Unofficial Preview Best 23 2025 Predictions

[morsie]

Noone has McKenna in their sides.Have I ,not for the first time,missed something.

 

[morsie]

Keep in mind it could also be reduced back to 22 players only too. This notion that it is either 22 plus a sub or 23 players is wrong. I’m personally in the camp of 22 only and no sub but that’s just me.

I would go for the union or soccer system.Have a large bench with 4 subs allowed but no interchange.Puts a premium on fitness but that's just my 2 cents

 

[Nathan Barley]

Noone has McKenna in their sides.Have I ,not for the first time,missed something.

Well he was our 23rd for the GF, no longer in our best 7 defenders and we have Kiddy returning and Will Ashcroft being added. Amongst others

 

[KissKiss]

I would go for the union or soccer system.Have a large bench with 4 subs allowed but no interchange.Puts a premium on fitness but that's just my 2 cents

I have always thought that I preferred the game before unlimited interchanges went crazy. Making limited subs and position changes was just was a more interesting tactical battle.

I dont see the code going down that path anymore though.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I wonder if Kiddy could be used as a sub to ease himself back into the starting team

 

[Section 5]

I have always thought that I preferred the game before unlimited interchanges went crazy. Making limited subs and position changes was just was a more interesting tactical battle.

I dont see the code going down that path anymore though.

If the AFL go to 5 on the bench, they should reduce the interchange numbers.
But 2 changes to the one rule would be too much for them to contemplate in the one year.

 

[MSB ROYS]

If the AFL go to 5 on the bench, they should reduce the interchange numbers.
But 2 changes to the one rule would be too much for them to contemplate in the one year.

Better to make the decision now, rather than close the season usual AFL style.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Weird situation with Kiddy and Zorko. IMO you can't take Zorko out of half back after what he did this year.

 

[KissKiss]

Weird situation with Kiddy and Zorko. IMO you can't take Zorko out of half back after what he did this year.

I still feel like Kiddy might take a few weeks to really get going in the year. I wouldn't be surprised if he missed round 1 at least to get some VFL game time at least. So I reckon Zorko starts the year there but good chance he moves to other roles as Kiddy gets going

 

[Nathan Barley]

Kiddys last full game he was almost BOG in a GF

 

[Sproj]

I think Zorks is ideal for the bench once Kiddy is back. The dude can play anywhere.

 

[Lazza16]

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

Starce one of 1st picked. Prediction: next 2 flags, and Joe will return 2026.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

B- T.Doedee J.Payne B.Starcevich
HB- K.Coleman H.Andrews D.Zorko
C- L.Ashcroft J.Dunkley H.McCluggage
HF- C.Ah Chee E.Hipwood C.Rayner
F- C.Cameron L.Morris K.Lohmann
FOLL- O.Mclnerney W.Ashcroft L.Neale
I/C- D.Fort, Z.Bailey, D.Wilmot, J.Berry, J.Fletcher

Emerg- D.Robertson, L.McCarthy, R.Lester

Depth- C.McKenna, S.Marshall, N.Answerth, S.Brain, S.Day, D.Gardiner, H.Smith, B.Reville, J.Tunstill

 

[Section 5]

A lot can happen in the next 6 months and getting into a premiership side will be hard if players form holds up.
I think Fagan will try and keep the 3 tall forward structure that he has stuck with for years.
Who gets first dibs on that KPF spot is the question
Getting to those footy sims preseason will give us a better idea of any position changes.
Gee we have some depth and i have not mentioned some that could improve.

For now, i just have 3 changes from the GF side

Doedee (for now) - Daniher
Coleman - McKenna
L. Ashcroft - Fletcher
...................................................

B: D.Zorko, H.Andrews, B.Starcevich

HB: N.Answerth, J.Payne, R.Lester

C: J.Berry, H.McCluggage, D.Wilmot

HF: C.Rayner, L.Morris, C.Ah Chee

F: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, T.Doedee


FOLL: O.McInerney, J.Dunkley, L.Neale

I/C: K.Lohmann, W.Ashcroft, Z.Bailey, L.Ashcroft, K.Coleman,

Others: J.Fletcher, L.McCarthy, K.McKenna, B.Reville, H.Smith, D.Fort, H.Sharp, D.Robertson, D.Gardiner, S.Brain, D.Joyce, S.Marshall, SAM DAY

12

Sam Day

Age

32

Ht

196cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

4.6

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

3.6

1star

HB

4.4

3star

M

1.9

2star

T

1.5

2star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.6

3star

K

3.2

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

G

0.2

3star

??? or whoever they get,

 

[Miluxx]

Evolution has to happen. Premiership player and all round good guy Ryan Lester will probably becomes more of a backup player next year and promote younger players to get experience.

I'm not sure about that. Our direct replacements for the 3rd tall type are Doedee and Gardiner. Both those 2 are solid footballers for sure and you can make arguments that they should start. But they aren't all that young. Unless I've misinterpreted what you have meant?

Lester starts for mine.

 

[Nunez]

I'm not sure about that. Our direct replacements for the 3rd tall type are Doedee and Gardiner. Both those 2 are solid footballers for sure and you can make arguments that they should start. But they aren't all that young. Unless I've misinterpreted what you have meant?

Lester starts for mine.

If both Doedee and Lester are both fully fit and competing for the final spot in the team, I just don't see a world where Doedee isn't picked. As good as Lester has been, if Doedee is able to get back to his best the trio of he, Harris and Payne will be hands down the best in the league.

That is an 'if' though. 3 ACLs is no joke and there is. I guarantee Doedee will find that form though.

 

[paulige]

Kiddys last full game he was almost BOG in a GF

And was BOG in a PF the one before that. Weapon.

 

[Section 5]

If both Doedee and Lester are both fully fit and competing for the final spot in the team, I just don't see a world where Doedee isn't picked. As good as Lester has been, if Doedee is able to get back to his best the trio of he, Harris and Payne will be hands down the best in the league.

That is an 'if' though. 3 ACLs is no joke and there is. I guarantee Doedee will find that form though.

It is a big ask for a player to break into a premiership team after such a long layoff.
By 13th March 2025 Doedee will have not played AFL for 650 days. Also, as you mentioned has had the 3 ACLs.
No doubt the club would have played him early this year, possible against the Pies, but that's when he did his ACL.

I have Tom in my forward line for now until the club signs someone like Day and the AFL decide on yes/no on 5 on the bench
Why would i name him after stating the long absence from AFL games in the above.
We need a marking player up forward and he is likely to make an appearance before Gardiner.
Lester can easily hold that 3rd tall spot and TBH deserves that starting position.

 

[rye]

mccluggage took a major leap in his third year. think the gametime we've invested into fletcher will really pay off next year and i expect him to explode. has a lot of really exciting traits.

 

[Scubaveg]

Doedee Andrews Starch
Coleman Payne Answerth

Fletcher Ashcroft Clugga
Oscar Neal Dunkley

Rayner Smith Morris
Lohman Hipwood Cameron

Bench
Ashcroft, AhChee, Wilmot, Berry,
Sub Zorko

That leaves Bailey, Lester, McKenna Mcarthy, Brain, Reville not in the team



On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Elixuh]

We need to petition the AFL to go to like 9 on the bench so we can fit our guys in

 

[Kevvo]

mccluggage took a major leap in his third year. think the gametime we've invested into fletcher will really pay off next year and i expect him to explode. has a lot of really exciting traits.

In his first year especially, he just kept winning these one on one wing contests that he had no right to win against senior players. He was a bit down this year, as many are in their second year, but I don’t think you can teach those instincts. I remain hugely optimistic about Fletcher.

 

[McIvor]

In his first year especially, he just kept winning these one on one wing contests that he had no right to win against senior players. He was a bit down this year, as many are in their second year, but I don’t think you can teach those instincts. I remain hugely optimistic about Fletcher.

Fletch’s final series was exceptional I thought and IMO in our top 10 finals players if there was such a thing.

 

[mpal6]

Fletch’s final series was exceptional I thought and IMO in our top 10 finals players if there was such a thing.

Yep, ran himself to ground providing relief kick option on the wing as well as running back to support defense. He had an up and down season but Fletcher's finals games were really good.

 

[mpal6]

Doedee Andrews Starch
Coleman Payne Answerth

Fletcher Ashcroft Clugga
Oscar Neal Dunkley

Rayner Smith Morris
Lohman Hipwood Cameron

Bench
Ashcroft, AhChee, Wilmot, Berry,
Sub Zorko

That leaves Bailey, Lester, McKenna Mcarthy, Brain, Reville not in the team



On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

yeah the default swap in the forward line to fit McCarthy in would be Ah Chee. But after seeing how well Ah Chee played as a forward in 2024, he can't be a 3rd wheel anymore.

Ah Chee's Grand final and prelim final games were something else, also the whole finals series.