Best 23 in 2025

[Lifelong Pie]

You're probably missing a 7th defender on the bench rather than 2 forwards. 2 mids. So maybe Parker gets in and have one of the mids as sub

Could probably get around that by playing Perryman and Crisp through defence as well but swap Mitchell for Parker then for the sake of this thread.

 

[Jen2310]

Could probably get around that by playing Perryman and Crisp through defence as well but swap Mitchell for Parker then for the sake of this thread.

Thats a fair point.

 

[Mollythedolly]

You're probably missing a 7th defender on the bench rather than 2 forwards. 2 mids. So maybe Parker gets in and have one of the mids as sub

Side does have Josh Daicos, Perryman, and Crisp included who’ll all likely spend time in defence in 2025.

 

[Jen2310]

Side does have Josh Daicos, Perryman, and Crisp included who’ll all likely spend time in defence in 2025.

I think Josh does spend majority of his time in defence, from what ive seen so far. crisp I think will be the other way. Wing/mid and forward. Perryman obviously mid plus some time off half back in the rotation. I haven't actually seen him in defence in match so far so not sure who he would rotate with.

 

[Matrix10]

Lipinski to the Magoos. Soft. So called kicking skills are a flop Life is good for Pat. Catwalk model

 

[SchuPie]

Lipinski to the Magoos. Soft. So called kicking skills are a flop Life is good for Pat. Catwalk model

Lippa does a really good job but the hope is that someone goes past him this year - this will make us so much stronger overall

 

[No SPIN]

Lipinski to the Magoos. Soft. So called kicking skills are a flop Life is good for Pat. Catwalk model

Flop? Best kicker to I50 targets according to Fly.

 

[Gaspard]

I get very tired of seeing players labelled as soft. Nobody gets to the senior level who is remotely close to soft. Players have different roles and strengths. In particular, many have to keep their feet at all costs, while others help the team most by sacrificing some balance for thrust at the ball. They all change these roles if required. (Go when it's your turn). They are never soft.

 

[sideswipe]

I get very tired of seeing players labelled as soft. Nobody gets to the senior level who is remotely close to soft. Players have different roles and strengths. In particular, many have to keep their feet at all costs, while others help the team most by sacrificing some balance for thrust at the ball. They all change these roles if required. (Go when it's your turn). They are never soft.

Exactly. All that label shows is the labeller’s lack of knowledge. Oh, and that they are keyboard tough.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I get very tired of seeing players labelled as soft. Nobody gets to the senior level who is remotely close to soft. Players have different roles and strengths. In particular, many have to keep their feet at all costs, while others help the team most by sacrificing some balance for thrust at the ball. They all change these roles if required. (Go when it's your turn). They are never soft.

I just tend to ignore such posts. It’s generally the usual suspects whose opinions aren’t worthy of a response.

 

[cfc19902010]

I get very tired of seeing players labelled as soft. Nobody gets to the senior level who is remotely close to soft. Players have different roles and strengths. In particular, many have to keep their feet at all costs, while others help the team most by sacrificing some balance for thrust at the ball. They all change these roles if required. (Go when it's your turn). They are never soft.

Soft relative to others maybe ?

 

[Fruit]

Most years the best 23 of the premiership sides change mid season.
Players get overlooked (BT, Ron McKeown, Lockyer, O’Bree, Leon Davis, Taylor Adams), there are hard luck stories (Alan Richardson, Presti, McStay) and there are players who take their chances at the right time (Blair, Macaffer, Frampton, Markov). I think there is bound to be some more stories this year.

 

[sr36]

I get very tired of seeing players labelled as soft. Nobody gets to the senior level who is remotely close to soft. Players have different roles and strengths. In particular, many have to keep their feet at all costs, while others help the team most by sacrificing some balance for thrust at the ball. They all change these roles if required. (Go when it's your turn). They are never soft.

They're all good footballers too - none are spuds. But it's all relative. Nathan Murphy was insanely courageous, others less so. Nick Daicos insanely skillful - others less so.

 

[Granit1962]

If Lipinski or WHE do not make the best 23 and we have a full list, then there is some serious improvement from some of the fringe players, or, significant drop off of some established players which is unlikely.

We have 24 A or B graders, including WHE, Lipinski, Membrey and all the veterans including Mitchell and Cox.

The only position with an obvious opening is full back, which is the opportunity for Dean, Reef or Frampton to make their own. We run pretty deep in all other positions.

If Allan, Parker or Harrison, make best 23 they will have become very good players, I don’t expect big drop off from the others. I do expect them however all to play significant number of games as our verterans are managed.

The one who may surprise is Markov. He was all at sea last year, and he may see this as his last opportunity. I think if he regains his 2023 form we will see game time from him and his pace may come in useful. Pace is a weak point, which could be another reason why one of the younger ones gets the nod over a Mitchell or Sidey - Allan has the potential.

I also think Cox will have one of his better years, uninjured and a full preseason. Has he hade one before? Hopefully he gets pressure from either or both Smitt and Steene.

Collingwood’s best 23 in 2025 is going to be a tough nut to crack into, with only one spot up for contention and a possible need for pace.

 

[60 Yards Out]

Flop? Best kicker to I50 targets according to Fly.

Pretty sure I remember Fly saying that, but it still surprises me. Nick? De Goey? Josh? Houston (by all accounts)?

 

[Mollythedolly]

Pretty sure I remember Fly saying that, but it still surprises me. Nick? De Goey? Josh? Houston (by all accounts)?

Pendles needs to be in the discussion as he was being talked about as one of the best in the league I50 kicks a few years back. Hard to judge McRae’s comment though without some context.

 

[Granit1962]

​

COLLINGWOOD'S BEST 23 IN 2025​

B	Maynard	Moore	Quaynor
HB	J.Daicos	Frampton	Howe
C	Sidebottom	Crisp	Hoskin-Elliott
HF	Schultz	McStay	De Goey
F	Elliott	Mihocek	Hill
RUC	Cameron	N.Daicos	Perryman
INTER	Pendlebury	McCreery	Cox
	Mitchell	Lipinski

WE SAY: Hard to see many of the kids who got a chance in 2024 featuring regularly if Collingwood isn’t hit by the injury curse again. Tom Mitchell is nearing the end but still warrants a place in the best 23 and Billy Frampton needs to play to support Darcy Moore in defence. Might lose Joe Richards to Port Adelaide, but the Magpies have an abundance of small forwards anyway. Harry Perryman will join as a free agent on a big-money deal and with the promise of playing as a full-time midfielder. That should allow Jordan De Goey to spend more time forward and take pressure off his body after he struggled with injuries in 2024. The move to send Josh Daicos to halfback worked and with John Noble heading to Gold Coast, it’s likely to become full-time unless Craig Macrae uses Scott Pendlebury or Steele Sidebottom there.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/how-every-clubs-best-team-could-look-in-2025-after-afl-trade-period-free-agency/news-story/54e8700543d69efe2f3755e4c92788aa

Interesting to see how we assess this after a couple of practice matches. Houston and Membery to add, plus possibly one or two of the youngsters at some point.

 

[SchuPie]

No sure if this is best 23 or just the 23 I hope become our best...

B. Maynard Moore Quaynor
HB. Houston Howe J.Daicos
C. Sidey Crisp WHE
HF. McCreery McStay JDG
F. Bobby Checkers Schultz
Ruck. Cameron Pendles N.Daicos
Inter. Cox Perryman Allan Membry Lippa/Titch (HH / Parker)

Fringe / Hopeful: Reef / Hayes / Frampton / *Parker / Smit / *HH

Edit:

• I hope by the end of the season, young players have gone past Lippa (+ maybe Titch)
• I would like to find a role for Ryan

 

[Jen2310]

No sure if this is best 23 or just the 23 I hope become our best...

B. Maynard Moore Quaynor
HB. Houston Howe J.Daicos
C. Sidey Crisp WHE
HF. McCreery McStay JDG
F. Bobby Checkers Schultz
Ruck. Cameron Pendles N.Daicos
Inter. Cox Perryman Allan Membry Lippa/Titch (HH / Parker)

Fringe / Hopeful: Reef / Hayes / Frampton / *Parker / Smit / *HH

WHE wont play Wing anymore. Think those days are gone. He's been training fully as a forward (Swap him and Lippa)
I think going by what ive seen, Reef I think will be more than hopeful. He has a real chance at solidfying his place in the best 22 if things continue well for him.
Not sure all of Allan, Perryman and Mitchell can play together. Similar roles.

Depending how they structure up, WHE/Membrey could be vying for the same spot Unless we go with 1 ruck and use Mcstay as 2nd ruck

I'm very interested once they start training again how the preferred structure will be

 

[pie machine]

No sure if this is best 23 or just the 23 I hope become our best...

B. Maynard Moore Quaynor
HB. Houston Howe J.Daicos
C. Sidey Crisp WHE
HF. McCreery McStay JDG
F. Bobby Checkers Schultz
Ruck. Cameron Pendles N.Daicos
Inter. Cox Perryman Allan Membry Lippa/Titch (HH / Parker)

Fringe / Hopeful: Reef / Hayes / Frampton / *Parker / Smit / *HH

Edit:

• I hope by the end of the season, young players have gone past Lippa (+ maybe Titch)
• I would like to find a role for Ryan

No love for Billy Elliot ☹

 

[ksardog]

No sure if this is best 23 or just the 23 I hope become our best...

B. Maynard Moore Quaynor
HB. Houston Howe J.Daicos
C. Sidey Crisp WHE
HF. McCreery McStay JDG
F. Bobby Checkers Schultz
Ruck. Cameron Pendles N.Daicos
Inter. Cox Perryman Allan Membry Lippa/Titch (HH / Parker)

Fringe / Hopeful: Reef / Hayes / Frampton / *Parker / Smit / *HH

Edit:

• I hope by the end of the season, young players have gone past Lippa (+ maybe Titch)
• I would like to find a role for Ryan

that backline looks so undersized

 

[RobJD]

The final test match in the Australia v India series showed how a best 11 (or in footy terms, a best 23), can shift significantly. Over the five tests, the Aussies added Boland, Webster and Konstas. All three played a significant role in the outcome of the final test, with Boland and Webster arguably our best two performers.

Whilst cricket test team selectors have a much broader pool of talent to draw from as opposed to AFL team selectors, I wondered if there were any parallels between the test team and our list. Here's my candidates:
Frampton - could he be our Boland: the experienced player waiting for a regular spot?
Membrey - could he be our Webster: bided his time at the Saints, can he blossom under a better system and a better team?
Hayes - could he be our Konstas: the precocious talent to energise the team with the exuberance of youth?

 

[SchuPie]

No love for Billy Elliot ☹

I love Billy but in shaping the side I'm working towards, some fan favourites need to eventually miss out.
...there may be more....

 

[SchuPie]

that backline looks so undersized

Howe out, Frampton in?

 

[sr36]

WHE wont play Wing anymore. Think those days are gone. He's been training fully as a forward (Swap him and Lippa)
I think going by what ive seen, Reef I think will be more than hopeful. He has a real chance at solidfying his place in the best 22 if things continue well for him.
Not sure all of Allan, Perryman and Mitchell can play together. Similar roles.

Depending how they structure up, WHE/Membrey could be vying for the same spot Unless we go with 1 ruck and use Mcstay as 2nd ruck

I'm very interested once they start training again how the preferred structure will be

With WHE I really like him as a fat side forward, but I think you're reading too much into pre XMas training. As Fly has said he's his Swiss army knife. His flexibility enables the coaches to change the dynamic when necessary. I think he'll continue to play multiple roles for us.