Is Spud in your best 22?

[carlos' roos]

All i can say after reading all these posts is go port melbourne. Our side should improve but with so much competition port will be awesome

 

[Mr Reliable]

Well, who do we take - Spud or Piccione? I would imagine these blokes are fighting for the same spot.

When people were noiminating their round 1 teams I don't recall all that many having Firrito in there. I am a fan of him, just not sure that as we speak he is in the best 22 (assuming we have to name the team regardless of who or where we are playing).

I think the following 19 picks itself pretty much, with the at risk players occupying spots up for grabs:

Simpson, Grant, Boomer, Wells, Harris, Rawlings (genuine midfielders)
Makepeace, Corey Jones, Daniel Morlop, Archer, Sinclair (second tier midfielders/flankers)
Hale, Watt, Petrie, Brown, Colbert, Sav, McKernan, Thompson (spine/ruckmen)
Piccione, Stevens, Harding (pockets/at risk - yes, I know there are 4 pockets on the ground)

Fringe Players - Grimma, Firrito, S Harvey, Monster, Chad Jones, Watson, Urch, Sansbury, Pratt

Late season starts if at - Jessie, Trotter, Moran, Schwarze, Baird, Shore, Perry, Le Cras (not counting rookies)

So, of the fringe players I would pick Grima (he may well prove himself to be ahead of Stevens by mid-way through the season). This would leave Urch and Firrito waiting in the wings, unless they move ahead of Piccione or Stevens. I think only S Harvey, Sansbury or maybe Watson can take Harding's spot.

Not bad depth in that squad I have to say.

This is a sensible way to approach it. You can't really pick a "best 22" because there are too many players in the mix. The best 18 or 19 just about pick themselves and most of us would probably agree who they are. After that it depends on match ups and the form of the drafted recruits.

 

[Flaymin' Maurie]

Based on watching the guy play football for 2 years in the VFL and glimpses at the Lions.

Pratt has a lot in common with Voss in the way he plays, the size, marking ability etc. His problem at the Roos was discipline, not class. Spud is a goer, but Pratt has the class. But class doesn't make the footballer, the package does.

Pratt has certainly shown 'class' is the times he ran on and off the ground in his 3 senior matches. Takes players at least a full season of senior footy to establish this.

Firrito has more runs on the board.

 

[Moti]

Pratt has certainly shown 'class' is the times he ran on and off the ground in his 3 senior matches. Takes players at least a full season of senior footy to establish this.

Firrito has more runs on the board.

The point has nothing to do with the runs on the board, rather the way a player goes about his footy. Mainly looking at his VFL games, Pratt has a lot of class that makes him a very good player. But a lot of class players fail to make the grade.

 

[Flaymin' Maurie]

The point has nothing to do with the runs on the board, rather the way a player goes about his footy. Mainly looking at his VFL games, Pratt has a lot of class that makes him a very good player. But a lot of class players fail to make the grade.

Showing 'class' in the VFL means diddly squat when it comes to judging his ability as an AFL footballer. So far he has 3 senior games to his credit and to label him a class player is so far fetched its frightening. In 3 matches you could show potential, committment or skill - but not class. You need to show the ability to step up in the next grade. He has not had the opportunity.

Firrito is way ahead of him at this stage. But both will figure in senior action this season, with Firrito the more prominant.

 

[Cororoo]

If people are tossing up between Spud and Lance as similar players, as far as I'm concerned, barring Wizard cup performances Spud has earned the right to be the first choice come 1st round.

Spud , Piccione and Donald Mc have all had their share of time at Box Hill. Interesting.....But gooooooooooooo................ No 24!