Strategy Best 23 for Season 2026

[CatToTheFuture]

When's the massive physical development starting? He's not a defender so he needs to find a way to go past Bruhn, Atkins or Worpel fairly soon. Clark is probably relying on Bruhn being rusty after a year off, or Worpel having another injury ruined year - if he's to break into our core midfield group next season.

We had very few injuries after we got the backline back together. It's not inconcievable he plays more than a dozen games

 

[Mr Meow]

We had very few injuries after we got the backline back together. It's not inconcievable he plays more than a dozen games

How many as a full time midfielder though? Back up defender who can't defend and isn't an elite distributor = not what I'm looking out for with his development.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

When's the massive physical development starting? He's not a defender so he needs to find a way to go past Bruhn, Atkins or Worpel fairly soon. Clark is probably relying on Bruhn being rusty after a year off, or Worpel having another injury ruined year - if he's to break into our core midfield group next season.

They will likely continue to play him at half back (whether you or i agree with it) until his body is developed enough for midfield.

 

[Mr Meow]

They will likely continue to play him at half back (whether you or i agree with it) until his body is developed enough for midfield.

I have Stewart, Zuthrie, Holmes, Humphries, Bowes, COS and O'Connor ahead of him as half back options.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Clark needs a massive spike imo.

Holding form or a slight improvement ain't gonna cut it.

I hope he surprises me and comes into the new year looking like a man, not a child.

Wouldn't put $1 on it though.

Plenty of complete busts have shown good signs here and there in games like Clark has.

4th year in the system coming up, and it's time for him to contribute in full games as a net positive (that's a huge swing needed).

I was all over Bruhn after he'd only been in the system 2x years... Clark is tracking even worse.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Always a few variables from one season to the next - form / injuries / team balance and how they want to set up for preferred gameplan.

The question marks or variables for me are as follows:

-- How does Clark slot into our best 22 with the likely addition of Bruhn and Worpel (both better players)
-- How many games does Conway play and what impact does that have on where Blicavs lines up
-- And further to above point - SDK's form might also impact where he plays and whether we start to see Blicavs spend more time in D50.
-- A full season of peak Tom Stewart (or close to) would be a big plus after this years bad run of injuries
-- Which version of Ollie Henry do we get? Surely that's the rocket he needs missing finals selection.
-- Is MOC in our best 22 most of next season?
-- How much more improvement do we get from COS? The bloke could play anywhere and be anything.
-- And do we see a breakout year from Mullin as our much needed lock down run with defender who can play a midfield tag or sit on an opposition small forward?

Still reckon we have a list that stacks up very well against the best in the league. A bit of luck with injuries and what form teams are in when we play them could easily see us contend again.

 

[Footy Smarts]

When's the massive physical development starting? He's not a defender so he needs to find a way to go past Bruhn, Atkins or Worpel fairly soon. Clark is probably relying on Bruhn being rusty after a year off, or Worpel having another injury ruined year - if he's to break into our core midfield group next season.

He was stronger this year than last year. He was starting to fight through tackles and stick his own ones. Like with Z Guthrie it takes time but there's nothing to suggest he won't have the strength to compete in time.

He sure looked like a defender in the prelim. Even in big chunks of the GF he looked solid down there. A couple of bad moments and suddenly he's "not a defender" when he played a better game 2 games ago than someone like Bews has is many years.

Individually Clark was easily our biggest positive from the finals. He came from nowhere and played a key role in the PF. He's never played a game close to that level before and it showed her can be a really good AFL player. But he's a whipping boy with the weight of being a top pick hanging over him so he's copped more than most after the GF.

The coaching staff know his potential. They saw it in training and picked him for finals off zero form. As long as he ticks the boxes at training he'll be playing early in the season. And the chance he gets delisted this year is basically zero. We're keeping guys like Knevitt and Wiltshire around who are 18+ months older and have shown a fraction as much talent as Clark.

 

[Jumping Jack]

He was stronger this year than last year. He was starting to fight through tackles and stick his own ones. Like with Z Guthrie it takes time but there's nothing to suggest he won't have the strength to compete in time.

He sure looked like a defender in the prelim. Even in big chunks of the GF he looked solid down there. A couple of bad moments and suddenly he's "not a defender" when he played a better game 2 games ago than someone like Bews has is many years.

Individually Clark was easily our biggest positive from the finals. He came from nowhere and played a key role in the PF. He's never played a game close to that level before and it showed her can be a really good AFL player. But he's a whipping boy with the weight of being a top pick hanging over him so he's copped more than most after the GF.

The coaching staff know his potential. They saw it in training and picked him for finals off zero form. As long as he ticks the boxes at training he'll be playing early in the season. And the chance he gets delisted this year is basically zero. We're keeping guys like Knevitt and Wiltshire around who are 18+ months older and have shown a fraction as much talent as Clark.

I think Clark only played finals (GF in particular) because he was needed after we lost the likes of Tom Stewart from a defensive standpoint. Moot point now but I still think with hindsight they probably should have played Bews as a lockdown.

As for Knevitt and Wiltshire, I can't see how either of those blokes play more than 5 - 10 games between them unless we've had a terrible run of injuries. Both are there as depth only. Wiltshire having a spot on arguably a top 2-3 level AFL team list is actually hard to comprehend.

 

[standupand]

Always a few variables from one season to the next - form / injuries / team balance and how they want to set up for preferred gameplan.

The question marks or variables for me are as follows:

-- How does Clark slot into our best 22 with the likely addition of Bruhn and Worpel (both better players)
-- How many games does Conway play and what impact does that have on where Blicavs lines up
-- And further to above point - SDK's form might also impact where he plays and whether we start to see Blicavs spend more time in D50.
-- A full season of peak Tom Stewart (or close to) would be a big plus after this years bad run of injuries
-- Which version of Ollie Henry do we get? Surely that's the rocket he needs missing finals selection.
-- Is MOC in our best 22 most of next season?
-- How much more improvement do we get from COS? The bloke could play anywhere and be anything.
-- And do we see a breakout year from Mullin as our much needed lock down run with defender who can play a midfield tag or sit on an opposition small forward?

Still reckon we have a list that stacks up very well against the best in the league. A bit of luck with injuries and what form teams are in when we play them could easily see us contend again.

Another question for me is how much does Danger get managed through the season.

He played 23 games in 2025. Last time he played that many was 2019.

My view is that you need your captain out there week in week out if you can. But the flip side is having him primed for finals. The difference between his best and worst was highlighted in the PF and GF.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Another question for me is how much does Danger get managed through the season.

He played 23 games in 2025. Last time he played that many was 2019.

My view is that you need your captain out there week in week out if you can. But the flip side is having him primed for finals. The difference between his best and worst was highlighted in the PF and GF.

I think danger was managed pretty well and they had him in great shape come finals. His prelim final was one for the ages, but unfortunately he'll be remembered for a poor grand final under some very challenging circumstances.

I don't think the full story has come out as yet, but he was well below 100%. The club has stayed quiet for obvious reasons and not wanting to be seen to make excuses. But Geelong was a bit stiff that their three biggest on-ground "influencers" were missing for various reasons.
-- Stewart out due to concussion protocols (vice captain / backline general / AA star)
-- Cameron with a broken arm (and possibly concussion) (AA Captain and club leading goal kicker & Star forward)
-- Dangerfield unwell and apparently vomiting in the rooms before & during the game (Our captain and AA star)

The Cats will stay quiet and take their medicine with the result, but imagine being told before a grand final that arguably your most important 3 players are shot down like that.

 

[NonRollingStoneScribe]

Anyone with any intel about what Nathan Buckley is bringing to training? He's clearly got a good football brain, but I'm interested in how he might help the Cats get that one step further.

 

[CHAWKS2]

Don't be surprised to see Atkins in the backline at times ala 2021. Especially with his age I suspect his stoppage or even time on ground will be tuned down a bit. The crash and bash role at stoppages will be shared.

I agree that we'll see Holmes rotate to half back to give us a bit more drive from there like in 2024.

Remember it wasn't long ago that Scott rolled with 6 or 7 midfield rotations and reduced time on ground for players so that they could give short, sharp bursts. It wasn't possible last year so we ran our main 3 into the ground. Then you have 3 players without ultra elite footskills giving some tired turnover kicks. Bits of the old rotation model could be applied to address this.

For stoppage and centrebounce attendance it'll be a case of supporting and enhancing Holmes/Smith's work there, rather than a massive overhaul that sees them reposition as primary wingmen. We obviously do really rate Dempsey and Miers work on the wings already too.

Your comment about 6-7 midfielders with mid 60% is interesting as I noticed it too last year that our mids went more to the 80% type. Maybe that was because Atkins was alone for his “type” (with tanner not there and danger playing forward) and also maybe given the taggers being in there?

I am going to be fascinated to see what happens this year with 5 on the bench, Worpel and Tanner probably being best 23…will Miers get similar, more or less time through the middle? Will Mannagh get to centre bounces (or just stay in contest from half forward?). Will Dempsey go through as a different type?

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Your comment about 6-7 midfielders with mid 60% is interesting as I noticed it too last year that our mids went more to the 80% type. Maybe that was because Atkins was alone for his “type” (with tanner not there and danger playing forward) and also maybe given the taggers being in there?

I am going to be fascinated to see what happens this year with 5 on the bench, Worpel and Tanner probably being best 23…will Miers get similar, more or less time through the middle? Will Mannagh get to centre bounces (or just stay in contest from half forward?). Will Dempsey go through as a different type?

I think in '24 the coaches knew we didn't have the talent to match it with the best, so we tried to manage that by simply flooding the rotations via weight of numbers and keeping players fresh.

We didn't have Smith. Holmes was a halfback, Atkins hadn't stepped up, and Dangerfield was either unavailable, or needing to be managed.

In '25, we did have the talent to match the best, but only with our core three in Smith, Holmes, and Atkins, and it dropped away from there big time.

I'd say next year will be about finding the balance between those two approaches.

You add Worpel and Bruhn in, and suddenly its five viable options running through there as proper midfielders. Not the best in the league or anything, but they're viable, and it should allow us to spread the load a bit better.

If someone like Dempsey or Miers could run through there too as you mention, then that helps our cause even more.

Something like this looks a lot better than what we've had recently, and should hold us in good stead against anyone not named Brisbane.

C: Dempsey - Smith - Holmes
FO: De Koning - Worpel - Bruhn

I/C: Atkins, Miers

 

[CHAWKS2]

I think in '24 the coaches knew we didn't have the talent to match it with the best, so we tried to manage that by simply flooding the rotations via weight of numbers and keeping players fresh.

We didn't have Smith. Holmes was a halfback, Atkins hadn't stepped up, and Dangerfield was either unavailable, or needing to be managed.

In '25, we did have the talent to match the best, but only with our core three in Smith, Holmes, and Atkins, and it dropped away from there big time.

I'd say next year will be about finding the balance between those two approaches.

You add Worpel and Bruhn in, and suddenly its five viable options running through there as proper midfielders. Not the best in the league or anything, but they're viable, and it should allow us to spread the load a bit better.

If someone like Dempsey or Miers could run through there too as you mention, then that helps our cause even more.

Something like this looks a lot better than what we've had recently, and should hold us in good stead against anyone not named Brisbane.

C: Dempsey - Smith - Holmes
FO: De Koning - Worpel - Bruhn

I/C: Atkins, Miers

yep...all makes sense

and of course I can't imagine we have such a clean sheet in terms of injuries. hope we do but expect we will need to test our depth. better next year than last as I think we have depth.

The trick of course is to not wear out our first choice midfield. and to also be able to mix it up when needed.

I wouldn't be surprised if Miers falls back into a high froward role. We also haven't seen Mannagh really attend CBA and I am not sure why...so we might have some different looks. Fascinated to see what they do with Mullin this year too

New midfield coach might want to put his stamp on things and might have different favourites?

Very interesting watch