List Mgmt. Best side for start of 2025

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B: Archer - Logue - Corr
HB: Hardeman - Comben - C. Daniel
C: McKercher - Sheezel - B. Scott
HF: Zurhaar - Larkey - Simpkin
F: Curtis - Darling - Duursma
R: Xerri - LDU - Wardlaw
INT: Parker, Powell, Ford, Fisher
Sub: (From) Phillips, Stephens, Konstanty, Pink

On the cusp: Goater, Maley, O'Sullivan, McDonald, Goad

Who's your back-up Ruck?
 

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I guess it's a good sign for our depth now that I'm not sure pick 2 or Duursma walk into this side. I think Parker needs to play mostly in the middle for at least a year to set up our stoppage structures, but that throws up a conundrum of where to play Wardlaw, Powell, Simpkin in the meantime. I think Wardlaw needs to start on the ground but where I don't know.

I would like Comben forward as well. Still torn on where to play him with Darling coming in. Also not sure who chops X out.

FB: Archer ~ Logue ~ Corr
HB: Goater ~ Comben ~ Daniel
C: Scott ~ Parker ~ McKercher
HF: Simpkin ~ Darling ~ Zurhaar
FF: Fisher ~ Larkey ~ Curtis

R: Xerri ~ LDU ~ Sheezel

INT: Powell ~ Wardlaw ~ W. Dawson? ~ Tucker

Next in line: Duursma, RHJ, Konstanty, Pick 2, McDonald

Powell to provide versatile midfield and half back relief.

Wardlaw to provide midfield relief.

W Dawson for KPP swing relief

Tucker to play anywhere we need.
Updated. Main issue is the hole at CHB while we wait for W Dawson to develop. Comben fills it but has been training forward. Personally not sure the forward line works with all three of JD, Comben, Larkey, especially if one of our half forwards is rolling up as an onballer. It's one tall too many ironically and one small forward too many.

I'm a Comben forward fan but the side looks way more balanced with him at CHB at least until the youngsters come on.

FB: Archer ~ Logue ~ Corr
HB: Powell ~ W Dawson (body permitting) ~ Daniel
C: Scott ~ Parker ~ McKercher
HF: Simpkin ~ Larkey ~ Zurhaar
FF: Darling ~ Comben ~ Curtis

RR: Xerri ~ LDU ~ Sheezel

INT: Wardlaw ~ Tucker ~ Goater ~ FOS/Teakle
 
Darling? You all need to realise, he is FUBAR. Comben will end up doing a serious injury in the ruck and be out for 12 months.

Okay but Darling will be playing, and so will Comben.

I don't think we'll be seeing much of guys like Toby Pink/Brynn Teakle/CCJ in the best 22 next year, meaning Comben/Darling will have to step up and take a few hit outs.

Either that, or you accept that Toby Pink will be playing over someone like Tom Powell or Eddie Ford.
 

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At this point in time before seeing the 2025 portion of pre-season, I've got something like...

B: Archer - Logue - Corr
HB: McDonald - Comben - C. Daniel
C: B. Scott - LDU - McKercher
HF: Zurhaar - Larkey - Sheezel
F: Curtis - Darling - RHJ
R: Xerri - Simpkin - Wardlaw
INT: Parker, Powell, Goater (inj. dep)/Hardeman/Fisher, FOS
Sub: (one of) Phillips, Stephens, Pink, Duursma (inj. dep), Teakle

On the cusp: Bergman, Maley, Konstanty (inj. dep)

Notes:
  • Feel like LMac will be named Round 1 based on experience and being a better defender than Fish, but one of Goater/Hardeman will push hard for that spot in the first month
  • I know I'll be the odd one out here, but I've got RHJ as the staring small forward for Round 1. Think he showed enough to give him an extended run in that role and see if he can grab it.
  • I've got Sheezel starting across HF but pushing up to be the extra number at stoppages/bounces to allow him to be that link man between the mids and forwards. Reason being is I think Clarko will back Jy to start Round 1 in the guts to lead the way with LDU and Wardlaw.
  • Teakle could just as easily be on the bench as that second ruck option as used this year - this is the one I'm most unsure about in terms of what the coaches will be thinking.
  • The rest I think are almost the same as most other sides.
 
At this point in time before seeing the 2025 portion of pre-season, I've got something like...

B: Archer - Logue - Corr
HB: McDonald - Comben - C. Daniel
C: B. Scott - LDU - McKercher
HF: Zurhaar - Larkey - Sheezel
F: Curtis - Darling - RHJ
R: Xerri - Simpkin - Wardlaw
INT: Parker, Powell, Goater (inj. dep)/Hardeman/Fisher, FOS
Sub: (one of) Phillips, Stephens, Pink, Duursma (inj. dep), Teakle

On the cusp: Bergman, Maley, Konstanty (inj. dep)

Notes:
  • Feel like LMac will be named Round 1 based on experience and being a better defender than Fish, but one of Goater/Hardeman will push hard for that spot in the first month
  • I know I'll be the odd one out here, but I've got RHJ as the staring small forward for Round 1. Think he showed enough to give him an extended run in that role and see if he can grab it.
  • I've got Sheezel starting across HF but pushing up to be the extra number at stoppages/bounces to allow him to be that link man between the mids and forwards. Reason being is I think Clarko will back Jy to start Round 1 in the guts to lead the way with LDU and Wardlaw.
  • Teakle could just as easily be on the bench as that second ruck option as used this year - this is the one I'm most unsure about in terms of what the coaches will be thinking.
  • The rest I think are almost the same as most other sides.
Have that as my starting line up too

INT: Parker, Powell, FOS, Teakle
Sub:phillips, Fisher

Second half of the year we'll hopefully see Dawson, Goater, Hardeman, Duursma in

Give RHJ 4 to 6 weeks and if another small forward (konstanty, river, harvey, fisher) makes a case in the vfl, give them a go.

Maley might come in for a stint too.
 
Okay but Darling will be playing, and so will Comben.

I don't think we'll be seeing much of guys like Toby Pink/Brynn Teakle/CCJ in the best 22 next year, meaning Comben/Darling will have to step up and take a few hit outs.

Either that, or you accept that Toby Pink will be playing over someone like Tom Powell or Eddie Ford.

Like I replied to Duckyeah, based on your team, if Comben goes into the Ruck, we are left with 2 undersized key defenders. From a team balance perspective, I don't think it works. Not sure what you have against Teakle but you have to remember he's only played a handful of games so there's scope for improvement and I thought what he showed in his FWD/ Ruck role last season wasn't too bad.
 
There is zero competition for it. The rest are VFL standard. Teakle, Pink, CCJ etc

Bit rough on Teakle. Like Duckyeah, I see potential in him in that FWD/ RUCK role. Has only played 17 career games at AFL level. Took 15 Contested Marks in 11 games last season, averaged nearly a goal per game and got burnt by his team mates on numerous occasions when he was clearly the best option. Another AFL level pre-season can only help him.
 
Like I replied to Duckyeah, based on your team, if Comben goes into the Ruck, we are left with 2 undersized key defenders. From a team balance perspective, I don't think it works. Not sure what you have against Teakle but you have to remember he's only played a handful of games so there's scope for improvement and I thought what he showed in his FWD/ Ruck role last season wasn't too bad.

Look, it's a fair point. Certainly not attacking you for having these sort of concerns.

I just don't think we're going to carry someone like Teakle or Pink in our best 22 purely so they can act as a chop-out ruck.

IMHO, we aren't going to play three talls in our forward line. Larkey and Darling are our tall forwards, and as long as both are healthy and in-form, they're our "tall" forwards.

Corr, Logue, and Comben will be our "tall" defenders, with Corr and Logue obviously being full time defenders and Comben being this year's swingman who I believe should play predominantly in defense, but will jump into the ruck if necessary, or swing forward if necessary. If Xerri is off the ground and there's a ball up/throw in inside our forward 50, I see Darling being our nominated ruck for those situations.

Every chance I could be wrong, but I suspect this is how it will shake out.
 
Look, it's a fair point. Certainly not attacking you for having these sort of concerns.

I just don't think we're going to carry someone like Teakle or Pink in our best 22 purely so they can act as a chop-out ruck.

IMHO, we aren't going to play three talls in our forward line. Larkey and Darling are our tall forwards, and as long as both are healthy and in-form, they're our "tall" forwards.

Corr, Logue, and Comben will be our "tall" defenders, with Corr and Logue obviously being full time defenders and Comben being this year's swingman who I believe should play predominantly in defense, but will jump into the ruck if necessary, or swing forward if necessary. If Xerri is off the ground and there's a ball up/throw in inside our forward 50, I see Darling being our nominated ruck for those situations.

Every chance I could be wrong, but I suspect this is how it will shake out.

Teakle kicked 9 goals from 11 games last season. Extrapolate that out over a whole season and it's 20 goals which is basically what we're hoping to get out of Darling except Teakle is 8 years younger and has more scope for improvement.
 
Teakle kicked 9 goals from 11 games last season. Extrapolate that out over a whole season and it's 20 goals which is basically what we're hoping to get out of Darling except Teakle is 8 years younger and has more scope for improvement.

Sure, but you can make a similar argument for Toby Pink who kicked 7 goals in 15 games, with multiple of those games seeing him played in defense.

I like both Teakle and Pink and wouldn't be unhappy to see either of them get playing time next year. Pink adds versatility in that he can play forward or back, and Teakle adds (somewhat) of a second ruck option.

But neither of them is likely to start as one of the 18 blokes on the field at the opening bounce, meaning we're carrying a tall on our bench. And if we're doing that, we're doing that at the expense of someone like an Eddie Ford, or Tom Powell, or a similar player.

And maybe that does happen! But I think the addition of Jack Darling as a full-time key forward means it's unlikely. We've essentially 'replaced' Pink/Teakle with Darling.
 
Sure, but you can make a similar argument for Toby Pink who kicked 7 goals in 15 games, with multiple of those games seeing him played in defense.

I like both Teakle and Pink and wouldn't be unhappy to see either of them get playing time next year. Pink adds versatility in that he can play forward or back, and Teakle adds (somewhat) of a second ruck option.

But neither of them is likely to start as one of the 18 blokes on the field at the opening bounce, meaning we're carrying a tall on our bench. And if we're doing that, we're doing that at the expense of someone like an Eddie Ford, or Tom Powell, or a similar player.

And maybe that does happen! But I think the addition of Jack Darling as a full-time key forward means it's unlikely. We've essentially 'replaced' Pink/Teakle with Darling.
It will definitely be interesting to see what the team make-up looks like Round 1 around these guys.
 
Sure, but you can make a similar argument for Toby Pink who kicked 7 goals in 15 games, with multiple of those games seeing him played in defense.

I like both Teakle and Pink and wouldn't be unhappy to see either of them get playing time next year. Pink adds versatility in that he can play forward or back, and Teakle adds (somewhat) of a second ruck option.

But neither of them is likely to start as one of the 18 blokes on the field at the opening bounce, meaning we're carrying a tall on our bench. And if we're doing that, we're doing that at the expense of someone like an Eddie Ford, or Tom Powell, or a similar player.

And maybe that does happen! But I think the addition of Jack Darling as a full-time key forward means it's unlikely. We've essentially 'replaced' Pink/Teakle with Darling.

Most of the second half of last season, we played both Pink and Teakle forward. I doubt Darling replaces both and I think Teakle is the better of the two. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
 
Most of the second half of last season, we played both Pink and Teakle forward. I doubt Darling replaces both and I think Teakle is the better of the two. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Honestly, it's kind of a good problem to have!

Both Pink and Teakle are 25/26 year old guys who got their first proper taste of AFL footy last year. Either one of them could take a big leap forward in terms of their development this year! Or... maybe neither do.

Bring on the preseason intraclubs! :D
 

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