Strategy Best 23, Post Draft edition for Season 2025 (updated)
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KG excellent overall summary and side and pretty much word for word agree with all that you have said. Had Ollie Dempsey from get-go last year as I was expecting big things from him with Lawson Humphries being a revelation but I've gotta say I'm expecting just as big things from Connor O'Sullivan next season, just love this kid and can see him being permanently in our side at some stage during year.
- Aug 18, 2018
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I am basically aligned to this though I would like to start with Atkins in and tell Clark to push him out the way
- Sep 14, 2015
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Kolo SDK Guthrie
Stewart Henry Humphries
Dempsey Holmes Miers
Close Cameron Henry
Martin Neale Stengle
Conway Dangerfield Smith
Blicavs Mannagh Guthrie Bowes Atkins
Bring in bruhn when he gets consistent 30 possessions in VFL
Stewart Henry Humphries
Dempsey Holmes Miers
Close Cameron Henry
Martin Neale Stengle
Conway Dangerfield Smith
Blicavs Mannagh Guthrie Bowes Atkins
Bring in bruhn when he gets consistent 30 possessions in VFL
- Jan 25, 2008
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O’Sullivan is years away. Not even close to afl calibre yet.
Kolo continues to be criminally underrated by cats fans who should know better. It makes me wonder if the Kolo haters actually watch the full games or if they just watch the Kayo mini highlights.
The strange part about pulling together the best 23 is the positioning of Stewart. The permanent addition of Humphries and I couldn’t move Z Guthrie. I’d prefer Blitz back which probably moves Stewart into the centre dropping back for support.
I found it odd that Stewart was the one making way in the backline. If they give him a full preseason preparing as a midfielder he could be an A grade mid quickly changing the way we look. He’s fast too. Add Bailey Smith, we suddenly have a super quick midfield (Danger, Holmes, Smith).
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I found it odd that Stewart was the one making way in the backline. If they give him a full preseason preparing as a midfielder he could be an A grade mid quickly changing the way we look. He’s fast too. Add Bailey Smith, we suddenly have a super quick midfield (Danger, Holmes, Smith).
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- Sep 26, 2017
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Teams started to tag him hard and it affected his game , I can see why he moved into the middle and thankfully it worked
BlakeyNoFlakey
Brownlow Medallist
B: J. Henry, Blicavs, Kolo
HB: Humpries, Stewart, Zuthrie
C: Smith, Guthrie, Dempsey
HF: Mannagh, Cameron, Miers
F: Stengle, Neale, Close
R: DeKoning, Bruhn, Holmes
I/C: Dangerfield, Martin, O. Henry, Bowes, Bews.
Emergencies: Conway, Atkins, Duncan
HB: Humpries, Stewart, Zuthrie
C: Smith, Guthrie, Dempsey
HF: Mannagh, Cameron, Miers
F: Stengle, Neale, Close
R: DeKoning, Bruhn, Holmes
I/C: Dangerfield, Martin, O. Henry, Bowes, Bews.
Emergencies: Conway, Atkins, Duncan
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Interesting dilemma which I hadn’t really contemplated.
Zuthrie and Humphries seem to pick themselves as HBs.
Difficult to shoehorn them all in, unless we adopt a really ‘active’ HB formula which requires some degree of rotation off the bench, with possible short stints in the middle.
Consigning zuthrie to ‘back pocket’ is another possibility, but might get a little crowded back there!
Mullin Henry Zuthrie
Stewart De Koning Blitz
Dempsey Smith Humphries
Mannagh Cameron Miers
Stengle Neale O Henry
Conway Holmes Danger
CGuthrie Bruhn Bowes Kolo
Em- Martin Atkins Duncan Clark Close
Stewart De Koning Blitz
Dempsey Smith Humphries
Mannagh Cameron Miers
Stengle Neale O Henry
Conway Holmes Danger
CGuthrie Bruhn Bowes Kolo
Em- Martin Atkins Duncan Clark Close
- Mar 11, 2019
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In no way do i see Close not being best 22 without injury
- Jun 29, 2023
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Close probably in for CGuthrie, otherwise this is how I see it too
Yeah you are right and the others two Close should be in the side.
How does and what is people's view on Shannon Neale...Yes his only played 20 games..Look I fully back him and support him 100%. But there is a small part of me is worried on him and if he will be the player i want him to be. I'm not expecting him to be the next Tom Hawkins, if his like Cam Mooney id be happy. I'm just a bit concerned if he will make it.. Please don't bag me, I'm just got some questions marks on him
- Oct 31, 2013
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He drops to many easy marks, so Yes I agree there is a big ? on him.
- Mar 11, 2019
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Neale if he produces the same output as in 2024 for the rest of his career he would go at 1.5 goals a game whilst giving as marking ability and ruck chop outs which would put him at a 40ish goal per year forward.
I would take that but he has every chance to get better as he is only 22 and played what 20 games?
He could end up averaging 2-2.5 goals a game and become an A grade 200+ game Key forward.
I would take that but he has every chance to get better as he is only 22 and played what 20 games?
He could end up averaging 2-2.5 goals a game and become an A grade 200+ game Key forward.
And thats the first thing that came to my thought.. For a man his size he should take those marks easier then others. I wish we had a another young key forward to challenge Neale in the best 23
Kobe Gryant
'07, '09, '11, '22
Thinking conservatively, probably a second tall forward in a perfect world when he's at his peak.
Mooney was similar, but we had such a great midfield feeding him combined with some generational half forwards that it didn't really matter in the end.
It's hardly a bad thing either. If we can find that genuine number 1 (likely through a trade unless we get lucky) to partner Neale, with Ollie Henry as the third tall then we're set up well IMO.
Like Gunf says though, even if he just never got any better from here - which is unlikely - you'd still take a 40 goal a year forward who can pinch hit in the ruck.
I would definitely hope Neale would get better... yes it's early days, his only played 20 games.. but I would think Ollie Henry will give us more goals and output the Neale.
He has no foreseeable competition on our list. Injury permitting he'll get 100 games from that alone.
He has a lot of good attributes, probably won't be the type to lead a forward line but a great 2nd KPF, he is mobile, I like his field kicking, seems to read the play well enough, can pinch hit in the ruck. It is good that he isn't a stay at home type. He'll be able to have an impact without relying on kicking goals, of which he is already kicking more then enough.
The only think holding him back is that he doesn't believe that he is "The Guy tm" Took Hawkins awhile to get that part right. His marking issues are overstated, a lot of young KPFs have that issue, the fact that he gets his hands to the ball is a great sign. The hard part is being in the right place.
The breakout game isn't far away
Vdubs
Hall of Famer
Yep, very interested that most posters have Conway as starting ruck. Of course, that is the hope, but very little evidence is supportive. Stanley, if fit is starting ruck in my team, swapping with DeK, until proven otherwise.
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
I prefer to look at it in terms of who is locked in and who isn't.
B: Stewart Henry Kolo
HB: Zuthrie. Humphries
C: Dempsey Smith Miers
HF: Close Cameron Mannagh
F: OHenry. Stengle
R: Dangerfield Holmes
Int: Bruhn
I reckon these 16 guys are pretty much locked in and will play every week if fit (except danger who gets managed). Realistically unless we play a small ball structure with 1.5 tall fwd the FF spot will be neale as he doesn't have competition for that role.
Sdk is probably chb unless we play blitz as dual chb/2nd ruck.
So if that happens it means you have 5 spots left for the rest to compete for.
One will probably be Conway as ruck although if he's injured or not fit then we probably put sdk there which has flow on effects for the chb spot.
So for your last 5 spots you've got these options
Blicavs
Cuthrie (personally I think body is cooked though)
Stanley/Conway
JMartin
Atkins
Bowes
OConnor
Knevitt
Clark
Clohesy
Mullin
Duncan
Bews
O'Sullivan
Stevens
Wiltshire
Edwards
Burke
I've left a gap from Duncan onwards as I think Duncan and bews are vfl coaches and backup players and the kids below then are all too physically raw (or in Stevens case needs more tank) to play much next year.
I would move on from cuthrie and I wouldn't pick blitz unless it's as a kpd (but the coaches might).
For those last few spots I'd pick Bowes due to the bigger body and maybe one of Atkins or oconnor for versatility (but not both). In those last couple of spots I'd be prioritising knevitt (he dominated vfl finals and its a make or break year we need to see what he has, plus his height is a POD for us) and probably Clark but I'm sure we will rotate a few younger guys through.
The best 22 shows we have great depth in general towards and smaller mids (in this team clohesy still struggles to get in).
But we have poor depth in tall fwds-if neale declines we will have to change structure as we have no like for like swap.
We lack options for the 3rd kpd if dekoning is rucking (unless we patch it with blitz but at 33 it's not a long term solution) and the ruck spot both for 25 and long term is a massive question mark. So talls are a need and we could use a bigger taller mid plus a quality small defender (although I wonder if that's the role for a fit oconnor).
B: Stewart Henry Kolo
HB: Zuthrie. Humphries
C: Dempsey Smith Miers
HF: Close Cameron Mannagh
F: OHenry. Stengle
R: Dangerfield Holmes
Int: Bruhn
I reckon these 16 guys are pretty much locked in and will play every week if fit (except danger who gets managed). Realistically unless we play a small ball structure with 1.5 tall fwd the FF spot will be neale as he doesn't have competition for that role.
Sdk is probably chb unless we play blitz as dual chb/2nd ruck.
So if that happens it means you have 5 spots left for the rest to compete for.
One will probably be Conway as ruck although if he's injured or not fit then we probably put sdk there which has flow on effects for the chb spot.
So for your last 5 spots you've got these options
Blicavs
Cuthrie (personally I think body is cooked though)
Stanley/Conway
JMartin
Atkins
Bowes
OConnor
Knevitt
Clark
Clohesy
Mullin
Duncan
Bews
O'Sullivan
Stevens
Wiltshire
Edwards
Burke
I've left a gap from Duncan onwards as I think Duncan and bews are vfl coaches and backup players and the kids below then are all too physically raw (or in Stevens case needs more tank) to play much next year.
I would move on from cuthrie and I wouldn't pick blitz unless it's as a kpd (but the coaches might).
For those last few spots I'd pick Bowes due to the bigger body and maybe one of Atkins or oconnor for versatility (but not both). In those last couple of spots I'd be prioritising knevitt (he dominated vfl finals and its a make or break year we need to see what he has, plus his height is a POD for us) and probably Clark but I'm sure we will rotate a few younger guys through.
The best 22 shows we have great depth in general towards and smaller mids (in this team clohesy still struggles to get in).
But we have poor depth in tall fwds-if neale declines we will have to change structure as we have no like for like swap.
We lack options for the 3rd kpd if dekoning is rucking (unless we patch it with blitz but at 33 it's not a long term solution) and the ruck spot both for 25 and long term is a massive question mark. So talls are a need and we could use a bigger taller mid plus a quality small defender (although I wonder if that's the role for a fit oconnor).
FB: Humphries, J Henry, Zuthrie
HB: Stewart, SDK, Kolo
C: Dempsey, Smith, Knevitt
HF: Miers, Neale, Mannagh
FF: Stengle, Cameron, Close
R: Conway, Holmes, Bruhn
Int: Danger, O'Sullivan, Bowes, Henry, Clark
Pipedream stuff.
Hopefully our best 23 in the back end next year.
All but Knevitt, COS & Clark have shown they can play at the level.
But COS has a great tank, good skills and could be used as a 3rd tall defender or even a wing.
Knevitt is well suited to playing the defensive wing role that issac smith played so well - obviously not as strong a user, but a good runner and strong overhead.
SDK will be played all over, and I expect him to be our number 1 ruck at different stages.
Clark needs a big preseason but can push ahead of Atkins and will be given every chance.
HB: Stewart, SDK, Kolo
C: Dempsey, Smith, Knevitt
HF: Miers, Neale, Mannagh
FF: Stengle, Cameron, Close
R: Conway, Holmes, Bruhn
Int: Danger, O'Sullivan, Bowes, Henry, Clark
Pipedream stuff.
Hopefully our best 23 in the back end next year.
All but Knevitt, COS & Clark have shown they can play at the level.
But COS has a great tank, good skills and could be used as a 3rd tall defender or even a wing.
Knevitt is well suited to playing the defensive wing role that issac smith played so well - obviously not as strong a user, but a good runner and strong overhead.
SDK will be played all over, and I expect him to be our number 1 ruck at different stages.
Clark needs a big preseason but can push ahead of Atkins and will be given every chance.
Since it’s all guesswork anyway, I like to think what our team will look like come the end of the year. Not necessarily the start, means young players get the chance to add another 20 games and push out the veterans.
FB: Humphries, SDK, Kolo
HB: Stewart, Henry, Zuthrie
C: Dempsey, Smith, Bowes
HF: Miers, Cameron, Henry
FF: Stengle, Neale, Close
R: Conway, Holmes, Bruhn
Int: Dangerfield, Blicavs, Mullin, Clark, Mannagh
The last 3 can probably be swapped with any of the below, which I still expect to play a good amount of games. Good rotation policy to be implemented.
EMG: (From) Duncan, Guthrie, Atkins, Stanley, Martin, Bews, O’Connor, Knevitt, COS, Clohesy
FB: Humphries, SDK, Kolo
HB: Stewart, Henry, Zuthrie
C: Dempsey, Smith, Bowes
HF: Miers, Cameron, Henry
FF: Stengle, Neale, Close
R: Conway, Holmes, Bruhn
Int: Dangerfield, Blicavs, Mullin, Clark, Mannagh
The last 3 can probably be swapped with any of the below, which I still expect to play a good amount of games. Good rotation policy to be implemented.
EMG: (From) Duncan, Guthrie, Atkins, Stanley, Martin, Bews, O’Connor, Knevitt, COS, Clohesy
