Make your best 22 and then your second best 22. It should even out to our whole playing list. There will be some quality players in the second team. Pretend that all players were fit, but also look at ways to balance the team, and not just put the players in their best position. For example, I will put J. White in a forward pocket, despite being our number one ruckmen and despite being his best role. This is because we have a very capable back-up in Jolly and we need White's height up forward. Try to give explanations to your team; rotations, decisions, etc...
MELBOURNE A
Vardy ----------------- Neitz ------------------- White
Robertson ----------- Miller ------------------- Green
Armstrong ----------- Thompson ------------- Bruce
Bizzell --------------- Holland ------------- Heffernan
Whelan -------------- Nicholson -------------- Ward
Jolly ------------------ Johnstone ------------- Yze
McLean ------ Sylvia ------ Ferguson ----- McDonald
The forward line structure is a good one. Neitz is the obvious choice in the goalsquare, and next to him will be another key tall in Jeff White. This will stretch opposition defences. In the other pocket is the clever Vardy. Strong, experienced full-forward line. The half-forward line is a bit smaller, but pretty versatile and clever. Robertson and Green playing out on the flanks, with the young Miller permanently playing as the key centre half forward. Makes it easier on Green and Robertson to have a big man next to them. The defence sees Nicholson as full back, with two small guys in Whelan and Ward. Depending on match ups, they may have to swap with Bizzell on the half back line. He plays next to big centre half back Ben Holland, with the classy Chris Heffernan picking up touches and providing run on the other flank. The midfield consists of the young and tough Scotty Thompson, with our two big guns Yze and Johnstone there as well. Bruce and Armstrong take up the wings to complete the mouth-watering midfield, which also has big Darren Jolly in the ruck. Midfielders McLean, Sylvia and McDonald will be ready to add run coming off the bench, and a back-up tall in Ferguson is needed. White can rotate with Jolly, Bruce can play a number of roles, Green and Whelan could be experimented in the midfield, with Heffernan another midfield option.
MELBOURNE B
Campbell ---------------- Smith -------------- Davey
Walsh -------------------- Wheatley --------- Johnson
Reid -------------------- Rigoni ------------- Williams
Brown ------------------- Carroll -------------- Hunter
Broadbridge ------------ Lamb --------------- Rivers
Jamar -------------------- Godfrey ------------ Bell
Newman ------- Fisher ------ Carson ------ Molan
A little stretched for tall forwards, so we have bucket hands Smith in the goalsquare, with the young Campbell and excitement machine Davey next to him. Wheatley must play as a tall as the centre half forward, with walsh experimenting as a half froward flanker/crumbing forward. The versatile Chris Johnson can take the other flank. Down back, Lamb holds the key spot in the goalsquare, with tall players Broadbridge and Rivers next to him. Depending on match ups, they could swap with the running half backs Brown and Hunter. Carroll is the centre half back. Jamar will ruck to a midfield consisting of Simon Godfrey, Guy Rigoni and the young Daniel Bell. Rookies Newman, Fisher, Carson and Molan will sit on the bench. There is no real back up ruckman, although there are plenty of talls who can rotate our key positions like Smith, Lamb, Carroll, Broadbridge, Wheatley, Jamar and Molan. There are a few guys who can rotate through the midfield.
MELBOURNE A
Vardy ----------------- Neitz ------------------- White
Robertson ----------- Miller ------------------- Green
Armstrong ----------- Thompson ------------- Bruce
Bizzell --------------- Holland ------------- Heffernan
Whelan -------------- Nicholson -------------- Ward
Jolly ------------------ Johnstone ------------- Yze
McLean ------ Sylvia ------ Ferguson ----- McDonald
The forward line structure is a good one. Neitz is the obvious choice in the goalsquare, and next to him will be another key tall in Jeff White. This will stretch opposition defences. In the other pocket is the clever Vardy. Strong, experienced full-forward line. The half-forward line is a bit smaller, but pretty versatile and clever. Robertson and Green playing out on the flanks, with the young Miller permanently playing as the key centre half forward. Makes it easier on Green and Robertson to have a big man next to them. The defence sees Nicholson as full back, with two small guys in Whelan and Ward. Depending on match ups, they may have to swap with Bizzell on the half back line. He plays next to big centre half back Ben Holland, with the classy Chris Heffernan picking up touches and providing run on the other flank. The midfield consists of the young and tough Scotty Thompson, with our two big guns Yze and Johnstone there as well. Bruce and Armstrong take up the wings to complete the mouth-watering midfield, which also has big Darren Jolly in the ruck. Midfielders McLean, Sylvia and McDonald will be ready to add run coming off the bench, and a back-up tall in Ferguson is needed. White can rotate with Jolly, Bruce can play a number of roles, Green and Whelan could be experimented in the midfield, with Heffernan another midfield option.
MELBOURNE B
Campbell ---------------- Smith -------------- Davey
Walsh -------------------- Wheatley --------- Johnson
Reid -------------------- Rigoni ------------- Williams
Brown ------------------- Carroll -------------- Hunter
Broadbridge ------------ Lamb --------------- Rivers
Jamar -------------------- Godfrey ------------ Bell
Newman ------- Fisher ------ Carson ------ Molan
A little stretched for tall forwards, so we have bucket hands Smith in the goalsquare, with the young Campbell and excitement machine Davey next to him. Wheatley must play as a tall as the centre half forward, with walsh experimenting as a half froward flanker/crumbing forward. The versatile Chris Johnson can take the other flank. Down back, Lamb holds the key spot in the goalsquare, with tall players Broadbridge and Rivers next to him. Depending on match ups, they could swap with the running half backs Brown and Hunter. Carroll is the centre half back. Jamar will ruck to a midfield consisting of Simon Godfrey, Guy Rigoni and the young Daniel Bell. Rookies Newman, Fisher, Carson and Molan will sit on the bench. There is no real back up ruckman, although there are plenty of talls who can rotate our key positions like Smith, Lamb, Carroll, Broadbridge, Wheatley, Jamar and Molan. There are a few guys who can rotate through the midfield.
