Unofficial Preview Best 23 2025 Predictions

[M Malice]

Noah Answerth is a lock IMO, he brings great balance to our back 7.

From the Grand Final side it's Conor McKenna out and Keidean Coleman in for me... who the sub should be is a dilemma.

Why the AFL didn't just get rid of the sub and go with 5 on the bench is nonsensical.

 

[Section 5]

Henry Smith improved greatly in 2024 for our VFL side.
As such he was promoted on 4 occasions and was okay. Subbed off in two of them.
TOG: 53% subbed off, 63%, 33% & 20% subbed off. We won 3 (Swans, Suns, Saints) and lost 1 (GWS)
No goals or behinds in those 4 games
He will need to improve again this year and when given a chance at AFL level has to do better at that level.
His 4 games were as a forward though with ruck relief for Oscar. No doubt he would get more involved as a ruck.
Smith is still young and will play all of 2025 as a 22-year-old.

You can see why the club signed Day for 2025
It gives the 206cm Smith another preseason to build up his strength and should achieve natural improvement in his game.

 

[Footytradgic]

Henry Smith improved greatly in 2024 for our VFL side.
As such he was promoted on 4 occasions and was okay. Subbed off in two of them.
TOG: 53% subbed off, 63%, 33% & 20% subbed off. We won 3 (Swans, Suns, Saints) and lost 1 (GWS)
No goals or behinds in those 4 games
He will need to improve again this year and when given a chance at AFL level has to do better at that level.
His 4 games were as a forward though with ruck relief for Oscar. No doubt he would get more involved as a ruck.
Smith is still young and will play all of 2025 as a 22-year-old.

You can see why the club signed Day for 2025
It gives the 206cm Smith another preseason to build up his strength and should achieve natural improvement in his game.

Measured in at 208 cm at preseason so just finishing off growing still.

 

[Perrip]

Your club's best 22 in 2025: Who's in, who's out, who's new

Michael Whiting on Brisbane:

With so much quality sitting outside of the premiership players, this is a difficult team to select. Ryan Lester was a finals hero and will play plenty of games, but the club recruited Tom Doedee for a reason and his best should see him win a spot. Like Doedee, Keidean Coleman will return from a ruptured ACL and is in the best team, but who he ultimately replaces is anyone's guess. Noah Answerth proved a perfect defensive complement in September and would be mighty unlucky. Levi Ashcroft's addition forces another squeeze, and that's not even accounting for another ACL returnee in Lincoln McCarthy. Coach Chris Fagan also has to fill the gaping void left by the retiring Joe Daniher and young Henry Smith's ability to both play forward and ruck could give him the nod here. At full strength, Brisbane has an embarrassment of riches. - Michael Whiting
B: Tom Doedee, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Darcy Wilmot, Jack Payne, Dayne Zorko
C: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey
HF: Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann
F: Charlie Cameron, Henry Smith, Logan Morris
Foll: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft
I/C: Keidean Coleman, Josh Dunkley, Levi Ashcroft, Cal Ah Chee
Emerg: Ryan Lester, Noah Answerth, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Fort

 

[M Malice]

Your club's best 22 in 2025: Who's in, who's out, who's new

Michael Whiting on Brisbane:

Gee if we have a good year re injury there are going to some very good players playing VFL footy.

Fantastic problem to have.

FWIW IMO from Fish's side Lester definitely plays in the Opening round and then it's his spot to lose or keep. Also would not have Henry Smith in the side with everyone up and going, Henry out and maybe Sam Day in as he can play as a genuine key forward and relief in the ruck or go smaller eg. McCarthy.

 

[Nuggo]

That's fine if you're a side that finished in the back half of the ladder.

You can't ignore the '24 finals series. Unless any of those guys are injured or just don't come up at all they have to have first crack for a while. They've earnt it.

It is a balancing act. The start of the years seems to be where some of those that put in the hard yards in the preseason get rewarded. If they don't get rewarded then motivation can drop off quickly. Those that played in the GF and won a flag earnt it last year. Those that missed out should be pushing ultra hard to get in that team. Those that were in the team should be pushing ultra ultra hard to stay in the team.

 

[Dalions]

Gee if we have a good year re injury there are going to some very good players playing VFL footy.

Fantastic problem to have.

FWIW IMO from Fish's side Lester definitely plays in the Opening round and then it's his spot to lose or keep. Also would not have Henry Smith in the side with everyone up and going, Henry out and maybe Sam Day in as he can play as a genuine key forward and relief in the ruck or go smaller eg. McCarthy.

Yeah personally I dont think any of the Knee boys come back in automatically.
All need time in the 2’s to build form.
Kiddy would be the most likely followed by McCarthy imo.
Both Lester and Answerth deserve to keep their spot for the early rounds so it is a hard one with Kiddy in particular.
Maybe he has a few games as sub in replace of McKenna until he finds his feet.
I would keep Fort in until Oscar is ready and if Day is fit he would be a good experienced replacement for Daniher.
Levi is another hard one to fit in.
Good luck Fages and selection crew.

 

[Section 5]

Measured in at 208 cm at preseason so just finishing off growing still.

That's the annoying thing with AFL heights listings.
They measure initially and that's usually their height for their career.
They don't do weight numbers now either.

At 208cm Smith would make the list if it ever gets changed on the AFL site.

List of the Tallest AFL Players

 

[Dalions]

That's the annoying thing with AFL heights listings.
They measure initially and that's usually their height for their career.
They don't do weight numbers now either.

At 208cm Smith would make the list if it ever gets changed on the AFL site.

List of the Tallest AFL Players

View attachment 2179728

Didn’t realise English was that tall.
Thought he was more around 204-205.
Must have shot up late, a bit like Smith.

 

[briztoon]

Squad rotation.

Rest them old fellas during the season.

 

[KissKiss]

Squad rotation.

Rest them old fellas during the season.

Absolutely will be necessary especially if we have a small injury list.

I look at guys like Fletcher missing in that team and think ouch that's rough. But then whoever comes out of the wing for him would be hard done by too

 

[Dalions]

Squad rotation.

Rest them old fellas during the season.

With such a deep list, it would be a really great way of working out our best mix as the year progresses.
As long as we are not making wholesale changes week in week out, which is more likely to upset the balance.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Squad rotation.

Rest them old fellas during the season.

It makes sense, doesn't it? But that has rarely been our M.O. We usually run players into the ground unless they're injured or suspended.

 

[martinson]

It makes sense, doesn't it? But that has rarely been our M.O. We usually run players into the ground unless they're injured or suspended.

I'm wondering now that we've got the monkey off our back with a flag under the belt and what seem like some promising young players on the fringe of getting games whether there might be a total turnaround in thinking as to how we manage our list throughout the season.

Last year we didn't really have the depth of cattle to step up enough or any position of strength on the ladder to have the courage to rest our best players.

 

[BangyBangy]

It makes sense, doesn't it? But that has rarely been our M.O. We usually run players into the ground unless they're injured or suspended.

And now we're the premiers. Load up & go again.

Let's go to Vegas too.

Giddy up.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

I'm wondering now that we've got the monkey off our back with a flag under the belt and what seem like some promising young players on the fringe of getting games whether there might be a total turnaround in thinking as to how we manage our list throughout the season.

Last year we didn't really have the depth of cattle to step up enough or any position of strength on the ladder to have the courage to rest our best players.

I think our depth was underestimated last season. Basically we didn't think we had it (Fagan included) until we had to use it. The upcoming season the depth goes to another level though.

 

[dlanod]

And now we're the premiers. Load up & go again.

Let's go to Vegas too.

Giddy up.

Even let Cam keep his phone on...

God that seems a lifetime ago.

 

[Maverick]

B: Tom Doedee, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Darcy Wilmot, Jack Payne, Keidean Coleman
C: Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, Jaspa Fletcher
HF: Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann
F: Charlie Cameron, Logan Morris, Lincoln McCarthy
Foll: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft
I/C: Levi Ashcroft, Zac Bailey, Jarrod Berry, Henry Smith
Sub: Cal Ah Chee
Emerg: Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester, Noah Answerth, Darcy Fort, Connor McKenna, Dev Robertson

During the 3-peat, Gary O’Donnell used to speak of us having an A-grade bench. We once again have this.

A flip of the coin between several of our players, whether starting 18, interchange or just squeezed out.

I’ve favoured youth, running with the likes of Wilmot and Kiddy over Zorko.

Linc’s best is very good, and is a very good lead up forward for his size. So he narrowly edges out Cal for mine.

I saw Fish didn’t have Jaspa in the team on the AFL site. I’m a massive fan of Jaspa. So clean and clever. A touch of real class. Only needs 15 touches to be really damaging.

The 6 players on my emergency list are too good not to be playing AFL. Shows how much depth we have. Geelong had a similar situation years ago, and rotated players giving them a rest. I hope we get off to a good start and are in a position where we can do the same.

 

[Lace Out]

The key to being able to rest players will be spreading the energy better next season and looking like a top 4 side at the bye.At 0-3 we were severely under the pump for the next 20 games to get at least one home final.Fagan will be right onto this,he’s well aware we required some luck to do what we did and there is a much easier way to get the same result.

 

[Sproj]

The key to being able to rest players will be spreading the energy better next season and looking like a top 4 side at the bye.At 0-3 we were severely under the pump for the next 20 games to get at least one home final.Fagan will be right onto this,he’s well aware we required some luck to do what we did and there is a much easier way to get the same result.

I hope you are right but I suspect we might start slow again.

 

[3KZ is Football]

With so much quality sitting outside of the premiership players, this is a difficult team to select. Ryan Lester was a finals hero and will play plenty of games, but the club recruited Tom Doedee for a reason and his best should see him win a spot. Like Doedee, Keidean Coleman will return from a ruptured ACL and is in the best team, but who he ultimately replaces is anyone's guess. Noah Answerth proved a perfect defensive complement in September and would be mighty unlucky. Levi Ashcroft's addition forces another squeeze, and that's not even accounting for another ACL returnee in Lincoln McCarthy. Coach Chris Fagan also has to fill the gaping void left by the retiring Joe Daniher and young Henry Smith's ability to both play forward and ruck could give him the nod here. At full strength, Brisbane has an embarrassment of riches. - Michael Whiting

B: Tom Doedee, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Darcy Wilmot, Jack Payne, Dayne Zorko
C: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey
HF: Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann
F: Charlie Cameron, Henry Smith, Logan Morris
Foll: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft
I/C: Keidean Coleman, Josh Dunkley, Levi Ashcroft, Cal Ah Chee

Emerg: Ryan Lester, Noah Answerth, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Fort

I just read this and as much as I like Michael Whiting, he is tripping!

PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND PRELIMINARY FINAL HERO Ryan Lester listed as EMERGENCY with his place taken by a bloke who hasn’t played a senior game since Round 11 2023, and had done three knees? I’m in Greece at the moment on the island of Naxos, but if I was on the mainland, I would legitimately be BALKAN RAGING!

I hope Doedee comes good, but he is not close to being in our best 23 for 2025. He has a long way to go. I wish him all the very best. He has shown huge courage and deserves a shot, but he has to earn it and prove he is sound. People need to realise he may never be what he was.

Answerth and Fletcher are very hard to shift too and Fort would be a better full forward option than Smith.

I would go with a largely unchanged Grand Final team, playing Fort at Full Forward with Oscar back in the ruck and maybe looking at including Levi Ashcroft and Coleman for Answerth and Fletcher, but they would be two of the unluckiest players in the competition to not be playing in our season opener.

Whiting’s suggestion - Win a Premiership, make wholesale changes.

PS - Connor McKenna would be one player to come out.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Hi Nathan Barley!

How good is winning Premierships!

 

[McIvor]

With so much quality sitting outside of the premiership players, this is a difficult team to select. Ryan Lester was a finals hero and will play plenty of games, but the club recruited Tom Doedee for a reason and his best should see him win a spot. Like Doedee, Keidean Coleman will return from a ruptured ACL and is in the best team, but who he ultimately replaces is anyone's guess. Noah Answerth proved a perfect defensive complement in September and would be mighty unlucky. Levi Ashcroft's addition forces another squeeze, and that's not even accounting for another ACL returnee in Lincoln McCarthy. Coach Chris Fagan also has to fill the gaping void left by the retiring Joe Daniher and young Henry Smith's ability to both play forward and ruck could give him the nod here. At full strength, Brisbane has an embarrassment of riches. - Michael Whiting

B: Tom Doedee, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Darcy Wilmot, Jack Payne, Dayne Zorko
C: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey
HF: Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann
F: Charlie Cameron, Henry Smith, Logan Morris
Foll: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft
I/C: Keidean Coleman, Josh Dunkley, Levi Ashcroft, Cal Ah Chee

Emerg: Ryan Lester, Noah Answerth, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Fort

I just read this and as much as I like Michael Whiting, he is tripping!

PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND PRELIMINARY FINAL HERO Ryan Lester listed as EMERGENCY with his place taken by a bloke who hasn’t played a senior game since Round 11 2023, and had done three knees? I’m in Greece at the moment on the island of Naxos, but if I was on the mainland, I would legitimately be BALKAN RAGING!

I hope Doedee comes good, but he is not close to being in our best 23 for 2025. He has a long way to go. I wish him all the very best. He has shown huge courage and deserves a shot, but he has to earn it and prove he is sound. People need to realise he may never be what he was.

Answerth and Fletcher are very hard to shift too and Fort would be a better full forward option than Smith.

I would go with a largely unchanged Grand Final team, playing Fort at Full Forward with Oscar back in the ruck and maybe looking at including Levi Ashcroft and Coleman for Answerth and Fletcher, but they would be two of the unluckiest players in the competition to not be playing in our season opener.

Whiting’s suggestion - Win a Premiership, make wholesale changes.

You are very learned man 3KZ. I agree.

Of course we want Henry to be the very best, but even watching a lot of reserves footy, I don't get this notion at all that he can play FF successfully. As for Doedee; absolutely. Been saying it all year. The guy has barely been on the park in years and Froggy is in career best form and the assumption is that Doedee is an upgrade. Spare me. Until he proves consistently in the twos that he can even play at a decent level, there is no way he replaces Frog. Same as Flecther. Awesome finals series, another pre-season under his belt and he's out. Fish must be drunk on his hot cross buns with that nonsense.

Hope your trip is going well...Germany, Greece...look forward to seeing some snaps and a summary on the Travel thread on your return.

 

[Grasshopper17]

With so much quality sitting outside of the premiership players, this is a difficult team to select. Ryan Lester was a finals hero and will play plenty of games, but the club recruited Tom Doedee for a reason and his best should see him win a spot. Like Doedee, Keidean Coleman will return from a ruptured ACL and is in the best team, but who he ultimately replaces is anyone's guess. Noah Answerth proved a perfect defensive complement in September and would be mighty unlucky. Levi Ashcroft's addition forces another squeeze, and that's not even accounting for another ACL returnee in Lincoln McCarthy. Coach Chris Fagan also has to fill the gaping void left by the retiring Joe Daniher and young Henry Smith's ability to both play forward and ruck could give him the nod here. At full strength, Brisbane has an embarrassment of riches. - Michael Whiting

B: Tom Doedee, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Darcy Wilmot, Jack Payne, Dayne Zorko
C: Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey
HF: Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann
F: Charlie Cameron, Henry Smith, Logan Morris
Foll: Oscar McInerney, Lachie Neale, Will Ashcroft
I/C: Keidean Coleman, Josh Dunkley, Levi Ashcroft, Cal Ah Chee

Emerg: Ryan Lester, Noah Answerth, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Fort

I just read this and as much as I like Michael Whiting, he is tripping!

PREMIERSHIP PLAYER AND PRELIMINARY FINAL HERO Ryan Lester listed as EMERGENCY with his place taken by a bloke who hasn’t played a senior game since Round 11 2023, and had done three knees? I’m in Greece at the moment on the island of Naxos, but if I was on the mainland, I would legitimately be BALKAN RAGING!

I hope Doedee comes good, but he is not close to being in our best 23 for 2025. He has a long way to go. I wish him all the very best. He has shown huge courage and deserves a shot, but he has to earn it and prove he is sound. People need to realise he may never be what he was.

Answerth and Fletcher are very hard to shift too and Fort would be a better full forward option than Smith.

I would go with a largely unchanged Grand Final team, playing Fort at Full Forward with Oscar back in the ruck and maybe looking at including Levi Ashcroft and Coleman for Answerth and Fletcher, but they would be two of the unluckiest players in the competition to not be playing in our season opener.

Whiting’s suggestion - Win a Premiership, make wholesale changes.

PS - Connor McKenna would be one player to come out.

Whiting 1, 3KZ 0

 

[3KZ is Football]

Whiting 1, 3KZ 0

Are you suggesting Whiting is a fish whose judgement is clouded because he is hooked on alcohol? Judging by the team he selected, you might be onto something Hoppity!