Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23

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mezaire

mezaire

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Aug 11, 2009
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OK.....for better or worse, let's have a crack at our Round 1 team.

I am going to assume Bo Allen gets selected at pick 12 and Champion comes in as well.

B: Duggan, McGovern, Hough
HB: Baker, H. Edwards, Ginbey
C: B. Allen, H. Reid, Graham
HF: Cripps, B. Williams, Maric
F: Owies, O. Allen, Waterman

Foll: Yeo, Kelly, Flynn

Int: Long, Hewitt, Hutchinson, Culley
Sub: Hunt

Close: Sheed, Champion, Cole, Bazzo

Actually looks like a team with a bit of run/speed and flexibility

Baker, Yeo, Ginbey and B. Allen can all play HB or Mid

Long, Culley, Hutchinson and Hewitt can play Fwd or Mid

Plenty of goal kicking mids.

Would like to see Cripps out or Champion at some stage
 
B: Hough HEdwards Duggan
HB: Ginbey McGovern Baker
C: Johnston Reid Hutchingsson
HF: Long Allen Ryan
F: JWilliams Waterman Dewar
R: BWilliams Yeo Chesser

I: Hewett Kelly Hunt Maric

Sub: Pick 12

Want Graham in there somewhere but uncertain who he can push out when prioritising youth. He and Owies will realistically be in the side.
 
Find this difficult as I am sure there will be positional changes for some players with a new coach and a new game plan. I like Baker off HB, but with Ginbey, Duggan, Hough already there, we need to prioritise players with elite skill in the back half. Maric and or Dewar are two of our best users and I can see them being used in this role.

FB - Hough HEdwards Duggan

CHB - Ginbey McGovern Maric

C - Hunt Yeo Dewar

CHF - Baker Allen Cripps

FF - Ryan Waterman Owies

R - Flynn, Kelly, Reid

Int - Hutchison, Graham, Hewett, Long, JWilliams



Out of the side
Sheed, Brockman, Chesser, Petrucelli, AReid, Johnston, Cole Hall, Barnett, BWilliams, Bazzo, Rawlinson, Livingston Jamisn + Drafted players and Uncontracted players.
 

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With a new coach and another preseason under the belts of our kids, it’s hard to know who will leapfrog who for the fringe spots.

Starting with the locks:

B: Duggan, H. Edwards, Hough
HB: Baker, McGovern, Ginbey
C: - Yeo -
HF: - Waterman -
F: - Allen -
R: - Reid, Kelly

Didn’t see the interview but have heard that Baker mentioned playing off half back. This means the backline essentially picks itself, and squeezes Hunt (who I previously had as a lock) into the next group. Not locks, but worth first crack.

B: Duggan, H. Edwards, Hough
HB: Baker, McGovern, Ginbey
C: - Yeo, Hunt*
HF: Maric, Waterman, Ryan
F: Owies, Allen, Long
R: - Reid, Kelly
INT: J.Williams, Cole, Graham, -

This leaves the ruck as a battle (please let Flynn win this battle), and also a vacant wing plus a bench spot.

Hewett, if healthy, should occupy one of these. Dewar has done enough to be worth first look in Round 1. What does Hutchinson look like with a preseason under his belt? Johnston worth a long look too after his final few games, could he make the move to the wing?

Hunt on the wing? Not for me historically, but perhaps with a new gameplan. If not, nice to have a battle for the seventh defender and we can blood someone else on the wing.

The benefit of the Graham acquisition is it should facilitate Kelly HFF stints. How we handle the Ryan/Owies/Cripps trio will be very fascinating, but again it’s nice to be in a position with actual options again.

There’s definitely plenty to work with, before we speculate who comes in the door on draft day.
 
Already posted in the contracts thread.
Fingers crossed that Hewett will be available.

FB: Bazzo Edwards Hough
HB: Duggan McGovern Ginbey
C: Hunt Yeo Maric
HF: Hewett Waterman Baker
FF: Long O Allen Ryan
R: B Williams H Reid Kelly
INT: J Williams Graham Dewar Hutchinson Owies
EMG: Cripps Cole Johnston Petruccelle Hall A Reid Chesser Flynn Brockman
 
FB: Duggan Edwards Hough
HB: Ginbey Gov Cole
C: Maric Yeo Hutchinson
HF: Baker Allen Cripps
FF: Dewar Waterman Ryan
R: Flynn Kelly Reid
I: Graham, Hewett, Hunt, Jilliams

Cole, Cripps, Ryan the established players that would want to perform (Golden boy Duggan is immune ofc)
Dewar, Hewett, Maric working to cement their places and may be in and out on form

Billiams, Chesser...unlucky. Longy will have to come back through the WAFL but will be a shout to get back in the side pending how he comes back.

Jesus. I don't feel like we look that bad on paper. Hopefully a new message, new approach and the personnel updates at least get us performing to the sum of the parts.
 
Heres my crack at it.

B: Bazzo, H.Edwards, Hough
HB: Baker, McGovern, Duggan
C: Hunt, Reid, Maric
HF: Ryan, Allen, Graham
FF: Cripps, Waterman, Long
R: Flynn, Kelly, Yeo

IC: J.Will, Dewar, Ginbey, Cole
Sub: Hutch


I think Hewett would need a solid month in the WAFL, otherwise he'd be in there.
 
FB: Hough HEdwards Duggan
HB: Baker McGovern Ginbey
C: Hutchinson Kelly Maric
HF: Hewett Waterman Cripps
FF: Ryan Allen JWilliams
R: Flynn Reid Yeo
IC: Graham Owies Cole Dewar Long

Best depth: BWilliams Chesser Hunt Bazzo Sheed

Still a pretty weak looking side on paper if we're being totally honest but it should at least bring a bit of mongrel. Dewar and Long both options to provide a bit of spark in the middle hopefully
 
HoneyBadger35 said:
HF: Maric, Waterman, Ryan
Click to expand...
I actually almost hope with some returning injured smalls, as well as owies, and possibly champion that one or both of the Ryan boys can end up on the HB instead of HF.
both very good field kicks.
i don't know the defensive attributes of either, but Jetta, is not somone i ever recall being a crazy lockdown either.
 
I wrote a team of what I expected to be Rnd 1. B.Williams over Jack and Sheed+Petch finding a spot.. yeeesh

Instead I am going to look on the bright side of life and write a team I would love to see, including hopes of some of our kids stepping up.

Hough - Edwards - Duggan
Ginbey - McGovern - Chesser
Baker - Yeo - Long
Flynn - Reid - Kelly
Cripps - Allen - Maric
Ryan - Waterman - Owies
Graham, J.Williams, Hewett, Bazzo, Johnston* as sub

With Hutchinson, Dewar, Hunt, Cole, Hall, pick 12 and B.Williams as first in line.

Jilliams just had to play. Maric and Johnston build their bodies a little and solidify their play time. Down back I’ve maintained Chesser to HB has legs and Ginbey continues to thrive. Longs always had potential to play further up the ground on a wing and Hewett+Bazzo overcome their injury concerns.
 

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Anyone choosing a best
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(🥴) without choosing the Swiftsa is a bum.
 
  • Cripps starts best 23. He's not getting replaced by lower production forwards.
  • Maric should train with the backs all preseason.
  • Hutchinson should train with the midfielders.
  • Hopefully O.Allen plays further from goals than Waterman so i'll have him at CHF.
  • Flynn starts round 1 with J.Williams as third tall/ ruck.
  • View Baker as a Hunt replacement.
  • Witherden on the outer. 🙏
  • Long and Ryan to play midfield minutes.


B: Hough - H.Edwards - Duggan
HB: Ginbey - McGovern - Maric
C: Baker - Kelly - Hutchinson
HF: Long - O.Allen - Hewett
F: Ryan - Waterman - Cripps

R: Flynn - Reid - Yeo

Int: J.Williams - Graham - Cole - Johnson

Emg: Chesser
 
FB: Hough HEdwards Duggan
HB: Ginbey Gov Baker
C: Hunt Yeo Maric
HF: Owies Allen Kelly
FF: Ryan Waterman Long
R: BWilliams Reid Graham
INT: Hutchinson Hewett Cole JWilliams
SUB: Dewar

Unlucky/next in line depth:
Pick 12, Cripps, Hall, Bazzo, Flynn, Chesser, Johnston

As much as people bag Cole, hes still best 22 until we get a better defender to replace him, and we need 7 defenders in the squad. Hope we draft something here.
Id like to throw Maric into the backline to take Cole out, but ideally we draft a half back to take that spot off Cole instead, we dont have other great wing options anyway so may as well leave Maric there for now.
Need another KPD on the list, if HEdwards goes down we dont have another solid full back option.

Midfield has decent depth in the 23 now with Baker, Graham and hopefully Hutch able to run through there in addition to our main 3 from last year.
Id like Long to get a chance to play as a midfielder(even if its at WAFL), hes got clean hands and good decision making. Hall the other who id like to get a chance this year, but he may have to wait for injuries with now several more senior bodies in now.
BWilliams should try to put on 5kgs over the offseason so he can compete with the standard oppo ruckman. He and Flynn is a coin toss at this stage imo.

Forward line is pretty settled imo. I think Owies is 100% in the side in round 1, Long also comes straight back in.
Dewar is one I know a lot of people like, but I have Hewett in his spot for now. Idk who to drop for Dewar.
Owies wasnt really a position of need imo but he is still better than Dewar.

Its good now we have a bunch of kids who arent in the side going into their 2nd and 3rd years of footy, plus some older mature age players who cant crack the side. Should see significant improvement in the WAFL side.

Hard to make a good guess on how it all ends up until we hear some pre-season reports of where players are training
 
B- R.Bazzo H.Edwards B.Hough
HB- L.Baker J.McGovern L.Duggan
C- B.Allan E.Yeo T.Kelly
HF- R.Maric O.Allen N.Long
F- L.Ryan J.Waterman M.Owies
FOLL- B.Williams E.Hewett H.Reid
I/C- R.Ginbey, J.Williams, J.Graham, J.Hunt, C.Chesser

Emerg
T.Cole, J.Pettrucclle, C.Hall, J.Hutchinson, M.Flynn
 
Hewitt wouldn't have played an AFL game in 18 months (edit.. hasnt played any footy in 18 months) and no one knows how he will hold up in the preseason, not sure how you can call him a certainty for round 1.

IMO will need some weeks in the WAFL at a minimum (unless he blows up PS training and dominates the practice games)
 
Last edited:
Heres a different approach. Guess what we will do, not what you want. My belief on what we will do

FB: Hunt, H.Edwards, Cole
HB: Ginbey, McGovern, Duggan
C: Baker, Kelly, Sheed
HF: Cripps, Allen, Ryan
FF: Owies, Waterman, J.Williams
R: Flynn, Yeo, Reid
I/C: Graham, Long, Hutchinson, Petrucelle

I think Mini will go for a small backline and prioritise run off HB over things like a 3rd tall in defense or the like. I think at wing he will pack it with experience and give Sheed one last go at it. Similar to Cripps. I suspect he gets one last go. I think Dewar will be breathing down his neck. Rest of forward line writes itself. We did not bring in Owies to sit in the WAFL thats for sure

He will choose a bigger bodied ruck over a smaller one. I look at Shuey and Mini as both preferring a ruck who can tackle and block as opposed to just run and jump so Flynn gets the role. Its also why J.Williams gets that 3rd tall spot. Liam Baker to really move off HF and flank roles and to simply play midfield. I cant imagine he moves to a position we are well stocked in.

Graham will come in to play a run with role as well as a player to help Reid break the tag. Its 100% why he is here. I think Petch gets more of a run off HB as we prioritise quick ball movement of HB over everything

Hewett, Allan, Hall, Johnston, Dewar to start in the WAFL and really a massive toss up as to who that sub is. I feel the midfield will prioritise a more defensive approach so suspect Clay Hall gets more of a go under Mini then others would

People may prefer more youth but we will build into it as injuries occur as opposed to run with it in Round 1. People may not like it but thats kind of the approach Mini will be taking. Its why he got the job
 
DorothyG said:
Hewitt wouldn't have played an AFL game in 18 months and no one knows how he will hold up in the preseason, not sure how you can call him a certainty for round 1.

IMO will need some weeks in the WAFL at a minimum (unless he blows up PS training and dominates the practice games)
Click to expand...

I think the proviso in every team is that he is fit and has had a great pre-season.

Probably a ray of hope selection.
 
GoEaglesGoSGIO said:
Heres a different approach. Guess what we will do, not what you want. My belief on what we will do

FB: Hunt, H.Edwards, Cole
HB: Ginbey, McGovern, Duggan
C: Baker, Kelly, Sheed
HF: Cripps, Allen, Ryan
FF: Owies, Waterman, J.Williams
R: Flynn, Yeo, Reid
I/C: Graham, Long, Hutchinson, Petrucelle

I think Mini will go for a small backline and prioritise run off HB over things like a 3rd tall in defense or the like. I think at wing he will pack it with experience and give Sheed one last go at it. Similar to Cripps. I suspect he gets one last go. I think Dewar will be breathing down his neck. Rest of forward line writes itself. We did not bring in Owies to sit in the WAFL thats for sure

He will choose a bigger bodied ruck over a smaller one. I look at Shuey and Mini as both preferring a ruck who can tackle and block as opposed to just run and jump so Flynn gets the role. Its also why J.Williams gets that 3rd tall spot. Liam Baker to really move off HF and flank roles and to simply play midfield. I cant imagine he moves to a position we are well stocked in.

Graham will come in to play a run with role as well as a player to help Reid break the tag. Its 100% why he is here. I think Petch gets more of a run off HB as we prioritise quick ball movement of HB over everything

Hewett, Allan, Hall, Johnston, Dewar to start in the WAFL and really a massive toss up as to who that sub is. I feel the midfield will prioritise a more defensive approach so suspect Clay Hall gets more of a go under Mini then others would

People may prefer more youth but we will build into it as injuries occur as opposed to run with it in Round 1. People may not like it but thats kind of the approach Mini will be taking. Its why he got the job
Click to expand...
Picture it: Round 1 vs the Saints at home.
Starting Mid of Flynn, Reid, Graham and Yeo.
Windhanger is hanging off Reid before the siren even sounds and the umpire gives him a knowing wink (I see nothink!).
Ball goes up, Graham crosses right behind Reid and levels Windhanger with the People's elbow, and Flynn in his follow through lands 2 knees into his kidneys.
Reid bursts onto the ball, stiff arms 4 opponents, take 3 bounces and kicks goal of the year with the first possession of 2025.
Graham gets a 6 week holiday, nobody is game to go near Reid for the rest of the season and he goes on to get the Brownlow/Norm Smith double and take WC to an unthinkable 5th flag.
Clarke gets a statue built out the front of Gate 3 at Optus.

Make it happen Mini.
 
RookiePick said:
I think the proviso in every team is that he is fit and has had a great pre-season.

Probably a ray of hope selection.
Click to expand...
Even with that the more I think about it the more I think its just harsh. Pre-season and match simulation isnt the same as actually playing week to week.

Its BS to give him rays of hope because we are too incompetent to draft more then 3 young players in any draft. Leave the guy alone and let him grow into it without unrealistic expectations.

I mean elsewhere someone said Bo Allan could be the next Patrick Cripps ffs. Calm down
 

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Prediction Round 1, 2025: Starting 23

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