Your best 22 heading into finals???

[Cyrilyouchampion]

B: Collins Langford Ayres
HB: Kennedy Mew Knights
C: Pritchard Crawford DiPierdomenico
HF: Buckenara Brereton Franklin
F: Matthews Dunstall Hudson
R: Scott Tuck Platten
I/C: Hodge Roughead Mitchell Rioli


Have to bring a few out of retirement, but we'd be guaranteed a flag!

 

[2008wasgreat]

B: Guerra, Lake, Stratton

HB: Birchall, Gibson, Hodge

C: Hill, Mitchell, Smith

HF: Burgoyne, Franklin, Rioli

F: Breust, Roughead, Puopolo

R: Bailey, Lewis, Sewell

INT: Savage, Hale, Whitecross, Duryea

EMG: Osborne, Simpkin, Spangher

I so hope this team is there, we win the flag if these are all fit!!!!

 

[2008wasgreat]

B: Collins Langford Ayres
HB: Kennedy Mew Knights
C: Pritchard Crawford DiPierdomenico
HF: Buckenara Brereton Franklin
F: Matthews Dunstall Hudson
R: Scott Tuck Platten
I/C: Hodge Roughead Mitchell Rioli


Have to bring a few out of retirement, but we'd be guaranteed a flag!

gee that would be unbeatable, great list of names..

 

[2008wasgreat]

I think we're a better team with Lewis as our tagger and not using Shiels. Lewis offers more offensively I think. I'd like to keep Savage in the side for that extra bit of pace.

Agree....shiels time will come...

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Shiels is best 22.

 

[2008wasgreat]

Shiels is best 22.

Borderline for me...but it's a good prob to have...

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Borderline for me...but it's a good prob to have...

I'd be amazed if the match selection committee shared that view.

 

[dipper86]

I'd be amazed if the match selection committee shared that view.

He's a genuine run with player. He's a must.

 

[Taskmaster]

Good thread, but even earlier than finals, who do you drop for Silk and Burch?? And could you imagine if Suckers and Shoe were fit. Headaches for the coaching group, good ones I might add. But some very very unlucky blokes that would miss out.

Very bright future for the HFC.

But I think Duryea might be one of the unlucky ones. He has been super, but I dont know. Sav and Simo deserve their spot and Sheils is a 50/50. There will be some major headaches come finals time. But really good to be healthy this time of the season.

 

[La Vache]

B: Stratton - Lake - Duryea
HB: Mitchell - Gibson - Hodge

Very happy with our backline and the understanding they have developed. Duryea's great cameo as a sub adds another string to his bow. Guerra, Birchall and Whitecross can all go back there as well.

C: Birchall - Lewis - Smith
R: Bailey - Sewell - Rioli

Optimistic I know given Cyril's injuries but we look flat out dangerous with him at the centre bounce. Would like to see him start in there and get him involved immediately. Birchall further up the ground is interesting but our defense is settled I think and Birchall is still a big upgrade on Hill as a winger.

HF: Gunston - Roughead - Breust
F: Hale - Franklin - Savage

I: Whitecross, Puopolo, Shiels, Burgoyne

 

[pacman]

Guerra showed why we are persisting with him last night. Excellent game.

probably his best game this year didn't go to ground at all and backed his exquisite skills.

 

[pacman]

B: Collins Langford Ayres
HB: Kennedy Mew Knights
C: Pritchard Crawford DiPierdomenico
HF: Buckenara Brereton Franklin
F: Matthews Dunstall Hudson
R: Scott Tuck Platten
I/C: Hodge Roughead Mitchell Rioli


Have to bring a few out of retirement, but we'd be guaranteed a flag!

fair bench!

 

[MC_9]

FB: Stratton - Lake - Guerra
HB: Birchall - Gibson - Whitecross

R: Bailey - Hodge - Sewell
C: Burgoyne - Mitchell - Hill

HF: Rioli - Franklin - Lewis
FF: Bruest - Roughead - Guston

INT: Smith - Savage - Hale
SUB: Puopulo

EMG: Duryea - Shiels - Simpkin

Very hard leaving those three out of the team. I think Savage is the most likely to lose his spot, but he is in some great form at the moment. Also not sure about Puopulo as the Sub, but had no idea who to put there.

 

[Yuley95]

Stratton Lake Guerra/Duryea
Birchall Gibson WX/Burgoyne/Duryea
Smith Mitchell Hill
Rioli Buddy Breust
Gunston Roughy Puopolo
Bailey Lewis Hodge
Int: Hale/Grimley, Sewell/Shiels, Savage Int: Simpkin

Decisions we need to make:

1. 1 or 2 dedicated small defenders - I assume guerra will be picked ahead of duryea but then decision is whether we play another dedicated small defender (duryea) or a midfielder (WX, burgoyne etc). Given the amount of time mitch has spent at HB and also hodge, with birchall back in the side we'll prob look to play an extra mid. I have concerns of hodge and burgoyne getting exposed down back in finals (geelong played through hodges man a lot and we know how burgoyne did in the GF).

2. Midfield balance - can shiels and sewell play in the same side? I can't see mitch hodge and lewis falling out of the side (especially the first 2) so we're already a bit slow. I think Shiels is our no 1 tagger which I think we'll need vs the swans - so on that logic sewell falls out. I think savage needs to play (if he can keep up his current form) as we look a lot more dangerous side with him, smith, hill and rioli running hard through the middle.

Do we give WX more time to regain top form? I think we will - even if his offensive side isn't fully back he's a very disciplined defender and tackler and a very hard runner. I actually struggle to fit burgyone into the side - with mitch spending time at half back and also hodge there's not a heap of room for him to play a a hbf and burst midfielder. I think simpkin will be the sub - he's been our most effective sub since breust.

3. Do we take a risk on Grimley? - Hale gets exposed on the rebound and Grimley has shown a knack of hitting the scoreboard.

4. Does puopolo have the class to be effective in finals? His performances so far in finals have been underwhelming - but he's currently in great form.

I think the bolded part is a really key point. Midfield depth is paramount these days but you can't risk gaining that depth to the detriment of your defensive stocks. I've been interested to see Goo pop up at a few centre clearances recently and been pleasantly surprised by his effectiveness.

Duryea came on as sub on Friday night and played further up the ground in more of an outside runner role which shows that we could consider playing both with stints through the midfield - rotating with the likes of Mitch and Burgoyne.

On Puopolo - he was scratchy in last year's finals series but played couple of very handy games in 2011. He is in good form and they seem to have managed his load better this year. Still a few rounds to go but seems better placed for a good finals series.

 

[onthemoney]

I think the bolded part is a really key point. Midfield depth is paramount these days but you can't risk gaining that depth to the detriment of your defensive stocks. I've been interested to see Goo pop up at a few centre clearances recently and been pleasantly surprised by his effectiveness.

Duryea came on as sub on Friday night and played further up the ground in more of an outside runner role which shows that we could consider playing both with stints through the midfield - rotating with the likes of Mitch and Burgoyne.

On Puopolo - he was scratchy in last year's finals series but played couple of very handy games in 2011. He is in good form and they seem to have managed his load better this year. Still a few rounds to go but seems better placed for a good finals series.

You alluded to it in your post, but I reckon Puopolo just ran out of legs last year come finals time.

I really am struggling to try and do a best 22. 26 does not go into 22.

I do anticipate we'll see Rioli in the guts or on a wing for fair chunks of game come finals time. If we can bottle his Friday night performance and unleash it in September I'll be most pleased.

 

[Flukey!]

B: Guerra, Lake, Stratton

HB: Birchall, Gibson, Hodge

C: Hill, Mitchell, Smith

HF: Burgoyne, Franklin, Rioli

F: Breust, Roughead, Puopolo

R: Bailey, Lewis, Sewell

INT: Savage, Hale, Whitecross, Duryea

EMG: Osborne, Simpkin, Spangher

Why did you leave Gunston out?

 

[checkraiseulite]

side in the OP is way too slow.

we would get killed having a starting midfield of mitchell, burgoyne and sewell.

sewell, as good a servant as he has been, has become replaceable. he is slow and, as we've seen time and time again against geelong, booting the ball indiscriminately plays right into their hands.

 

[HomerJayS]

B: Collins Langford Ayres
HB: Kennedy Mew Knights
C: Pritchard Crawford DiPierdomenico
HF: Buckenara Brereton Franklin
F: Matthews Dunstall Hudson
R: Scott Tuck Platten
I/C: Hodge Roughead Mitchell Rioli


Have to bring a few out of retirement, but we'd be guaranteed a flag!

I guarantee that team would be flogged! You mean if you had a time machine, not if they came out of retirement. They'd be a hundred kilos over the limit now I reckon.

 

[ACTion Hawks]

okay, here is my go (based on all being in reasonable form and fitness)

FB: Guerra Lake Stratton (all good markers and solid defenders/rebounders)

HB: Hodge/Mitchell (alternating with centre) Gibson Birchall

C: Lewis Mitchell/Hodge Smith

HF: Puopolo Franklin Rioli

FF: Breust Roughead Gunston

RR: Bailey Sewell Burgers

Int: Hale Hill Savage

Sub: Simpkin (best performed sub we have - comes on and immediately injects himself into the game)

The ones I think just miss out are:

Duryea - just misses out the Guerra. Could do the job, but I am just concerned that he still makes that error or two a match that can be so costly in the Finals. His time will come.
Whitecross - I want to pick him, but think that Simpkin is better as a sub and Savage adds pace that we need. i would not be disappointed if the selectors went the other way though and may be persuaded otherwise if his form peaks over the remaining rounds.
Shiels - I cannot see him and Sewell in the same team - too much indiscriminate kicking. Could see him replace Sewell (although only if Sewell's form drops again).

I like the fact that this team has a number of speedsters that can rotate in or around the middle in Smith, Hill, Puopolo, Rioli AND has plenty of grunt in the middle with Lewis/Mitch/Hodge/Roughead/Sewell/Burgers.

I think I am sold on the three big guys argument, especially as Roughy has shown he benefits from stints in the middle and that means we are generally not too top-heavy up front (also good that Buddy and Gunston are both very athletic).

I reckon this team would go all the way. Let's see it happen!

 

[Hodge is God]

B: Guerra Lake Stratton
HB: Birchall Gibson Hodge
C: Smith Mitchell Hill
HF: Gunston Roughead Breust
F: Puopolo Buddy Rioli
R: Bailey Lewis Burgyone
Int: Anderson Hale Savage
S: Simpkin

Emegency: Duryea Whitecross Sewell

 

[macdaddio]

B: Guerra Lake Stratton
HB: Birchall Gibson Hodge
C: Smith Mitchell Hill
HF: Gunston Roughead Breust
F: Puopolo Buddy Rioli
R: Bailey Lewis Burgyone
Int: Anderson Hale Savage
S: Simpkin

Emegency: Duryea Whitecross Sewell

I would probably have Whitex and Duryea ahead if Guerra at the moment.
Sheils has to be there somewhere too..
Gee how are we going to fit all these guys on our final 22??

 

[macdaddio]

B: Guerra Lake Stratton
HB: Birchall Gibson Hodge
C: Smith Mitchell Hill
HF: Gunston Roughead Breust
F: Puopolo Buddy Rioli
R: Bailey Lewis Burgyone
Int: Anderson Hale Savage
S: Simpkin

Emegency: Duryea Whitecross Sewell

I would probably have Whitex and Duryea ahead if Guerra at the moment.
Sheils has to be there somewhere too..
Gee how are we going to fit all these guys on our final 22??

 

[walhawk]

Players with question marks at some stage this season - Savage, Sewell, Hill, Simpkin, Guerra, Duryea, Pup, Shiels & Whitecross.
Only Sav, Hill, Pup & Simpkin have taken their opportunities.
We need to get Ando in there. A rare combo of speed, mongrel & goals.

 

[Thaihawk]

I guarantee that team would be flogged! You mean if you had a time machine, not if they came out of retirement. They'd be a hundred kilos over the limit now I reckon.

Aren't there drugs to address the overweight problem?

 

[dipper86]

B: Guerra, Lake, Stratton

HB: Birchall, Gibson, Hodge

C: Anderson, Mitchell, Smith

HF: Burgoyne, Franklin, Rioli

F: Breust, Roughead, Puopolo

R: Bailey, Lewis, Shiels

INT: Savage, Hale, Simpkin, Gunston

EMG: Osborne, Hill, Spangher


Outs and Ins from current line up.

OUT:
Duryea- with Birchall returning its out of Goo and Duryea for the last spot... Goo gets the nod because he has anger issues and is more experienced
Whitey: Whitey may be more talented but Simpkin is a ball magnet, gets in the right spots. The more the ball that is in our hands the less chance our opposition can exploit our weaknesses....he has to play.
Hil - you cannot carry a player that refuses to tackle chase or put his body on the line for our football club.
Sewell: lost a yard, cant tag, can't find the ball at the stoppages or around the ground.

IN:
Birchall - obvious.
Simpkin
Anderson- can also play true midfield, inside outside, good pace hard at the ball/man.
Shiels - genuine run with player with pace, skills are worry, banished of kicking the ball inside 50..... Lewis then concentrates on the grunt inside ball work--takes Sewell's role.