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Prediction Best 23 - 2026 edition

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I'll go:

FBHoughEdwardsGinbey
HBDugganYoungStarcevich
CAllanMcCarthyDuursma
HFGrahamShanahanBaker
FFA.ReidWatermanCripps
RFlynnH.ReidYeo
IntKellyLindsayMaricHewett
Robertson

Of the omissions I can most envisage Hamish Davis on the Wing and Jacob Newton as a small forward finding their way as regulars into the senior team. I have hopes for a break-out campaign from Jack Williams and Jack Hutchinson as well but with less confidence.
 
Updated with full squad.
West Coast
B- Ginbey - H Edwards - Hough
HB- Lindsay - Young - Starcevich
C- Allan - Yeo - Duggan
HF- Baker - Shanahan - Duursma
F- Cripps - Waterman - CDT
R- Flynn - Harley - McCarthy
B- Graham - Hewett - A Reid - Kelly - Brockman
2ndR- A Reid - Hewett - Kelly - Graham

Beagles
B- Cole - Brock - Johnston
HB- Maric - Bazzo - Grego
C- Davis - Hall - Dewar
HF- Macrae - B Williams - Long
F- Owies - J Will - Hutchinson
R- Barnett - Dev - Schoenberg
B- Allen# - Gross- Newton - Champion - T Williams - Rodriguez - Jamieson* - A Johnson*
 
West Coast
FB Starcevich, Edwards, Hough
HB Ginbey, Young, McCarthy
C Duursma, Yeo, Allen
HF Davis, Watemen, Baker
FF CDT, Shanahan, Cripps
R Flynn, Reid, Hewett
INT Duggan, Linsday, Graham, Dewar, Robertson

Beagles
FB Cole, Brock, Johnston
HB Grego, bazzo, Maric
C S.Allen, Hall Brockman
HF Gross, Archer, T Williams
FF Owies, J Williams, Hutchison
R B Williams, Schoenburg, Macrae
INT Rodriguez, newton, Champion, long, barnett
 
West Coast
FB Starcevich, Edwards, Hough
HB Ginbey, Young, McCarthy
C Duursma, Yeo, Allen
HF Davis, Watemen, Baker
FF CDT, Shanahan, Cripps
R Flynn, Reid, Hewett
INT Duggan, Linsday, Graham, Dewar, Robertson

Beagles
FB Cole, Brock, Johnston
HB Grego, bazzo, Maric
C S.Allen, Hall Brockman
HF Gross, Archer, T Williams
FF Owies, J Williams, Hutchison
R B Williams, Schoenburg, Macrae
INT Rodriguez, newton, Champion, long, barnett
The thing I like most about the 2 teams you’ve put forward is that it looks like you’ve left Kelly out of both, I’m ok with that.
 

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AFL
FB: Ginbey Brock Hough
HB: Lindsay Young Starcevich
C: McCarthy Yeo Dewar
HF: Hewett Waterman Duursma
FF: Cripps Shanahan Duff-Tytler
R: B Williams H Reid Baker
INT: Graham Duggan Maric Gross Kelly

WAFL
FB: Barnett Edwards Cole
HB: Grego Bazzo Allan
C: Allen Robertson Davis
HF: Hutchinson J Williams T Williams
FF: Brockman A Reid Newton
R: Flynn Hall Rodriguez
INT: Macrae Schoenberg Long Champion Owies Johnston
 
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What next year looks like won't just be what people think it should to start with, but I can see towards the end of the year it looking different.

Round 1

AFL
FB: Ginbey edwards Hough
HB: Tmac Young Starcevich
C: Davis Yeo duursma
HF: gross Waterman baker
FF: Cripps Shanahan hutch
R: B Williams H Reid hewett
INT: Graham Duggan Areid Kelly Dev

Emergency Hall TylahW CDT

The experienced on field leaders. Duggan Cripps Yeo Graham kelly Dev all play. Remaining fit I can only see Yeo Graham and Dev still being there after the bye.


When you consider who misses out, all of a sudden we have some flexibility and depth.

The absolute non negotiable is those who miss out dominate in the WAFL, putting selection pressure on the others.

Then, the other variable that's unavoidable.....injury. Historically, across the competition, about 3 best 23s don't make round 1, 6 best 23 are out by round 12. And then the depth juggling/mix gets shaken up.

Lastly, the win/loss/% will also determine a settled line up, vs magnets getting thrown around.
 
My best guess:

Ginbey / Edwards / Hough
Starcevich / Young / Yeo
Duursma / Baker / McCarthy
Cripps / Shanahan / Brockman
Long / Waterman / Owies
Flynn / H.Reid / Kelly / Hewett

INT: Archer Reid, Tom Gross, Deven Robertson, Liam Duggan, Jack Hutchinson

I think CDT, Lindsay, Maric etc will start the year in the WAFL.
 
My best guess:

Ginbey / Edwards / Hough
Starcevich / Young / Yeo
Duursma / Baker / McCarthy
Cripps / Shanahan / Brockman
Long / Waterman / Owies
Flynn / H.Reid / Kelly / Hewett

INT: Archer Reid, Tom Gross, Deven Robertson, Liam Duggan, Jack Hutchinson

I think CDT, Lindsay, Maric etc will start the year in the WAFL.
I think Brockman is the only small forward I would have in my 23 out of that lot. Round 1 is going to be interesting
 

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I don't think we will see the big CDT in for the start of the season. I think he will end up with a handful of games racked up next year, but they will be in patches in the back half of the year.

Duursma on the other hand. If he has a solid preseason I think you have to reward him with a guaranteed block of weeks in the league from round 1. Then maybe a rest week or two in the WAFL
 
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.
I think there’s very little chance, barring injury, Cripps doesn’t start the year in our R1 side.

This is sort of a general “all going well here’s broadly where we should be getting to” idea for mine.
 

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My best guess:

Ginbey / Edwards / Hough
Starcevich / Young / Yeo
Duursma / Baker / McCarthy
Cripps / Shanahan / Brockman
Long / Waterman / Owies
Flynn / H.Reid / Kelly / Hewett

INT: Archer Reid, Tom Gross, Deven Robertson, Liam Duggan, Jack Hutchinson

I think CDT, Lindsay, Maric etc will start the year in the WAFL.
Owies, Long and Cripps in the same forward line is putrid

(Not your fault for putting them there as I assume you're guessing what we'll do)
 
AFL
B: Starcevich, Edwards, Hough
HB: Ginbey, Young, McCarthy
C: Davis, Yeo, Duursma
HF: Hewett, Shanahan, Baker
FF: Kelly, Waterman, Cripps
FOLL: Flynn, Reid, Graham
INT: Duggan, Allan, Dev, A Reid, Brockman


WAFL
B: Cole, Brock, Grego
HB: Lindsay, Bazzo, Johnston
C: Maric, Mcrae, Dewar
HF: Gross, Hutch, Rodriguez
FF: Owies, J Williams, Newton
FOLL: B Williams, Hall, Schoenberg
INT: Champion, CDT, T Williams, Barnett.

Starting to look like a half decent team and the WAFL would be the stongest we have had?
 
I'm hoping Gross develops his body strongly during preseason and pushes for selection early. Put any doubt in Mini's mind he's not physically ready for AFL. Otherwise his midfield bench spot will be between Hall and Robertson.
Allan in the midfield is still a massive unknown, I'd like him to rack up disposals in the WAFL before seeing him get a chance at AFL level. It's startling to see the change in opinion of him from when he was drafted, despite barely doing anything in his first season due to injury.
I still think Hutchinson won't make it as a full time midfielder and he's best shot is as a forward/mid.
Rodriguez claiming his stake next year would be a massive bonus to have more midfield depth.
Schoenberg & Macrae were delisted for a reason, so they will likely spend a year in the WAFL and be moved on. Can't see them playing much AFL.
 
My best guess:

Ginbey / Edwards / Hough
Starcevich / Young / Yeo
Duursma / Baker / McCarthy
Cripps / Shanahan / Brockman
Long / Waterman / Owies
Flynn / H.Reid / Kelly / Hewett

INT: Archer Reid, Tom Gross, Deven Robertson, Liam Duggan, Jack Hutchinson

I think CDT, Lindsay, Maric etc will start the year in the WAFL.
You've got 19 players on the field
It would be nice if our small forwards learned how to forward during this preseason
 

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Prediction Best 23 - 2026 edition

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