Prediction Best 23 - 2026 edition

[stallon]

Assuming this has been posted elsewhere but with the Contract thread locked couldn’t think of where to post. Not best 23 but handy depth at 23yo perhaps?

Worst case hes vying with Hall and Dev(pending who gets games at AFL level) for our best WAFL mid.
Probably less likely to be a regular at AFL level as those other two due to his speed, but still a good get

 

[Hook461123]

Being playing around with best 23. More looking at future build rather than purely 2026, so I haven't included Yeo, Duggan, Kelly, Owies, Flynn who probably all start best 23 in 2026. Also assumes we take Duursma and CDT with 1&2

 

[bzparkes]

Being playing around with best 23. More looking at future build rather than purely 2026, so I haven't included Yeo, Duggan, Kelly, Owies, Flynn who probably all start best 23 in 2026. Also assumes we take Duursma and CDT with 1&2



View attachment 2476112

Is that paint?

Here's something easier for you.

Pick Your Team | Zero Hanger

Ever thought you could do a better job than the coach selecting a team? Well, here’s your chance!

www.zerohanger.com

 

[Hook461123]

Is that paint?

Here's something easier for you.

Pick Your Team | Zero Hanger

Ever thought you could do a better job than the coach selecting a team? Well, here’s your chance!

www.zerohanger.com

lol yeah would've been but it doesn't allow for future players. Could've waited a week I guess

 

[bzparkes]

lol yeah would've been but it doesn't allow for future players. Could've waited a week I guess

Just copy/paste it into paint and dump new players over the top

 

[Altum Volantes]

Just copy/paste it into paint and dump new players over the top

Woah woah slow down Egghead!

 

[stallon]

Tough to fit in all of Lindsay, Duursma and CDT who I suspect are/will all be ready to play round 1 next year

Suspect Lindsay sits at half back, Duursma on a wing and CDT somewhere in f50, perhaps at hff?
Assuming none of our other picks play round 1, something like this?

FB	Starcevich	Edwards	Hough
HB	Ginbey	Young	Lindsay
C	Allan	Reid	Duursma
HF	CDT	Shanahan	Baker
FF	Brockman	Waterman	Cripps
R	Flynn	McCarthy	Hewett
Int	A.Reid	Graham	Kelly	Duggan
	Yeo
Notable outs	Hall	Davis	Gross	Hutchinson
	Robertson	Dewar	Cole	Maric
	Bwilliams

Very young side, but D50 is very solid and midfield isnt too bad if Harley starts the year how he ended 2025 before his injury.

 

[sharps24]

Little bit pointless as we still have at least 1-3 players who could take a spot from one of our bottom 6 relatively easily. But without including first year players:

FB: Hough, H.Edwards, Ginbey
HB: Starcevich, Brock, McCarthy
C: Dewar, Reid, Davis
HF: Duggan, Shannahan, Baker
FF: Long, Waterman, Hutchinson
R: B.Williams, Yeo, Hewett
I/C: Hall, A Reid, Maric, Allan

I see no role particularly suited for Graham, Cripps, Owee's or Cole in the 23. And I'd be taking 2 of Long, Dewar and Davis out of this side for any of Duursma, Sharp, Dovaston or Grlj once that is decided. Duggan as captain gets a new role forward because we have nowhere in the backline or middle for him [thats a good thing] but he's still a best 23 player at AFL level imo, just. He offers the most out of all the b-c grade senior players we're keeping around as depth, none of which would be in a 23 at any other club.

Time to do this for real then, as promised:

FB: Hough, H.Edwards, Ginbey
HB: Starcevich, Brock, McCarthy
C: Allan, Reid, Lindsay
HF: Duggan, Shannahan, Duursma
FF: Baker, Waterman, Hutchinson
R: B.Williams, Yeo, Hewett
I/C: Hall, A Reid, Maric, Kelly

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Time to do this for real then, as promised:

FB: Hough, H.Edwards, Ginbey
HB: Starcevich, Brock, McCarthy
C: Allan, Reid, Lindsay
HF: Duggan, Shannahan, Duursma
FF: Baker, Waterman, Hutchinson
R: B.Williams, Yeo, Hewett
I/C: Hall, A Reid, Maric, Kelly

That side has zero actual small forwards (no, I don't count Baker).

And you're a player short.

 

[stallon]

Time to do this for real then, as promised:

FB: Hough, H.Edwards, Ginbey
HB: Starcevich, Brock, McCarthy
C: Allan, Reid, Lindsay
HF: Duggan, Shannahan, Duursma
FF: Baker, Waterman, Hutchinson
R: B.Williams, Yeo, Hewett
I/C: Hall, A Reid, Maric, Kelly

Where is Cripps?

 

[sharps24]

That side has zero actual small forwards (no, I don't count Baker).

And you're a player short.

5 on the bench! What is this a charity?

Apologies but we don't have any small forwards on the list who would be best 23 in any side in the comp. Take it up with the club. And yes Baker is one, the smallest player we have and best ground ball player and someone who has played successfully as a small forward who is also no longer needed in defence or the midfield. Ditto Duggan. Started his career at half forward. I'm not squeezing Long, Cripps or Champion into this side and pushing out genuinely talented players who offer far more just for the sake of appearances.

I'll do it again and add Graham to the side since he'll play anyway and he was my last man out. Duggan to the bench then as a "spare" backman. Kelly to half forward. Where he has earned AA selection in the past. You asked for it.

FB: Hough, H.Edwards, Ginbey
HB: Starcevich, Brock, McCarthy
C: Allan, Reid, Lindsay
HF: Kelly, Shannahan, Duursma
FF: Baker, Waterman, Hutchinson
R: B.Williams, Yeo, Hewett
I/C: Hall, A Reid, Maric, Duggan, Graham

 

[Shazzman]

FB: Hough, H.Edwards, Ginbey
HB: Starcevich, Young, McCarthy
C: Durrsma, Reid, Lindsay
HF: Hewitt, Shanahan, Newton
FF: Baker, Waterman, Tylah Williams
R: M Flynn, Yeo, Allan
I/C: Kelly, A Reid, Maric, Duggan, Graham

 

[Elite Pete]

West Coast
Ginbey - H Edwards - Hough
Starcevich - Young - Lindsay
Allen - Yeo - Duursma
Baker - Shanahan - Hewett
Cripps - Waterman - CDT
Flynn - Harley - McCarthy
Graham - Duggan - A Reid - Kelly - Brockman


Beagles
Cole - Brock - Johnston
Maric - Bazzo - Grego
Davis - Hall - Banfield*
Long - B Williams - Dewar
Owies - J Will - Hutchinson
Barnett - Dev - Gross
Macrae - Schoenberg- Newton - Champion - Evans* - Walley*- T Williams*

 

[BSD]

Tough to fit in all of Lindsay, Duursma and CDT who I suspect are/will all be ready to play round 1 next year

Suspect Lindsay sits at half back, Duursma on a wing and CDT somewhere in f50, perhaps at hff?
Assuming none of our other picks play round 1, something like this?

FB	Starcevich	Edwards	Hough
HB	Ginbey	Young	Lindsay
C	Allan	Reid	Duursma
HF	CDT	Shanahan	Baker
FF	Brockman	Waterman	Cripps
R	Flynn	McCarthy	Hewett
Int	A.Reid	Graham	Kelly	Duggan
	Yeo
Notable outs	Hall	Davis	Gross	Hutchinson
	Robertson	Dewar	Cole	Maric
	Bwilliams

Very young side, but D50 is very solid and midfield isnt too bad if Harley starts the year how he ended 2025 before his injury.

Not a bad effort, i would put Robertson in before Allan.

 

[BSD]

B	Starcevich, Brandon	Young, Tylar	Cole, Tom
HB	McCarthy, Tom	Edwards, Harry	Baker, Liam
C	Hough, Brady	Kelly, Tim	Duggan, Liam
HF	Maric, Ryan	Waterman, Jake	Davis, Hamish
F	Long, Noah	Shanahan, Jobe	Cripps, Jamie
FOLL	Flynn, Matthew	Yeo, Elliot	Reid, Harley
BENCH	Williams, Bailey J.	Hewett, Elijah	Ginbey, Reuben
	Graham, Jack	Hall, Clay

As it sits pre-draft. Lets get a few wins and stabilise the team before doing anything funky.
We actually have decent flexibility with Graham, Baker, Hewett (F), Ginbey (B).

• Starevich & Young in lets us have another look at Ginbey in the midfield.
• Play less talls. A Reid & J. Williams are in direct competition with B. Williams.
• Hutchinson & Dewar are yet to sell me but are at the head of the queue.

Putrid center line with Duggan and Kelly both in it. Hall and Davis haven't earnt their spots yet.

 

[stallon]

Not a bad effort, i would put Robertson in before Allan.

Who are you throwing on that wing in that case? Im pretty set on my defence being those 7, and none of the guys on the bench really suit a wing tbh.

Allan is fighting Maric, Davis and Dewar for that spot imo.
Robertson with Graham, Yeo, Kelly

 

[BeornJ]

I think this is where the list is at:

Notes:

• I moved Maric out of the best 20 with Lindsay being drafted. I think they will be competing for a spot. Although, it does seem like the club loves Maric, he has barely missed a game after being drafted. So... I'm not sure.
• I'm assuming Baker gets moved to the fwd line with our defence being so set now
• There is a fwd pocket spot up for grabs. Maybe Long takes it back after a strong pre-season, maybe Champion, maybe Gross forces his way into the AFL squad that way
• From the Eagles Videos about the draft it seems they are planning to put Duursma on a wing to begin with.
• Flynn is most likely to be the main ruck, not sure who they pair with him.

 

[dinnaz]

Putrid center line with Duggan and Kelly both in it. Hall and Davis haven't earnt their spots yet.

Have you seen our list lol.
Id prefer Duggan back but he is one of the few that actually puts his body in.
Davis will be a star

 

[HoneyBadger35]

B23 (assuming a very slow CDT burn)
FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Starcevich Young Duggan
C: Duursma Graham McCarthy
HF: Baker Waterman Kelly
FF: Brockman Shanahan Newton
R: Flynn Reid Hewett
I: AReid Lindsay Yeo Robertson Champion

Plausible depth
Def: Brock, Cole, Maric, Bazzo, Dewar, Allan, Grego
Mid: Hall, Macrae, Gross, Hutch, Davis, Schoenberg
Fwd: CDT*, JWilliams, TWilliams, Cripps, Long, Owies
R: BWilliams, CDT*

Below is what I had to open the thread. Good improvement across the board. The first round this year has set us up beautifully.

Spoiler

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman Chesser
FF: Brockman Shanahan AReid
R: Flynn Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan Yeo

 

[dinnaz]

B23 (assuming a very slow CDT burn)
FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Starcevich Young Duggan
C: Duursma Graham McCarthy
HF: Baker Waterman Kelly
FF: Brockman Shanahan Newton
R: Flynn Reid Hewett
I: AReid Lindsay Yeo Robertson Champion

Plausible depth
Def: Brock, Cole, Maric, Bazzo, Dewar, Allan, Grego
Mid: Hall, Macrae, Gross, Hutch, Davis, Schoenberg
Fwd: CDT*, JWilliams, TWilliams, Cripps, Long, Owies
R: BWilliams, CDT*

Below is what I had to open the thread. Good improvement across the board. The first round this year has set us up beautifully.

Spoiler

FB: Ginbey Edwards Hough
HB: Baker Brock McCarthy
C: Maric Graham Hall
HF: Ryan Waterman Chesser
FF: Brockman Shanahan AReid
R: Flynn Reid Hewett
I: P1 P2 Kelly Duggan Yeo

I think all draftees bar Duursma are a fair way from R1. Bit rough on Maric & Cripps who dont miss many games.

But holy hell isn't refreshing to not peddle out the same crap and expect different results.

 

[Cuzz09]

Feel like Maric will be WAFL most of year. Always comes across as not going 100%

Despite our ruck and midfield woes Im hoping with some better users of the ball around we can transition the footy a bit better out of defence (which realistically the majority of our attacks will come from)

Lindsay, Duursma, McCarthy, etc

 

[BSD]

Have you seen our list lol.
Id prefer Duggan back but he is one of the few that actually puts his body in.
Davis will be a star

How many years will we have to wait for that to happen ?

 

[Cuzz09]

Hope he proves me wrong but can't see it with Davis.

 

[dinnaz]

How many years will we have to wait for that to happen ?

I think he can play every game this season

 

[Obeanie1]

Players added...about to be. When are they likely to make an impact?

Duursma - expect to debut early
CDT - likely gets a game at some point
Linsay - ready to debut early
Allen - slow build returning from injury
Tyler - slow burn, may get games later in the season
Rodreguez - could surprise, likely a slow build

Dev Robertson - ready for selecton
McCrae - same
Schoenberg - same
Wes Walley - could surprise, get a game late in the season

Fighting for spots with.

Hall
Hutch
Long
Allan
Grego
Davis

Finally building some depth again.