Prediction 2025 - Best 23 + Emergencies - Rolling

[goreds]

Let's have another go, with my current list of information from various sources: Speed(burst), kicking both important...

B: Cowan Weitering McGovern

HB: Saad Haynes Docherty

C: Acres Cripps Smith

HF: Motlop Curnow E.Hollands

F: Williams McKay Moir

R: De Koning Cerra Walsh

I/C: Hewett Silvagni Boyd Fantasia

S: O.Hollands/Kemp

 

[gbatman]

From some of the training reports I am hearing we may look like this:

Cowan Weitering McGovern
Saad Haynes O Hollands
Acres Cripps Binns
Williams Curnow Smith
Kemp McKay Motlop
DeKoning Cerra Walsh
Docherty Lord/Hewett E Hollands Moir
Fantasia

Sounds like Docherty could be playing half back and Smith half forward/centre.

I would think E Hollands will play half forward and midfield as well.

Docherty is probably going to play in defence but also spend time on the wing or on the ball. E Hollands will probably spend time on the wing and in the middle as well.

I've heard it's close between Lord and Hewett.

Williams I have heard is going well at half forward but I expect half forwards and forward pockets to rotate so they all get time up the ground and resting deep.

I think O Hollands will rotate with the wings at times.

I didn't have Binns in my best 22 but if Docherty is playing back, Hollands playing back and Smith is playing forward/onball then he is the obvious choice for wing IMO. If not then Docherty is still playing wing and resting in defence and another defender comes in like Boyd or Wilson.

Another one to bring up is what happens if Lemmy actually explodes this year? Would you consider moving McKay to CHB considering he would probably be an AA level CHB? Depends how good Lemmy is. Chances of this happening are low but not 0 and need to be considered if we thing that an elite CHB is what stands between us and winning a premiership should Haynes and Silvagni not work out.

Selection is going to be pretty competitive.

 

[Kernafides]

I can't see a world where Lemmy suddenly dislodges a Coleman medallist to the backline....it'd take monumental improvement from Lemmy based on what I've seen to date

 

[CJMB]

I can't see a world where Lemmy suddenly dislodges a Coleman medallist to the backline....it'd take monumental improvement from Lemmy based on what I've seen to date

I imagine he'd have a much greater chance of moving back himself, rather than 'forcing' McKay back.

 

[Zlatan]

From some of the training reports I am hearing we may look like this:

Cowan Weitering McGovern
Saad Haynes O Hollands
Acres Cripps Binns
Williams Curnow Smith
Kemp McKay Motlop
DeKoning Cerra Walsh
Docherty Lord/Hewett E Hollands Moir
Fantasia

Sounds like Docherty could be playing half back and Smith half forward/centre.

I would think E Hollands will play half forward and midfield as well.

Docherty is probably going to play in defence but also spend time on the wing or on the ball. E Hollands will probably spend time on the wing and in the middle as well.

I've heard it's close between Lord and Hewett.

Williams I have heard is going well at half forward but I expect half forwards and forward pockets to rotate so they all get time up the ground and resting deep.

I think O Hollands will rotate with the wings at times.

I didn't have Binns in my best 22 but if Docherty is playing back, Hollands playing back and Smith is playing forward/onball then he is the obvious choice for wing IMO. If not then Docherty is still playing wing and resting in defence and another defender comes in like Boyd or Wilson.

Another one to bring up is what happens if Lemmy actually explodes this year? Would you consider moving McKay to CHB considering he would probably be an AA level CHB? Depends how good Lemmy is. Chances of this happening are low but not 0 and need to be considered if we thing that an elite CHB is what stands between us and winning a premiership should Haynes and Silvagni not work out.

Selection is going to be pretty competitive.

Interesting experiments in the name of improving our ball movement from halfback to midfield/half forward. We fell off to an extreme degree in this area in the second half of last season, so I’m all for O.Hollands experimenting at half back as a ball distributor, and keen to see how much better we can spread with Smith and Lord in the middle.

Also, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty, Durdin etc need to be fit enough to work up and down the ground to provide chain options. Fitness alone should rule players out if they can’t hold their own in the gameplan.

 

[gbatman]

Interesting experiments in the name of improving our ball movement from halfback to midfield/half forward. We fell off to an extreme degree in this area in the second half of last season, so I’m all for O.Hollands experimenting at half back as a ball distributor, and keen to see how much better we can spread with Smith and Lord in the middle.

Also, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty, Durdin etc need to be fit enough to work up and down the ground to provide chain options. Fitness alone should rule players out if they can’t hold their own in the gameplan.

Definitely. Hollands finished the last season in defence and I am glad, the first season I saw him I thought he looked a natural defender. His wing experience and strong running also makes him an ideal option. Has apparently been good in training too so looking forward to seeing him in defence.

Smith and Lord will bring so much to the team. Speed, two way running and being quality footballers. Smith playing forward will be just ideal. Lord has excellent pressure qualities we need and don't get from the others.

Problem with our forwards in general is yes they can run up and back but they don't read the game and see the openings so they don't get the ball and that's where our ball movement breaks down. It's one of the things which impressed me about Moir, he just kept getting the ball at half forward through skill and really good positioning. He just instantly drew the ball and read the game better than guys like Cottrell and Fogarty who aren't genuine forwards with that special ability to read the game as a forward.

Footy smarts, more so forward smarts are a missing piece for us. This will be our next step going forward.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Cowan, Haynes, Weitering
Saad, McGovern, Smith
Hollands, Cripps, Acres
Williams, McKay, Motlop
JSOS, Charlie, Fogarty
TDK, Walsh, Cerra
Int - Hollands, Kemp, Hewett, Boyd
Sub - Doch

Backs - Would like to see Weiters play the floating intercept role rather than locking down the oppos best back. Jagga across half back in his first year when we already have a stacked midfield just makes sense, worked with Daicos and Sheezel recently.
Mids - We are pretty stacked when they are all fit, give us the selection dilemma please.
Fwds - Fog has been pivitol, would love to see Moir take ownership over a spot in the team but need to see more evidence.
Sub - Would love to see Doch used as a tactical sub, can play anywhere and impact immediately

 

[goreds]

Interesting experiments in the name of improving our ball movement from halfback to midfield/half forward. We fell off to an extreme degree in this area in the second half of last season, so I’m all for O.Hollands experimenting at half back as a ball distributor, and keen to see how much better we can spread with Smith and Lord in the middle.

Also, Williams, Motlop, Fogarty, Durdin etc need to be fit enough to work up and down the ground to provide chain options. Fitness alone should rule players out if they can’t hold their own in the gameplan.

This concerns me...

This position almost needs to be your best kicker...

With Saad as our line breaker, the other HB MUST be elite by foot.

 

[Zlatan]

This concerns me...

This position almost needs to be your best kicker...

With Saad as our line breaker, the other HB MUST be elite by foot.

I’m sure he’ll get a good block to prove himself in that position and if it doesn’t work they’ll switch him out.

Admittedly I’m just happy to see they’re trying something new to resolve the half back run/release issue.

 

[goreds]

I’m sure he’ll get a good block to prove himself in that position and if it doesn’t work they’ll switch him out.

Admittedly I’m just happy to see they’re trying something new to resolve the half back run/release issue.

Doc is a walk up for that position. Elite by foot and SMART...

 

[Love the Drake]

Love this time of year. The next three weeks is going to tell us a lot about the make up of our team. So much competition for spots.

Cowan, Weiters, Gov
Saad, Haynes, Ollie
Doc, Cripps, Acres
Williams, McKay, Motlop
Kemp, Charlie, Fogarty
TDK, Walsh, JAGGA
Int - E.Hollands, Cerra, Hewett, JSOS
Sub - Fantasia

Ollie will start the season in the backline. Has trained there all pre season and we desperately need his run.
Doc will start on the wing and plug holes where needed.
I have Kemp just ahead of Moir, but wouldn’t be surprised if they go with Moir - preseason matches could decide.
Jagga plays.
JSOS is the perfect player for the bench. Again, depending on preseason form, could be Boyd, Lord, Cotts, Binns.
Fantasia controversial as sub. But fully fit and tearing it up on the track; his skills and speed are ideal for a sub and the impact needed. Again, will come down to what Vossy wants.

 

[ianh]

Doc is a walk up for that position. Elite by foot and SMART...

This concerns me...

This position almost needs to be your best kicker...

With Saad as our line breaker, the other HB MUST be elite by foot.

Boyd is the other big option for that role, when in touch his kicking is sublime.

 

[Red_man2008]

Im going again for the third time since we started a new year.

FB: Cowan Haynes Saad
HB: OHollands Weitering Silvagni
C: Acres Cripps Binns
HF: Fogarty McKay EHollands
FF: Motlop Curnow Williams
R: TDK Cerra Walsh
I: Smith Fantasia Docherty McGovern
S: Hewett/Cotterell/Kemp/Boyd/Lord/Durdin

Some talented players are going to miss out

 

[Juice030103]

Smith starts on the field people!

 

[Love the Drake]

Smith starts on the field people!

I like it!

Will edit my team.

2025 Starting centre bounce of TDK, Cripps, Walsh and Jagga.

Cerra to start on the bench.

 

[The Bighouse]

This concerns me...

This position almost needs to be your best kicker...

With Saad as our line breaker, the other HB MUST be elite by foot.

TBF, OH has laced out some exceptional kicks, so he has the capability. Just needs to hit it more consistently (and watch out for the smotherer).

 

[The Bighouse]

I like it!

Will edit my team.

2025 Starting centre bounce of TDK, Cripps, Walsh and Jagga.

Cerra to start on the bench.

Cerra starts too. They all start!!

 

[The Bighouse]

Doc is a walk up for that position. Elite by foot and SMART...

Unfort don’t think Doc can be classed as elite by foot. More steady.
Was prone to the bomb & out on the full too often.

 

[JustOneTime]

JSoS starting to get more traction on starting. good to see.

 

[CJMB]

Doc is a walk up for that position. Elite by foot and SMART...

He did say on the podcast yesterday (?) that at this stage he was still more likely to play the same wing role with spurts inside, maybe some stints on a flank at either end, and that if he went to halfback as his main position “something had gone wrong” (or words to that effect)

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Im going again for the third time since we started a new year.

FB: Cowan Haynes Saad
HB: OHollands Weitering Silvagni
C: Acres Cripps Binns
HF: Fogarty McKay EHollands
FF: Motlop Curnow Williams
R: TDK Cripps Walsh
I: Smith Cerra Docherty McGovern
S: Hewett/Cotterell/Fantasia/Kemp/Boyd/Lord/Durdin

Some talented players are going to miss out

Especially with 2x Cripps in the team

 

[GoBlues!]

Love this time of year. The next three weeks is going to tell us a lot about the make up of our team. So much competition for spots.

Cowan, Weiters, Gov
Saad, Haynes, Ollie
Doc, Cripps, Acres
Williams, McKay, Motlop
Kemp, Charlie, Fogarty
TDK, Walsh, JAGGA
Int - E.Hollands, Cerra, Hewett, JSOS
Sub - Fantasia

Ollie will start the season in the backline. Has trained there all pre season and we desperately need his run.
Doc will start on the wing and plug holes where needed.
I have Kemp just ahead of Moir, but wouldn’t be surprised if they go with Moir - preseason matches could decide.
Jagga plays.
JSOS is the perfect player for the bench. Again, depending on preseason form, could be Boyd, Lord, Cotts, Binns.
Fantasia controversial as sub. But fully fit and tearing it up on the track; his skills and speed are ideal for a sub and the impact needed. Again, will come down to what Vossy wants.

I think Kemp in the team will offer more flexibility than a few others. I’d like to see developed as a third forward target as his primary role, but he would a handy backup if we get an injury in the backline.

 

[gbatman]

I think Kemp in the team will offer more flexibility than a few others. I’d like to see developed as a third forward target as his primary role, but he would a handy backup if we get an injury in the backline.

0 chance we go in without a third tall/tallish marking player. Kemp will be there and I think there is a good chance Moir will as well. Both who are strong in the air. Teams who have a group of forwards who are mostly strong in the air are really hard to defend against. Brisbane and Collingwood are a bit like that in their premiership years, particularly the Lions. I'd like to see us improve in this area.

Kemps strong overhead and fairly tall but also quick and nimble so not out of the contest with the ball on the ground and able to contribute defensively well. As opposed to using a ruckman as a third tall which is something I see as outdated.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Going off reports we could be looking like this?

Lachie Cowan - Jacob Weitering - Nick Haynes
Ollie Hollands - Mitch McGovern - Adam Saad
Blake Acres - Patrick Cripps - Sam Docherty
Orazio Fantasia - Harry McKay - Lachie Fogarty
Jesse Motlop - Charlie Curnow - Zac Williams
Tom De Koning - Adam Cerra - Sam Walsh

Jagga Smith - Elijah Hollands - George Hewett - Jordan Boyd

Matt Cottrell


If Cow, Ollie and Mots are truly ready to take the next step like is being reported we'll be in for a very good year.

Very interested to see if Orazio's recaptured form will last. He was a weapon at Essendon when he could stay fit. Same with Kempy in that 3rd tall role. A wait and see for me.

 

[marcmurphy3]

I reckon we'll go with one of Kemp or Moir but not both. Suspect it'll be Kemp.

Also, leaning towards SOS replacing Newman and Gov playing smaller (SOS CHB, Haynes 3rd tall). Boyd struggling, Docherty up the ground and Wilson probably not best 23 suggests its a real possibility.

I wonder Binns gets a spot. Sounds like hes been playing in the stronger team but does he get bumped for Doch once the proper stuff starts?