Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[Juddernaut08]

That’s not a bottoms 6 side like most people are saying.

with a good coach there is no reason we shouldnt make finals with this team.

lots of solid players now with the run and speed required for the modern game.

we have lost some good players but still, how many teams have better bookends than harry AND weiters.

cripps/walsh/cerra/hewett/chesser/florent is a much healthier midfield mix, brimming with talent

 

[goreds]

I reckon Cow is in ahead of Gov from round 1

That is a great decision to have to make!

I have Gov ahead because of aerial ability and speed, for now!

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

That is a great decision to have to make!

I have Gov ahead because of aerial ability and speed, for now!

If Cow is fit he plays, showed at the back end of last year he is the future and nothing will p1 ss young talent off more than yoyoing them in and out of the side.. Give him the spot and let him shine.

 

[ctwenty1]

That is a great decision to have to make!

I have Gov ahead because of aerial ability and speed, for now!

Isn’t it a good problem to have!!

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Rd1 team

Saad Weitering Carroll
Cowan Haynes Florent
Hollands Walsh Chesser
Williams O’Keefe Ainsworth
Hayward McKay Moir

Pittonet Cripps Cerra

Hewett Motlop Jagger Evans Newman

O’Farrell (ACL) Kemp (ACH)? Elijah?

Boyd Young Duffy
Wilson Dean Charleson
Binns Elijah* Acres
Fogarty McGovern Cottrell
Ison Kemp Young*

Reidy B.Campo Lord

L.Campo Monahan
Cumming/Hibbens-Hargraves

White*(Blues VFL List)

 

[BJuddy]

B: Saad, Weitering, Newman
HB: Florent, Haynes, McGovern
C: Acres, Cripps, Chesser
HF: Ainsworth, O'Keefe, Hayward
F: Moir, McKay, Williams
R: Pittonet, Walsh, Hewett
I: Evans, Dean, Cerra, E.Hollands, Smith
E: Carroll, Lord, Cowan, O.Hollands

I'm about disposal with this team. No longer can we butcher the ball coming off HB.

McG and Acres must play to give us marking players. Newman, Chesser are ELITE by foot, Chesser ELITE across the ground (sorry O.Hollands but he's your upgrade). Moir, Williams, E.Hollands great/elite by foot.

O'Keefe is the wildcard.

Really like this goreds. Think you are pretty much bang on the money from my POv.

 

[Anzac16]

B: Cowan, Weitering, Newman
HB: Florent, McGovern, Haynes
C: O. Hollands, Cripps, Acres
HF: Ainsworth, McKay, Moir
F: Williams, O'Keefe, Hayward
R: Pittonet, Walsh, Hewett
B: Cerra, Smith, Saad, Evans, E. Hollands

Close: Lord, Carroll, Motlop, Chesser, Dean
Inj: Kemp, O'Farrell

If McGovern and Elijah aren't kept, probably ends up with Mots and Dean in their spot.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Ok - thinking long and hard, this is what I feel is right.

Newman Young Weitering
Florent Haynes Saad
Chesser Cripps OHollands
EHollands Kemp Williams
Ainsworth McKay Hayward
Pittonet Cerra Walsh
Hewett Smith Cowan Motlop Moir

I'd like to see us play Young as the deep key shutdown defender and allow Weitering to play a more intercept attacking role. Pitto is my first ruck for now but have everything crossed Reidy surprises.

* Elijah is in my team until otherwise moved on and 'if' McGovern stays on the list - he MUST ONLY play forward and if needed.

ps. Need some KP players drafted. Dean might not be big enough to play KP role in the AFL and HoF is out for 12 months.

 

[Cringle]

FB	24​	Nic Newman	23​	Jacob Weitering	42​	Adam Saad
HB	2​	Lachlan Cowan	0​	Harry Dean	0​	Ollie Florent
C	4​	Ollie Hollands	9​	Patrick Cripps	40​	Campbell Chesser
OB	27​	Marc Pittonet	29​	George Hewett	18​	Sam Walsh
HF	0​	Will Hayward	10​	Harry McKay	0​	Ben Ainsworth
FF	6​	Zac Williams	17​	Brodie Kemp	43​	Ashton Moir
Inter	38​	Matt Carroll	46​	Matthew Cottrell	5​	Adam Cerra
	7​	Jagga Smith	33​	Lewis Young

With a 5-man bench - a utility like Young could be handy.

I think we will finish around 9-14th.

 

[SurreyBlue]

B: Saad, Weitering, Newman
HB: Florent, Haynes, McGovern
C: Acres, Cripps, Chesser
HF: Ainsworth, O'Keefe, Hayward
F: Moir, McKay, Williams
R: Pittonet, Walsh, Hewett
I: Evans, Dean, Cerra, E.Hollands, Smith
E: Carroll, Lord, Cowan, O.Hollands

I'm about disposal with this team. No longer can we butcher the ball coming off HB.

McG and Acres must play to give us marking players. Newman, Chesser are ELITE by foot, Chesser ELITE across the ground (sorry O.Hollands but he's your upgrade). Moir, Williams, E.Hollands great/elite by foot.

O'Keefe is the wildcard.

So you have Acres and McGovern in the team?

 

[The Bighouse]

 

[djholmes]

B: Boyd-----------------Haynes----------------Newman

H: Cowan--------------Weitering---------------Saad

C: Walsh----------------Cripps---------------*Florent

H: Williams------------McGovern------------*Hayward

F: Evans-----------------McKay--------------*Ainsworth

Foll: Pittonet, Cerra, Hewett

Bench: O.Hollands, Acres, Smith, Kemp, Motlop

Emerg: *Reidy, *Dean, *Chesser, Lord, Cottrell, White, F. Young, Moir

 

[bradfisher14]

View attachment 2458942

Spoiler alert, we will not be recruiting Arie Schoenmaker

 

[Benaly28]

Looking at some of the teams here is it me or do we look better across the whole field.Just looks so better balanced.

 

[Blue By Blood]

Looking at some of the teams here is it me or do we look better across the whole field.Just looks so better balanced.

Team has way better balance. Need mature key talls at both ends (DFAs) but we have better run, carry and foot skills. No excuses not to go into 2026 with a more exciting game plan. Plus we have an influx of exciting young talent over the next few years coming in, maybe a quality free agent.. team is starting to look far more exciting.

 

[Blue1980]

with a good coach there is no reason we shouldnt make finals with this team.

lots of solid players now with the run and speed required for the modern game.

we have lost some good players but still, how many teams have better bookends than harry AND weiters.

cripps/walsh/cerra/hewett/chesser/florent is a much healthier midfield mix, brimming with talent

You forgot Jagga and Lord.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

B:Haynes, Weitering, Saad
HB: Newman, Dean, Florent
C: Chesser, Cripps, O Hollands
HF: Hayward, McGovern, Ainsworth
F: Moir, McKay, Williams
R: Pittonet, Hewett, Walsh
I: Cowan, Cerra, Acres, Smith, Kemp

 

[The Bighouse]

Potential non-selected / VFL team

 

[Red Bull]

B:Haynes, Weitering, Saad
HB: Newman, Dean, Florent
C: Chesser, Cripps, O Hollands
HF: Hayward, McGovern, Ainsworth
F: Moir, McKay, Williams
R: Pittonet, Hewett, Walsh
I: Cowan, Cerra, Acres, Lord, Kemp

Smith

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Smith

Buggar, i meant to include him & forgot.

Thanks will edit my side.

 

[Blue_Fusion]

For round 1:

B: Newman Weitering Saad
HB: Florent Haynes Cowan
C: Chesser Cripps Walsh
HF: Ainsworth HOK Hayward
F: Williams McKay Moir
Foll: Pittonet Hewett Smith

IC: Cerra, Ollie, L.Young, Lord, Evans

No more: Fogarty, Acres, Gov, Motlop, Cottrell auto selections

Can't see Dean getting selected for rd 1. Apparently Kemp won't be ready either.

 

[BlueLocke]

Want to see Hollands (x2), Chesser, Cottrell, Walsh, Hayward, Florent, Wilson, Ainsworth, Carroll and Smith in the same team as much as possible. Maybe then that manic pressure game we played in the back end of 23 will be sustainable.

Fog, Evans and Motlop will battle it out for that last forward spot and I reckon Fog will surprise with Hayward and Ainsworth around him - all high IQ players.

 

[Pablito]

FB: Newman Weitering Cowan
HB: Carroll Haynes Saad
C: Chesser Cripps OHollands
HF: Ainsworth Hayward Florent
FF: Williams McKay Evans
Foll: Pittonet Hewett Walsh

IC: Cerra, Lord, Motlop, LYoung

Emergency: Moir, Cottrell, Acres, McGovern

Assuming Kemp isn't ready. If he is, he replaces Young.

Assuming EHollands is gone.

Serious depth will include: Boyd, Wilson, HOK, Jagga, Binns and Dean alongside the emergencies.
-----
We've lost 3 top 10 players. But i think our top 30 has improved dramatically.

 

[The Bighouse]

For round 1:

B: Newman Weitering Saad
HB: Florent Haynes Cowan
C: Chesser Cripps Walsh
HF: Ainsworth HOK Hayward
F: Williams McKay Moir
Foll: Pittonet Hewett Smith

IC: Cerra, Ollie, L.Young, Lord, Evans

No more: Fogarty, Acres, Gov, Motlop, Cottrell auto selections

Can't see Dean getting selected for rd 1. Apparently Kemp won't be ready either.

Agree, they’ll see a lot of VFL for the “no more” group.

HOK in doesn’t rely on H rucking (though a run through there doesn’t hurt him in getting into a game) but also L.Young can be the versatile coverage forward, back & ruck.

Edit: would still like EH selected.

 

[The Bighouse]

Want to see Hollands (x2), Chesser, Cottrell, Walsh, Hayward, Florent, Wilson, Ainsworth, Carroll and Smith in the same team as much as possible. Maybe then that manic pressure game we played in the back end of 23 will be sustainable.

Fog, Evans and Motlop will battle it out for that last forward spot and I reckon Fog will surprise with Hayward and Ainsworth around him - all high IQ players.

Ok, name a team with them all. Only so many spots to select.

Don’t see it with Fog for next season. Too slow, kicking is limited and shithouse kicking for goal from dead in front. Momentum killers that can be kept to the VFL (where I think he’ll be more of a midfielder).