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If Sholl keeps up the 2024 form I don’t have a problem with him in there going forward. Emphasis on if, though (even if he doesn’t, him and Dowling is a pretty easy swap)

Tex will only be there for one more year (hopefully Welsh is somewhat good to go in ‘26), and hopefully Laird is phased out over next year like Smith, replaced by Ryan?

I’m okay with Crouch being in there next year, but I’d tell him to assess his options at other clubs at the end of the year, then bring Taylor or pick 4 into that vacant spot in the midfield

God knows what’s happening with ROB, and any future ruck we might get
Yeah hoping Laird, Crouch and Obrien (he leaves?) salary can be used to attract an A grade mid next year.
 
AFL

FF: Darcy Fogarty - Riley Thilthorpe - Alex Neal Bullen
HF: Josh Rachele - Taylor Walker - Dan Curtin

C : Jordan Dawson - Matthew Crouch - Jake Soligo
1st R: Riley O'Brien - James Peatling -
Izak Rankine

HB: Isaac Cumming - Mark Keane - Mitch Hinge
FB: Max Michalanney - Nick Murray - Josh Worrell

RES:
Pick 4, Ben Keays, Luke Nankervis, Chayce Jones, Rory Laird

EMERGENCIES & DEPTH
Lachie Sholl
Zac Taylor
Luke Pedlar
Jordon Butts
Wayne Milera
Charlie Edwards
Brayden Cook
Oscar Ryan
Hugh Bond
Billy Dowling
 

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My predicted Matthew Nicks best 23 (updated)

B Worrell - Murray - Michalanney
HB Hinge - Keane - Cumming

R O'Brien - Dawson - Laird
C Soligo - Crouch - Sholl

HF Rankine - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F Walker - Thilthorpe - Keays

I Rachele - Murphy - Pick 4 - Peatling
S Berry
 
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AFL

FF: Darcy Fogarty - Riley Thilthorpe - Alex Neal Bullen
HF: Josh Rachele - Taylor Walker - Dan Curtin

C : Jordan Dawson - Matthew Crouch - Jake Soligo
1st R: Riley O'Brien - James Peatling -
Izak Rankine

HB: Isaac Cumming - Mark Keane - Mitch Hinge
FB: Max Michalanney - Nick Murray - Josh Worrell

RES:
Pick 4, Ben Keays, Luke Nankervis, Chayce Jones, Rory Laird

EMERGENCIES & DEPTH
Lachie Sholl
Zac Taylor
Luke Pedlar
Jordon Butts
Wayne Milera
Charlie Edwards
Brayden Cook
Oscar Ryan
Hugh Bond
Billy Dowling
The key is next season we have depth, which will be needed with injuries.

Have added 3 genuine best 22 players.
Haven't lost any best 22.
Clearly Smith & Murphy make way.... but neither should be in our side as both had piir seasons.
 
AFL

FF: Darcy Fogarty - Riley Thilthorpe - Alex Neal Bullen
HF: Josh Rachele - Taylor Walker - Dan Curtin

C : Jordan Dawson - Matthew Crouch - Jake Soligo
1st R: Riley O'Brien - James Peatling -
Izak Rankine

HB: Isaac Cumming - Mark Keane - Mitch Hinge
FB: Max Michalanney - Nick Murray - Josh Worrell

RES:
Pick 4, Ben Keays, Luke Nankervis, Chayce Jones, Rory Laird

EMERGENCIES & DEPTH
Lachie Sholl
Zac Taylor
Luke Pedlar
Jordon Butts
Wayne Milera
Charlie Edwards
Brayden Cook
Oscar Ryan
Hugh Bond
Billy Dowling
Pretty good team. Excellent depth
 
My predicted Matthew Nicks best 23 (updated)

B Worrell - Murray - Michalanney
HB Hinge - Keane - Cumming

R O'Brien - Dawson - Berry
C Soligo - Crouch - Sholl

HF Rankine - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F Walker - Thilthorpe - Keays

I Rachele - Murphy - Laird - Peatling
S Pick 4
While I agree with you, I really hope not.

We have to be prioritizing Curtin, and 2-3 players (whoever else is looking good) out of the whole rest of the 22 and unders group. Tex really shouldn't be first choice too.
 
My predicted Matthew Nicks best 23 (updated)

B Worrell - Murray - Michalanney
HB Hinge - Keane - Cumming

R O'Brien - Dawson - Laird
C Soligo - Crouch - Sholl

HF Rankine - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F Walker - Thilthorpe - Keays

I Rachele - Murphy - Pick 4 - Peatling
S Berry

Surely there is no way Murphy survives an inclusion of 4 players.
 
AFL

FF: Darcy Fogarty - Riley Thilthorpe - Alex Neal Bullen
HF: Josh Rachele - Taylor Walker - Dan Curtin

C : Jordan Dawson - Matthew Crouch - Jake Soligo
1st R: Riley O'Brien - James Peatling -
Izak Rankine

HB: Isaac Cumming - Mark Keane - Mitch Hinge
FB: Max Michalanney - Nick Murray - Josh Worrell

RES:
Pick 4, Ben Keays, Luke Nankervis, Chayce Jones, Rory Laird

EMERGENCIES & DEPTH
Lachie Sholl
Zac Taylor
Luke Pedlar
Jordon Butts
Wayne Milera
Charlie Edwards
Brayden Cook
Oscar Ryan
Hugh Bond
Billy Dowling
That is a good-looking side.
 

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AFL

FF: Darcy Fogarty - Riley Thilthorpe - Alex Neal Bullen
HF: Josh Rachele - Taylor Walker - Dan Curtin

C : Jordan Dawson - Matthew Crouch - Jake Soligo
1st R: Riley O'Brien - James Peatling -
Izak Rankine

HB: Isaac Cumming - Mark Keane - Mitch Hinge
FB: Max Michalanney - Nick Murray - Josh Worrell

RES:
Pick 4, Ben Keays, Luke Nankervis, Chayce Jones, Rory Laird

EMERGENCIES & DEPTH
Lachie Sholl
Zac Taylor
Luke Pedlar
Jordon Butts
Wayne Milera
Charlie Edwards
Brayden Cook
Oscar Ryan
Hugh Bond
Billy Dowling
Please get Jones out of there. He’s done. And should be delisted. Sholl way ahead of him too.
 
Not a bad shout, I wouldn't mind Keane away from the last line though.

Quite often his biggest brain fades are deep inside 50.
Keane's best footy imo has been a back pocket interceptor... but needs the likes of Murray or Butts at full back on the main opposition's forward.
 
B Worrell - Murray - Michalanney
HB Hinge - Keane - Cumming

R O'Brien - Dawson - Rankine
C Curtin - Soligo - Sholl

HF Rachele - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F Walker - Thilthorpe - Keays

I Peatling - Nankervis - Pick 4 - Pedlar
S Taylor

E Crouch - Laird - Dowling - Welsh

B Worrell - Murray - Michalanney
HB Hinge - Keane - Cumming

R O'Brien - Dawson - Rankine
C Curtin - Soligo - Sholl

HF Rachele - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F Walker - Thilthorpe - Keays

I Peatling - Nankervis - Pick 4 - Pedlar
S Taylor

E Crouch - Laird - Dowling - Welsh

Need to move on from the red players imo. Plus Walker.

Wishful thinking to have laird and crouch emergencies. They’ll be amongst the first picked.
 
I dont do this often so I am going to put my side down.

FB: Mitch Hinge, Nick Murray, Mark Keane

HB: Josh Worrell, Jordan Butts, Max Michalanney

C: Luke Nankervis, Jordan Dawson, Josh Soligo

HF: Alex Neal Bullen, Taylor Walker, Josh Rachele

FF: James Peatling, Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty

R: Riley O'Brien, Matt Crouch, Izak Rankine

Int: Billy Dowling, Dan Curtin, Rory Laird, Isaac Cumming
Sub: Ben Keays

Emergency: Pick 4 (if they are ready to go, Id replace Laird and move Laird to sub), Ryan, Milera

Justifications.

Defense:
The back line I believe is really well balanced. Murray, Keane and Butts to take on the 3 main talls which most sides tend to have. Then with Hinge, Worrell and Michalanney to take on the smaller players and provide run out of defence. There is also a good depth of intercept marking talent. I have to admit, the back line by far is the hardest to select. The defensive depth is phenomenally good, out of all the problems the club has, defense is the least of the clubs worries. Milera, Jones, Laird, Cumming, Curtin, Nankervis could all rotate through there and then there is the unknown in Ryan who looks like he will be commanding a debut next season.

Midfield:
The depth is building. Is getting harder to select. For example, Keays is not in my best 22, and laird is struggling to keep his spot. I think Lairds strength could be Sub moving forward. He allows plenty of cover for deck chairs to be moved in case of injuries. Edwards, Taylor, Dowling, Curtin, Peatling, Rachele, Rankine hopefully will all see plenty of midfield minutes this year.

Forward line:
Alex is a no brainer for Murphy. Basically a far superior upgrade. No place for Murphy in the 23 now. Unfortunately, lack of small forward depth is small and injuries will probably gift Murphy some games he doesnt deserve. The forward line is pretty much the same. Just brought in Peatling to the forward pocket to start Rankine in the middle and those guys through the bench can rotate through the middle. Lots of goal kicking power.

Overall I think its important to not banish guys like Dowling, Curtin back to the Sanfl. Dowling with good midfield depth around him will likely shine. Its a big call but Dowling is the standout young midfielder on our development list who will probably turn into one of out best players within 2 years. Add the recruitment of pick 4 who should be a ready made mid.

The Negative: Our coaches selection policys.
I hate to say it, but obviously my team has some development left in it. And I wouldnt put it past Nicks to banish every young player aside from Max back to the Sanfl and he will simply throw every mature body onto the park in his stupid desperate bid for a finals spot. Sholl, Murphy, Keays, Laird, Milera, Jones, Schoenberg (if stays on list) to name a few to get prime selection opportunities.
 

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