Best 23 in 2025

[Dtennent94]

If you look at the subs early last year, I think that was the plan to get Macrae into the rotation, but unfortunately he didn't stand up - and then injuries hit and rotation was out of the question.

Going to be hard to do this once again seeing as we have such a rough start to the year.

By the time our draw opens up a bit, we’re likely to have injuries and be needing to play catch up with the ladder leaders so we’ll be going full throttle.

 

[sr36]

Going to be hard to do this once again seeing as we have such a rough start to the year.

By the time our draw opens up a bit, we’re likely to have injuries and be needing to play catch up with the ladder leaders so we’ll be going full throttle.

Jordy aside, our mids and runners have been very durable over the years - who knows what occurs in this space.

 

[Dtennent94]

Jordy aside, our mids and runners have been very durable over the years - who knows what occurs in this space.

I know what occurs in this space… by the last third of the season our team is usually in shambles as we are missing between 5-10 first choice players and usually their backups as well.

Whenever this miraculously doesn’t occur, we flag.

 

[sr36]

I know what occurs in this space… by the last third of the season our team is usually in shambles as we are missing between 5-10 first choice players and usually their backups as well.

Whenever this miraculously doesn’t occur, we flag.

Depends which positions you're looking at.

Our talls have gotten smashed for a few years running. Our mids/runners had an outstanding run in 2022/2023. Barely anyone out - and even last year it was only really Jordy and Titch plus a few games out for Pendles. It was the forwards who got smashed last year:

Pendles, Sidey, Crisp, IQ, Maynard, Houston, Perryman, Nick, Josh. Those guys have barely missed a beat in their careers so far. Titch 2 years lost to serious injuries - but aside from that he's been 20+ games. Jordy is the only one with a consistent injury history - the best predictor of future injuries.

 

[Dtennent94]

Depends which positions you're looking at.

Our talls have gotten smashed for a few years running. Our mids/runners had an outstanding run in 2022/2023. Barely anyone out - and even last year it was only really Jordy and Titch plus a few games out for Pendles. It was the forwards who got smashed last year:

Pendles, Sidey, Crisp, IQ, Maynard, Houston, Perryman, Nick, Josh. Those guys have barely missed a beat in their careers so far. Titch 2 years lost to serious injuries - but aside from that he's been 20+ games. Jordy is the only one with a consistent injury history - the best predictor of future injuries.

Yeah our tall stocks have been cursed for a long time now. Probably a good thing we don’t recruit more.

Let’s get a priest in for Westy, I say.

Ps. I’m quietly optimistic about the health of the list right now. Real shame about HH as I quite like him and he’s our best small forward backup without Richards or moving Nick forward. But you’d take one ACL half-rehabbed and basically a full list otherwise given the chance.

 

[Jen2310]

They'll slot Sidey (when he isn't being used as a tagger) and Lippa on the two wings
Josh and possibly Perryman will play mix of HB and wing. Josh looks to be predominant off half back and been training with the defenders. Perryman been training with the mids, bit of hb and I can't see him in the middle, so wing with his tank seems like a good idea.

I don't see Houston doing much midfield, has barely done much work in that area. He'll be predominant off half back.

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

I was also thinking that it's time for Nick to step aside for some younger players ...

I think it'll be great when he steps aside so a young whippersnapper like Beau McCreery, who's younger than Nick Daicos by a mere negative 2 years, can finally get his opportunity.

 

[Finnishpie]

They'll slot Sidey (when he isn't being used as a tagger) and Lippa on the two wings
Josh and possibly Perryman will play mix of HB and wing. Josh looks to be predominant off half back and been training with the defenders. Perryman been training with the mids, bit of hb and I can't see him in the middle, so wing with his tank seems like a good idea.

I don't see Houston doing much midfield, has barely done much work in that area. He'll be predominant off half back.

Isn't Quaynor being lined up for a role on the wing?

 

[Jen2310]

Isn't Quaynor being lined up for a role on the wing?

Doesn't seem to be the case at this point. Has been training with the defenders, seems to be back in his defensive role going into 2025

 

[timokane]

Waht about McCreery and Allan as the on ballers combo for 2025

 

[Dtennent94]

Having a ping at our ‘future’ best 23. Perhaps 2-3 years from now?

B: Quaynor, Dean?, Maynard
HB: TJ?, Moore, Houston
C: Jaicos, Allan, Perryman
HF: Hill, McStay, McCreery
F: HH, Condon?, Schultz
R: Cameron, Naicos, DeGoey
IC: McGuane, Lipinski?, Parker?, Crisp?
Sub: WHE?

Unsure: Titch, Smit/Steene, HDM, Frampton, Cochran, Hayes, West, Ryan, McInness

Retired: Pendles, Sidey, Howe, Mihocek, Elliott, Cox, Membrey

Delisted: AJ, Macrae, Sullivan, Long, Markov

If I go with my gut, I can see 2 of the new draftees + HDM being cut. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Frampton hang around on minimum coin as depth for every tall position, WHE for similar reasons. Have a feeling De Goey will retire early, too.

 

[Jen2310]

Having a ping at our ‘future’ best 23. Perhaps 2-3 years from now?

B: Quaynor, Dean?, Maynard
HB: TJ?, Moore, Houston
C: Jaicos, Allan, Perryman
HF: Hill, McStay, McCreery
F: HH, Condon?, Schultz
R: Cameron, Naicos, DeGoey
IC: McGuane, Lipinski?, Parker?, Crisp?
Sub: WHE?

Unsure: Titch, Smit/Steene, HDM, Frampton, Cochran, Hayes, West, Ryan, McInness

Retired: Pendles, Sidey, Howe, Mihocek, Elliott, Cox, Membrey

Delisted: AJ, Macrae, Sullivan, Long, Markov

If I go with my gut, I can see 2 of the new draftees + HDM being cut. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Frampton hang around on minimum coin as depth for every tall position, WHE for similar reasons. Have a feeling De Goey will retire early, too.

I'd add Mitchell, WHE to the retired list in 2-3 years. Maybe crisp too. Who knows on mcstay too, he'll be at the end of his 5 year deal by then
All are over 30

 

[Dtennent94]

I'd add Mitchell, WHE to the retired list in 2-3 years. Maybe crisp too. Who knows on mcstay too, he'll be at the end of his 5 year deal by then
All are over 30

Every chance you’re right on those. I would hope that we might get lucky and have at least 1-2 of the older guys pull a Sidey/Pendles and play on for lower wages and help provide leadership and experience. Maybe Titch’s meticulous preparation allows him to do what Pendles has done?

 

[Jen2310]

Every chance you’re right on those. I would hope that we might get lucky and have at least 1-2 of the older guys pull a Sidey/Pendles and play on for lower wages and help provide leadership and experience. Maybe Titch’s meticulous preparation allows him to do what Pendles has done?

Probably stretching it. Not many are pendles or sidey. I think they are the exception not the norm. Every chance 2025 is his last year. Or at most, 2026.
Also you hope that we have kids that will push these players out to retirement.

 

[Dtennent94]

Probably stretching it. Not many are pendles or sidey. I think they are the exception not the norm. Every chance 2025 is his last year. Or at most, 2026.
Also you hope that we have kids that will push these players out to retirement.

I can’t see the current crop of youngsters filling the entire team out, but obviously we will have some more come through the doors over the next couple years also. Probably trade a couple in and/or take some outcasts from other clubs to fill holes, too.

 

[Dtennent94]

I actually love our strategy of trading out high draft picks for proven players. See if we can’t reel in a Rowell, LDU, Naughton, etc in the next year or two.

If we can just consistently compete and be a top tier workplace, guys will keep knocking on our doors and hopefully play for a little less than they’d get elsewhere, too.

Keep taking the free hits in NGA, FS, UFA, Cat B and trade out our top picks for proven performers and strike gold with a few 2nd and 3rd rounders. Can’t imagine a strategy with a better strike rate.

 

[Fat Jesus]

Having a ping at our ‘future’ best 23. Perhaps 2-3 years from now?

B: Quaynor, Dean?, Maynard
HB: TJ?, Moore, Houston
C: Jaicos, Allan, Perryman
HF: Hill, McStay, McCreery
F: HH, Condon?, Schultz
R: Cameron, Naicos, DeGoey
IC: McGuane, Lipinski?, Parker?, Crisp?
Sub: WHE?

Unsure: Titch, Smit/Steene, HDM, Frampton, Cochran, Hayes, West, Ryan, McInness

Retired: Pendles, Sidey, Howe, Mihocek, Elliott, Cox, Membrey

Delisted: AJ, Macrae, Sullivan, Long, Markov

If I go with my gut, I can see 2 of the new draftees + HDM being cut. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Frampton hang around on minimum coin as depth for every tall position, WHE for similar reasons. Have a feeling De Goey will retire early, too.

You put Edward in the middle. You get a pass from me.

 

[Dtennent94]

You put Edward in the middle. You get a pass from me.

I hope we’re not all falling for the hype, but he is close to a lock for me. Hopefully McGuane comes on well, too.

Biggest question marks for me are FF and FB (as they always seem to be at our club). Surely between West, Condon, Smit and Steene we can find someone to play forward. But we kind of need two because McStay may even be retired within a couple years. FB is where I’d love to spend some resources, but not sure who is gettable/worth it in the near future. If we’re lucky, Moore plays for a long time and one of Dean/Cochran come on.

 

[Jen2310]

I actually love our strategy of trading out high draft picks for proven players. See if we can’t reel in a Rowell, LDU, Naughton, etc in the next year or two.

If we can just consistently compete and be a top tier workplace, guys will keep knocking on our doors and hopefully play for a little less than they’d get elsewhere, too.

Keep taking the free hits in NGA, FS, UFA, Cat B and trade out our top picks for proven performers and strike gold with a few 2nd and 3rd rounders. Can’t imagine a strategy with a better strike rate.

depends how high. 18+ yes.
top 10, no.
But we havent (not that we have had our hand on) had a top 10 pick, so guess it doesn't matter.
But given the harder to match academy/FS going forward, I suggest we'll keep our picks. Especially for 2027, as its very possible we'll have a first rounder prospect and then a couple 2nd rounder prospects

Also the afl rules do stop you from trading too many 1st rounders, given the 2 in 4 rule. So it saves you from yourself.

 

[Dtennent94]

depends how high. 18+ yes.
top 10, no.
But we havent (not that we have had our hand on) had a top 10 pick, so guess it doesn't matter.
But given the harder to match academy/FS going forward, I suggest we'll keep our picks. Especially for 2027, as its very possible we'll have a first rounder prospect and then a couple 2nd rounder prospects

Also the afl rules do stop you from using too many 1st rounders, given the 4 in 4 rule. So it saves you from yourself.

I really think that 4 in 4 rule should be discarded and let clubs think for themselves and live and die by the sword. Just mandate 3 or perhaps 4 draftees per year if need be and take away restrictions.

 

[Jen2310]

I really think that 4 in 4 rule should be discarded and let clubs think for themselves and live and die by the sword. Just mandate 3 or perhaps 4 draftees per year if need be and take away restrictions.

It 2 in 4. sorry.
More talent needs to come through the system, its the circle of the draft. There is only an exception if you have 1 first round prospect or trade in a young player like JHF

 

[Dtennent94]

It 2 in 4. sorry.
More talent needs to come through the system, its the circle of the draft.

That sounds more like it.

Honestly, just woo some good players and hold their clubs over a barrel and trade some late first rounders for them. Take the points deficit to pick up your NGA/FS players if need be. Doesn’t matter if you’re using a few late picks each year if you’re getting a guaranteed hit from trading your first rounder and then looking at UFA/DFA for filling roles.

 

[Dtennent94]

Maybe I’m in the minority, but what good has it done us to hold our higher picks and draft Scharenberg, Freeman, Stephenson, Henry, Macrae, McInness, DeMattia, even Allan in the last few years? It’s such a crapshoot. Obviously still take the high-value FS/NGA players as you get a discount and probably know a lot more about the player as they’ll have spent time at the club.

In comparison, if you’re a destination club, you trade those picks and get guys like Houston, Schultz, Hill, Titch with little chance of stuffing it up. You just need to be good enough to attract them.

 

[Jen2310]

Maybe I’m in the minority, but what good has it done us to hold our higher picks and draft Henry, Macrae, McInness, DeMattia, even Allan in the last few years?

In comparison, if you’re a destination club, you trade those picks and get guys like Houston, Schultz, Hill, Titch with little chance of stuffing it up. You just need to be good enough to attract them.

Its easy to say when you're in the window. But not so much when you're not.
Henry was a great pick, it's just a shame he got homesick lol

Not all picks work out, but you need to get them in the system to see.
But again, the afl has this rule for a reason.
As long as Tommy is a first rounder, we'll need to use another 1st rounders between 2026-2027 I believe, but depending on the development of eli, Ted and Cooper, I'd suggest 2027 will be the draft we'll stack up on all three given that's the tassie draft.

 

[Dtennent94]

Its easy to say when you're in the window. But not so much when you're not.
Henry was a great pick, it's just a shame he got homesick lol

Not all picks work out, but you need to get them in the system to see.
But again, the afl has this rule for a reason.
As long as Tommy is a first rounder, we'll need to use another 1st rounders between 2026-2027 I believe, but depending on the development of eli, Ted and Cooper, I'd suggest 2027 will be the draft we'll stack up on all three given that's the tassie draft.

I loved Henry but I also think he’s a bit overrated. He’s had the luxury of playing behind Hawkins and Cameron and in a consistently strong team. He still got dropped a few times iirc.

It would be fairly hard to trade the Pick 17 that we used on him and get less value imo. He’s not that incredible.