Opinion The Evolution of Your Best 23 for 2025

[Coobk001]

Why do you keep putting Atkins in the AFL side? He will not be playing in the side round 1 ahead of any of Lorenz, Berry, Marshall, Burton, Sinn, Mead.

I think everyone is pretty clear based on the messaging around Atkins that he is here to provide depth and boost the quality of our SANFL team. He's definitely not being picked ahead of those names, other than maybe Mead if he doesn't start trending upwards early next year.

 

[Chachi]

With good early signs on Moraes and some predicting that Berry, Moraes and even Whitlock may have instant impact in 2025, my best 23 is put forward on the (not completely unrealistic) basis that we nailed the 2024 National Draft:

F Whitlock Georgiades Rioli
HF Berry Lukosius Richards
C Sinn Wines Moraes
HB Jones Aliir Bergman
B Farrell Zerk-Thatcher Burgoyne

1R Sweet Horne-Francis Butters

INT Rozee Drew Powell-Pepper Ratugolea
Sub Burton

SANFL

F Finlayson Lord Barrett
HF Charleson Marshall Anastasopolous
C Lorenz Mead Boak (C)
HB Williams Walsh Evans
B Atkins Moss Byrne-Jones

1R Soldo McEntee Jackson

INT Visentini Cochrane R.Burgoyne Francou Watkins McLennan K.Marshall Moore (VC)

Happy to put a wager on Evans being first 18.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

B: M.Bergman, B.Zerk-Thatcher, L.Jones

HB: K.Farrell, A.Aliir, L.Evans

C: T.Boak, J.Horne-Francis, J.Burgoyne

HF: D.Byrne-Jones, J.Lukosius, J.Mead

F: W.Rioli, O.Lord, M.Georgiades

FOLL: J.Sweet, Z.Butters, C.Rozee

I/C: W.Drew, O.Wines, J.Richards, T.Marshall, J.Berry

EMG: J. Sinn, J.Finlayson, E.Ratugolea

Recruits straight in, draftees to make boom debuts: Every AFL club’s predicted Round 1 side

Recruits straight in, draftees to make boom debuts: Every AFL club’s predicted Rd 1 side

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Fizzler]

Last time we traded out star players, we debuted 3 first gamers in R1 at the MCG! History could repeat.

4 players, it was also Drew’s AFL debut despite being older than Butters, Rozee and Duursma. Was great to have been among the ~20k people there despite Melbourne’s last game having been a surprise prelim lol.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

B: M.Bergman, B.Zerk-Thatcher, L.Jones

HB: K.Farrell, A.Aliir, L.Evans

C: T.Boak, J.Horne-Francis, J.Burgoyne

HF: D.Byrne-Jones, J.Lukosius, J.Mead

F: W.Rioli, O.Lord, M.Georgiades

FOLL: J.Sweet, Z.Butters, C.Rozee

I/C: W.Drew, O.Wines, J.Richards, T.Marshall, J.Berry

EMG: J. Sinn, J.Finlayson, E.Ratugolea

Recruits straight in, draftees to make boom debuts: Every AFL club’s predicted Round 1 side

Recruits straight in, draftees to make boom debuts: Every AFL club’s predicted Rd 1 side

www.foxsports.com.au

Doesn't look too far off to me but at least one Joe has to start on the ground. We can't keep filling our forward line with re-purposed defensive midfielders. I'll accept one in there but need some goal sense in there too.

 

[yepits2020]

If all fit:

Front 7

Georgiades, Lukosious, Rioli, Powell-Pepper, Richards or Berry Byrne-Jones, who ever can back up in the ruck.

Back 7:

Aliir, Zerk-Thatcher, Evans, Farrell, Ratagolea, Bergman, Jones

Middle 8:
Sweet, Wines, Drew, Rozee, Butters, Horne-Francis, Burgoyne, Boak

I/C Mead

 

[jac147]

If all fit:

Front 7

Georgiades, Lukosious, Rioli, Powell-Pepper, Richards or Berry Byrne-Jones, who ever can back up in the ruck.

Back 7:

Aliir, Zerk-Thatcher, Evans, Farrell, Ratagolea, Bergman, Jones

Middle 8:
Sweet, Wines, Drew, Rozee, Butters, Horne-Francis, Burgoyne, Boak

I/C Mead

Not bad but Boak and Mead to be replaced with some of the newbies, drafted or traded.

 

[Chrizzt]

What to do with Rozee?

In 2024 amongst all midfielders (159 of them) he was ranked:

• 59th in average contested possessions (8.1 per game)
• 41st for clearances (4.4)
• 71st for groundball gets (5.4)
• 83rd for harball gets (1.2)
• 99th for post-clearance contested possessions (3.0)
• 45th for tackles (4.4)

Even in terms of his "positives" weren't particularly outstanding:

• 7th for shots on goal (38) [although was ranked 116th for xScore per shot at 2.70]
• 17th for i50s (4.7)
• 25th for score involvements (5.9)
• 20th for pressure acts (20.1)

He's had his clear detractors this year (me amongst them) noting his lack of desire to win the hard ball, but these stats are just so underwhelming and read like someone who waits for others to give the ball to him, then flies away for shots on goal that miss more often than hit.

I'm not convinced it was just a bad year for him - I don't think he has what it takes to make it as a permanent on-baller. Just looking at stats for the 34 players who attended at least 65% of centre bounces, Rozee ranks second last in contested possession %, 2nd last in hardball gets, 3rd last in HO gathers, last in centre clearance per CBA.

Despite all this he had our highest CBA attendance % (68.7) - behind Butters (61.7), JHF (58.2), Wines (49.7), Drew (49.4).

 

[Sewer de Lance]

What to do with Rozee?

In 2024 amongst all midfielders (159 of them) he was ranked:

• 59th in average contested possessions (8.1 per game)
• 41st for clearances (4.4)
• 71st for groundball gets (5.4)
• 83rd for harball gets (1.2)
• 99th for post-clearance contested possessions (3.0)
• 45th for tackles (4.4)

Even in terms of his "positives" weren't particularly outstanding:

• 7th for shots on goal (38) [although was ranked 116th for xScore per shot at 2.70]
• 17th for i50s (4.7)
• 25th for score involvements (5.9)
• 20th for pressure acts (20.1)

He's had his clear detractors this year (me amongst them) noting his lack of desire to win the hard ball, but these stats are just so underwhelming and read like someone who waits for others to give the ball to him, then flies away for shots on goal that miss more often than hit.

I'm not convinced it was just a bad year for him - I don't think he has what it takes to make it as a permanent on-baller. Just looking at stats for the 34 players who attended at least 65% of centre bounces, Rozee ranks second last in contested possession %, 2nd last in hardball gets, 3rd last in HO gathers, last in centre clearance per CBA.

Despite all this he had our highest CBA attendance % (68.7) - behind Butters (61.7), JHF (58.2), Wines (49.7), Drew (49.4).

Always said his best position is on the wing/HF and these stats only confirm this.

 

[Coobk001]

What to do with Rozee?

In 2024 amongst all midfielders (159 of them) he was ranked:

• 59th in average contested possessions (8.1 per game)
• 41st for clearances (4.4)
• 71st for groundball gets (5.4)
• 83rd for harball gets (1.2)
• 99th for post-clearance contested possessions (3.0)
• 45th for tackles (4.4)

Even in terms of his "positives" weren't particularly outstanding:

• 7th for shots on goal (38) [although was ranked 116th for xScore per shot at 2.70]
• 17th for i50s (4.7)
• 25th for score involvements (5.9)
• 20th for pressure acts (20.1)

He's had his clear detractors this year (me amongst them) noting his lack of desire to win the hard ball, but these stats are just so underwhelming and read like someone who waits for others to give the ball to him, then flies away for shots on goal that miss more often than hit.

I'm not convinced it was just a bad year for him - I don't think he has what it takes to make it as a permanent on-baller. Just looking at stats for the 34 players who attended at least 65% of centre bounces, Rozee ranks second last in contested possession %, 2nd last in hardball gets, 3rd last in HO gathers, last in centre clearance per CBA.

Despite all this he had our highest CBA attendance % (68.7) - behind Butters (61.7), JHF (58.2), Wines (49.7), Drew (49.4).

This is in the wrong thread, definitely a great piece for discussion.

I think at the end of the finals series last year it became blindingly obvious that we needed to hit the draft for another gun mid and Rozee needed to move back forward.

These stats only back up the obvious that the eye is seeing. He is too reliant on getting time and space, and just can't do the hard stuff. He is pushed out too easy, he puts himself in bad spots because he's trying to hold space, he is a bad ball user in general play, he is an extremely weak tackler. When it comes to the crunch in finals, and even in games against the top sides he is found out way too easy.

We're desperate for X Factor small forwards, that can rotate, and we have one who can hurt the opposition if given a metre, and can score from 60m. To me it is an absolute no brainer that he is moved to half forward. I don't think the coaches think the same though.

 

[TeeKray]

He's a two time All Australian midfielder, there's no reason why he can't be a good midfielder if he adjusts his mindset. Suggesting it's all too hard for him in the middle actually typifies the defeatist attitude of this club.

 

[Chrizzt]

This is in the wrong thread, definitely a great piece for discussion.

I think at the end of the finals series last year it became blindingly obvious that we needed to hit the draft for another gun mid and Rozee needed to move back forward.

These stats only back up the obvious that the eye is seeing. He is too reliant on getting time and space, and just can't do the hard stuff. He is pushed out too easy, he puts himself in bad spots because he's trying to hold space, he is a bad ball user in general play, he is an extremely weak tackler. When it comes to the crunch in finals, and even in games against the top sides he is found out way too easy.

We're desperate for X Factor small forwards, that can rotate, and we have one who can hurt the opposition if given a metre, and can score from 60m. To me it is an absolute no brainer that he is moved to half forward. I don't think the coaches think the same though.

In terms of thread - it wasn't suggesting Rozee isn't best 23, but figure this thread is for discussions of playing positions and I just can't see Rozee as a midfielder being anything but a weakness for us.

I suspect that the Port hierarchy have bought into this modern idea that captains should be either prime on-ballers or key position players, hence they don't want to have their captain be a wing/HFF.

 

[pstew2dstew]

Travis Boak, the guy who could have headed home to be with his family and play for a much, much better club with a much, much better chance of winning a flag at literally any stage in his 18 year career. Very selfish guy.

Carn we compensated him fairly it wasn't a one way street.

He also had the opportunity to win the plenty of times with us, but failed. Port Adelaides failure to win a flag is just as much as Travis and his leadership too.

Do I think he is selfish? Probably not as he still fills a role even if it's player 23. But he ain't "saint" Trav of Alberton either.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

He's a two time All Australian midfielder, there's no reason why he can't be a good midfielder if he adjusts his mindset. Suggesting it's all too hard for him in the middle actually typifies the defeatist attitude of this club.

I think he's in for a big, AA type of year, in the midfield.

 

[Rash]

I think he's in for a big, AA type of year, in the midfield.

hope so, but i highly doubt it

 

[RangaInTeal]

F: Berry - Georgiades - Rioli
HF: Marshall - Lukosius - Rozee (C)
C: Burgoyne - Wines - Moraes
HB: Evans - Aliir - Farrell
B: Bergman - Zerk-Thatcher - Jones
R: Sweet - Home - Alabama
INT: Drew - Byrne-Jones - Sinn - Richards
SUB: Boak

Like this, Home = JHF, Alabama = Butters

 

[Peninsula Boy]

hope so, but i highly doubt it

Last year, he was down but had an injury ruined through the coach, first year as the captain of the team and off field life, wedding, child, jewellery endorsement. A big year for him. Before that, he cruised to two AA jumpers and hopefully with a clean bill of health, a balance of captaincy but his own game and his family life chugging along nicely, he should be back to the form that made him a household name in the AFL.

 

[MrChow]

Prioritising super speed is key in the modern game. As we have no big forward, or a competent 2nd ruck type, I like the look of this:

Get SPP in the guts a bit more. jez to add flexibility as a true utility. Perhaps we can evolve from the tagger too (no Drew).

F: Berry - Georgiades - Rioli
HF: Marshall - Lukosius - Rozee (C)
C: Burgoyne - Wines - Moraes
HB: Evans - Aliir - Farrell
B: Bergman - Zerk-Thatcher - Jones
R: Sweet - JHF - Butters
INT: SPP - Sinn - Richards - Finlayson

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Prioritising super speed is key in the modern game. As we have no big forward, or a competent 2nd ruck type, I like the look of this:

Get SPP in the guts a bit more. jez to add flexibility as a true utility. Perhaps we can evolve from the tagger too (no Drew).

F: Berry - Georgiades - Rioli
HF: Marshall - Lukosius - Rozee (C)
C: Burgoyne - Wines - Moraes
HB: Evans - Aliir - Farrell
B: Bergman - Zerk-Thatcher - Jones
R: Sweet - JHF - Butters
INT: SPP - Sinn - Richards - Finlayson

Looking good.
Speed kills.

 

[Addy23]

B: M.Bergman, B.Zerk-Thatcher, L.Jones

HB: K.Farrell, A.Aliir, L.Evans

C: T.Boak, J.Horne-Francis, J.Burgoyne

HF: D.Byrne-Jones, J.Lukosius, J.Mead

F: W.Rioli, O.Lord, M.Georgiades

FOLL: J.Sweet, Z.Butters, C.Rozee

I/C: W.Drew, O.Wines, J.Richards, T.Marshall, J.Berry

EMG: J. Sinn, J.Finlayson, E.Ratugolea

Recruits straight in, draftees to make boom debuts: Every AFL club’s predicted Round 1 side

Recruits straight in, draftees to make boom debuts: Every AFL club’s predicted Rd 1 side

www.foxsports.com.au

Mead out, SPP in

Boak out, Lorenz or Moraes in

Team makes little sense because we're playing 4 talls and have no rotation on the bench for the backline

 

[all seeing eye]

Lorenz had a solid year in a crappy side, with his lethal left, I'd expect him to get first crack before Moraes.

 

[wayb2912]

Bergman clearly wants to play midfield and in a contract year I can see him having a Fyfe-like breakout season in the midfield . I would move Ratugulea back to defence, play BZT as the 3rd defender and put Bergman in Wines position in the midfield. Wines is 30, slow, turns the ball over and has always let us down in big games. Butters, Rozee, JHF and Bergman is a premiership mix

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[PortAdelFC1997]

Bergman clearly wants to play midfield and in a contract year I can see him having a Fyfe-like breakout season in the midfield . I would move Ratugulea back to defence, play BZT as the 3rd defender and put Bergman in Wines position in the midfield. Wines is 30, slow, turns the ball over and has always let us down in big games. Butters, Rozee, JHF and Bergman is a premiership mix

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When we had Rats, BZT and Aliir all playing down back, we got exposed for lack of speed and ground ball gets as well as disposal out of defensive 50. Port cannot and should not play all three down back. Someone has to miss out and I'm leaning towards someone who does not possess the nous to play as a tall defender, let alone playing AFL. Not gonna mention his name but you know who is it.

 

[wayb2912]

When we had Rats, BZT and Aliir all playing down back, we got exposed for lack of speed and ground ball gets as well as disposal out of defensive 50. Port cannot and should not play all three down back. Someone has to miss out and I'm leaning towards someone who does not possess the nous to play as a tall defender, let alone playing AFL. Not gonna mention his name but you know who is it.

Thoughts on Bergman getting a preseason in the midfield?

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[PortAdelFC1997]

Thoughts on Bergman getting a preseason in the midfield?

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In a perfect world, Bergman has the physical attributes to play as a big-bodied midfielder but the reality is that when trialed as a wingman, he did not have as much of an impact and only when he moved down back, he impacted greatly.

Using that as a precedent, I'm not sure if Miles can be effective in the middle but Port does need another big-bodied mid with Wines not getting younger. So who knows? Still has a lot of growth in his game to add if Port can develop him properly.