingham can easily swap.

 

[Rack Watts]

This board underrates Winderlich HARD

 

[LeeARM]

B: Hibberd Pears Fletcher
HB: Dempsey Hooker Hardingham
C: Heppel Watson Zaharakis
HF: Jetta Hurley Winderlich
F: Reimers Crameri Ryder
R: Hille Hocking Stanton
IC: Melksham Howlett Monfries Lonergan

I'm one of the few that kept Hille in the side but if he can have a good pre-season (I don't think he's had a full one in a while) I think he can still offer a lot to the team and overall I think he's better around the ground and in the forward line than Bellchambers is.
With that said I still think that both Hille and Ryder were disappointing this year and both have to step up, especially up forward.

Dempsey is in the back line in the hopes that the coaching staff can teach him to be a lot more defensive than he was in 2010 so if he can't snap out of his old habits he'd probably be best on the wing or on the forward flank while Myers or Heppel would take his place.

Carlisle will fill in for talls who get injured. Gumbleton will hopefully come in and improve our forward line but we'll have to wait and see. Players like Myers, Prismall and Colyer will probably fit in for injured players too while McVeigh and Welsh will also get games even though I don't think they should.

 

[gO_bOmBeRz]

This board underrates Winderlich HARD

Actually thought he was very good in his new role, but like Dempsey who knows how his going to come back from an ACL.

 

[Kong]

Yeah I'm not expecting much from Dempsey (or Winders or Prismall for that matter) next year.