Unofficial Preview Best 23 2025 Predictions

[martinson]

In fact Zorko was apparently going so average that the Swans set up with Jordan tagging him , their best midfield lockdown player , and not Neale amongst others.

I must admit even I'm surprised that Zorko played 27 games last year ,won an AA and just got nosed out in the B/F. But until he decides he's had enough or his form or injury dictates it he's still one of our gun players.

 

[Nunez]

In fact Zorko was apparently going so average that the Swans set up with Jordan tagging him , their best midfield lockdown player , and not Neale amongst others.

I must admit even I'm surprised that Zorko played 27 games last year ,won an AA and just got nosed out in the B/F. But until he decides he's had enough or his form or injury dictates it he's still one of our gun players.

Yeah look if he brings the same level of form in 2025 I can see him taking Answerths spot and Motty will have to lock down assuming Coleman is fit and firing.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Zorko was second to Heeney in the GA medal after the Prelim . ahead of any other Brisbane player and let's face it there wasn't a lot for him to do in the GF. where his numbers were still exceptional so if his finals series was pretty average he was still better than 90 others according to the coaches.

People have been writing off Zorko for years as the bar keeps getting raised higher for him but he keeps delivering.

I suppose the time's coming where the Zorko haters will be able to say I told you so.

Almost cost us the GWS game and the Geelong game with turnovers and poor defensive efforts and historically has been a poor finals performer

And as you said got tagged out of the GF. Not that it mattered

It was mostly his leadership which kept him on our list this year after a poor few years which you don't often get the chance to stay on a list when you're his age

 

[Dalions]

In fact Zorko was apparently going so average that the Swans set up with Jordan tagging him , their best midfield lockdown player , and not Neale amongst others.

I must admit even I'm surprised that Zorko played 27 games last year ,won an AA and just got nosed out in the B/F. But until he decides he's had enough or his form or injury dictates it he's still one of our gun players.

Legend status imo.

 

[Dalions]

Almost cost us the GWS game and the Geelong game with turnovers and poor defensive efforts and historically has been a poor finals performer

And as you said got tagged out of the GF. Not that it mattered

It was mostly his leadership which kept him on our list this year after a poor few years which you don't often get the chance to stay on a list when you're his age

Think there was a fair few who had a hand in almost costing us the GWS game.
But as with the rest of the team, he played a decent part in the win also.

 

[martinson]

Yeah look if he brings the same level of form in 2025 I can see him taking Answerths spot and Motty will have to lock down assuming Coleman is fit and firing.

We all agree that Coleman is an exceptionally talented player. This is a dream situation for us if they're all fit and well. Intense competition for spots.

I don't want to see Answerth miss out really either.

Almost cost us the GWS game and the Geelong game with turnovers and poor defensive efforts and historically has been a poor finals performer

And as you said got tagged out of the GF. Not that it mattered

Ha ha, He got tagged for one quarter when they realised it wasn't working.

You really come up with some intensely biased assessments.

 

[Section 5]

Why would you compare Zorko's career to Coleman's when Zorko is 11 years older? It's an absurd comparison. Coleman is good enough to walk straight back into our 22. Again, I would have him in ahead of Answerth rather than Zorko.


So what? He got marked out of the game and we didn't adjust.


Unlike some of the others, Coleman has had a full year out and will be coming back after a full pre-season.

Why: Because i was replying to another poster. I had no idea of what your thoughts were.

So What: Well, it shows he needs his fitness level to improve or be able to handle a tag if that is what happened.
Now he has had 12 months out of the game so first he needs to catch up on fitness then has to improve on that to be a better player. I really have high hopes for Coleman just like the rest of us.

Agree Coleman did his ACL in OR, with Doedee on the eve of R3 so they should be expected to return before Linc and Gardiner

 

[Nathan Barley]

We all agree that Coleman is an exceptionally talented player. This is a dream situation for us if they're all fit and well. Intense competition for spots.

I don't want to see Answerth miss out really either.

Ha ha, He got tagged for one quarter when they realised it wasn't working.

You really come up with some intensely biased assessments.

Yes I have a strong bias against the longevity of footballers in their mid 30s. Wonder why that is?

If he was 25 it'd be a lot different but he's 35

Definitely not alone in getting frustrated with Zorks during the GWS and Geelong finals

 

[martinson]

Yes I have a strong bias against the longevity of footballers in their mid 30s. Wonder why that is?

If he was 25 it'd be a lot different but he's 35

Definitely not alone in getting frustrated with Zorks during the GWS and Geelong finals

Give it a break. He was instrumental in us getting there and getting us through.

Even your beloved coaches agreed with their voting throughout the season and in the finals.

You've been knocking Zorko since forever.

Keep pecking away. You'd think at 36 or whatever you're getting closer to being right.

'Having a pretty average finals series' takes the cake. He got coaches votes in the GWS and Geelong games.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Give it a break. He was instrumental in us getting there and getting us through.

Even your beloved coaches agreed with their voting throughout the season and in the finals.

You've been knocking Zorko since forever.

Keep pecking away. You'd think at 36 or whatever you're getting closer to being right.

'Having a pretty average finals series' takes the cake. He got coaches votes in the GWS and Geelong games.

Maybe my views were a bit clouded by his previous poor finals series but had we lost either of those finals games there's no way he's getting votes

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Why: Because i was replying to another poster. I had no idea of what your thoughts were.

I still don't understand comparing the careers of two players who are 11 years apart in age. The older one will obviously have done more than the other.

So What: Well, it shows he needs his fitness level to improve or be able to handle a tag if that is what happened.
Now he has had 12 months out of the game so first he needs to catch up on fitness then has to improve on that to be a better player. I really have high hopes for Coleman just like the rest of us.

Okay. I think he's good enough to make that improvement while in the AFL side.

Agree Coleman did his ACL in OR, with Doedee on the eve of R3 so they should be expected to return before Linc and Gardiner

Let's hope so. I think Coleman and Doedee are much more likely to make the best 22 this season.

 

[Section 5]

I still don't understand comparing the careers of two players who are 11 years apart in age. The older one will obviously have done more than the other.

That was part of my reply. But it was also about the "not got there yet" compared to Zorko.
So, let's just look at Colemans first 5 years to Zorkos first five years and also his last 5 years
Zorkos first 5 years were in a terrible side, Coleman has been in a top side for his career.

We are so lucky to have these two players and others of course in our side while still in a premiership window.
Below basic stats taken from footywire

Coleman 5-year career



Zorko last 5 years



Zorko first 5 years

 

[Nuggo]

Will be interesting to see if every 2024 premiership player available has dibbs on the opening round or if 2025 is treated as 2024 didn't happen. Perform well in the preseason and you get a run first up. Personally hope it is the latter.

 

[martinson]

Will be interesting to see if every 2024 premiership player available has dibbs on the opening round or if 2025 is treated as 2024 didn't happen. Perform well in the preseason and you get a run first up. Personally hope it is the latter.

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.

 

[buttermuffs]

The tag was changed to McCluggage after quarter time because he had nine touches and a goal and looked like he could do even more damage.

Zorko was a fair tag target to start the game, though Sydney thought that just sniffing him out would stop our short kick game being dangerous. Compared to other teams who often manned up upfield to stop it they did a lot less and it blew up in their faces.

I believe him when he said at the start of the year his body felt rejuvenated. He played like it and didn’t have an issue all year and wasn’t subbed out early at all to prevent injury. Until his body starts to get niggles again I don’t see any reason why we would drop an AA half back.

 

[KissKiss]

I think it's more likely that Zorko starts over Coleman to start the year. He is a reigning AA HBF which is more than Coleman has ever done. Coleman looks talented but his fitness and preparation weren't at the top yet. I suspect he will need to work up to fitness to start the year.

Also I think replacing a more lock down player in Answerth with Coleman is a step backwards. Similarly dropping Wilmot feels like a mistake

Over the year I think Zorko could move to a super sub role to plug in where ever we need help. But he's gone on longer than I ever suspected so all power on him to keep proving me wrong

 

[mpal6]

Zorko and Kiddy both kicking out of defense together would be a treat to watch. Can't wait.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

HA forward? Ludicrous.

It has a big ‘if’ attached to it.

Day doesn’t work out.
Payne, Gardiner, Doedee, Lester, Starcevich all fit and firing in defence.

I wouldn’t call it ludicrous. Ludicrous would be suggesting Andrews isn’t best 23. I’d call it bold, brave, a lot of potential upside. It would fill our gaping hole up forward. The sort of move that could help us go back-to-back.

If our defence doesn’t hold up, then fine move him back.
But he is the best possible Daniher replacement we have. overhead, set shot, take the best defender, stop interceptors, take the ball to ground for our smalls. Elite. Worth a try.

Doedee, Payne, Gardiner, Starcevich, Lester. All can play tall. All can intercept.

Harris Andrews could be the best forward in the comp and win the Coleman.

 

[BuntonRules]

It has a big ‘if’ attached to it.

Day doesn’t work out.
Payne, Gardiner, Doedee, Lester, Starcevich all fit and firing in defence.

I wouldn’t call it ludicrous. Ludicrous would be suggesting Andrews isn’t best 23. I’d call it bold, brave, a lot of potential upside. The sort of move that could help us go back-to-back.

If our defence doesn’t hold up, then fine move him back.
But he is the best possible Daniher replacement we have. overhead, set shot, take the best defender, stop interceptors, take the ball to ground for our smalls. Worth a try.

Harris Andrews could be the best forward in the comp and win the Coleman.

He is already the best defender. If it ain't broke,,,,,,,,

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

He is already the best defender. If it ain't broke,,,,,,,,

Yes but our forward line could be. This is an ‘if’ if our forward line is suffering. All premiers go into the season with the mindset ‘nothings broke’ and look what happens. Lions are already going into 2025 with a glaring hole.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

It has a big ‘if’ attached to it.

Day doesn’t work out.
Payne, Gardiner, Doedee, Lester, Starcevich all fit and firing in defence.

I wouldn’t call it ludicrous. Ludicrous would be suggesting Andrews isn’t best 23. I’d call it bold, brave, a lot of potential upside. It would fill our gaping hole up forward. The sort of move that could help us go back-to-back.

If our defence doesn’t hold up, then fine move him back.
But he is the best possible Daniher replacement we have. overhead, set shot, take the best defender, stop interceptors, take the ball to ground for our smalls. Elite. Worth a try.

Doedee, Payne, Gardiner, Starcevich, Lester. All can play tall. All can intercept.

Harris Andrews could be the best forward in the comp and win the Coleman.

I did toy with this idea a few years back, but I feel there are several things that work against it now.

• It requires Andrews or Hipwood to play second ruck, and I'm not sure either are used to that role. Not to say they can't do it, but it's an adjustment.
• Doedee, Payne and Gardiner are all quite injury-prone. I'd like to see them put together an extended run of games before trusting them to cover Andrews fully.
• It's quite late in Andrews' career to make the switch.
• We have Henry Smith developing nicely as a ruck/forward. If I were to predict what happens this year, it's Smith and Oscar both starting and switching positions throughout the game.

 

[mpal6]

Henry Smith deserves a go before we move into creative alternatives

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Henry Smith deserves a go before we move into creative alternatives

I had a quick look to see how old some top rucks have been when they had their breakout year.

Gawn: 23
Grundy: 21
Witts: 21
Briggs: 23
Marshall: 23
English: 22
Xerri: 23
De Koning: 22

Smith has just turned 22, he's right in the zone. 2025-26 is where he'll show what sort of player he'll become.

 

[mpal6]

Both Big O and Fort will be 31 next year and we've already delisted Lane. Last thing we want to do is avoid giving Henry Smith a go when he's been patiently waiting as a standby. That vacancy we are trying to fill is pretty much his bread n butter role.

Port came knocking last time and he chose to stay, he can easily find a spot in either of the Adelaide teams if he heads back home.

Smith is contracted till 2026 so I expect our match committee will start blooding him with consistent opportunities next year onwards.

 

[Saucery]

I think it's more likely that Zorko starts over Coleman to start the year. He is a reigning AA HBF which is more than Coleman has ever done. Coleman looks talented but his fitness and preparation weren't at the top yet. I suspect he will need to work up to fitness to start the year.

Also I think replacing a more lock down player in Answerth with Coleman is a step backwards. Similarly dropping Wilmot feels like a mistake

Over the year I think Zorko could move to a super sub role to plug in where ever we need help. But he's gone on longer than I ever suspected so all power on him to keep proving me wrong

Great post. Colman despite his obviously explosive talent has often failed to run out matches. And with both an obviously improved Answerth, particularly in disposals, and Starc playing small/medium lock down roles our defensive unit looks like a brick wall. Obviously, midfield pressure goes a long way towards making a back line look good, but defense is suddenly a strength of ours instead of the Achillies heal.