Strategy Best 23, Pre Draft edition for Season 2025

[cats_09]

From the folks at Superfooty/Herald Sun

 

[Gazza Greatness]

FB: J. Henry. De Koning. Kolodjashnij.
HB: Humphries. Blicavs. Z. Guthrie.

C: Holmes. Stewart. Dempsey.
FO: Conway. Smith. Dangerfield.

HF: Miers. Cameron. Close.
FF: O Henry. Neale. Stengle.

I/C: Bruhn, Mannagh, Bowes, Clark

Sub: Mullin

Depth

- Veterans

• Mitch Duncan (DEF)
• Jed Bews (DEF)
• Tom Atkins (MID)
• Cam Guthrie (MID/DEF)
• Mark O'Connor (MID/DEF)
• Rhys Stanley (R)
• Jack Martin (FWD)

- Youth/development

• Connor O'Sullivan (DEF)
• Ted Clohesy (MID)
• Mitch Knevitt (MID)
• George Stevens (MID)
• Mitch Edwards (R)
• Joe Furphy (R)
• Oliver Wiltshire (FWD)

Notes:

- Cam Guthrie at even 80% of 2022 form is in this side IMO, I just don't yet have the faith required to put him in automatically. Personally scarred by doing the exact same thing last year.

Although similar could be said for Toby Conway, I'm taking the punt. Hypocritical, I know.

****************************

- Tom Atkins deserves a place in this side. Has become one of my favourites over the years for his endeavour and unquestionable effort.

My worry is I don't believe we can play all three of Bruhn, Clark, & Atkins in the same side, and I expect (well I hope) the aforementioned two to improve in season 2025. The same could be said for Ted Clohesy, who will be in the fold too.

If they don't - especially Clark - Axe will get his spot.

****************************

- Mitch Duncan, Rhys Stanley, Jed Bews, & Mark O'Connor will forever be Geelong heroes for what they did in 2022, and 2011 for Duncan.

However, at this point in their careers, we have better options IMO.

It could start out okay, but I suspect we'll be moving past these names as the season heats up, and the bodies grow more-sore by the week.

****************************

- Connor O'Sullivan, Mitch Knevitt, Oisin Mullin, & Ted Clohesy all have the opportunity over the coming months to follow the paths of Ollie Dempsey, Shannon Neale, Shaun Mannagh, & Lawson Humphries.

It remains to be seen whether they do, but the opportunity is there.

Would be more than happy to see any of these boys in the side provided they've earned their opportunity over the pre-season.

****************************

- Jack Martin. I honestly have no idea what to do. We'll wait and see.

If he's fit and at his best, there will likely be a spot for him. He has gifts others could only dream of.

Unfortunately, there's a fair bit of evidence that he won't be able to deliver that talent on a regular basis, so I have him as depth for now.

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.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

FB: J. Henry. De Koning. Kolodjashnij.
HB: Humphries. Blicavs. Z. Guthrie.

C: Holmes. Stewart. Dempsey.
FO: Conway. Smith. Dangerfield.

HF: Miers. Cameron. Close.
FF: O Henry. Neale. Stengle.

I/C: Bruhn, Mannagh, Bowes, Clark

Sub: Mullin

Depth

- Veterans

• Mitch Duncan (DEF)
• Jed Bews (DEF)
• Tom Atkins (MID)
• Cam Guthrie (MID/DEF)
• Mark O'Connor (MID/DEF)
• Rhys Stanley (R)
• Jack Martin (FWD)

- Youth/Development

• Connor O'Sullivan (DEF)
• Ted Clohesy (MID)
• Mitch Knevitt (MID)
• George Stevens (MID)
• Mitch Edwards (R)
• Joe Furphy (R)
• Oliver Wiltshire (FWD)

Notes:

Cam Guthrie at even 80% of 2022 form is in this side IMO, I just don't yet have the faith required to put him in automatically. Personally scarred by doing the exact same thing last year.

Although similar could be said for Toby Conway, I'm taking the punt. Hypocritical, I know.

****************************

Tom Atkins deserves a place in this side. Has become one of my favourites over the years for his endeavour and unquestionable effort.

My worry is I don't believe we can play all three of Bruhn, Clark, & Atkins in the same side, and I expect (well I hope) the aforementioned two to improve in season 2025. The same could be said for Ted Clohesy, who will be in the fold too.

If they don't - especially Clark - Atkins will get his spot.

****************************

Mitch Duncan, Rhys Stanley, Jed Bews, & Mark O'Connor will forever be Geelong heroes for what they did in 2022, and 2011 for Duncan.

However, at this point in their careers, we have better options IMO.

It could start out okay, but I suspect we'll be moving past these names as the season heats up, and their bodies grow more sore by the week.

****************************

Connor O'Sullivan, Mitch Knevitt, Oisin Mullin, & Ted Clohesy all have the opportunity over the coming months to follow the paths of Ollie Dempsey, Shannon Neale, Shaun Mannagh, & Lawson Humphries.

It remains to be seen whether they do, but the opportunity is there for the taking.

Would be more than happy to see any of these boys in the side provided they've earned their opportunity over the pre-season.

****************************

Jack Martin. I honestly have no idea what to do. We'll wait and see I suppose.

If he's fit and at his best, there will likely be a spot for him. He has gifts others could only dream of.

Unfortunately, there's a fair bit of evidence that he won't be able to deliver that talent on a regular basis, so I have him as depth for now.

I am basically aligned to this though I would like to start with Atkins in and tell Clark to push him out the way

 

[Larry Donohue]

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

 

[Hinkley29]

Yep, both were good, and in general are very handy players. However, the upside to O'Sullivan and Clark is greater and it would be better for the team to see them surpass those others by the end of the season 2025.

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.

 

[TheCattery2007]

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

6

Bailey Smith

Age

23

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

, we suddenly have a super quick midfield (Danger, Holmes, Smith).


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Strange Cat]

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).


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

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]

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

 

[Pollywaffle]

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).

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!

 

[Lingsface]

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

 

[Gunf]

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

In no way do i see Close not being best 22 without injury

 

[cats_09]

In case it helps anything, the following has recently been released - #5 for us seems to be a bit underappreciated by Geelong fans

EVERY CLUB’S TOP FIVE GOAL KICKERS SINCE 2020:​

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

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

Close probably in for CGuthrie, otherwise this is how I see it too