List Mgmt. The Core - 2026 Onwards

[The Nostradamus]

1. Ldu
2. Larkey
3. Simpkin
4. Zurhaar
5. Xerri
6. Sheezel
7. Wardlaw
8. Mckercher
9. Duursma
10. Hardeman
11. Goater
12. Comben
13. Logue
14. Sleevo
15. Curtis
16. Powell
17. Phillips
18. Fisher
19. Pick 1 this year (Smillie)
20. CCJ (controversial but he’s our best bet atm for CHF)


Others in the mix for the final 3 spots
Ford, stephens, Finnbar, Bergman, archer, tucker, Goad

 

[Twangler]

1. Ldu
2. Larkey
3. Simpkin
4. Zurhaar
5. Xerri
6. Sheezel
7. Wardlaw
8. Mckercher
9. Duursma
10. Hardeman
11. Goater
12. Comben
13. Logue
14. Sleevo
15. Curtis
16. Powell
17. Phillips
18. Fisher
19. Pick 1 this year (Smillie)
20. CCJ (controversial but he’s our best bet atm for CHF)


Others in the mix for the final 3 spots
Ford, stephens, Finnbar, Bergman, archer, tucker, Goad

This is a best 22 list for this year/next year of a bottom 4 quality side. Surely you aren’t suggesting it’s the nucleus for 2026-2028 side that pushes for a premiership?

 

[The Nostradamus]

This is a best 22 list for this year/next year of a bottom 4 quality side. Surely you aren’t suggesting it’s the nucleus for 2026-2028 side that pushes for a premiership?

I think a lot of that 20 just need games pumped into them to be flag worthy and time to develop synergy

 

[7577969923]

Looks great, especially the cloning of McKercher

I've been doing a bit of work in the lab!

 

[Its a Process]

Powell is the most creative ball user in the club by both hand and foot, and he has made great progress this year. I'm confident he will be a gun.

I hope are right but I think he only makes with us a winger or half back.

And so far he hasn’t shown much unless he’s inside mid.

 

[7577969923]

I hope are right but I think he only makes with us a winger or half back.

And so far he hasn’t shown much unless he’s inside mid.

Given he's never played half-back once, I'm not sure how you can come to that conclusion. He will be a mid for us for the next 12 years.

 

[Its a Process]

Given he's never played half-back once, I'm not sure how you can come to that conclusion. He will be a mid for us for the next 12 years.

He’s into his 4th season and he’s a consistent member of the worst performing midfield in the comp.

Personally I think he’s too slight and slow and he’ll be pushed out by Colby, Sheez and whoever we take this year.

 

[Themanbun]

Given he's never played half-back once, I'm not sure how you can come to that conclusion. He will be a mid for us for the next 12 years.

He's one of the easiest blokes to play on going around, doesn't run defensively, and often loses positioning on transition. When he plays inside mid he gives up space and a run way too easily.

He is however very good with ball in hand, though prone to the occasional ball on boot bomb, and has a bit of toe when he gets the ball in tight, and has a knack for hitting the scoreboard.

I have no idea where his best position is but I think he'll be pushed out of our preferred 3 mids and likely even our 4 preferred if LDU stays. LDU, Wardlaw, Sheez, McKercher and Smillie will probably push him out to a flank but with more mid minutes during times of injury.

He suits that half forward playing as an extra midfielder role, but will need to work on his positioning on transition as smart half backs and half forwards will be able to exploit it.

 

[Fart Cummings]

D Sharp slot straight into 2026 team....

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Archer Logue Hardeman
Goater Comben (Bergman)

Xerri (LDU) Wardlaw
Ford (Smillie) Scott

Powell ????? Sheezel
Curtis Larkey (George)

???? = Complete unknown
(Name) = suspected, injury prone or perhaps not in the team in ‘26.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

The way I interpret this thread, is building the blocks for a team capable of pushing for preliminary finals/premiership. Teams that can do this tend to have about 5 elite AA calibre players and about 15-20 players who consistently perform their role to the required standard.

For elite talent, ideally this would be distributed around the ground. The good news is that within the next three years, it’s likely we are on track for this.

We have
Larkey (already AA but caveat that he is reliant on good ball delivery)
Sheezel (very likely)
LDU (very likely)
Comben (decent chance if he stays uninjured)
Wardlaw (decent chance)
McKercher (decent chance)
Duursma (possible)
I’m confident we could get 5 here.

For the role players, this is really where we fall off. Of the players on the list, these are the ones I’m confident can consistently be at the standard in the coming years
Logue
Curtis
Goater (injury permitting)
Xerri
Names above suggested in AA/elite that don’t reach heights of elite

And the maybe’s
Scott (showed last year he can)
Simpkin (as above)
Powell
Ford (more speculative)
Zurhaar (as above)
Draftees within the last two years all fall into the speculative category.

So we only have 5-10 names here. So we are about 10 players short! Brady and co will be busy!

That’s a fair assessment, but it only takes 1-2 of those maybe’s maturing and becoming solid players and it changes our fortunes and the outlook of the team considerably.

I hope are right but I think he only makes with us a winger or half back.

And so far he hasn’t shown much unless he’s inside mid.

I think he'll be fine as an inside mid, a lot of his issues are due to our poor structure. As all our midfielders mature the structure will improve.

 

[hellas_johnny]

Archer comben w.dawson
Goater logue bergman
Scott Ldu Mckercher
Xerri wardlaw sheezel
Ford ??? Duursma
Curtis larkey ???
Powell, simpkin, hardeman, ???

Gone:
Greenwood
Corr
Taylor
Tucker
Shiels
CCJ
Nyuon
Pink
Drury
Free
Hansen Jnr
Stephenson
Sellers (UnLucky)

Still Developing:
Goad

Possibly still around
McDonald
Stephens (contracted)
Fisher (contracted)
Phillips
George
Lazzaro
Harvey
Maley
K.Dawson
Zurhaar (most likely gone)

I honestly think we're not far off. We keep getting games into players they will get better. We clearly still need a chf who can 2nd ruck and a small pressure forward in the starting 18. The last bench spot up in air but I think this team with 2 years more experience will be very competitive. The backline will be solid with defenders who actually defend and but also with good disposal. Someone like smilie in midfield with his big body would complete the midfield group aswell. Things aren't as bleak as they seem.

 

[Makeshift Park]

The core from 2026 onwards needs:

• a chunky contested marking, pack crashing FF
• a pacy, crumbing goalsneak (could it be Fisher if we have George, Mckercher, Sheezel, Bergman and Goater to play HBF?)
• a young big bodied mid (Smillie Ray Cyrus?)
• a small defender workhorse (Hardwick?)
• (along with another tall fwd as depth, which could be Maley or Sellers, lets see)

And that's about it. There will be others added too, obviously.

Best scenario for this coming off-season for me is if we cover off those 4 list holes, with one or two experienced types to act as on-field coaches as well.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Fair to say Comben has cemented himself as a huge part of our core moving forward.

Could also argue the same for Arch, who has shown plenty since coming back into the senior side!

 

[JGreezy]

FB: Archer - Logue - ???
HB: ??? - Comben - ???
C: Scott - McKercher - ???
HF: ??? - ??? - Sheezel
FF: Curtis - Larkey - Zurhaar
Foll: Xerri - Wardlaw - LDU

Int: Powell, Ford, Simpkin

Backline contenders - Dawson & Dawson, Hardeman, Goater, Fisher, Bergman, George

Wing contenders - McKercher, Ford, Stephens, Bergman, Hardeman

Mid depth - WillPhil

Forward contenders - Duursma, WDawson, Comben, Hansen, George

Ruck depth - Teakle, Goad

*I've probably missed a couple, my memory isn't what it used to be

 

[7577969923]

With the emergence of Comben, Archer, and K. Dawson this season we've gone from having a basketcase backline to having the makings of an outstanding backline with exceptional depth.

The biggest list hole remains a genuine second big forward to support Larkey.

FB: Archer - Logue - K. Dawson
HB: ??? - Comben - ???
C: Scott - Wardlaw - McKercher
HF: ??? - ??? - Sheezel
FF: Curtis - Larkey - Zurhaar
Foll: Xerri - LDU - Phillips

Int: Powell, Ford, Simpkin

Backline contenders - Dawson, Hardeman, Goater, Fisher, Bergman, George

Wing contenders - Ford, Stephens, Bergman, Hardeman, Goater, Fisher, Scott

Mid-depth -

Forward contenders - Duursma, WDawson, Comben, Hansen, George

Ruck depth - Teakle, Goad

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

I’m only going to mark down the players who are locks or potential locks for 2 year’s time:

Dawson Logue Archer
Goater Comben ????

McKercher Sheezel ???? (Scott)
Xerri LDU Wardlaw

Duursma ????? Ford
Curtis Larkey ????

Teakle ???? ???? ????

2024 draft/FA/trade should be focused on those two ???? In the forward half and another KPP for good measure.

Hopefully, by trade era 2025, we can look to bring some B rated silk into the HB and Wing.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

This thread is to discuss the future core of our football team.

This list build feels like it's taking forever, especially when we aren't seeing any obvious on field improvements, but despite all those issues, a strong core is emerging that I think will hold us in good stead from 2025/26 onwards (assuming none of them leave). We still have some big holes to fill, but I think the building blocks are starting to come together. I'm probably going a bit early on the likes of Hardeman, and their are question marks as to whether Goater/Logue can get back to their best post injuries but I'm very confident there is long term players in all of them.

B: xxxxx, Comben, Goater
HB: Sheezel, Logue, Hardeman
C: xxxxx, Wardlaw, xxxxx
HF: Duursma, xxxxx, xxxxx
F: Curtis, Larkey, xxxxx
Foll: Xerri, McKercher, LDU
Int: Powell, xxxxx, xxxxx, xxxxx

That biggest gaping holes we have at the moment is Centre Half Forward, Small Forward, Wings and a lock down back pocket. We'll also need a bit more top end midfield depth, but I'd imagine we'll get that in this year's draft. There is potential that some players on the list could fill these roles to the required level to be a competitive side (Scott/Fisher/Stephens/Simpkin ec), but it remains to be seen if they'll be good enough for us to push up the ladder considerably.

The current list break down below, suggests that we still have to churn over a considerable % of the list in order to get more talented players through the door. All of these lists are open for interpretation, but if any of the Gone or Question Marks lists develop significantly, then it will go a long way to us becoming a more competitive side in the short term, same thing applies to any players we add in the MSD.

Gone:

Greenwood
Stephens
Corr
Taylor
Tucker
Shields
CCJ
Nyuon
Pink
Drury
Free
Hansen Jnr
Stephenson

Still Developing:

W. Dawson
Goad

Question Marks:

Scott
McDonald
Simpkin
Stephens
Fisher
Bergman
Phillips
George
Archer
Lazzaro
Sellers
Harvey
Maley
Ford
K.Dawson
Zurhaar

Bit of clarity post draft/trade season....Still some question marks on some players but I think I can confidently say this will be the core moving towards 2026. Will be interesting to see if the likes of Corr, McDonald, Darling and Parker are still contributing by that stage. It would be nice if the likes of Fisher and Stephens really kick on and become genuine consistent and reliable contributors as well.

IMO the big question marks will be the development of talls in Whitlock, Dawson and Goad, and whether we can unearth an unexpected gem like Maley, Konstanty ect. I think it's integral to our list that one of Whitlock or Dawson becomes a genuine star.

B: xxxxx, Comben, Archer
HB: Daniel, Logue, xxxxx
C: Scott, Wardlaw, O'Sullivan
HF: Duursma, xxxxx, Sheezel
F: Curtis, Larkey, Zurhaar
Foll: Xerri, McKercher, LDU
Int: Powell, xxxxx, xxxxx, xxxxx

Still Developing:

W. Dawson
Whitlock
Hardeman
Goater
Goad
Konstanty
Urquhart
Stevens

Question Marks (age, form, consistency, longevity ect):

McDonald
Simpkin
Stephens
Fisher
Bergman
Phillips
George
Payne
Pink
Teakle
Harvey
Maley
Ford
K.Dawson