Preview 2026 Best 23 Discussion

[eastfreo75]

McVee and getting rid of sub will dramatically change the structure of the best 23.

The Three talls and 2 ruck combo has issues with mobility and extra bench will increase bench time. You could have 4 players on field and 1 on the bench.

McVee replaces one role as a small/medium defenders. Walker, Simpson, Worner and Banfield competing for one spot. I would suggest that one or two be moved to another role.

The extra bench we could another midfielder and rotate players through the forward line. Flat side wing role we are extremely weak in.

Dudley fitness is a concern but with the extra bench he could play 60% game time. Another preseason to work on his endurance and playing 60% he won’t be a liability defensively.

My structure would be:
7 Defenders - Cox, Pearce, Chapman, Ryan, Clark, McVee and Walker. 1 Bench Spot 86% game time.

5 Talls - Darcy, Jackson, Amiss, Tracey and Voss. 1 Bench Spot 80% game time.

11 Midfielders/Forwards - Serong, Young, Brayshaw, Johnson, Erasmus, Switta, Bolton, Frederick, Reid, Wags, Dudley. 3 Bench spots 72% game time.

Young, Bolton, Switta and Reid rotate forward and in the midfield.

Reserves
Defenders - Draper, McDonald, Worner, Simpson, Banfield
Midfielders/Forwards - Banfield, Worner, NOD, Sharp, Sturt
Talls - McDonald, Draper

 

[King Huskii]

BANNERS

If he is best 22 next year we are going backwards

 

[Barnabus]

If he is best 22 next year we are going backwards

Banfield is the reason the AFL extended the bench for next year. To ensure we play him each week.

 

[King Huskii]

Banfield is the reason the AFL extended the bench for next year. To ensure we play him each week.

The curse of the pearls

 

[Spirit Level]

FF: Voss Amiss Switta
HF: Reid Treacy Bolton
C: Brayshaw Jackson Wags
HB: Simpson Cox Clark
FB: Ryan Pearce Chappy

R: Darcy Serong Young

I: Ras Johnson NOD Sweid Frederick

 

[_007_]

FF: Voss Amiss Switta
HF: Reid Treacy Bolton
C: Brayshaw Jackson Wags
HB: Simpson Cox Clark
FB: Ryan Pearce Chappy

R: Darcy Serong Young

I: Ras Johnson NOD Sweid Frederick

McVee

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

FF: Voss Amiss Switta
HF: Reid Treacy Bolton
C: Brayshaw Jackson Wags
HB: Simpson Cox Clark
FB: Ryan Pearce Chappy

R: Darcy Serong Young

I: Ras Johnson NOD Sweid Frederick

It wouldn't be a massive surprise if Sweld played early. Id have Mcvee over NOD though.

 

[Spirit Level]

It wouldn't be a massive surprise if Sweld played early. Id have Mcvee over NOD though.

Yeah I copied that from the OP which was done before trade period, my bad

 

[Joose]

Swied wont play round 1 I would think. Not if Switta and Dudley are fit.

Hopefully he will get a shot later in the year. I like the cut of his jib - seems to be dedicated, determined and genuinely appreciative of the opportunity. Though his speed is decent , seems to have good acceleration.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Swied wont play round 1 I would think. Not if Switta and Dudley are fit.

Hopefully he will get a shot later in the year. I like the cut of his jib - seems to be dedicated, determined and genuinely appreciative of the opportunity. Though his speed is decent , seems to have good acceleration.

Plenty of people said Reid wouldn't play early a year ago. Honestly can't wait to see what Sweid can do with a preseason under his belt.

 

[pK75]

Plenty of people said Reid wouldn't play early a year ago. Honestly can't wait to see what Sweid can do with a preseason under his belt.

Yep, need some preseason training sessions to make a call, but he looks like competition for Dudley as 1st in when switter, Bolton or Reid are unavailable.

 

[rgauci]

Best 23
Bolton Voss Jackson
Frederick Treacy Switkowski
Sharp Serong Erasmus
McVee Cox Clark
Chapman Pearce Ryan
Darcy Young Brayshaw

Int: Johnson Reid Wagner O’Driscoll Amiss

Reserves 23
Dudley Nicholls Riddle
Pickett Draper Murray
Carr O’Meara Whan
Simpson Murphy Walker
Worner Macdonald Davies
M.Cox Sweid Banfield

Sturt Ryda ???? ???? ????

Have I forgotten anyone?

 

[pK75]

Best 23
Bolton Voss Jackson
Frederick Treacy Switkowski
Sharp Serong Erasmus
McVee Cox Clark
Chapman Pearce Ryan
Darcy Young Brayshaw

Int: Johnson Reid Wagner O’Driscoll Amiss

Reserves 23
Dudley Nicholls Riddle
Pickett Draper Murray
Carr O’Meara Whan
Simpson Murphy Walker
Worner Macdonald Davies
M.Cox Sweid Banfield

Sturt Ryda ???? ???? ????

Have I forgotten anyone?

Think you have everyone, but you need to drop a mid back to peel and add a defender to the AFL team, Walker, Simpson or Worner is my bet.

 

[rgauci]

Think you have everyone, but you need to drop a mid back to peel and add a defender to the AFL team, Walker, Simpson or Worner is my bet.

My 7th defender is Wagner, who I rate as a better rebounder than Simpson or Walker. Worner vs Chapman for mid sized defender.

 

[pK75]

My 7th defender is Wagner, who I rate as a better rebounder than Simpson or Walker. Worner vs Chapman for mid sized defender.

We play him as a mid now though, wing/tagger most of this year.

 

[Purple_Turtle]

How would Simpson go on a wing? Noting of course that under J-Lo being on a wing is a fate worse than death.

 

[pK75]

Freo 23
Bolton Voss Amiss
Reid Treacy Switkowski
Wagner Serong Sharp
McVee Cox Clark
Chapman Pearce Ryan
Darcy Young Brayshaw

Int: Jackson Johnson Frederick Erasmus Simpson

Peel
Dudley Nicholls Riddle
Pickett Draper Murray
Carr O’Meara Whan
Banfield Murphy Walker
Worner McDonald Davies
M.Cox O’Driscoll Sweid

Sturt Ryda ???? ???? ????

Bloody hard this, of the starting 23, Sharp could easily be replaced but that would be determined by whoever trains the house down over preseason. I honestly don’t think Ras, Johno or NoD should play wing, they are all better is inside mids resting forward, based on end of this years form, NOD misses out, but that could easily change over the summer.
I love the idea of Simpson being the distributor off half back, but can just as easily see us more defensive with walker or worner.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Freo 23
Bolton Voss Amiss
Reid Treacy Switkowski
Wagner Serong Sharp
McVee Cox Clark
Chapman Pearce Ryan
Darcy Young Brayshaw

Int: Jackson Johnson Frederick Erasmus Simpson

Peel
Dudley Nicholls Riddle
Pickett Draper Murray
Carr O’Meara Whan
Banfield Murphy Walker
Worner McDonald Davies
M.Cox O’Driscoll Sweid

Sturt Ryda ???? ???? ????

Bloody hard this, of the starting 23, Sharp could easily be replaced but that would be determined by whoever trains the house down over preseason. I honestly don’t think Ras, Johno or NoD should play wing, they are all better is inside mids resting forward, based on end of this years form, NOD misses out, but that could easily change over the summer.
I love the idea of Simpson being the distributor off half back, but can just as easily see us more defensive with walker or worner.

I think Murray could be a chance to come into the team early on. Id have him over Sharp. Erasmus, Wagner, Johnson and perhaps Brayshaw playing a bit as the contested side winger would be my wings.

 

[King Huskii]

Can we not have Sharp on the wing... he was invisible all season bar a few floating kicks on the full

 

[Duz97]

I actually think Murray could be mannagh 2.0 he’s my lock to debut first out of all the draftees

 

[Jezzitizle]

There is no chance Sharp is in the r1 team if we are close to full fitness.

Behind Omeara, Dris, Johnson, Ras, who will rotate on ball and wing. Andy may spend a bit of time out there at times too if Jackson’s time on ball goes up + Young back up to full minutes on field.

 

[Joose]

I will have a shot. In a magic unicorn world with no injuries:

Wagner - Cox - Ryan
Chapman - Pearce - Clark
McVee - Young - Johnson
Reid - Treacy - Voss
Bolton - Amiss - Switkowski

Jackson - Brayshaw - Serong

Darcy - O'Meara - Simpson - Erasmus - Fredericks

Also listen up everybody - when you do these teams the kicking direction is ALWAYS down ie the defenders up top and the forwards at the bottom. This is the natural order of things.

 

[King Huskii]

Omera yuck

 

[go_the_dockers]

I actually think Murray could be mannagh 2.0 he’s my lock to debut first out of all the draftees

I think he is a very good chance to take the small forward role.

It is really only him and Dudley competing for the one spot. The fittest person should get it round 1.

 

[rgauci]

I will have a shot. In a magic unicorn world with no injuries:

Wagner - Cox - Ryan
Chapman - Pearce - Clark
McVee - Young - Johnson
Reid - Treacy - Voss
Bolton - Amiss - Switkowski

Jackson - Brayshaw - Serong

Darcy - O'Meara - Simpson - Erasmus - Fredericks

Also listen up everybody - when you do these teams the kicking direction is ALWAYS down ie the defenders up top and the forwards at the bottom. This is the natural order of things.

Sharp was injury hampered in 2025, his 2024 form on the wing was good. Don’t think 2026 JOM is better than 2026 Sharp, but happy to see how it plays out.