With tex retiring, that's 5 players. Might have a few changes next year.
Delist Lachie Murphy
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to be fair, in all of Shirley's career it was only as a professional tagger where he blossomed and that was really only for a 4 season block from 2005 to 2008. Taggers dont exist now and for good reason, teams need flexibility and controbution from everyone across the board. Yes there are run with players but they rotate through multiple positions.
- Nov 5, 2009
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You write some absolute crap.
We only had the following best 22 players unavailable rd 1:
Tex - Replaced by Gollant
TT - Replaced by Burgess
Murray - Borlase
The only other two players that could have been considered were Sloane / Harry Schoenberg - both who play a completely different position. Murphy was 6th in our 2023 B&F and had just been put in the leadership group. Aint no way was he just the next man up - he was entrenched in the best 22.
Yeah, Murph is selected because Nicks has always said he loves a mosquito fleet. This is clearly exemplified by our list management moving most tall players from our list to the bare minimum amount. Its correcting now. But it also explains why McHenry played too many games as Nicks favoured selection to small players too. Its a lot more balanced tha it used to be but im sure he had to be dragged kicking and screaming to adapt. Make no mistake, he will keep Murphy in the best 22 given half a chance.
jenny61_99
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Nankervis is NOT an emergency!
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Look, personally I'd drop Laird but I think we should have positioned him being traded at the end of this season but even then, Nanks is maybe one of 4 people to come into that freed up spot.
What I do like about that line up is there is already a lot of experience in the team so we shouldn't be rushed to bring back a Smith because we feel we are short and could possibly let an experienced player sit and bring in a younger player if needed
He is now that weve recruited Cumming and Peatling.
SugarShane
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Hopefully the new coaching guy whose name I can't remember can calm Nicksy down if panic sets in. If we lose a couple early, or a few first choice players go down with injury, he will be sprinting to his "break glass" options of Smith and Murphy for experience, stability, familiarity. Let's hope the new guy has the brains to go "those guys are not the answer."
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Back 6 and front 6 are spot on imo. I'd have Soligo in the middle and Crouch on the bench...but that is semantics. I'd like to see Nankervis and Pedlar in the side but only really Laird to drop out so its going to be tough on anyone else that would drop to accomodate
Firstly, why attack an opinion from another poster? What is the point? Why not disagree without being abusive?
Imho, Murphy was not in the group of 15 or 16 automatic selections at the start of last year. Unlike previous seasons he lacked fitness in the preseason (due to injury) and was struggling. He was dropped to the Sub after the second match.
Unfortunately we had few options for the high half forward role. Ned was the next man up and Nicks was reluctant to play the young Kids in this position (I would have preferred that Taylor or Dowling were given a chance). The concerns about the fitness and form of Pedlar were confirmed and we started to give Rankine more time in the midfield.
Trading in ANB and Peatling plus drafting Draper has significantly improved our options for small/medium forwards and I expect that Murphy and Cook will be the biggest losers..
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It matters when you don’t hit the scoreboard tho and Murphy also plays up the ground.
Well he is a best 22 AFL played in our team tho.
Golumless
A bigger deal out west.
No, it doesn't.
The bar you're looking for is ~12-14 disposals to sit comfortably as a 6th-7th forward without any appreciable scoreboard impact. It's a graveyard slot (+ a career killer of a role), and teams - unless they're utterly stacked with forward talent - just want someone who can keep the lights on with minimum fuss.
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- Aug 29, 2013
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Ok depth player as a break glass option. The problem with having him on thr list is Nicks can't stop picking him.
That was my point. I don’t think he is AFL standard because he misses goals that good players kick, rather than his lack of possessions. Eddie Betts is arguably the best small forward in the last 25 years. He averaged 12 disposals per match BUT he averages 1.83 goals and 0.91 goal assists per game.
Charlie Cameron is averaging 1.76 goals, 0.66 goal assists and 11.3 disposals per match. Smurph is averaging 11.7 disposals but only 0.65 goals and 0.55 goal assists per match.
ANB, a more apples for apples comparison is averaging 15.8 disposals, 0.66 goals and 0.61 goal assists per match. So similar goals plus GA but 35% more disposals. If we are expecting 20+ disposals a match from ANB then I suspect we will be rather disappointed.
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ANB provides forward pressure, I doubt Murphy provides anything of note.
Murphy is only a “break glass in emergency” player in case we have stacks of injuries.
I’ll be spewing if he makes our R1 side.
SugarShane
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I hope BigFooty has some spare servers on standby for R1 team selection in case Murph and/or Smith somehow sneak back in.
Kane McGoodwin
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Indeed as this is why we now have useful depth... which will need with injuries & should look to use to keep players fresh.
Very close to bang on IMO... I'd have Nank in for Sholl (Cumming to the wing instead) and Dowling sub.
The only player I think who may struggle to make that final team is Curtin. He is a tall player still developing and unless he stars in preseason I think he will be one of the ones who make way for the 4 inclusions. Dowling in my view is someone who I think will surprise everyone this pre season and look better when the trial games hit. Sholl maybe another casualty. See how preseason plays out i guess.
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Sholl is not best 22 imo
Its hard to suggest Sholl doesnt have a case for round 1. He seems to have his running game sorted, he is a hard two way runner who gets an exceptional amount of possessions for a wingman and has good speed. Can see him becoming a mainstay in our best sides. No one in our side offers his ability to run and he gets into dangerous attacking positions. Huge weapon.
Will he hold up in finals type pressure when you dont get the space, who knows? but he has delivered clutch more than a few times throughout his time so far. We have others to worry about more than Sholl.
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Yeah - its a tough one.
Nank has plenty of upside, but isnt a consistent performer yet.
Think that AFL best 22 was pretty spot on for where we sit right now. But plenty of injuries / form issues will no doubt crop in the next 4 months before a ball is kicked in anger.
I highlighted your 100% incorrect statement and said that you write some crap (which it was). Pointing out wrong opinions is hardly abusive.
He was 100% in the top 16 automatic selections at the start of the year. He finished 2023 in our top 6 in the B&F and was elevated to the bloody leadership group.
So was it a lack of depth at the position or a run of injuries that made him start in rd 1 last year?
Pedlar played the first 3 games of 2024 - so the 'concerns' had nothing to do with Murphy as they both played together. Rankine had 8CBA's those first two weeks - so its hardly like Murphy was kept in the side to cover Rankine.
Its okay to be wrong. Just admit it. Murphy was an automatic selection in 2024 and it had nothing to do with injuries.
