Prediction Best 22 - 2026

[stavro#4]

Carroll has been training in the half back role and I think looking pretty comfortable.

I find it amusing how so many dont believe a player can learn a new role eg half back or even develop into a lock down role. A lot of time they just need opportunity and thats exactly what Carroll will get across half back as he wont break into the midfield.

Nas will play predominantly midfield and subjectively Carroll could play in front of Clark (too slow) and Travaglia (cant kick) and has a way to go.



I partially agree, but from what Ryan has shown at training he is coming from a long way back fitness wise. The small forwards have to get up and back the ground quickly in todays game and I cant see Lyon making allowances for a player struggling to cover the ground regardless of how he was attracted to the club. He is 29yo so there may be a reason WCE were happy to release him from his contract? Again its my opinion but I have never rated his work rate.

Ryan is an All Australian small forward. He tore us apart in the only game west coast won last year.

Even if he needs to drop a few KGs which I might add isn’t confirmed. It’s pure speculation, he is mercurial and the only small forward we have as good in the air as he is on ground level - whilst having X factor to bust open a game in 5 minutes.

You have been against his recruitment from day 1 and that’s fine. But until he shows everyone else he isn’t worth a spot in our best side in round 1. That’s exactly where he will be if he is fit. He is a good footballer and he will be the 5th or 6th banana after often being the 2nd man on a defensive scouting report for eagles opposition the last few years.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

Ryan is an All Australian small forward. He tore us apart in the only game west coast won last year.

Even if he needs to drop a few KGs which I might add isn’t confirmed. It’s pure speculation, he is mercurial and the only small forward we have as good in the air as he is on ground level - whilst having X factor to bust open a game in 5 minutes.

You have been against his recruitment from day 1 and that’s fine. But until he shows everyone else he isn’t worth a spot in our best side in round 1. That’s exactly where he will be if he is fit. He is a good footballer and he will be the 5th or 6th banana after often being the 2nd man on a defensive scouting report for eagles opposition the last few years.

One game doesnt make him a reliable player and he made the AA team 5 years ago. He simply does not impact games consistently with his work rate or goal kicking IMO. He does have X factor but so did Gresham and I put Ryan in the same boat, an enigma.

If Lyon goes off your mantra that he has to prove he is not worth a position in the side then we are faaarked. We are back to the 2009 years when the developing kids had no chance of getting a game consistently. Players getting games on reputation not performance!

 

[gringo2011]

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. 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.

King is going to be a massive part of our future improvement but realistically the biggest surge will come if we get all those guys going that had below average years, injury or at a point in the development where they might jump fast.

King, Wood, Butler, Dow, Carroll, Stocker, Clark, Henry, Howard, King, McCrae, Phillipou all injured or down years.

Wilson, Windhager, Owens, Boxshall, Caminiti, Collard, Dodson, Garcia, Hall, Nas, Keeler, LOC, Phillipou, Trav, Tauru, Hastie all have massive growth potential.

Throw in the new recruits in TDK, Flanders and JSOS ad we are starting to look very deep.

Even guys like Byrnes and Sharman have the potential to step up still in a better side.

 

[Armoooo]

Very similar to how I'd set the team up, just wouldn't have Stocker or Wood in.
LOC I'd have as a lockdown defender and Boxshall would be on my bench.

I feel like Stocker is about olayer 35 on our list in terms of talent, but i just dont have faith in anyone else being a better lockdown small.

IIRC it was you who was the first to sing Halls praises last year wasn't it? Hopefully LOC can be your next success.

Even though I can't fit Boxshall in my 23, I expect he'll play most games, he looks a beauty.

 

[saintmike65]

I really rate Hastie.

I’ve been watching replays of our wins from this season and he is so prominent when it matters in a few - especially as a player coming on late as a sub.

Just big in the key moments. Spoil or a mark or a clean disposal.

190cm and plays smaller. I really think there is a player there to work with.

I like him too but have concerns about his footskills coming out of defensive 50

 

[gringo2011]

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.

Hall is probably our second best player this year. If he's pushed out he's had a massive form collapse. Actually I just realised you probably meant to type Hill.....I which case I agree.

 

[saintmike65]

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.

Hall and Wilson need to be part of the rotation

 

[gringo2011]

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.

I reckon he's going to be on the fringes a bit more this year. The new players are going to make it hard for a few kids to get games. Garcia looks ahead of him so probably gets first crack. Wilson and Windhager are going to be getting plenty of minutes. Hall and Nas are going to get more mid time too. It's going to get super tight and lots of very good players will be in the VFL.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Carroll has been training in the half back role and I think looking pretty comfortable.

I find it amusing how so many dont believe a player can learn a new role eg half back or even develop into a lock down role. A lot of time they just need opportunity and thats exactly what Carroll will get across half back as he wont break into the midfield.

Nas will play predominantly midfield and subjectively Carroll could play in front of Clark (too slow) and Travaglia (cant kick) and has a way to go.



I partially agree, but from what Ryan has shown at training he is coming from a long way back fitness wise. The small forwards have to get up and back the ground quickly in todays game and I cant see Lyon making allowances for a player struggling to cover the ground regardless of how he was attracted to the club. He is 29yo so there may be a reason WCE were happy to release him from his contract? Again its my opinion but I have never rated his work rate.

I reckon we simply see Higgo a bit further up the ground whilst Ryan stays closer to home.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

I reckon we simply see Higgo a bit further up the ground whilst Ryan stays closer to home.

That wont preclude him from needing to be fit - you would think a bloke his age coming to a new club on a decent contract $$$ would present in tip top shape. From the training reports it sounds like we picked up another player who does very little in his down time. He has time to improve, but it would be a concern for the club Id expect.

If he can get back to his AA form he will be an asset, but Im concerned that is well past him.

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

That wont preclude him from needing to be fit - you would think a bloke his age coming to a new club on a decent contract $$$ would present in tip top shape. From the training reports it sounds like we picked up another player who does very little in his down time. He has time to improve, but it would be a concern for the club Id expect.

If he can get back to his AA form he will be an asset, but Im concerned that is well past him.

He has been there for 2 sessions.

 

[Sully111]

One game doesnt make him a reliable player and he made the AA team 5 years ago. He simply does not impact games consistently with his work rate or goal kicking IMO. He does have X factor but so did Gresham and I put Ryan in the same boat, an enigma.

If Lyon goes off your mantra that he has to prove he is not worth a position in the side then we are faaarked. We are back to the 2009 years when the developing kids had no chance of getting a game consistently. Players getting games on reputation not performance!

You can't deny the absolute rabble he's been playing for.

 

[stavro#4]

One game doesnt make him a reliable player and he made the AA team 5 years ago. He simply does not impact games consistently with his work rate or goal kicking IMO. He does have X factor but so did Gresham and I put Ryan in the same boat, an enigma.

If Lyon goes off your mantra that he has to prove he is not worth a position in the side then we are faaarked. We are back to the 2009 years when the developing kids had no chance of getting a game consistently. Players getting games on reputation not performance!

Higgins off a career season. Ryan the non reliable player according to you who has to prove he is worth a spot.

The “enigma”.

Reminder. The one on the left played for a rabble.

 

[TheSaintsAreComing!]

Higgins off a career season. Ryan the non reliable player according to you who has to prove he is worth a spot.

The “enigma”.

Reminder. The one on the left played for a rabble.

View attachment 2486777

If he’s anywhere near as good as Jack Higgins which I believe whos very much underrated Flyin Ryan will be a great pick up and btw Higgo is up to 63% for accuracy in the elite category Jack Higgins keeps improving year by year & now the best snap kick that’s ever played AFL including Stevie J.

 

[BrutThough]

If he’s anywhere near as good as Jack Higgins which I believe whos very much underrated Flyin Ryan will be a great pick up and btw Higgo is up to 63% for accuracy in the elite category Jack Higgins keeps improving year by year & now the best snap kick that’s ever played AFL including Stevie J.

We could suddenly have multiple weapons in the forward line for the first time in a long time.

 

[TheSaintsAreComing!]

We could suddenly have multiple weapons in the forward line for

Higgins off a career season. Ryan the non reliable player according to you who has to prove he is worth a spot.

The “enigma”.

Reminder. The one on the left played for a rabble.

View attachment 2486777

 

[TheSaintsAreComing!]

Higgins off a career season. Ryan the non reliable player according to you who has to prove he is worth a spot.

The “enigma”.

Reminder. The one on the left played for a rabble.

View attachment 2486777

And that’s that’s the great thing about it Higgins won’t have the hard lockdown tag all the time (like he was getting in 2025) Ryan gets off the leash and vice versa , considering we were 16th for inside 50s with a better team and growth from our midfield there will be more opportunities for our forward line including Ryan and Higgins so we should have very much improved output.

 

[stavro#4]

And that’s that’s the great thing about it Higgins won’t have the hard lockdown tag all the time (like he was getting in 2025) Ryan gets off the leash and vice versa , considering we were 16th for inside 50s with a better team and growth from our midfield there will be more opportunities for our forward line including Ryan and Higgins so we should have very much improved output.

King Marshall legitimate talls
Sharman Owens medium sized forwards
Higgins Ryan Hall as smaller forwards.

Plus, Phillipou Flanders Nas Macrae Wilson Garcia Boxshall who are all likely in our best side and will all see sometime up forward.

Then you have the likes of Wood Caminiti Butler Collard Keeler Henry all playing forward in the magoos and all have had games at AFL level of multiple goals.


It looks on paper like top 6 side.

 

[L_W_P]

I really rate Hastie.

I’ve been watching replays of our wins from this season and he is so prominent when it matters in a few - especially as a player coming on late as a sub.

Just big in the key moments. Spoil or a mark or a clean disposal.

190cm and plays smaller. I really think there is a player there to work with.

I think it's Hastie or LOC for that back pocket spot.

Stocker has to fight with Windy in the middle now IMO.

 

[L_W_P]

I reckon we simply see Higgo a bit further up the ground whilst Ryan stays closer to home.

Higgins had some insane stats rotating on ball as a junior.

Wouldn't be shocked if we try that again with Ryan playing the permanent small forward.

 

[ScrappyDo]

That wont preclude him from needing to be fit - you would think a bloke his age coming to a new club on a decent contract $$$ would present in tip top shape. From the training reports it sounds like we picked up another player who does very little in his down time. He has time to improve, but it would be a concern for the club Id expect.

If he can get back to his AA form he will be an asset, but Im concerned that is well past him.

Club wouldn't be remotely concerned. They would have known what they were buying and even over paid a little.

 

[ScrappyDo]

Higgins had some insane stats rotating on ball as a junior.

Wouldn't be shocked if we try that again with Ryan playing the permanent small forward.

Higgo has the best creativity and game sense in our whole squad. He can be a real advantage rotating at HF .

 

[SaintsSeptember]

FB : Hastie Silvagni Wilkie
HB: NWM Howard Sinclair.
C: Wood Macrae. Wilson
HF: Marshall. Ryan Sharman
FF: Higgins. King Hall

R: Windhager. Flanders. TDK.

Bench: Hill, Flanders, Phillipou, Henry , Owens.

Emg: Clark , Boxhall, Butler.

Then:Byrnes Stocker, Dow, Collard, Travaglia, , Keeler Carroll, Tauru, Caminiti .

Then we start to test our depth.

 

[TheSaintsAreComing!]

Higgo has the best creativity and game sense in our whole squad. He can be a real advantage rotating at HF .

Possibly but Higgo kicked 30 of his 46 goals within 30 m from goal so they wouldn’t want to take that asset away!

 

[Saintbloke]

I feel like Stocker is about olayer 35 on our list in terms of talent, but i just dont have faith in anyone else being a better lockdown small.

IIRC it was you who was the first to sing Halls praises last year wasn't it? Hopefully LOC can be your next success.

Even though I can't fit Boxshall in my 23, I expect he'll play most games, he looks a beauty.

I recon Boxshall will be the big improver next season