Unofficial Preview Best 23 2025 Predictions

[StevoJenkins]

Definitely the biggest spot under threat but after his great finals series and ability to age like fine wine I expect him to hold his spot valiantly until Doedee proves that he would be the better option.

Could always follow 3KZ's dream of putting Lester up forward... lol.


Now for the lineup:

B: Andrews, Payne, Lester
HB: Zorko, Answorth, Starce
C: Berry, Bags, Dunkley
F: Omac, Neale, W. Ashcroft
HF: Kai, Hippy, Ah Chee
FF: Morris, Bailey or third tall, Charlie
INT: Rayner, L Ashcroft, Smith, Fletcher, Wilmott

Kiddy, Doodee, McCarthy and Gardiner will not come back right away. Fully expect the medical team to take their time with these players before bringing them in. Don't expect to see any of these guys until the midpoint of the season depending on how we go (similar to this year). Although Kiddy is good, Zorko is better at this stage (much more aggressive with the ball).

This lineup is with a 5-man bench. If a 5-man bench is not implemented, and a third tall forward is not recruited/drafted, then Smith gets the axe, and Bailey stays in the side. If we only recruit a third tall, then expect Bailey to make way anyway and be made the sub. Selection committee will have to make the call between Kai, McCarthy and Bailey at some point in the season. Wouldn't want to make that call.

Ah Chee would normally be a player I would consider making the sub, but this past finals series he cemented his spot in the forward line. Can always switch him to the backline/wing in the case of an injury.

I don't expect Marshall to start in the side. The only way I see him coming into the side round 1, is if he can play better than Fletcher. Fletcher didn't set the world on fire throughout last year, however; this can easily be blamed on our team not really using the wings. He still performs decently aside from this.

The third tall I'm hoping is a Gallop or a Lloyd, rather than someone recruited. The recruitable players remaining are not really key forwards. Day could be alright, but given his injury history, he may not get on the park. Chuck in a kid and see what happens. At the end of the day, I think a Smith, or a Fort will end up being the third tall regardless, but this is my preferred side, and I can do what I want.

If there ends up being a mid-season lineup thread, this side could look very different. Doodee or Gardiner potentially replaces Lester, as mentioned Kai, Bailey and McCarthy battle out for the third small, Zorko vs. Kiddy, Fletcher vs Marshall. Will be interesting to see.

 

[KissKiss]

If this is the likely setup next year, we should look at a rotation policy.
Answerth, Fletcher, and Smith to a lesser degree, should not be missing out on best 23 ( no sub and 5 on bench in 2025)
Gardiner and McKenna won't get a look in.

I think people dont realise that Fletcher is a pretty locked in player now. According to the wing thread he is the one player who played the full year in the role (everyone else got their roles chopped and changed a few times). No way he misses the team to start or play the majority of the year without a major issue

 

[Lazza16]

ROUND 1
B: Answerth Payne Lester
HB: Wilmot Dad Starce
C:Berry Washcroft Fletch
HF: McLug Hippy Ah Chee
F: McMorris Smith Lohman
R: O. Dunks Neale
Int Zorks Lashcroft Bailey Charlie Rayner.

Emg: Day Doedee Gardiner
Smith to get first go but Day to swap with him now n then. I think Coleman will need time in the 2s.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

ROUND 1
B: Answerth Payne Lester
HB: Wilmot Dad Starce
C:Berry Washcroft Fletch
HF: McLug Hippy Ah Chee
F: McMorris Smith Lohman
R: O. Dunks Neale
Int Zorks Lashcroft Bailey Charlie Linc.

Emg: Day Doedee Gardiner
Smith to get first go but Day to swap with him now n then. I think Coleman will need time in the 2s.

McCarthy and Dizzy will miss at least 6 weeks of the season

 

[martinson]

I think people dont realise that Fletcher is a pretty locked in player now. According to the wing thread he is the one player who played the full year in the role (everyone else got their roles chopped and changed a few times). No way he misses the team to start or play the majority of the year without a major issue

Importantly even though he had a lull in the middle of the year and his spot was questioned he finished off the year quite strongly.

Great effort to play the whole year in his second year in a position that can be quite challenging on the wing. I've gotta think he's a potential star.

 

[Dalions]

Importantly even though he had a lull in the middle of the year and his spot was questioned he finished off the year quite strongly.

Great effort to play the whole year in his second year in a position that can be quite challenging on the wing. I've gotta think he's a potential star.

I agree, he got through the second year blues with a Premiership.

 

[blueiris]

Shocked that people don’t have Coleman in their teams.

One of the first picked for mine.

He’s coming off a knee injury we aren’t going to rush him look what we did with Wash we’re going to make sure he’s ready
Also on an unrelated note how precious is Kiddy’s auntie

 

[rye]

if the bench goes to 5 and the sub rule is scrapped i think we will be a major beneficiary tbh.

our 23rd man would be much better than most other clubs.

 

[BangyBangy]

He’s coming off a knee injury we aren’t going to rush him look what we did with Wash we’re going to make sure he’s ready
Also on an unrelated note how precious is Kiddy’s auntie

Ashcroft did his knee in round 18 2023. First game back round 19 2024.

Kiddy did his knee in round 1 2024. Sooooo plays round 2 2025?

 

[Grasshopper17]

Ashcroft did his knee in round 18 2023. First game back round 19 2024.

Kiddy did his knee in round 1 2024. Sooooo plays round 2 2025?

Ashcroft was back well before Round 19.

 

[McIvor]

Ashcroft was back well before Round 19.

He wasnt

AFL Tables - Will Ashcroft - Stats - Statistics

 

[Grasshopper17]

He wasnt

AFL Tables - Will Ashcroft - Stats - Statistics

Be careful using that site... Their round numbers for the 2024 season are different to those used by everybody else.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Be careful using that site... Their round numbers for the 2024 season are different to those used by everybody else.

Yeah I like that. Thought that round zero was stupid so just ignored it in their numbering.

 

[Mikevk123]

B- T.Doedee J.Payne D.Zorko
HB- D.Wilmot H.Andrews K.Coleman
C- J.Fletcher J.Dunkley H.Mcluggage
HF- Z.Bailey L.Morris C.Rayner
F- C.Cameron E.Hipwood K.Lohmann
FOLL- O.Mclnerney W.Ashcroft L.Neale
I/C- B.Ah’Chee, J.Berry, L.Ashcroft, D.Fort, L.McCarthy

Emerg- N.Answerth, B.Starcevich, D.Robertson, S.Brain, S.Day

 

[POBT]

B- T.Doedee J.Payne D.Zorko
HB- D.Wilmot H.Andrews K.Coleman
C- J.Fletcher J.Dunkley H.Mcluggage
HF- Z.Bailey L.Morris C.Rayner
F- C.Cameron E.Hipwood K.Lohmann
FOLL- O.Mclnerney W.Ashcroft L.Neale
I/C- B.Ah’Chee, J.Berry, L.Ashcroft, D.Fort, L.McCarthy

Emerg- N.Answerth, B.Starcevich, D.Robertson, S.Brain, S.Day

Don't think so mate.

 

[Warwick]

Don't think so mate.

The Brendon Ah Chee part or the Starcevich in the emergencies part?

 

[BrisVegasDru]

B- T.Doedee J.Payne D.Zorko
HB- D.Wilmot H.Andrews K.Coleman
C- J.Fletcher J.Dunkley H.Mcluggage
HF- Z.Bailey L.Morris C.Rayner
F- C.Cameron E.Hipwood K.Lohmann
FOLL- O.Mclnerney W.Ashcroft L.Neale
I/C- B.Ah’Chee, J.Berry, L.Ashcroft, D.Fort, L.McCarthy

Emerg- N.Answerth, B.Starcevich, D.Robertson, S.Brain, S.Day

I would have Starcevich in the 1st 10 players i picked, exciting times great squad!

 

[mpal6]

Seen people on many different posts here wonder how the heck next years lineup will look with four good players returning from ACL injuries, two guns in Ashcroft and Marshall coming in through the draft and a possible Joe Daniher retirement.

So why not speculate here! Here’s my crack:

B: Starcevich Andrews Lester

HB: Coleman Payne Zorko

C: Fletcher McCluggage Berry

HF: Rayner Hipwood Lohmann

F: Cameron Morris Ah Chee

Fol: McInerney Neale Dunkley

Int: Bailey W.Ashcroft L.Ashcroft Smith Wilmot

Defensive seven of Andrews, Payne, Lester, Starcevich, Zorko, Coleman and Wilmot.

Offensive seven of Hipwood, Morris, Ah Chee, Rayner, Cameron, Lohmann and Smith.

Inside Midfield six of Oscar, Neale, Dunkley, McCluggage, W.Ashcroft and L.Ashcroft. Outside midfield of Bailey, Fletcher and Berry.

Hoping the sub turns into a fifth bench spot because I don’t know who to put there out of this group.

Doedee, McCarthy and Gardiner will have to make their way back in the hard way. Answerth very stiff since he did very well this year. McKenna will also have to work hard.

I'd keep Answerth in Coleman's spot. If Coleman wants his spot back, he need to be able to push Zorko out at some point. Zorko to sub would be my preferred move once Coleman's fit n firing.

I don't have high hopes of Doedee until at least mid-year. He's out by 2 years now, I believe he needs some run in 2s and build confidence in his knee before he's anywhere close to a spot in best 23. Same with Gardiner, his body is quite banged up historically - might need a longer build up in 2s before he's anywhere near ready to go. Hope Payne and Lester continue their form and availability in first half of 2025 so the rest can take their time.

We need to integrate Henry to the system so he needs to play next year. Oscar will be 31 next July so good time to bring Henry along to take over and provide more relief for Big O. Henry might even be the main ruck next year with Big O doing the Daniher % of ruck work.

Linc will be an interesting case. Is he going to go the Lyons way of being a ready to go leader in 2s waiting for his opportunity or he's going to be like Zorko, defying his age (31 next year) and be a premium contributor in 2025. Not sure at this stage, have to wait n see.

 

[KissKiss]

Yeah I like that. Thought that round zero was stupid so just ignored it in their numbering.

I agree with why they want to do it. But it is annoying as it doesnt align with everyone else. Basically screw the AFL for a stupid decision makes everything pointlessly harder

 

[McIvor]

I agree with why they want to do it. But it is annoying as it doesnt align with everyone else. Basically screw the AFL for a stupid decision makes everything pointlessly harder

I don't get why opening round / round zero can't just be round 1; its just asinine that its not.

 

[Dalions]

I don't get why opening round / round zero can't just be round 1; its just asinine that its not.

I wonder if they will make it a full round of footy this year or if it is still planned to effectively be a split round.

 

[Section 5]

I'd keep Answerth in Coleman's spot. If Coleman wants his spot back, he need to be able to push Zorko out at some point. Zorko to sub would be my preferred move once Coleman's fit n firing.

I don't have high hopes of Doedee until at least mid-year. He's out by 2 years now, I believe he needs some run in 2s and build confidence in his knee before he's anywhere close to a spot in best 23. Same with Gardiner, his body is quite banged up historically - might need a longer build up in 2s before he's anywhere near ready to go. Hope Payne and Lester continue their form and availability in first half of 2025 so the rest can take their time.

We need to integrate Henry to the system so he needs to play next year. Oscar will be 31 next July so good time to bring Henry along to take over and provide more relief for Big O. Henry might even be the main ruck next year with Big O doing the Daniher % of ruck work.

Linc will be an interesting case. Is he going to go the Lyons way of being a ready to go leader in 2s waiting for his opportunity or he's going to be like Zorko, defying his age (31 next year) and be a premium contributor in 2025. Not sure at this stage, have to wait n see.

I agree we need to get more games into Henry Smith but a few things need to happen.
First the AFL needs to change the bench to 5. That gives the club some flexibility in the ruck relief problem.
Henry improved a lot last year but needs further improvement again this year. It's a hard team to get a start in.

The club may bring in someone as that F/R role which may reduce his chances.
As an example, let's say it is Day, and the club actually play him round 1. Henry probably misses out.
But no Day (or someone else) and he is a big chance. Ruck relief for Oscar 20%, forward relief for Hippy 20% and Morris 30%.
They could play both and Henry Smith relief is Oscar 10% (Day? does 10%), Hippy 20%, Morris 30% and Day (or someone else) 15-20%
I used the average TOG % from footy wire

 

[McIvor]

I agree we need to get more games into Henry Smith but a few things need to happen.
First the AFL needs to change the bench to 5. That gives the club some flexibility in the ruck relief problem.
Henry improved a lot last year but needs further improvement again this year. It's a hard team to get a start in.

The club may bring in someone as that F/R role which may reduce his chances.
As an example, let's say it is Day, and the club actually play him round 1. Henry probably misses out.
But no Day (or someone else) and he is a big chance. Ruck relief for Oscar 20%, forward relief for Hippy 20% and Morris 30%.
They could play both and Henry Smith relief is Oscar 10% (Day? does 10%), Hippy 20%, Morris 30% and Day (or someone else) 15-20%
I used the average TOG % from footy wire

The AFL is also quite pathetic at how long it takes to make these decisions / announcements given club's are actually trying to plan list spots which indirectly may relate to this rule. Its not like the AFL couldn't have been working on this all year to make a call on 2025 within a week of the GF finishing.

 

[Son of Superboot]

I wonder if they will make it a full round of footy this year or if it is still planned to effectively be a split round.

But who will be the the opponents?

Both Lions and Swan's can play their Prelim opponents (Cats and Power).
Giants are not flavour of the month, so can't see them getting love from the AFL
Suns last year had the grudge match against the Tigers due to Hardwick, but who draws the crowd next year? The bombers due to the after the siren win in Rd 22?

 

[Section 5]

I wonder if they will make it a full round of footy this year or if it is still planned to effectively be a split round.

I read somewhere that the AFL is considering a 2 Melbourne team clash on the Sunday to finish the round. Go figure.
I never liked the non-AFL states concept, but the AFL can spin anything to make it sound successful.
Once again, the 2 grand final teams will have to front up with an extra week's short preseason to play in OR.
Last year both the Pies and Lions lost the OR match and struggled in the following matches.
Both teams had not won a game until they met each other in round 3.