Prediction Round 1, 2026 - Best 23

[crow2crow]

Taylor shouldn't be anywhere near the best 23 IMO.

Need Pedlar, Curtin, Draper, Fogarty to spike to make top 4 again.

you're spot on. want to buy a membership?
ps saints have done bloody well this trade period. A+

 

[Ian Dunross]

you're spot on. want to buy a membership?
ps saints have done bloody well this trade period. A+

Yeah I follow the Crows closely, go to a few games.

I just posted on our board that Saints now prob have the best ruck combo on the comp, plus a pretty scary young midfield - albeit with a bit hinging on potential converting to production.

Could see the Saints making the 8 next year.

Incidentally, the fortunes of both clubs may swing on what NWM decides to do in 2 years time.

 

[crow2crow]

Yeah I follow the Crows closely, go to a few games.

I just posted on our board that Saints now prob have the best ruck combo on the comp, plus a pretty scary young midfield - albeit with a bit hinging on potential converting to production.

Could see the Saints making the 8 next year.

Incidentally, the fortunes of both clubs may swing on what NWM decides to do in 2 years time.

i think saints will make 8 so long as no serious injuries. like adelaide the top 23 is strong but as soon as one of them is out it can fall away badly depending who it is.

you got NWM forever now IMO because now he will be RFA and they just won't trade him. nobody will be able to come up with what they want unless he has an out in the contract.

 

[JPetro83]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

 

[1990crow]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

I think he was playing through injury. Preseason will tell the story.

 

[GreyCrow]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

According to a Brisbane poster he is best 22

 

[Golumless]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

No.

 

[CCL]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

Absolute lock for Rd 1.

Not convinced he was healthy towards the end of the year

 

[jackster83]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

He is a lock but shouldn't be.

We set incredibly low standards for our back flankers.

 

[Ian Dunross]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

He was average to poor for much of 2025 to my eye, lots of second grabbing, fumbling, average kicking.

Couple of seasons ago thought he was a top 6 or so player in your side. He's fallen off a long way since then.

 

[JPetro83]

Yeah I follow the Crows closely, go to a few games.

I just posted on our board that Saints now prob have the best ruck combo on the comp, plus a pretty scary young midfield - albeit with a bit hinging on potential converting to production.

Could see the Saints making the 8 next year.

Incidentally, the fortunes of both clubs may swing on what NWM decides to do in 2 years time.

I think Port will be cashed up once they lose Butters.. they will hold that cash and throw it at NWM

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Anybody else think that Hinge isn't best 23 anymore? struggled in the back end of 2025

Wasn't fully fit & we are not great at resting injured players.

 

[bigman]

Taylor shouldn't be anywhere near the best 23 IMO.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

B: Michaelanny, Murray, Keane
HB: Milera, Worrell, Laird
C: Edwards, Dawson, Curtin
HF: ANB, Fogarty, Keays
F: Rachele, Thilthorpe, Ah Chee
R: O'Brien, Soligo, Rankine
I: Hinge, Peatling, Cumming, Draper, Taylor
E: Butts, Nankervis, Walker

 

[crow2crow]

B: Michaelanny, Murray, Keane
HB: Milera, Worrell, Laird
C: Edwards, Dawson, Curtin
HF: ANB, Fogarty, Keays
F: Rachele, Thilthorpe, Ah Chee
R: O'Brien, Soligo, Rankine
I: Hinge, Peatling, Cumming, Draper, Taylor
E: Butts, Nankervis, Walker

taylor should be pedlar

 

[Ham]

Finnbar or not - maybe we are looking at playing a tall as the 5th bench player - looking at the new ruck rules too

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Finnbar or not - maybe we are looking at playing a tall as the 5th bench player - looking at the new ruck rules too

Or maybe we're looking at rotating Tex more off the bench ....so at times going smaller in attack, sometimes taller ?

 

[Golumless]

Finnbar or not - maybe we are looking at playing a tall as the 5th bench player - looking at the new ruck rules too

Interesting, are we thinking that we don't want Thilthorpe to ruck? I'm all for that, use your star KPF as a star KPF.

 

[Crow till I die]

Finnbar or not - maybe we are looking at playing a tall as the 5th bench player - looking at the new ruck rules too

I remember back in the day when Sturt were really bad, they did get the odd good player. One of them was a ruck Mark O'Keefe. he was slightly undersized but he was as aggressive as hell and played taller than he was and was a very good ruck. I wonder if Finbar could be that kind of player for us when pinch hitting in ruck. He is great in the air it seems so that will help around the ground too

 

[Ian Dunross]

What position would basketball rookie Cotton play when he's fit and ready?

 

[BRL121]

What position would basketball rookie Cotton play when he's fit and ready?

He screams midfielder to me, but I haven't been supported on that here.

 

[Daniel6]

What position would basketball rookie Cotton play when he's fit and ready?

At 194 cm, I see him as a player who can replicate the role Tom Lynch played with the crows. A transitional type player between defence and forward.

A high half forward who can run with plenty of endurance.

 

[George CantStandYa]

Finnbar or not - maybe we are looking at playing a tall as the 5th bench player - looking at the new ruck rules too

In other words, we are worried how shit ROB will be with the new ruck rules and we need options.

 

[Ian Dunross]

In other words, we are worried how shit ROB will be with the new ruck rules and we need options.

How many seasons off - if any - is McAndrew away from being AFL quality?

 

[GreyCrow]

How many seasons off - if any - is McAndrew away from being AFL quality?

Stop gap at best

He may come on but who knows