Prediction Our best 22 for Round 1 2020

[moginie]

I've been reading about the intra-clubs and keeping my ear to the ground with player fitness and here is my take!

Possible Best 22 Players Not Available for Round 1:

• Gunston
• Impey
• CJ
• Scrimshaw(?)

Best 22
FB - Hardwick Stratton Frost
HB - Sicily McEvoy Howe
C - Smith Mitchell Henderson
Foll - Ceglar O'Meara Worpel
HF - O'Brien Lewis Bruest
FF - Hanrahan Patton Puopolo
Int - Shiels Wingard Scully Burgoyne

The Back 6
I am going to start by stating that I am firmly in the camp of McEvoy as a defender, he doesn't have closing speed but neither does the good McGovern, and I think the mold of Jeremy McGovern is exactly what the coaches are using to rebuild Big Boy. I think he will be a deadly Key Defender and his insurance policy is Sicily not playing as 'tall', and being free to run wild. Hardwick and Stratton are easy locks, and Frost is a dream option for a 3rd Key Defender, cannot wait to see him chase someone down and throw them 50m. Now, Howe. I feel like some people could have some conflicting thoughts with his inclusion but in our stretch of 'Total Football' at the end of the 2019 home and away he was a really good contributor. If Scrimshaw is injured, I want Howe on the Half Back Flank.

The Mids and Cegs
No Finn... I know I must be an arseh*le. But Mitchell, Worpel, O'Meara are auto includes, Shiels is still a hugely underrated inside-mid who has great flexibility. Then there are the wingers, we have the luxury of being able to play 3 of the best wingers in the league in one team, so we need to play them all really. Then there is Chad, I am going to make this really really clear for readers, he is a midfielder. With McEvoy in the backline, we have the best tap-ruck on the list doing the tap work, how good.

The Forward Line
So for a second I thought we were going to go full 2007 and play O'Brien, Gunston, Lewis and Patton. But Jack is hurt so we have our 3 talls. Patton is our lock, 'spearhead' if you want. Lewis, also a lock, could be anything by the end of the 2020 season and that's all I'm gonna say. And TOB, the hands on this guy are going to kill opposition 3rd Key Defenders. I can see Patton and Lewis playing up the ground and Timmy having the pleasure of converting. Bruest, lock, no explanation. Poppy, work ethic > age, so yeah. Ollie has to be in the team, Poppy is great but no forward line with more than 2 genuine talls can survive without at least 2 actual small forwards who can crumb and tackle and trap the ball.

Bench
I have explained the inclusion of all the interchange players except Burgoyne, and I'm going to go ahead and not bother explain why he is sitting on the last spot on the bench.

I'd be absolutely stunned if we didn't play Frawley in round 1. Other than that, it certainly shows the depth we have.

 

[Agent Smith]

Back line pick itself imo, really good mix of talls and smalls and a group of good ball users. Frost will help free up Sicily and Scrimshaw play that 3rd man role. Impy when he returns from injury and the development of CJ add dash. Kosi/Day make it look like a strong group now and into the future.

Hardwick Frawley Stratton
Scrimshaw Frost Scrimshaw

Midfield bats deep now with the return of Titch. Finn could be potentially used as a tagger imo, with his running ability and mature body could be a great way to fast track his development by learning from the best in the league. Hoping a return to form for Harry Morrison this year with aging wingers he is someone who is an important part of the future. I really find all this talk of BB playing in back line strange. Top 5 ruck man in the league plays in the ruck. Pretty simple really.

Scully Mitchell Henderson
McEvoy O'Meara Worpel

Forward line looks solid. Hoping for a return of form for our barometers Gunston/Bruest. Crying out for a small forward. I havent gone with Poppy round 1, thought he should have finished up at the end of the last season. Hopefully one of Hanrahan, Moore or Walker really cement a permanent spot in the best 22.

Wingard Patton Gunston
O'Brien Lewis Bruest

Bench is hard to pick the last 2 spots is a real raffle and pre season games may be determine who grabs them.

Smith, Shiels, Burgoyne, Howe

Emergencies from

Ceglar, Walker, Hanrahan, Maginesses, Jiath, Morrison, Moore, Jones, Nash

Backline needs more Scrimshaw.

 

[threesixpio]

Backline needs more Scrimshaw.

Would love to see Scrimmerz and Sicers

Intercepting and kicking that makes you cry

 

[LegendLewis]

Hey Track watchers what is going on with Damon Greaves? I always thought he was going to be a smart clever user of the ball out of the backline but haven't heard anything about him for yonks. Any updates would be awesome. Cheers and thanks

 

[Brant]

I've been reading about the intra-clubs and keeping my ear to the ground with player fitness and here is my take!

Possible Best 22 Players Not Available for Round 1:

• Gunston
• Impey
• CJ
• Scrimshaw(?)

Best 22
FB - Hardwick Stratton Frost
HB - Sicily McEvoy Howe
C - Smith Mitchell Henderson
Foll - Ceglar O'Meara Worpel
HF - O'Brien Lewis Bruest
FF - Hanrahan Patton Puopolo
Int - Shiels Wingard Scully Burgoyne

The Back 6
I am going to start by stating that I am firmly in the camp of McEvoy as a defender, he doesn't have closing speed but neither does the good McGovern, and I think the mold of Jeremy McGovern is exactly what the coaches are using to rebuild Big Boy. I think he will be a deadly Key Defender and his insurance policy is Sicily not playing as 'tall', and being free to run wild. Hardwick and Stratton are easy locks, and Frost is a dream option for a 3rd Key Defender, cannot wait to see him chase someone down and throw them 50m. Now, Howe. I feel like some people could have some conflicting thoughts with his inclusion but in our stretch of 'Total Football' at the end of the 2019 home and away he was a really good contributor. If Scrimshaw is injured, I want Howe on the Half Back Flank.

The Mids and Cegs
No Finn... I know I must be an arseh*le. But Mitchell, Worpel, O'Meara are auto includes, Shiels is still a hugely underrated inside-mid who has great flexibility. Then there are the wingers, we have the luxury of being able to play 3 of the best wingers in the league in one team, so we need to play them all really. Then there is Chad, I am going to make this really really clear for readers, he is a midfielder. With McEvoy in the backline, we have the best tap-ruck on the list doing the tap work, how good.

The Forward Line
So for a second I thought we were going to go full 2007 and play O'Brien, Gunston, Lewis and Patton. But Jack is hurt so we have our 3 talls. Patton is our lock, 'spearhead' if you want. Lewis, also a lock, could be anything by the end of the 2020 season and that's all I'm gonna say. And TOB, the hands on this guy are going to kill opposition 3rd Key Defenders. I can see Patton and Lewis playing up the ground and Timmy having the pleasure of converting. Bruest, lock, no explanation. Poppy, work ethic > age, so yeah. Ollie has to be in the team, Poppy is great but no forward line with more than 2 genuine talls can survive without at least 2 actual small forwards who can crumb and tackle and trap the ball.

Bench
I have explained the inclusion of all the interchange players except Burgoyne, and I'm going to go ahead and not bother explain why he is sitting on the last spot on the bench.

Frawley stiff to miss after his 2019

 

[Brant]

I hate Zorko & Mathiesen.

Be great to see them lose in Round 1 & if that means we have to win then so be it...

 

[Cyril says]

Headache for Clarko is to figure out how to play all of O'Brien, M.Lewis, Patton, & Gunston when they are all fit and healthy during the year.

Great problem to have! Like getting a headache from drinking someone else’s fancy booze ...

 

[sven_inc]

Everyone is excited by their team's potential at this time of year but I can't help but be bullish by our potential this year.

So many still seem to default to this idea that we are on the way down, but I guess it's easy for them to miss how hard Clarko and Co are working behind the scenes to regenerate the list.

A few years ago I remember looking at our list and being a little skeptical of where our core of guns were (and going to come from) and the age of our list, but nowadays I see some real quality across the board and a much younger group. Clearly not the ultimate list yet, but jeez we've done well.

For me we have so much potential and proven talent in the following guys:

- JOM
- Mitchell
- Wingard
- Worpel
- Sicily
- Gunston
- Breust
- Patton
- Smith
- Hardwick
- Impey
- Scrimshaw
- Lewis

Thats a huge chunk of the team.

Clearly we have good AFL footballers around these guys like Shiels, Frawley, Stratton, McEvoy etc but I'm really looking forward to seeing where the above guys can take us this year.

Am also very much looking forward to who might be the next Worpel and Lewis and develop in a big way this year. My gut says Scrimshaw but would love an unexpected guy to RIP it up.

 

[PenAndPaper]

Backs
Sicily, Frawley, Stratton

Half Backs
Hardwick, McEvoy, Henderson

Centre
Smith, Mitchell, Scully

Ruck
Ceglar, Worpel, O'Meara

Half Forwards
Wingard, Lewis, Breust

Forwards
Puopolo, Patton, Burgoyne

Interchange
Shiels, O'Brien, Hanrahan, Scrimshaw/Frost/Hartley



Toying with this atm assuming Gunston is going to miss round 1. If not then replace Hanrahan with him.

Feel like this might be a fair bit tall though so possibly that last interchange spot could go to another mid but unsure who that would be.

 

[Changa10]

Stratton Frawley Hardwick
Sicily McEvoy ??
Smith Mitchell Scully
Gunston Lewis Wingard
Breust Patton Puopolo

R: Ceglar, Worpel, O'Meara

Shiels, Burgoyne, Henderson, ???

I'm thinking this will be close to what we start with going on track watchers etc. Leaves one half back flanker and one bench spot. Missing Scrimshaw, O'Brien, Nash from those that played some regular games last year.

HBF spot between Frost, Scrimshaw and Morrison maybe? Last bench spot perhaps Tim O'Brien. Hard to find a spot for Finn and a couple of others are going to be disappointed early, which is a good thing of course.

Looking forward to seeing who put their hands up over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Lawsy]

I have a feeling Frost will be the flanker. Easily fast enough, good in the air, stronger than most HFF with great closing speed for the high half forward leading up to available space, hoping as has been alluded to by others that his disposal will be proficient enough for us and that he can use his burst from the back line to move over the opposition press and into the Patton/Lewis/O'Brien zone.

 

[Roddy]

I have a feeling Frost will be the flanker. Easily fast enough, good in the air, stronger than most HFF with great closing speed for the high half forward leading up to available space, hoping as has been alluded to by others that his disposal will be proficient enough for us and that he can use his burst from the back line to move over the opposition press and into the Patton/Lewis/O'Brien zone.

Especially if they’re super serious about playing BBM at CHB, which it seems like they are.

I have mixed feelings about it, and I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen it done before, having a clear first ruck swapping to fully fill a key position role so far into his career. It’s good Cegs decided to stick around.

Maybe that’s why he did.

 

[Pessimistic]

Henderson isn’t going to be shoved out of the best 22 as quickly as many posts suggest

 

[Lawsy]

I will revisit this after the Melbourne game as there are couple of hitouts for someone to show form but based upon last night's game, all of Smith, Hendo & Scully will play every game unless injured.
With our lack of run, I'd think CJ will be given opportunities and won't be surprised to see Finn early either.
Harry, pass
Ollie, pass
Greaves, too similar to Dimma but showed the same courage and intensity
Walker, more game time needed to form opinion.

There will be a good competitive squeeze though with Silk, Gunners & Sicily to come back in for sure plus Nash and McEvoy.

 

[Gralin]

If Greaves can come in and play the role Dimma has it could open up the opportunity to use Dimma differently.
Wonder if it's something they are exploring

 

[burner1]

Hardwick Frawley Stratton
Frost BB Sicily
Hendo Mitch smith
Gunston Lewis wingard
Breust Patton Silk
Ceglar worpel JOM
I: Scully Shiels CJ Pop
E: TOB, minch/Nash/Ollie, Finn

-Given scrimshaw has had an interrupted pre-season (and impey is out) have slotted CJ onto bench to add some run to backline.
-Couldn’t fit TOB in if Patton, Lewis and Gunston are fit (we have a lot of 3rd tall options)
-Puopolo will likely get first shot as pressure forward (but minch, olllie, Nash also options)
-hard to find room for Finn etc

 

[4THAWN]

Frost/Patton showed enough to be starting players

CJ was good and if he can do something similar next week should get a bench spot.

Thought Minch showed quite a decent bit in his shortish stint. Would love to see more game time for him next week (and no injuries). Looked aggressive and dangerous.

Ollie, Walker both a bit underwhelming for mine. Walker especially just could not get near it.

Midfield as a whole underwhelming and you'd hope this can be corrected. I think Worps is going to need to play in a slightly different manner with Titch in the team and will take time to adjust.

Wasn't an overly strong outing from TOB but I thought he was alright with limited opportunities. Will be interesting to see how the club approaches the 3rd tall forward position considering the "hype" around TOB this preseason.

 

[Agent Smith]

If Greaves can come in and play the role Dimma has it could open up the opportunity to use Dimma differently.
Wonder if it's something they are exploring

Can Greaves play a pressure forward role and therefore leave Hardwick down back?

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

If Greaves can come in and play the role Dimma has it could open up the opportunity to use Dimma differently.
Wonder if it's something they are exploring

Would have thought he is at least 12 months from that and Dimma is on record as saying his tank is one of the things he needs to work on, so not sure he is ready for midfield time either as an alternative to a small defender role. In addition, in a few months time we get Impey back, further reducing Greaves' ability to get AFL game time. Time as always, will tell...

 

[Gralin]

Would have thought he is at least 12 months from that and Dimma is on record as saying his tank is one of the things he needs to work on, so not sure he is ready for midfield time either as an alternative to a small defender role. In addition, in a few months time we get Impey back, further reducing Greaves' ability to get AFL game time. Time as always, will tell...

We are light on for small forwards as well.

Can Greaves play a pressure forward role and therefore leave Hardwick down back?

I don't know. Greaves played mid as a junior until he moved to half back. Dimma played forward, I Know it wasn't as a pressure forward

Just thinking if we can find another option down back we may have another role Dimma could help with.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Can Greaves play a pressure forward role and therefore leave Hardwick down back?

I'm all for this honestly.

 

[Lawsy]

Neither could play that role, both are too one paced IMO.
Both seem to have the mental aptitude and could play as a lockdown defensive forward but pressure forward is a different kettle of fish.

 

[Pessimistic]

Now we are looking concentrating on the new toys, Morrison Howe cousins hanrahan appear to be the ones who need to surprise us rather than becoming role depth or trade bait. But that’s from a supporter hype perspective

 

[cogs2hawks]

I’d like to see Impey play a small pressure forward role when he returns to replace Poppy. We’ll be using Scrimmers and Sic on half back and hopefully sometimes chuck smith sculls or hendo there for speed. Impey has the speed and also has a goal sense (kicked a few when a played there last year against Brisbane and gws) and will probably be a safer option for him after an acl

 

[local hack]

Hardwick Frawley Stratton
Frost BB Sicily
Hendo Mitch smith
Gunston Lewis wingard
Breust Patton Silk
Ceglar worpel JOM
I: Scully Shiels CJ Pop
E: TOB, minch/Nash/Ollie, Finn

-Given scrimshaw has had an interrupted pre-season (and impey is out) have slotted CJ onto bench to add some run to backline.
-Couldn’t fit TOB in if Patton, Lewis and Gunston are fit (we have a lot of 3rd tall options)
-Puopolo will likely get first shot as pressure forward (but minch, olllie, Nash also options)
-hard to find room for Finn etc

TOB is a lock