Team Selection Round 1 - 2010

[Dylan12]

Ok my round 1 team including 3 emergencies is

Backs: Mcgrath Merret Adcock
HB: Patfull Maguire Drummond
C: Brennen Black Johnstone
Hf: Sherman Brown Polkinghorne
F: Buchanan Fevola Staker
R: Clark Rich Power
Int: Leunberger Redden Rockliff Rischitelli
Emg: Stiller Raines Banfield

Good effort lions09, pretty much the squad I would name, although I suspect there would be one change...a tagger; be it Stiller or Selwood. I agree and would give Rockliff the nod over Banfield, although by the sound of it, he wouldn't be too far off. A dark-horse could be Albie Proud..I would like his hardness in the side.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Geez I remember about 3 years ago were were struggling to name 22 blokes worthy of being our best 22.

Now we are struggling to find blokes to push out.

List is developing nicely.

 

[Grimreepah]

Geez I remember about 3 years ago were were struggling to name 22 blokes worthy of being our best 22.

Like this...

 

[whatboutbob]

Like this...

lol:

I just thought i should explain i didnt just put a random pick 4 into the team i looked at our list as it is, who we are likely to pick up and who is left on our list. Besides the ppl i listed as injured or emergencies i think i only left off marcus allen (and although i think he may do alright most ppl seem to have a different opinion)

You frogmarched McGrath too, Notts.

 

[chopperduck]

Geez I remember about 3 years ago were were struggling to name 22 blokes worthy of being our best 22.

Now we are struggling to find blokes to push out.

List is developing nicely.

That's not right, we traded away our future, remember BrownDog ?

 

[3KZ is Football]

Geez I remember about 3 years ago were were struggling to name 22 blokes worthy of being our best 22.

Now we are struggling to find blokes to push out.

List is developing nicely.

Spot on. It is a great sign for the team, but it does throw up some selection conundrums. Specifically, I wonder what roles Selwood and Stiller play this year?

If people are suggesting number 4 plays in the backline, to be honest I would rather have Selwood in the team in his place. Unlike number 4, Selwood is a hard at it tagging backman who could even step into a midfield tagging role if required. The same applies to Stiller. I know there are a few people who are prepared to pot Stiller, but he has a red hot go and I thought he had some very solid games out of the 22 he played last season.

I just can't get past the fact that number 4 is a dud who has cost me more time on the analyst's couch and more money on anti-depressants than any other player.

Go Lions!

http://www.fitzroyfc.com.au/2010-FFC-Member-Form.pdf

 

[notting18]

You frogmarched McGrath too, Notts.

Up until last year I was never a fan of McGrath. Brennan is another who I used to struggle with...


Also, I still stand by the fact that if we had select Selwood he would've been in our best 22

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

I was at the game he kicked a winning goal after the siren against Geelong at Princess Park IIRC. Was one of his first games for the Roys and I remember being a youngster getting his autograph at one of the coterie functions after the game.

I am happy with Kevin Caton Cup...eagle, lion and bear

My memory says it was a point........ hit the post?
Certainly was a cult figure for the brief period he spent at the club.

I think Raines is a certainty, just noticed some people are leaving him out.
The interesting one's for me are Rockliff & Banfield, will they be rewarded for outstanding pre-seasons?

There will be some disappointed boys early in the season.

 

[whatboutbob]

There will be some disappointed but driven boys early in the season.

Fixed.

 

[Dylan12]

My memory says it was a point........ hit the post?

My memory says a goal, I remember running out on the ground to the boys, however, you could be it right, maybe a point won the game...twas a very long time ago.

I can appreciate the ctiticism of Trapper, but he would have to be in the starting 18, especially when he is "on". I am expecting a bumper year from him, he will have less focus on him, more competition for spots which should bring the best out of him and as someone said, it is the last year of his contract and unless he wants another, with many younger/hungrier boys on our list, he will have to prove he warrants another. I reckon he will be good this year.

 

[greendiesel]

Caton was about 60 metres out and hit the post about 3/4 of the way up...from memory.

 

[Axel.]

Like this...

Lol. That's gold but i can't see Proud playing CHB.

 

[whatboutbob]

Browny just said on the footy show that he reckoned 5 of the 6 new recruits "will be right for round 1", so it sounds like everyone bar Clarke'll get a run.

 

[weevil]

So from the media reports today it seems like Banfield is almost a certainty and Rockliff is right in the mix...would that be how you see things grimbo?

 

[whatboutbob]

Is anything to be read into Clark playing for the Gold team? Anyone think that means he's the likely starting ruck?

 

[Stocka]

Surely Clark would have to be the #1 and starting ruck. He was arguably the standout ruckman in the competition during the second half of last year which made a huge improvement to our team and his pre-season in 2010 has been very good (from the accounts that I have read).

It'll be good to see Leuenberger get a run, but I'd be loathe to see us minimalise Clark's role in any manner by taking him out of the ruck contests or by reducing his capacity to have an impact around the ground. He has to be the starting and #1 ruck, for mine.

 

[Antman78]

IMO Clark is to important to use in the ruck, Leuenberger/Charman should take the bulk of the ruck work with Clark to pinch hit.
One of the many reasons Clark was great for us last year was because he's more than just a ruckman but also a loose man in defence and a forward pinch hitter, i see no reason that Leuenberger/ Charman couldn't do that.

Don't get me wrong, Clark is very important but his tap work is not the reason he's good, gave away the most free kicks last year with 48 against and although he tries hard and plays well his hit outs where not always to advantage.

The ruck wastes his talents for me it would be like putting Franklin in the ruck, he'll do a good job (just as good as a ruckman) but he could do more forward.

I say try him elsewhere if it goes good then excellent, if not put him on the ball and let him ruck, but for me he's worth more as a key position player, just my thoughts.

 

[POBT]

Surely Clark would have to be the #1 and starting ruck.

To be honest, I'm surprised this is still being debated. Pre-season seems to have demonstrated quite conclusively that Clark is Voss's choice for #1 ruck. Sure, he'll play less in the ruck than last year, which does allow him to be utilised more in other roles, but we've seen nothing in the pre-season to suggest that Clark will be anything more than a pinch hitter as a forward, defender or wingman.

That might change throughout the season. I mean, If Leuenberger shows Clark-esque form as a ruckman, it does give Voss the luxury of playing Mitch elsewhere, more often.

 

[Tassie4ever]

To be honest, I'm surprised this is still being debated. Pre-season seems to have demonstrated quite conclusively that Clark is Voss's choice for #1 ruck. Sure, he'll play less in the ruck than last year, which does allow him to be utilised more in other roles, but we've seen nothing in the pre-season to suggest that Clark will be anything more than a pinch hitter as a forward, defender or wingman.

That might change throughout the season. I mean, If Leuenberger shows Clark-esque form as a ruckman, it does give Voss the luxury of playing Mitch elsewhere, more often.

Agree 100% with the above. Clark will almost certainly be used from time to time to upset the opposition's best laid plans, but he is definitely our No. 1 ruckman unless or until Leuenberger steps up to take his place.

 

[Stocka]

IMO Clark is to important to use in the ruck, Leuenberger/Charman should take the bulk of the ruck work with Clark to pinch hit.
One of the many reasons Clark was great for us last year was because he's more than just a ruckman but also a loose man in defence and a forward pinch hitter, i see no reason that Leuenberger/ Charman couldn't do that.

Charman has never been as effective in that role as Clark was last year. Leuenberger is yet to string enough games together to be have had anywhere near the impact of Clark, so, it would seem to me that Clark is still streets ahead of both.

Don't get me wrong, Clark is very important but his tap work is not the reason he's good, gave away the most free kicks last year with 48 against and although he tries hard and plays well his hit outs where not always to advantage.

I disagree. I reckon Clark is a better tap-ruckman than Charman and got his hand to the ball more often than Charman used to. Leuenberger may prove to be a better tap ruckman, but he is yet to do so.

The ruck wastes his talents for me it would be like putting Franklin in the ruck, he'll do a good job (just as good as a ruckman) but he could do more forward.

How does it waste his talent? This seems a very strange comment considering it was in the ruck that Clark had his break-out season. Considering the effect that Clark had all over the ground last year, I think it really freed him up to make use of his ability.

I say try him elsewhere if it goes good then excellent, if not put him on the ball and let him ruck, but for me he's worth more as a key position player, just my thoughts.

I used to view Clark as being a potential CHF, with Brown moving to FF. It's not going to happen now, considering we've recruited Fevola, and a move to CHB (as others have suggested) also appears unlikely considering we've got Maguire and Patfull as options in that role.

Being in the ruck actually gives Clark more versatility than any other role. Some may argue that he could be more freed-up playing on a wing, but I disagree, as in a purely midfield role, he'll also have to work defensively on occasions against his direct opponent (either that or allow them to run free, which will soon be exploited by the opposition tacticians). In the ruck, Clark is already dominating and it is probably the one position in which you generally do not have to back up with defensive efforts against your own direct opponent. It is probably the most freed-up role that you can afford from week-to-week in modern football and therefore suits Clark perfectly.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

If you were to take a read on selection from the Possibles/Probables hit out yesterday, the team will look like this:

McGrath Merrett Hawksley
Patfull Maguire Drummond
Adcock Brennan Sherman
Buchanan Brown Power
Banfield Fevola Staker
Clark Black Rich
Rischitelli Redden Leuenberger ????

???? being as what Hammo alluded to, a race between Raines, Rockliff, Johnstone and Polkinghorne for that last spot on the team. Everyone will have their own take on which of those players they prefer, but a case can be made for any of them to be in the side. I tend to think it'll be either Raines or Johnstone based on team balance (I think they'll want another mid-defender type player), although Rockcliff has certainly earned a shot at it and Polkinghorne has a few credits in the bank from last ear. It'll annoy quite a few here if it comes true, but I predict it'll be Raines. I just reckon Voss will want to give him a shot of confidence.

 

[Stocka]

I am going to crack it if Rockliff is overlooked!

 

[The Flying Belgian]

I am going to crack it if Rockliff is overlooked!

Why? Doesn't mean he's got no chance for the rest of the year. As I've said previously, selection seems to be based on a whole range of factors. Pre-season match form is a segment of what will go into calculations.

From memory there was a few youngsters bashing down the door for R1 last year who didn't get selected. But they got their chance later on.

 

[Grimreepah]

So from the media reports today it seems like Banfield is almost a certainty and Rockliff is right in the mix...would that be how you see things grimbo?

The media reports I have read suggest they are in a group of 26 players vying for selection.

 

[Dylan12]

I am going to crack it if Rockliff is overlooked!

I would personally be surprised if Johnstone doesn't get the nod. Raines, for me, has to earn selection through the reserves. By the sounds of it, Banfield and Rockliff are fighting for the same position and Banfield appears to be slightly in front. Polks looms as the unlucky one at the moment, however if Hawksley isn't selected I would expect Johnstone and Polkinghorne/Stiller/Selwood/Proud would be the inclusions.

Either way, it is a really nice problem to have and one that no doubt the players are fully aware. Perform or someone else will be given a run.