First 22 in 2023

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As it stands (we don't know about Bowes), I'd say the first 22 (and a half) for next year are:
Starc Andrews Gardiner.
Kiddy Payne/Adams (dependent on Adams health) Rich/Wilmott

McCluggage Berry Robertson
Oscar Dunkley Neale

McCarthy/Lohmann Hipwood Gunston
Rayner Daniher Cameron

I/C Zorko Prior Bailey Wilmott/Rich
Emergency Ah Chee

It will be interesting to see if we get Bowes, what we do with him and what it means for Rich, Robertson, Prior or Wilmott
 
Agree on Gardiner and Andrews.

Others I am not so sure on.

Rich 2021 yes. He needs to be more than a good kick. Was so good at reading the play in 21 but it seemed to elude him a bit this year. Pick him on merit and and include fitness in that. If he has a shortened pre-season, give him a few more weeks to get ready. Regardless give him a break 3-4 times during the year. And if his form is subpar, give him a spell in the 2s. Mitch Robbo should be the template - if you get dropped it's not forever.

Zorko - think he is in a slightly better position than Rich. Much more flexibility in that he can play mid / forward / mid. As long as he is fit I can see him playing the full year - again he should be rested though. I would plan for him as a pressure forward with very short bursts through the midfield, told just to go his hardest for 5 minutes. I didn't mind the look of him in the backline, and I would probably stick him there if Rich is dropped as you wouldn't wan them both back there; not accountable enough.

Lyons is the intriguing one. His best was very good in 2021 and even early 2022. Clearly the OP explanation makes sense. But did we move past him with our new emphasis on pace and acquisition of Dunkley? It's pretty hard to make a case for him. The only way would be putting McCluggage on the wing, and i thought Clugga was getting better and better as a pure mid. Have loved Lyons but he might be the league's best back-up mid next year...
I have said several times that Rich had a very interrupted 2022 pre-season this year which obviously showed in his performance on the field. It's critical (at his age especially) he has a good pre-season in this coming season or I think you will probably be reading an announcement from him regarding his retirement. He has been a 1 club player when several other clubs have chased him with much bigger offers than he has received from Brisbane however has stuck fast with the club. In my eyes he epitmoises what we love and want in a player pulling on a Lions jumper. Playing him in the 2's would be dis-respectful in my eyes but I do think Daniel would do whatever is best for our club as he always has.
 
I have said several times that Rich had a very interrupted 2022 pre-season this year which obviously showed in his performance on the field. It's critical (at his age especially) he has a good pre-season in this coming season or I think you will probably be reading an announcement from him regarding his retirement. He has been a 1 club player when several other clubs have chased him with much bigger offers than he has received from Brisbane however has stuck fast with the club. In my eyes he epitmoises what we love and want in a player pulling on a Lions jumper. Playing him in the 2's would be dis-respectful in my eyes but I do think Daniel would do whatever is best for our club as he always has.
and you know this for fact that Rich was offered much bigger offers how exactly?
 

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One thing with Rich (and our defence generally) is that we seem to have forgotten the lessons of the two Hodge years.

I think Rich needs to do more of what Hodge did sitting 30-50m deeper than the last player as a sweeper. Think Rich followed that lead in 2020/21 and was sitting off the play and being a defensive presence but this year that fell away from him and the whole defence. This year we pressed up too high and saw players caught too close to the play and therefore easily bypassed by ball movement and faster runners. That was also in part because those defenders stood flat to each other so an entire line of players were bypassed in one hit. Hodge was slower than anyone but because he was far enough off the play he both often collected stray kicks forward but also had time to shift and position effectively and slow down play so those bypassed players could assist.

Geelong and Melbourne also play similarly with May/Lever, Blicavs/Stanley dropping off for those intercepting marks.
 
I am calling BS players don't advertise what salary they are on. Unless your a former senior executive, list manager, senior coach with the Lions, his manager or a family member of Rich, I don't see how you would know.
Richy could of just said to Mighty Lions that he was offered a lot more to go elsewhere, no need to tell ML what dollars he was on or offered.
 
I am calling BS players don't advertise what salary they are on. Unless your a former senior executive, list manager, senior coach with the Lions, his manager or a family member of Rich, I don't see how you would know.
Hypothetically someone could tell you that they had received much bigger offers from other clubs without saying what he was on here (or even what the much bigger offers were)...
 
Hypothetically someone could tell you that they had received much bigger offers from other clubs without saying what he was on here (or even what the much bigger offers were)...
yep hypothetically Rich could state after each contract negotiation that he received much bigger offers but decided to stay...
 

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GWS were absolutely in to Rich and trust me, if they were into you in those early years they were throwing insane amounts around. West Coast probably offered a premium too given you usually have to to get a player to switch clubs.
yeap he is from WA and IF there was an offer in those early years it might have been tempting. I like Rich for sticking around, but NONE OF US really know how much he was offered and by whom. I think with players leaving the Lions left right and centre during our bad years I suspect Rich was pretty well compensated with the Lions.
 
yeap he is from WA and IF there was an offer in those early years it might have been tempting. I like Rich for sticking around, but NONE OF US really know how much he was offered and by whom. I think with players leaving the Lions left right and centre during our bad years I suspect Rich was pretty well compensated with the Lions.
It's none of our business what he was offered to leave Brisbane.

All I was saying is that I appreciate Bam Bam being a one club player despite offers from some clubs that would have been hard to knock back. Dont know why it spiraled a little bit but whatever.:think:

The main point (& most important for me) is that he needs a full pre-season to play an active part in season 2023 unlike what he did in 2022 due to injury.
 
It's none of our business what he was offered to leave Brisbane.

All I was saying is that I appreciate Bam Bam being a one club player despite offers from some clubs that would have been hard to knock back. Dont know why it spiraled a little bit but whatever.:think:

The main point (& most important for me) is that he needs a full pre-season to play an active part in season 2023 unlike what he did in 2022 due to injury.

Absolutely agree. A fit Rich will be a lethal weapon. As will a fit Zorko. IMO neither are the locks they were in 2022, but that's a good thing.
 
I wouldnt be having Rich in the side unless he shows better defensive running. His kicking is good but we aren't relying on it anymore. Some of his efforts were atrocious. The defensive running needs to be encompassed across the whole team and be a key part of our pre-season. Bailey and Danniher need to up their game big time in this regard too.
 
I wouldnt be having Rich in the side unless he shows better defensive running. His kicking is good but we aren't relying on it anymore. Some of his efforts were atrocious. The defensive running needs to be encompassed across the whole team and be a key part of our pre-season. Bailey and Danniher need to up their game big time in this regard too.
Was Joe been dropped back in his Essendon days for lack of performance and if so how did he respond when playing in the twos and when back in the seniors? Be interesting to see how players would respond to individual non-negotibles with consequences for not meeting them... especially if they / their area / the team were a part of the process that determined said requirements.
 
I wouldnt be having Rich in the side unless he shows better defensive running. His kicking is good but we aren't relying on it anymore. Some of his efforts were atrocious. The defensive running needs to be encompassed across the whole team and be a key part of our pre-season. Bailey and Danniher need to up their game big time in this regard too.
a mayes ing ...he wasn't fit!!! He still was selected because we had no better option. If fit next year, he is a lock and a good chance to be AA again. If not fit and cannot get a full pre-season into himself, I am pretty sure you will see him front up to a microphone and announce his retirement.
 
a mayes ing ...he wasn't fit!!! He still was selected because we had no better option. If fit next year, he is a lock and a good chance to be AA again. If not fit and cannot get a full pre-season into himself, I am pretty sure you will see him front up to a microphone and announce his retirement.
Interesting that he’s that proppy

Agree been a warrior and thoroughly value his loyalty
 
a mayes ing ...he wasn't fit!!! He still was selected because we had no better option. If fit next year, he is a lock and a good chance to be AA again. If not fit and cannot get a full pre-season into himself, I am pretty sure you will see him front up to a microphone and announce his retirement.
Makes sense. It wasn't just that he was burnt for pace, he just wasn't able to get himself into good positions to intercept and contest ground balls like he has in years past. Perhaps some better structures may have helped him out a little as another poster mentioned, but something seemed off with our defense all year.
 
a mayes ing ...he wasn't fit!!! He still was selected because we had no better option. If fit next year, he is a lock and a good chance to be AA again. If not fit and cannot get a full pre-season into himself, I am pretty sure you will see him front up to a microphone and announce his retirement.
I think most people get and understand that he wasn’t fit last season, disagree that he was still the best option. From what Wilmot showed he probably would’ve been a better option while Rich was struggling for fitness, Prior or Ah Chee at half back probably could’ve been better options as well.
 
a mayes ing ...he wasn't fit!!! He still was selected because we had no better option. If fit next year, he is a lock and a good chance to be AA again. If not fit and cannot get a full pre-season into himself, I am pretty sure you will see him front up to a microphone and announce his retirement.
We know he clearly wasn't fit or had some type of niggling injury. If he wasn't fit then he shouldnt have played, there were other options we could have tried. See below:
I think most people get and understand that he wasn’t fit last season, disagree that he was still the best option. From what Wilmot showed he probably would’ve been a better option while Rich was struggling for fitness, Prior or Ah Chee at half back probably could’ve been better options as well.


Was Joe been dropped back in his Essendon days for lack of performance and if so how did he respond when playing in the twos and when back in the seniors? Be interesting to see how players would respond to individual non-negotibles with consequences for not meeting them... especially if they / their area / the team were a part of the process that determined said requirements.
Not sure, l didn't watch Essendon that much back then.
Yep, l wonder if we have non-negotiables at our club and what they might be.
 

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First 22 in 2023

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