Prediction Best 22 - 2026

[stfan]

The joy of doing a side this year is that we will have options all over the park, no more walk up starts. If RTB is going to play Marshall as a key forward/ruck how do we fit Caminiti into the F50? If that occurs RTB may leave Caminiti in defence and back him to play ahead of Howard at full back.

Hammer still has a huge upside and he improved significantly this year and was starting to back himself in to take some intercept marks. Howard is solely a spoiler and provides little else, although if Hammer remains forward Howard is the obvious full back choice.

The lock down small defender role is also up for grabs - Stocker gets first dibs, but Hastie, Clark, Byrnes, Fincher will keep him honest. I dont believe Carroll is going to make it as an AFL midfielder, so perhaps he should be tried down back through the VFL and see if he can become a mobile small defender option. At least it would give him some flexibility to remain competitive.

Players like Collard and Keeler are going to have a tough year as they will no longer get gifted games, if they play it will be because they have really earned their games. Other fringe players are also going to have to apply themselves at VFL level and show some real improvement if they want to remain on the list in 2027.

Yes agree. Competition will be fierce.


If I was a player like say Dan Butler, I might be having chat with Lyon to see if I can play another role such as Back Pocket. His defensive game is good, he tackles well and has good burst pace to run forwards down. Much of his recent years has been as a defensive small forward. Hall, Ryan and Higgins will make it hard for him to play in the forward half. Plus Hill plays well when he pushes forward, and Henry will also be trying to get into the 23 as well.

 

[Banger9798]

That is absolutely the role he has been brought in to play and why we gave up 7 for him.

still a bargain

 

[stfan]

, and that we could just have two rebounders in Clark and Sinclair, as JSOS and Wilkie can play small

The need for two distributors out of the backline is one reason why Tauru might get squeezed out of the backline at the start of 2026 as his ball use, including decision making, is not good.

He is extremely young, but he really needs to work on his ball use, and that will no doubt be a key factor in the Clubs development plan for him.

As we saw with Arie, players cannot be one trick ponies, no matter how good they are at that one trick. Taura is an exceptional interceptor and spoiler, and so now just really needs to work on other parts of his game and in particular his ball use.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

An updated Best 23

B. Travaglia Howard Wilkie

H.B. Hastie  Jsos Sinclair

C. Flanders Pou Windhager

H.F.  Ryan Marshall Wilson

F. Higgins King Sharman

Foll. Tdk NWM Hall

l/C. Butler, Henry, Macrae, Owens, Wood

 

[saintmike65]

An updated Best 23

B. Travaglia Howard Wilkie

H.B. Hastie  Jsos Sinclair

C. Flanders Pou Windhager

H.F.  Ryan Marshall Wilson

F. Higgins King Sharman

Foll. Tdk NWM Hall

l/C. Butler, Henry, Macrae, Owens, Wood

Not a bad effort...Butler doubtful best 23

 

[ScrappyDo]

An updated Best 23

B. Travaglia Howard Wilkie

H.B. Hastie  Jsos Sinclair

C. Flanders Pou Windhager

H.F.  Ryan Marshall Wilson

F. Higgins King Sharman

Foll. Tdk NWM Hall

l/C. Butler, Henry, Macrae, Owens, Wood

Can't see Butts or Trav in there TBH. Hastie l like.


B. Tauru Howard Wilkie

H.B. Hastie  Jsos Sinclair

C. Flanders Pou Windhager

H.F.  Ryan Marshall Wilson

F. Higgins King Sharman

Foll. Tdk NWM Hall

l/C. Garcia, Henry, Macrae, Owens, Wood

Hill, Hammer, Clarke, Stocker, Dow, Trav and Box isn't bad depth..

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Not a bad effort...Butler doubtful best 23

If he keeps fit & gets a good run at it, he'd be handy still.

 

[SaintWrld]

Can't see Butts or Trav in there TBH. Hastie l like.


B. Tauru Howard Wilkie

H.B. Hastie  Jsos Sinclair

C. Flanders Pou Windhager

H.F.  Ryan Marshall Wilson

F. Higgins King Sharman

Foll. Tdk NWM Hall

l/C. Garcia, Henry, Macrae, Owens, Wood

Hill, Hammer, Clarke, Stocker, Dow, Trav and Box isn't bad depth..

If Hastie is best 23 we are in big trouble.

 

[stfan]

If Hastie is best 23 we are in big trouble.

At present Hastie is only: Age 20yr 1mth Games: 14

So he could be a lot better than he was in 2025.

 

[Jade Buddha]

Loads of potential in Hastie and Trav but I’d like to see it in the 2s consistently before best 23. They’re not there yet.
Injuries will play a part but as it stands we have better players to play.

 

[Ads734]

Despite our strategy to move away from the draft I can’t help feel as possitive for our youngsters going into a preseason.

Hall - arguably there already just needs to back up
Wilson
Phillapou
Garcia
Boxhal
Keeler
Trav
Viking

Next tier down
Dodson (opportunity depending)
Hastie
LOC
Lance
Barret
Said


IMO I could genuinely put a blanket over any of them and I could see any one or multiple not just breaking out but being a big part of our push up the ladder.

 

[saintmike65]

Gotta change it to best 23 hey, but here are my locks and spots _____ up for grabs in the best side:

B: ____, Wilkie, Tauru
HB: Sinclair, Silvagni, ____
C: Wilson, Flanders, ____
HF: Hall, Sharman, ____
F: Higgins, King, Ryan
Foll: TDK, Macrae, NWM
Interchange: Marshall, Phillipou,
Owens, Windhager, ____

Lots of competition for those five spots, feels good to have some genuine depth. I love Mason Wood, and I think it's time we move past Hill so I'd slot Wood back in his best spot on the wing. I think Stocker and Hunter Clark have first dibs on the backline spots but they both need to be rock hard fit. If not Hastie slots in. Travaglia should earn a spot on the bench, backing him for a huge preseason. One spot left at half forward goes to Boxshall, he has genuine X-factor about him. Garcia, Henry, Caminiti the emergences.

I'm leaning towards Wilson & Windhager on the wings with both included in centre bounce rotation

 

[ScrappyDo]

Loads of potential in Hastie and Trav but I’d like to see it in the 2s consistently before best 23. They’re not there yet.
Injuries will play a part but as it stands we have better players to play.

I'm easy on Trav because of his age and stick body, but Hastie and LOC need some senior games to keep their growth trajectory optimal. Both showed plenty enough this year to keep the faith.

 

[saintmike65]

I'm easy on Trav because of his age and stick body, but Hastie and LOC need some senior games to keep their growth trajectory optimal. Both showed plenty enough this year to keep the faith.

I'd have LOC ahead of Stocker...Tobie or Hastie battling it out for another spot

 

[ScrappyDo]

I'd have LOC ahead of Stocker...Tobie or Hastie battling it out for another spot

Fair enough. I'd still have Stocks in front but LOC probably has the tools to pass him fairly quickly in that role.
Hopefully now with more height in the backline it will take some pressure off the smalls and give us opportunities for opportunity.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Loads of potential in Hastie and Trav but I’d like to see it in the 2s consistently before best 23. They’re not there yet.
Injuries will play a part but as it stands we have better players to play.

Like who?
And l think l know who,
Yeah, dont tell me

 

[L_W_P]

FB: Silvagni - Wilkie - O'Connell
HB: Sinclair - Howard - Tauru
C: Wilson - Wanganeen-Milera - Flanders
HF: Hall - King - Owens
FF: Higgins - Sharman - Ryan
R: De Koning - Macrae - Windhager
I: Marshall - Garcia - Phillipou - Hill - Wood/Boxshall

Feels pretty good looking at guys like Butler, Stocker, Travaglia, & Caminiti and finding it hard to get them in the team.

EDIT: How the hell do I get Boxshall into this team?!? Wood out I guess?

 

[tommo7]

FB: Silvagni - Wilkie - O'Connell
HB: Sinclair - Howard - Tauru
C: Wilson - Wanganeen-Milera - Flanders
HF: Hall - King - Owens
FF: Higgins - Sharman - Ryan
R: De Koning - Macrae - Windhager
I: Marshall - Wood - Hill - Garcia - Phillipou

Feels pretty good looking at guys like Butler, Stocker, Travaglia, & Caminiti and finding it hard to get them in the team.

I think this is about right. I would start Flanders in the middle, move Macrae to the bench and put Wood on the wing, but other than that looks perfect to me.

 

[L_W_P]

I think this is about right. I would start Flanders in the middle, move Macrae to the bench and put Wood on the wing, but other than that looks perfect to me.

Flanders was a gun half forward as a junior, moved to halfback for the Suns and racked up heaps of possessions, and has come to the Saints to play midfield.

I don't think he's a true 'wing' but I expect to see him deployed in all 3 parts of the field pretty regularly.

Wood on my bench as I think he should be getting pressured for his spot this season. Trav, Hastie & Henry should be gunning hard for that spot.

And Macrae is gonna play on ball for sure. A huge part of moving Steele on was that we can't play both of them on ball at the same time and neither really has the capacity to play another position for 60% game time.

While I expect Naz, Windy, Hall, Garcia etc to all have heaps of midfield stats, by the time the season is done I'd be backing Macrae to lead the team for CBAs.

He's gonna be THE guy on ball for at least another year or two.

 

[Username Unknown]

Flanders was a gun half forward as a junior, moved to halfback for the Suns and racked up heaps of possessions, and has come to the Saints to play midfield.

I don't think he's a true 'wing' but I expect to see him deployed in all 3 parts of the field pretty regularly.

Wood on my bench as I think he should be getting pressured for his spot this season. Trav, Hastie & Henry should be gunning hard for that spot.

And Macrae is gonna play on ball for sure. A huge part of moving Steele on was that we can't play both of them on ball at the same time and neither really has the capacity to play another position for 60% game time.

While I expect Naz, Windy, Hall, Garcia etc to all have heaps of midfield stats, by the time the season is done I'd be backing Macrae to lead the team for CBAs.

He's gonna be THE guy on ball for at least another year or two.

I think Flanders and Boxshall will take Macrae’s midfield minutes. Re watching game footage. I was reminded how good Boxshall is at getting the ball out to a team mate while under a lot of pressure.

Boxshall is also able to play other positions due to his ability to mark over his head.

I think the days of one position only players in our midfield are done.

 

[L_W_P]

I think Flanders and Boxshall will take over Macrae’s role this year. Re watching game footage. I was reminded how good Boxshall is at getting the ball out to a team mate while under a lot of pressure.

Can't believe I forgot about Box...

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Can't believe I forgot about Box...

Boxshall can't 'takeover' Macrae's position next year, is because he's only a 19 y.o & we need Macrae's experience.
But, could see him & Macrae rotating through the midfield.
And Box & Pou will be given every chance to be the new Steele type.

 

[L_W_P]

Boxshall can't 'takeover' Macrae's position next year, is because he's only a 19 y.o & we need Macrae's experience.
But, could see him & Macrae rotating through the midfield.
And Box & Pou will be given every chance to be the new Steele type.

I see Hall and Wilson getting more time on ball leaving a big space forward for Pou to ease himself back in.

I'd love to get a 3 man swing with Pou, Naz & Owens rotating between deep forward, half forward and on ball. Three 190cm athletic freaks than can all take a mark, hit a target and play defensive if needed.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

I see Hall and Wilson getting more time on ball leaving a big space forward for Pou to ease himself back in.

I'd love to get a 3 man swing with Pou, Naz & Owens rotating between deep forward, half forward and on ball. Three 190cm athletic freaks than can all take a mark, hit a target and play defensive if needed.

Pou is talented enough to play forward, but is abit lumbering in that position & abit short at 190cm.
Hoping he becomes an inside bull.
Nas can play anywhere he likes.
Owens field kicking is shite, so only see him as a pressure forward tbh.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Pou is talented enough to play forward, but is abit lumbering in that position & abit short at 190cm.
Hoping he becomes an inside bull.
Nas can play anywhere he likes.
Owens field kicking is shite, so only see him as a pressure forward tbh.

Pou is class and l just don't see him becoming bull like.