List Mgmt. Round 1, 2015 Full strength team

[iBeng]

Interesting ongoing article they are doing on the Lions site:

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2015-03-26/my-best-22-defenders

Fan based Best 22, their defense so far does NOT include Rich or Beams:

B Gardiner Merrett Lester

HB Cutler Clarke Adcock

 

[CarloLion]

7 days til we know the round 1 team!!

 

[blynd_freddie]

7 days til we know the round 1 team!!

Thanks for the opportunity for cross promotion... QUIZ/COMP, get your team and other answers in NOW!

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/2015-lions-bigfooty-quiz.1086579/

 

[jackess]

7 days til we know the round 1 team!!

I'm preparing an epic meltdown for when Robbo is selected ahead of Mayes.

 

[a mayes ing]

Well it says that Aish has decided to delay contract until after the pre-season NAB challenge. Hasn't the pre-season challenge finished?

 

[winged1]

Well it says that Aish has decided to delay contract until after the pre-season NAB challenge. Hasn't the pre-season challenge finished?

No he said the POST-season NAB challenge. That is the club who can nab him for the most money.

That is in Adelaide, because he is royalty down there.

 

[Prochard123]

So rock might play 65% mid 25% forward and 10% bench this season heh?

 

[winged1]

So rock might play 65% mid 25% forward and 10% bench this season heh?

Are you sure you are a collingwood supporter? That actually adds up to 100%.

 

[Milux]

Cant wait for rocky to get his 2 goals a game and 25-28 touches.

 

[Ironmonger]

From the media alert thread:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-27/season-preview-lions

Michael Whiting's best 22

B: Darcy Gardiner, Daniel Merrett, Ryan Lester
HB: Daniel Rich, Justin Clarke, Claye Beams
C: Jed Adcock, Dayne Beams, Pearce Hanley
HF: Allen Christensen, Michael Close, Lewy Taylor
F: Josh Green, Dan McStay, Stefan Martin
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Tom Rockliff, Dayne Zorko
I/C: James Aish, Jack Redden, Mitch Robinson
Sub: Rohan Bewick

Our NAB Challenge selections have made picking our first 22 pretty straightforward, really. It's probably just a matter of picking between Paparone, Mayes and Robinson.

On that, I think Mayes is still first 22, he's just battling with some stuff in the pre-season. He might miss the first couple of rounds and be back in the team pretty soon.

How will Dayne Beams cope with being tagged every week?

I don't reckon you'd tag Beams. The best thing to do is run someone head to head with him, like we did with Zorko. I reckon in round one the Pies might try someone like Blair as an opponent.

Totally agree with Whiting's point about the Richmond game in round 3. I really really really want to win that game.

 

[iBeng]

He doesnt rate Paparone then...

 

[jackess]

Our NAB Challenge selections have made picking our first 22 pretty straightforward, really. It's probably just a matter of picking between Paparone, Mayes and Robinson.

I'd add Lester. Probably Lester vs Paparone and Robinson vs Mayes.

 

[jjami15]

Paparone over Lester for me. He adds that point of difference.

 

[Mavlions1961]

Well it was around this time last year, the week before Round 1 that we started getting hints that Lewy Taylor might be getting a start in the opener without any pre-season games under his belt, we all know what happened next.

Lets hope he and all our other second year players don't get the 2nd year blues, if they all continue on with the same determination they did last year it really does auger well for the Lions.

This time next week we will all be wondering good selection/bad selection/why that selection or wow that's a surprise.

I have complete faith in Leppa and believe he will be making the right choices for Round 1, he instilled that in me last year with his selections each week.

Only 8 days to go.....GO LIONS!!!!

 

[whatboutbob]

I'd be sorely tempted to name McGrath as sub. He'd sure add some energy...

 

[POBT]

He doesnt rate Paparone then...

I dunno. He can only name 22 players and I think Paparone is the very definition of "fringe" best 22.

Bewick as sub is interesting. With the sub role often rotated, I assume the player named as sub by experts is just the 22nd player in the side. I have Bewick a bit more advanced than that. He might get the subs vest occasionally but I have him more secure in the best 22 than someone like Robinson.

 

[POBT]

I'd be sorely tempted to name McGrath as sub. He'd sure add some energy...

I'm not 100% convinced he's quite ready. It seems like a risk to take when you could put a more experienced player into the 22.

 

[James North]

Classic POBT.

 

[Kevvo]

I dunno. He can only name 22 players and I think Paparone is the very definition of "fringe" best 22.

Bewick as sub is interesting. With the sub role often rotated, I assume the player named as sub by experts is just the 22nd player in the side. I have Bewick a bit more advanced than that. He might get the subs vest occasionally but I have him more secure in the best 22 than someone like Robinson.

I agree with this, and I think it raises the (to me) interesting question of whether Mitch might be well suited to a sub role. For all the shortcomings in his game, he is reliably energetic and intense, and could put a good amount of pressure on tiring defences in the fourth quarter.

 

[iBeng]

I dunno. He can only name 22 players and I think Paparone is the very definition of "fringe" best 22.

Bewick as sub is interesting. With the sub role often rotated, I assume the player named as sub by experts is just the 22nd player in the side. I have Bewick a bit more advanced than that. He might get the subs vest occasionally but I have him more secure in the best 22 than someone like Robinson.

Does that make Mayes fringe 22 as well?

 

[POBT]

Does that make Mayes fringe 22 as well?

Yes...

 

[iBeng]

Yes...

It's a bit concerning, given we were confident when we drafted him that he'd be a best 22 by now...if he doesn't get in round 1 he'd best pull his finger out.

 

[Milux]

It's a bit concerning, given we were confident when we drafted him that he'd be a best 22 by now...if he doesn't get in round 1 he'd best pull his finger out.

Still only young. And if we didn't recruit Christenson and beams then yeah would more than likely be best 22. He Is a natural footballer so it won't take long for him to build confidence and form.

 

[notliondown]

Does that make Mayes fringe 22 as well?

I think Mayes spending time down back last year probably has had the opposite effect that Leppa was looking for for me... a bit like Rog in reverse. Instead of that time being about improving his defensive skills (which it probably has) it seems to have dulled his natural game style and maybe even shaken his confidence - hence the reference to Rog.

I still rate Mayes. But I think hes an instinctive player - which may or may not suit Leppas plans, and the evolution of the "mozzies" as that style of playing group may have made it harder for Mayes to stand out.

This year will either see him shine or stagnate I think. And if its the later it's almost an unthinkable scenario only 12 months ago...

 

[POBT]

It's a bit concerning, given we were confident when we drafted him that he'd be a best 22 by now...if he doesn't get in round 1 he'd best pull his finger out.

It wouldn't be surprising to me if he plays round 1 but it doesn't change the fact that he's on the fringe of the best side. There are at least 18 guys whose spot is currently more assured than Mayes and another 5 or 6 who probably think their claims for a spot are at least the equal of Mayes. That puts him on the edge of selection.

If you have a strong, fit group, decent players are going to be fighting for their spot. Once you take out the specialist roles like KPPs and rucks, there are only so many spots available.

He'll be fine, btw. He's got too much going for him not to return to form. But maybe he'll have a couple of trips back to the reserves while he works things out.