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Strategy Best 23 - 2026

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Jen2310 said:
Reef. Moore. Maynard
Quaynor. Howe. Houston
Lippa. Pendlebury. J Daicos
Schultz. Membrey. Beau
Elliott. Mcstay. Hill
Cameron. Nick. Jordy
Perryman. Crisp. Long. West. Sidebottom


I'd think Buller gets first crack, given he can second ruck.
Click to expand...
Agree Jen2310. You'd presume it'll be McStay + Buller and either Membrey or West.

Big tick for Josh on the wing.

Also not sure how anyone can watch us last season and think Frampton shouldn't start at FB. Reef will have to earn his spot in my opinion and don't want Howe anywhere near CHB.

I'd also prefer Roan Steele over Lippa on the wing.

Edit: Lol at Zero Hanger dropping Long.
 
Peters_Nuts said:
Agree Jen2310. You'd presume it'll be McStay + Buller and either Membrey or West.

Big tick for Josh on the wing.

Also not sure how anyone can watch us last season and think Frampton shouldn't start at FB. Reef will have to earn his spot in my opinion and don't want Howe anywhere near CHB.

I'd also prefer Roan Steele over Lippa on the wing.

Edit: Lol at Zero Hanger dropping Long.
Click to expand...
We'll see fairly quick once they return and do the Team A v Team B
But I think it's very possible to play both Reef and Frampton imo Last match play senario I saw, they tried that exact thing.
But would just mean someone that played defence might have to move in a different position.

WHO’S TIPPED FOR A 2026 BREAKOUT?​

Forgotten quickly after his ACL injury early this year, Reef McInnes will be back to stake a claim to play the third tall defender spot that has eluded Collingwood since Nathan Murphy’s unfortunate retirement. McInnes has the right attributes and the Pies loved his work in defence through the pre-season. He should get a crack at it nice and early.
 
Jen2310 said:
We'll see fairly quick once they return and do the Team A v Team B
But I think it's very possible to play both Reef and Frampton imo Last match play senario I saw, they tried that exact thing.
But would just mean someone that played defence might have to move in a different position.

WHO’S TIPPED FOR A 2026 BREAKOUT?​

Forgotten quickly after his ACL injury early this year, Reef McInnes will be back to stake a claim to play the third tall defender spot that has eluded Collingwood since Nathan Murphy’s unfortunate retirement. McInnes has the right attributes and the Pies loved his work in defence through the pre-season. He should get a crack at it nice and early.
Click to expand...
Given five on the bench you can probably have a tallish defender as cover. We have heaps of lads that can play mid and as a medium running defender.

The conjecture may be over if they go with three tall forwards, plus one on the bench. But Membrey may make it hard to drop him - could be argued he is more a tallish medium, and if Cameron gets injured it allows Buller assume that role, two forward and one resting. So not really top heavy.

Still leaves two mids and a small forward on the bench.
 

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Mick F said:
Given five on the bench you can probably have a tallish defender as cover. We have heaps of lads that can play mid and as a medium running defender.

The conjecture may be over if they go with three tall forwards, plus one on the bench. But Membrey may make it hard to drop him - could be argued he is more a tallish medium, and if Cameron gets injured it allows Buller assume that role, two forward and one resting. So not really top heavy.

Still leaves two mids and a small forward on the bench.
Click to expand...
Yeah, i'm curious what they do with the 5th player on the bench. Do you use it for an extra defender (gives more options to have Perryman to float through the middle) another forward? Give Oscar exposure alongside Cameron?
 
Josh Daicos full time mid this year. Has to be done.
 
Jen2310 said:
Yeah, i'm curious what they do with the 5th player on the bench. Do you use it for an extra defender (gives more options to have Perryman to float through the middle) another forward? Give Oscar exposure alongside Cameron?
Click to expand...
Fly is very "horses for courses", so it'll vary of course.

Until last year I felt he tended to pick best available, but obviously we tried more regular spelling payers. Maybe back to picking blokes for longer stretches?

I hope they all go well, but I'd love to see Ed get more wing time, and a one of the young KPFs to shine, likely Buller.

The other one is Perryman into the square, I think he makes so few errors and is quietly effective. Happy for Sidey and Josh to run the wings with help.
 
Jen2310 said:
Reef. Moore. Maynard
Quaynor. Howe. Houston
Lippa. Pendlebury. J Daicos
Schultz. Membrey. Beau
Elliott. Mcstay. Hill
Cameron. Nick. Jordy
Perryman. Crisp. Long. West. Sidebottom


I'd think Buller gets first crack, given he can second ruck.
Click to expand...
You and Swoop seem sold on Reef as our third tall defender-I'm not convinced from the tiny sample size I saw last year. He deserves a chance, but you seem convinced he's the man for the job.
 
domus said:
You and Swoop seem sold on Reef as our third tall defender-I'm not convinced from the tiny sample size I saw last year. He deserves a chance, but you seem convinced he's the man for the job.
Click to expand...
I am optimistic on him, but fwiw, that team isn't my team, but one posted in that HS article.
 
Jen2310 said:
We'll see fairly quick once they return and do the Team A v Team B
But I think it's very possible to play both Reef and Frampton imo Last match play senario I saw, they tried that exact thing.
But would just mean someone that played defence might have to move in a different position.

WHO’S TIPPED FOR A 2026 BREAKOUT?​

Forgotten quickly after his ACL injury early this year, Reef McInnes will be back to stake a claim to play the third tall defender spot that has eluded Collingwood since Nathan Murphy’s unfortunate retirement. McInnes has the right attributes and the Pies loved his work in defence through the pre-season. He should get a crack at it nice and early.
Click to expand...

would give us the opportunity to play Howe at either of the ground if Reef can stake his claim as one of the 3 tall backs
 
Soups said:
Josh Daicos full time mid this year. Has to be done.
Click to expand...

i prefer him off half back with spurts in the midfield if needed, ie the GC last qtr game

the fact he can kick 50m off either foot really is a weapon coming off half back, makes switching the ball from one side of the ground to the other so much quicker and less predictable, opens up the opposition
 

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Best 23 2026

B: Maynard - Moore - Howe

HB: Perryman - Frampton - Houston

M: J. Daicos - N. Daicos - Crisp

HF: De Goey - West - Schultz

F: Elliot - Buller - Hill

FOLL: Cameron - Quaynor - Long

Int: Pendlebury, Sidebottom, McCreery, Membrey, Lipinski

Emergency: McStay, Steele, Harrison
 
ksardog said:
i prefer him off half back with spurts in the midfield if needed, ie the GC last qtr game

the fact he can kick 50m off either foot really is a weapon coming off half back, makes switching the ball from one side of the ground to the other so much quicker and less predictable, opens up the opposition
Click to expand...
Depends on what form Houston brings I would imagine.

If JD could give GC last quarter domination more frequently because he’s playing a higher midfield % we are in a better position imo.
 
What I think we'll start with:

FB: Howe Frampton Maynard
HB: Quaynor Moore Houston
C: Steele DeGoey Jaicos
HF: Schultz McStay Hill
FF: Elliott Buller Membrey
Foll: Cameron Naicos Long
I/C: McCreery, Pendles, Sidebottom, Perryman, Crisp

I really want to see a combination Parker, West, Allan and Reef in there by mid-season.
 
Anyone who thinks we are going to have a good season let alone any best 23 on the park consistently is delusional. The end is not approaching it’s here. No back up ruck or key defenders, a huge hole between in age between our best and the rest. The rest being Nick and that’s it.
My prediction is we won’t play the same 23 two times in a row the whole season and the next flag is a decade or more away. Nick to take the 3 million offered by the devils.
 

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like to see mcstay play as pure key forward with no second ruck duties ...buller for that
Aussie pie said:
Anyone who thinks we are going to have a good season let alone any best 23 on the park consistently is delusional. The end is not approaching it’s here. No back up ruck or key defenders, a huge hole between in age between our best and the rest. The rest being Nick and that’s it.
My prediction is we won’t play the same 23 two times in a row the whole season and the next flag is a decade or more away. Nick to take the 3 million offered by the devils.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
cfc19902010 said:
like to see mcstay play as pure key forward with no second ruck duties ...buller for that
Click to expand...
Seems what will happen
Ive seen multiple players do ruck craft yesterday. Mcstay not one of them.
 
Aussie pie said:
Anyone who thinks we are going to have a good season let alone any best 23 on the park consistently is delusional. The end is not approaching it’s here. No back up ruck or key defenders, a huge hole between in age between our best and the rest. The rest being Nick and that’s it.
My prediction is we won’t play the same 23 two times in a row the whole season and the next flag is a decade or more away. Nick to take the 3 million offered by the devils.
Click to expand...
Honestly i thought this at the start of last year too. People are too focused on the "oldest list in history" crap when its skewed by a freak in Pendlebury and his sidekick in Sidey blowing it out. The other "oldies" are still performing at a high level similar to Geelongs 33-34 year old fossils. Both teams made the last 4 of the year and arguably Geelong were the best team all year up until half time of the GF. Were up against it but with a well overdue kiss on the pecker from the injury gods in relation to DeGoey, Howe and McCreery in particular and releasing Nick and Josh in the midfield with Houston given a licence to use that thing at the bottom of his right leg that we recruited him for a lot more the core of our prospects for the year isn't relying on blokes in their mid 30s. They can be the icing on the cake in the big moments which they've proved time and time again is invaluable.

Of course this could all be an overly optimistic load of shit but that's how i prefer to approach a season until evidence suggests otherwise. Im pretty sure Fly who just signed on and is as competitive as any bastard going around isn't going to give up and just brace for a rebuild with the list we have for the here and now. Learn from the mistakes of last year and deny these Brisbane pricks the softest threepeat of all time. Everyone has written us off. Lets prove the campaigners wrong and get this thing
 
Pistol Night said:
Honestly i thought this at the start of last year too. People are too focused on the "oldest list in history" crap when its skewed by a freak in Pendlebury and his sidekick in Sidey blowing it out. The other "oldies" are still performing at a high level similar to Geelongs 33-34 year old fossils. Both teams made the last 4 of the year and arguably Geelong were the best team all year up until half time of the GF. Were up against it but with a well overdue kiss on the pecker from the injury gods in relation to DeGoey, Howe and McCreery in particular and releasing Nick and Josh in the midfield with Houston given a licence to use that thing at the bottom of his right leg that we recruited him for a lot more the core of our prospects for the year isn't relying on blokes in their mid 30s. They can be the icing on the cake in the big moments which they've proved time and time again is invaluable.

Of course this could all be an overly optimistic load of shit but that's how i prefer to approach a season until evidence suggests otherwise. Im pretty sure Fly who just signed on and is as competitive as any bastard going around isn't going to give up and just brace for a rebuild with the list we have for the here and now. Learn from the mistakes of last year and deny these Brisbane pricks the softest threepeat of all time. Everyone has written us off. Lets prove the campaigners wrong and get this thing
Click to expand...

This is the thinking I'm here for and I agree.

I think finals is a realistic expectation. I just need explanation from someone on how we're going to get worse other than "if we get injuries we're screwed". That's the same for every team in the comp except Brisbane whose list is just absurdly good. We copped an injury every week last season to the point where our key defenders were Moore and Dean for a while yet we still made a prelim.

We can learn a lot from last season for the better:
  • Josh to the midfield
  • Houston the distributor off half back
  • McStay to stay in the square and avoid second ruck duties
  • Perryman is a viable midfield option when given the opportunity. As is Beau.
  • Stop resting players and play the season out. I don't want to hear about "heavy training loads" until we mathematically are a lock for top 4.
We also had zero depth last season because our VFL was gutted by injuries in: West, Macrae, Sullivan, Ryan, Jiath. Through that though we saw potential in Howes and Demattia, along with improvement from Steene.

Maybe I'm just too optimistic though when I think of 2026, I see more improvement than I see regression.

If we get killed by St.Kilda in opening round then I'll come back, delete this post and complain about extending Fly.
 
Jen2310 said:
If anyone is expecting Josh to be anything more than midfield cameo, will be disappointed from what ive seen so far.
Click to expand...
Seeing this alongside reports that Quaynor is spending time with the mids is making me irrationally angry
 

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