Prediction Best 22 - 2026

[malevu]

It's always interesting to play this game preseason but in reality it always seems like we have half a dozen best 22 go down injured in Jan/Feb. Usually with mid to long term injuries. I'll wait till about a week out from week one to make my prediction.

It's not a case of being pessimistic. I guarantee everyone's best 22 predictions this time last year would've included Max King

Multiple players found. Use birthday to differentiate. eg [PLAYERCARD="23/11/1962"]Joe Smith[/PLAYERCARD]

. How did that turn out?

Personally, I think of all the predictions for next season the importance of Kings return to his best is the most pivotal.

 

[saintmike65]

13 locks IMO
backs: Silvagni, Sinclair, Wilkie
mids: Flanders, NWM, Hall, Windy
fwds: King, Higgins, Ryan, Owens
rucks: TDK, Marshall

everything else up for grabs. would love to see Boxshall on a wing

Macrae a lock...best first possession mid we have
Tarau a lock, as i believe will be Phillipou and Wilson
Ones to watch - Fincher, Boxshall, McConnell, Henry.
Interesting VFL players- Campigli, Bailey McKenzie, Billy Richardson

 

[Armoooo]

FB:	Tauru	Wilkie	Stocker
HB:	Flanders	Silvagni	Sinclair
C:	Wilson	Hall	Wood
HF:	Hall	Marshall	Owens
FF:	Higgins	King	Ryan
R:	DeKoening	Nas	Windhager
I/C:	Sharman	Garcia	Phillipou
Hill	Travalgia
Emg:	Boxshall	Caminiti	Collard

Its getting tough, I hate that I can't even get Keeler into the emergencies.

Still think we're missing a big full back and a lockdown small defender.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wood and Hall pushed out of the 23 this year. Would mean that we've had a couple youngsters come on and would be great leadership for the VFL team.

 

[Sully111]

FB:	Tauru	Wilkie	Stocker
HB:	Flanders	Silvagni	Sinclair
C:	Wilson	Hall	Wood
HF:	Hall	Marshall	Owens
FF:	Higgins	King	Ryan
R:	DeKoening	Nas	Windhager
I/C:	Sharman	Garcia	Phillipou
Hill	Travalgia
Emg:	Boxshall	Caminiti	Collard

Its getting tough, I hate that I can't even get Keeler into the emergencies.

Still think we're missing a big full back and a lockdown small defender.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wood and Hall pushed out of the 23 this year. Would mean that we've had a couple youngsters come on and would be great leadership for the VFL team.

Flanders will be a starting midfielder.

 

[Ads734]

I’m

FB:	Tauru	Wilkie	Stocker
HB:	Flanders	Silvagni	Sinclair
C:	Wilson	Hall	Wood
HF:	Hall	Marshall	Owens
FF:	Higgins	King	Ryan
R:	DeKoening	Nas	Windhager
I/C:	Sharman	Garcia	Phillipou
Hill	Travalgia
Emg:	Boxshall	Caminiti	Collard

Its getting tough, I hate that I can't even get Keeler into the emergencies.

Still think we're missing a big full back and a lockdown small defender.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wood and Hall pushed out of the 23 this year. Would mean that we've had a couple youngsters come on and would be great leadership for the VFL team.

hoping this a typo and you mean Hill not hall

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

FB:	Tauru	Wilkie	Stocker
HB:	Flanders	Silvagni	Sinclair
C:	Wilson	Hall	Wood
HF:	Hall	Marshall	Owens
FF:	Higgins	King	Ryan
R:	DeKoening	Nas	Windhager
I/C:	Sharman	Garcia	Phillipou
Hill	Travalgia
Emg:	Boxshall	Caminiti	Collard

Its getting tough, I hate that I can't even get Keeler into the emergencies.

Still think we're missing a big full back and a lockdown small defender.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wood and Hall pushed out of the 23 this year. Would mean that we've had a couple youngsters come on and would be great leadership for the VFL team.

I for one am on board with the cloning of Hall

 

[ScrappyDo]

13 locks IMO
backs: Silvagni, Sinclair, Wilkie
mids: Flanders, NWM, Hall, Windy
fwds: King, Higgins, Ryan, Owens
rucks: TDK, Marshall

everything else up for grabs. would love to see Boxshall on a wing

Coops

 

[saintmike65]

FB:	Tauru	Wilkie	Stocker
HB:	Flanders	Silvagni	Sinclair
C:	Wilson	Hall	Wood
HF:	Hall	Marshall	Owens
FF:	Higgins	King	Ryan
R:	DeKoening	Nas	Windhager
I/C:	Sharman	Garcia	Phillipou
Hill	Travalgia
Emg:	Boxshall	Caminiti	Collard

Its getting tough, I hate that I can't even get Keeler into the emergencies.

Still think we're missing a big full back and a lockdown small defender.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wood and Hall pushed out of the 23 this year. Would mean that we've had a couple youngsters come on and would be great leadership for the VFL team.

Hally will be one of the first picked...very important player

 

[hayes]

I might be in the minority saying this, but I don't think key forwards are that important.
Sure, a great one will win plenty of home and away games, but in grand finals I think it is usually mids, small forwards and even Wilkie/ Harris Andrews type defenders that tend to influence the game more.

King also hasn't played in a lot of our best wins over the last 3 years (Fremantle this year, Geelong and Sydney last year, and the Bulldogs in 2023), and we have kicked 9 goals in a quarter twice when he hasn't been playing (Hawthorn 2023 and that quarter this year).

We also now have a stronger depth of talls, who should be a lot more developed compared to 12 months ago. This time last year Marshall wasn't a forward, Sharman had a career best year of only 18 goals, Keeler hadn't played an AFL game, and Dodson and Tauru had only just been drafted. Caminiti should also have learnt plenty of forward craft this year from the likes of Darcy and Cadman.

Ty Gallop is a premiership player... I think we should be able to cope.

There’s plenty of examples of ordinary key forwards winning flags and TBH I’m putting King in the bonus territory anyway. If he plays that’s great but I can’t see us being able to count on him for 20+ games a year anymore.

 

[Username Unknown]

Flanders is more inside outside to me. Garcia is probably the heir apparent to Macrae. His pace might make it possible to use him inside outside and leave Macrae in.Clubs still need at least one pure extractor.

Flanders has great hands on the inside. Boxshall showed a lot last year, at times i had to rewind to take in how he managed to get the ball out to a player from contents. Hall has an amazing and rare skill set to pick the ball up then have a handball or kick off by the time he has stood up, As you said garcia can play the role then there is windy who is hard under. I am a big believer than most in POU who i think will surprise a lot.

IMO they will go with the youth, as we are seeing from the pre season photos they are putting on heaps of size, can all play a second position and move quicker on the transition.

I get the people above saying why would we offer him a three year contract and give up draft capital but its jack macrea not the Bont. YEs he was elite but the game is moving away from his strengths just like Steele.

 

[Ads734]

There’s plenty of examples of ordinary key forwards winning flags and TBH I’m putting King in the bonus territory anyway. If he plays that’s great but I can’t see us being able to count on him for 20+ games a year anymore.

Maybe when it comes to the grand final in particular, but in terms of us winning games, I think we need a dominant big key forward to go with Coops, I still Think Coops, Viking and King is the set up.

 

[Saints4ever]

Flanders has great hands on the inside. Boxshall showed a lot last year, at times i had to rewind to take in how he managed to get the ball out to a player from contents. Hall has an amazing and rare skill set to pick the ball up then have a handball or kick off by the time he has stood up, As you said garcia can play the role then there is windy who is hard under. I am a big believer than most in POU who i think will surprise a lot.

IMO they will go with the youth, as we are seeing from the pre season photos they are putting on heaps of size, can all play a second position and move quicker on the transition.

I get the people above saying why would we offer him a three year contract and give up draft capital but its jack macrea not the Bont. YEs he was elite but the game is moving away from his strengths just like Steele.

Great post.

Can I ask why there’s lines through every word?

 

[karnaby]

13 locks IMO
backs: Silvagni, Sinclair, Wilkie
mids: Flanders, NWM, Hall, Windy
fwds: King, Higgins, Ryan, Owens
rucks: TDK, Marshall

everything else up for grabs. would love to see Boxshall on a wing

I think this is a good way to look at it.

Without wishing to question your list, it seems that there are plenty of players banging hard on that door trying to get in.
My next rung is:
Sharman & Macrae

Then, noting the club's emphasis on getting games into youngsters over the past 3 seasons I have no reason to doubt that will continue.
So:
Wilson, Phillipou, Garcia, Travaglia, Tauru, Boxshall.
And for balance I hope that one or both of Keeler and Caminiti are right up there too.

Apologies to Hastie & Collard. I really hope that both take whatever chances might come their way.

 

[hayes]

Maybe when it comes to the grand final in particular, but in terms of us winning games, I think we need a dominant big key forward to go with Coops, I still Think Coops, Viking and King is the set up.

I think we just need some more height down there so if Sharman has say Marshall and Caminiti with him if King isn’t there I think that’s enough. That would be a similar setup to what just won the flag.

 

[OxSaint]

Assuming the rehab group is empty.

B: OConnell Howard Wilkie
HB: Sinclair Jsos Windhager
C: Wilson Flanders Wood
HF: Hall Sharman Ryan
F: Higgins King Marshall
FOL: De Koning McRae NAS

Int: Garcia Owens Tauru Phillipou Henry

Emg: Caminiti Hill Boxshall Clarke

I have pick Henry with no regard to last season. Looked to underprepared. At his best he is best 22. Although there are a few names in this 22 that will need to be in form to stay there

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

Assuming the rehab group is empty.

B: OConnell Howard Wilkie
HB: Sinclair Jsos Windhager
C: Wilson Flanders Wood
HF: Hall Sharman Ryan
F: Higgins King Marshall
FOL: De Koning McRae NAS

Int: Garcia Owens Tauru Phillipou Henry

Emg: Caminiti Hill Boxshall Clarke

I have pick Henry with no regard to last season. Looked to underprepared. At his best he is best 22. Although there are a few names in this 22 that will need to be in form to stay there

If Henry can returned unencumbered and play a full season, we will look so dangerous in our forward half. Him, Ryan and Hall all have different but complimentary abilities to be those goal assist players. They're also all solid goal kickers, and they can go through the middle to provide a point of difference.
We're about to have a really deep midfield rotation with all of the following able to go play through the flanks:

Nas
Flanders
Wilson
Wood
Ryan
Henry
Hall
Philippou
Hill
Boxshall
Travalia

Add that to a core mid group of Windy, Macrae and Garcia and we're cooking

 

[saintmike65]

Flanders has great hands on the inside. Boxshall showed a lot last year, at times i had to rewind to take in how he managed to get the ball out to a player from contents. Hall has an amazing and rare skill set to pick the ball up then have a handball or kick off by the time he has stood up, As you said garcia can play the role then there is windy who is hard under. I am a big believer than most in POU who i think will surprise a lot.

IMO they will go with the youth, as we are seeing from the pre season photos they are putting on heaps of size, can all play a second position and move quicker on the transition.

I get the people above saying why would we offer him a three year contract and give up draft capital but its jack macrea not the Bont. YEs he was elite but the game is moving away from his strengths just like Steele.

First possession mids are still important but only one needed at CBA's...Macrae is that one still in my opinion

 

[Veer Right]

I would be surprised if Boxshall is not best 23 at the outset of next year. He provides a point of diference around the ball with his strong presence.

He had as good or better first year the Windy, NWM, Owens and Hugo as a comparison.

I rate his outlook more favourably then the majority on our list.

One of the main players i look forward to watching each week.

 

[SaintWrld]

I would be surprised if Boxshall is not best 23 at the outset of next year. He provides a point of diference around the ball with his strong presence.

He had as good or better first year the Windy, NWM, Owens and Hugo as a comparison.

I rate his outlook more favourably then the majority on our list.

One of the main players i look forward to watching each week.

Going to be a huge squeeze for spots in the midfield and the forward line so it’s going to be a very interesting pre season. Looking at last year we generally ran 4 main mids through the middle, with a 5th getting a little bit of time.
Who would you have in there? My CBA mix would be NAS 70%, Macrae 70% (still averages above average in every statistical category, elite in clearances) Windhager 50-60% Flanders the 4th swapping off half back with 30-40%, so the 5th would be out of Pou Box and Garcia, Pou probably has 1st dibs on the 5th spot due to being more versatile, plus Ross loves him.
I don’t think there’s room for all 3 in the best 23, especially if Darcy Wilson moves inside.

 

[Veer Right]

Going to be a huge squeeze for spots in the midfield and the forward line so it’s going to be a very interesting pre season. Looking at last year we generally ran 4 main mids through the middle, with a 5th getting a little bit of time.
Who would you have in there? My CBA mix would be NAS 70%, Macrae 70% (still averages above average in every statistical category, elite in clearances) Windhager 50-60% Flanders the 4th swapping off half back with 30-40%, so the 5th would be out of Pou Box and Garcia, Pou probably has 1st dibs on the 5th spot due to being more versatile, plus Ross loves him.
I don’t think there’s room for all 3 in the best 23, especially if Darcy Wilson moves inside.

I have Boxshall sitting on a wing or half forward and then linking up with mids the way we use Hall while getting a run here and there.

As for midfield rotations

NWM and Flanders full time
Hugo, Macrae and Windy in that order as next in line

Wilson a permanent wing for mine but good luck to him if he can transition to the mids. Pou to i guess as i agree Ross loves him.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

FB: Silvagni Howard O'Connell
HB: Nas Wilkie Sinclair
C: Ryan Windhager Wilson
HF: Sharman King Hall
FF: Butler Marshall Higgins
Foll: TDK Macrae Flanders

Int: Hill, Tauru, Phillipou, Caminiti, Owens

Travaglia, Boxshall, Henry, Garcia, Wood, Clark, Collard, Dodson, Keeler, Stocker, Hastie, Byrnes.

Abit different to other's, l like it.

 

[saintmike65]

I would be surprised if Boxshall is not best 23 at the outset of next year. He provides a point of diference around the ball with his strong presence.

He had as good or better first year the Windy, NWM, Owens and Hugo as a comparison.

I rate his outlook more favourably then the majority on our list.

One of the main players i look forward to watching each week.

Both Boxshall and Garcia would be on the interchange bench in my team

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

My two's team without the vfl listed players

B. Barrat Armstrong Stocker

H.B. Clark Tauru  Fincher

C. Banfield Boxshall Byrnes

H.F. Dow Keeler Hill

F. Collard Caminiti Said

Foll. Dodson Carroll Garcia

I/C. McDonald, O'Connell, train-on pick?

 

[hangdog]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wood and Hall pushed out of the 23 this year.

Hall or Hill?

 

[stfan]

I’m

hoping this a typo and you mean Hill not hall

Nope, as he has 2 Halls and one Hill on the bench.