Best 23 in 2025

[hollyfasolo]

FB: Howe, Moore, Maynard

HB: Quaynor, Perryman, Houston

C: Sidebottom, Crisp, J.Daicos

HF: Schultz, Mihocek, McCreery

FF: Hill, Mcstay, Elliot

R: Cameron, N.Daicos, De Goey

INT: WHE, Cox, Lipinski, Mitchell, Pendlebury

Emerg: Frampton, Membrey, E.Allan

 

[iGNITER]

McStay an option to play CHB?

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

McStay an option to play CHB?

Why?

 

[Anzacday]

Why?

He wants to know

 

[Vinnie Vegas]

McStay an option to play CHB?

I'd doubt it. Honestly seems more likely that you could move Mihocek and not harm the forward line structure, but I think he's a little long in the tooth to be picking up a new position at AFL level.

Membrey could theoretically replace a bunch of Mihocek's output, but he absolutely can't do what McStay does, and neither can anyone else on our list. He takes big contested clunks, and he brings the ball down the advantage of our small forwards better than anyone else on the list.

 

[LuckyLee]

Allan needs to be given games IMO. Even if he’s performances are below the guy he’s replacing ie Sidebottom, Lipinski, WHE.

He’s not going to develop properly simply playing VFL and not being able to string games together at AFL level. That’s before even worrying about him getting itchy feet.

And stop playing him on a wing! At both VFL and AFL level, Allan needs to be played in the centre square. Its his best position and we need to fast-track his development there so that he's a real chance to take over once the likes of Pendles, Mitchell and Sidey sail off into retirement.

 

[larrikan]

Looking at everyone’s sides and I have an expectation that Allan and Parker will be stepping up a level this year, it’s easy to see why Noble and Richards left.

Houston, Perryman and (Membrey back up for injuries) are huge ins.

The best team is very hard to pick.

Steene and Smit will be a good development watch too.

It’s going to be a fun year.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[sr36]

Allan needs to be given games IMO. Even if he’s performances are below the guy he’s replacing ie Sidebottom, Lipinski, WHE.

He’s not going to develop properly simply playing VFL and not being able to string games together at AFL level. That’s before even worrying about him getting itchy feet.

Why would we choose to be a bit worse in 2025 in the hope that it might make us a bit better in 2026?

 

[celestial]

I would play allan ahead of lipinksi, it is clear that the only way for him to improve is by playing in the senior side.
Also I hope IQ comes back just a little bit leaner, will help enhance the speed of our backline with the addition of houston.

 

[iGNITER]

Why?

Was just a thought. Team has a bit of versatility. I remember him playing down there a while back and looked good. Be great to have someone to support Moore down back.

The possibility of Membrey coming in and playing a role up forward with Mihocek and Cox could give us that flexibility... But I do agree that McStay is a very important cog to our setup up forward.

Definitely excited to see him and Mihocek work in tandem together next year for an extended period.

 

[Jen2310]

No 5th player.

So still the sub, it looks like unfortunately

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

No 5th player.

So still the sub, it looks like unfortunately

Good

Don’t know why people hate the sub

It literally creates a fairer situation. People only hate it because our club sucks at using it

 

[adammania9]

Good

Don’t know why people hate the sub

It literally creates a fairer situation. People only hate it because our club sucks at using it

I like the tactical aspect of it. If used well, it can give one coach a real up on the other. Can change a game.

 

[Jen2310]

Good

Don’t know why people hate the sub

It literally creates a fairer situation. People only hate it because our club sucks at using it

Its unfair to those being the sub, they dont get full games and have a little time to impact otherwise they may not play the week later. Its unfair on those being subbed out

 

[Jen2310]

The AFL is set to retain its much-scrutinised four-man bench and substitute despite strong lobbying from senior players and the player union to eradicate the sub.
The league is still working through potential rule changes for the 2025 season but was thrilled senior coaches and players gave up their time in Grand Final week for a rules and game analysis forum.

At that forum players made clear that they hate the sub and the ramifications for players, much preferring a five-person bench.

Under the current rules the fifth member of the bench is only able to come into the game as the substitute to replace a teammate – either through injury or tactical reasons – who then cannot return to the game.

Players hate being the named sub and hate being subbed off midgame, with Western Bulldogs deputy vice-captain Caleb Daniel

35

Caleb Daniel

Age

28

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

leaving the club in part because of his use in that role seven times this year.

Players including Patrick Cripps

9

Patrick Cripps

Age

29

Ht

195cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

16.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

5.8

5star

CL

7.4

5star

D

21.0

5star

K

10.1

4star

HB

10.9

5star

M

2.5

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

6.3

5star

D

12.6

4star

K

4.8

2star

HB

7.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.4

4star

, Darcy Moore

30

Darcy Moore

Age

28

Ht

203cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.1

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

169.1

3star

D

13.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

0.7

1star

MG

182.0

3star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

87.4

2star

and Sam Frost

8

Sam Frost

Age

31

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.4

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

1.9

4star

MG

191.6

3star

D

10.5

3star

K

6.3

3star

HB

4.3

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.5

2star

MG

191.6

3star

D

11.2

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

attended that rules summit and were strong in their dislike for the rule.

They believe players who are the sub or are subbed off are often disadvantaged at selection the next week because of a lack of game time and fitness, with players subbed off struggling to hide their frustration at the decisions.

But the Herald Sun understands the league is set to stick with the four-person interchange bench and sub.

It believes that specific make-up of the bench with a cap of 75 rotations allows for fairness and also the capacity to replace an injured player with a fresh teammate.

 

[cfc19902010]

Good form and injuries, we'll see them all get games. Pre-season will show a lot.
Which young kids take the next step and pop, as Leppa said.

If we can land a diamond in the rough this draft on top of HH Allan Parker Di mattia the youth profile might not be as bleak as some suggest

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Its unfair to those being the sub, they dont get full games and have a little time to impact otherwise they may not play the week later. Its unfair on those being subbed out

So again, your real issue is our use of it

Collingwood use it horribly

It’s a genuine leveller and if used smartly can even be an advantage.

We just don’t use it that way

 

[Mollythedolly]

I like the tactical aspect of it. If used well, it can give one coach a real up on the other. Can change a game.

It seems we’ve far too infrequently gotten to use it as a purely tactical option as we’re all too often forced to replace players injured in-game. Hopefully that tide turns in 2025.

 

[Hardas]

Of course, they keep the bullshit sub rule.
Why do what the senior players & clubs want?

 

[Matt_352]

Of course, they keep the bullshit sub rule.
Why do what the senior players & clubs want?

Because they like having their power trip.

 

[doppleganger]

The fact this thread is a best 23 is amusing to me.

Beginning of AFL era it was a best 18. The game isnt a better spectacle compared to the early 90s.

Coaches hi-jacked the bench for "fairness" (need an extra bench player in case of injury) and then high performance managers got in bed with coaches to hi-jacked the game to enable full ground defensive swarming amd congestion, and then coaches again sooked that need another bench player as it is no long 18 v 18, but 22 v 22 so unfair if get an injury.

You dont need 5 on the bench, and you dont need mass rotations.

Pies have a very strong senior list, hopefully we rotate older guys through and give them extra weeks off.

 

[Gaspard]

I'd doubt it. Honestly seems more likely that you could move Mihocek and not harm the forward line structure, but I think he's a little long in the tooth to be picking up a new position at AFL level.

Membrey could theoretically replace a bunch of Mihocek's output, but he absolutely can't do what McStay does, and neither can anyone else on our list. He takes big contested clunks, and he brings the ball down the advantage of our small forwards better than anyone else on the list.

I think you understate Mihocek's contesteed marking.

 

[sr36]

I think you understate Mihocek's contesteed marking.

Yes, he's good. But the reality is that we've gone without one of McStay or Checker up forward a heap of times and with Membrey, WHE and Cox we'll be able to again and will probably have to at times put together a forward line with just one of them.

To me, the talls in defence are more important, so Mihocek or McStay to cover in defence is an option that they'd have to consider, f we do need to because of injuries, which we could with our lack of depth in kpd.

 

[Jen2310]

Of course, they keep the bullshit sub rule.
Why do what the senior players & clubs want?

They dont, AFL think it works fine with the rotations.
But they are ignoring what the clubs and players want.

 

[sr36]

They dont, AFL think it works fine with the rotations.
But they are ignoring what the clubs and players want.

Players are just whinging. Players don't like getting dragged or sitting on the bench hoping they get an opportunity later in the game. FFS. Get over yourselves. It happens in all sports at all levels.