Our Best 23 2026 Cannot change once selected

[Eraser]

B: Miller, Gibcus, Broad
HB: Short, Vlastuin, Banks
C: Trainor, Ross, Grlj
HF: Hotton, Campbell, Mansell
F: Faull, Lynch, Lalor
Foll: Nankervis, Taranto, Hopper

I: Brown, Balta, Rioli, Cumming, Trezise

Assuming Smillie won't be ready and Meatball bathes in a fine ragu.

 

[spky1234]

This is pretty close to what I expect the team to look like in round 1 (but it's best 23 not 24 ), although I wouldn't have 3 defenders on the bench. The 5 man bench gives the opportunity to name a 2nd ruck who I'd reckon would be Sims, possibly Ryan given the new ruck rules, so Banks or Trainor out and McAuliffe to the VFL (depth)

B: Gibcus - Miller - Vlastuin
H: Brown - Balta - Broad
C: Ross - Hopper - Ralphsmith
H : Hotton - Faull - Campbell
F : Rioli - Lynch - Armstrong
F : Nankervis - Lalor - Taranto
Int : Trainor - Prestia - Sims -Mansell - Short

It's interesting to have a look at the magoos with AFL listed players.

B: Tresize - Gray - Smith
H: Smillie - Banks - Grlj
C: Retschko - Cumming - NRT
H : Clarke - Fawcett - Alger
F : Peucker - LeFau - Ryan
F : OHB - McAuliffe - Sonsie - Green

This highlights why Tylar Young was a required player with only Gray as KPD depth.

Not sure in what world Banks who along with Seth were our clear most improved players would ever be out of the side lol.

Banks is ahead of Ross, Raphsmith and Short at the very least, and is our best half back in the team now.

Everything else is spot on tho. Going to be a serious selection squeeze with Cumming, Grlj, Lefau, McAullife, Alger and Smillie if he's fit tho.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Can’t believe rfctigerarmy let me forget about this.

Toby Nankervis is next up

Are you going to say what position?

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Maybe we could sticky this thread?

 

[The_Kraken]

Can’t believe rfctigerarmy let me forget about this.

Toby Nankervis is next up

I’ve locked Sonsie in as one of your early picks.

 

[4tune8]

Not sure in what world Banks who along with Seth were our clear most improved players would ever be out of the side lol.

Banks is ahead of Ross, Raphsmith and Short at the very least, and is our best half back in the team now.

Everything else is spot on tho. Going to be a serious selection squeeze with Cumming, Grlj, Lefau, McAullife, Alger and Smillie if he's fit tho.

Well I did say it was out of Trainor and Banks for that last defender spot on the bench.

I named Campbell on the HFF.

What I found interesting was the depth of AFL list players that would play in the VFL if we had a fit list and how that depth list mirrors the main list.


B: Tresize - Gray - Smith
H: Smillie - Banks - Grlj
C: Retschko - Cumming - NRT
H : Clarke - Fawcett - Alger
F : Peucker - LeFau - Ryan
F : OHB - McAuliffe - Sonsie - Green

 

[sante]

Are you going to say what position?

Good point. Also I think I’ll do one a day.

B: Vlastuin
HB:
C: Taranto
HF:
F:
1R: Nankervis

Int:

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Good point. Also I think I’ll do one a day.

Exciting

 

[THE_GUN]

B: Gibcus - Balta - Miller
H: Vlastuin - Brown - Banks
C: Ross - Hopper - Ralphsmith
H : Campbell - Armstrong - Hotton
F : Rioli - Faull - Lalor
F : Nank - Taranto - Prestia - Campbell
I : Mansell - Short - Sims - McAuliffe - Trainor

 

[RockJobster0312]

Round 1

FB: Vlastuin Miller Trainor
HB: Banks Balta Short
C: Ralphsmith Prestia Ross
HF: Campbell Lynch Armstrong
FF: Mansell Faull Lalor
Fol: Nankervis Taranto Hopper
INT: Broad Brown Hotton Rioli Smillie

EMG: Grlj Cumming McAuliffe

Best 23 - With a greater focus on Youth

FB: Vlastuin Miller Gibcus
HB: Banks Balta Trainor
C: Retschko Smillie Grlj
HF: Campbell Armstrong Lalor
FF: Hotton Faull Sims
Fol: Nankervis Taranto Cumming
INT: Ross Mansell Hopper Rioli Brown

EMG: Alger Ralphsmith McAuliffe

Harder than I thought. By mid-2027 I’d hope to see Ross, Mansell and Hopper not be required.

 

[Football Tragic]

AFL Team

FB: Gibcus Miller Trainor
HB: Banks Balta Vlastuin
C: Retschko Prestia Short
HF: Campbell Lynch Lalor
FF: Cummings Faull Armstrong
Fol: Nankervis Taranto Hopper
INT: Broad Brown Hotton Ross

Full Back - Broad and Browne are the likely starters alongside of Miller but I would love to see the two promising defenders develop in the side. My team has Gibcus and Trainor on the Half Back line along with Miller. This is a balance of developing youth and rock solid defense. Both have a massive upside if they can get games into their legs. They have height, poise, intercept ability and skill. They just need the strength and experience.

Half Back - Vlaustin remains out number one intercept defender and Balta our number one shutdown defender. I sense Balta is going to have a massive year this year and Banks will give us good run off the half back plus be eager to keep Gryll out of his spot.

Center - The addition of Retschko will give is a specialist wingman who can run all day. I like the idea of moving Short to the other wing where he can use his kicking. My only concern with Short is his defense which our wingmen pride themselves on. Prestia in the middle just makes sense because, regardless of his age or injury history, he is still our best all rounded midfielder.

Half Forward - Campbell was a surprize packet last season and has the elusive speed we need running up and back into our forwardline. Lynch is a tall target that attracts a crowd given space to our young talls. He still has the skills but is just lacking the mobility.
Lalor is our utility. I wish we had ten of him. He gives us another forward threat, sets up others and can rotate through the middle. Everything he touches turns to gold and with another preseason, I am super excited about what he'll do this year.

Full Forward - I want to see Cummings up forward so Mansell had to make way. I can see Mansell going back to the VFL to learn how to be a defender. Cummings will be a threat forward, setting up play, being an aerial threat and locking the ball in. He's going to a super player for us.
Alternatively, have Rioli in this role will give uis greater defensive pressure. I am excited by what the two twin towers can offer us in the future. I love Faulls smarts; bringing ball to ground by crashing the packs, tapping it out to teammates, getting his knees dirty at the bottom of packs. He's an 'ugly' forward but one that does everything right. He honestly reminds me of Jack with his footy smarts.
Armstrong is your more leadup, convensional tall forward. Big mark, accurate kicks, loves to tackle. The two of them need to learn how to work together to better create space and opportunities for each other. With Bruest on hand to develop them, I feel we'll see that this year.

Following - I'd rather see a midfield of Lalor, Smilie, Campbell, Hotton, Cummings and Gryll but at the moment, our best option remains the old guard in Taranto and Hopper. I pray we have the courage to begin to roate them forward with Lalor, Hotton, Campbell and Cummings early in the season, to give us more run and versitility.

Interchange - Ross may slip out as he has hit his ceiling but still remains a solid contributor. The two defenders are complimented by Hotton who needs to continue to gather games and experience both as a forward and mid. Gryll is another alternative for Broad but it would depend on opposition team matchups and if we need more run/rebound.


VFL Team

FB: Mansell ??? Smith
HB: Sonsie Gray Gryll
C: Ralph-Smith Smilie Trezise
HF: Alger Lefau Green
FF: Peucker Fawcett, Hayes-Brown
Fol: Ryan, Rioli, McAuliffe
INT: Noah R-T,

Creating the VFL team was actually rather challenging with the likes of Smilie, Sims and Clark injured. I also don't believe we have the depth we think we do in defence. At the moment, unless Gibcus and Trainor play at this level, until their more experienced teams-mates retire, we are light-on in talent and experience.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Thread of the year contender?

 

[Tigerturbulance]

B: Gibcus - Miller - Vlastuin
HB: Brown - Balta - Broad
C: Hopper - Trainor - Ralphsmith
HF: Hotton - Faull - Campbell
F: Armstrong - Lynch - Lalor
Foll: Nankervis - Taranto - McAuliffe
I/C: Prestia - Cumming - Sims - Mansell - Smillie
Emg: Gray - Alger - Retschko

 

[4tune8]

B: Gibcus - Balta - Miller
H: Vlastuin - Brown - Banks
C: Ross - Hopper - Ralphsmith
H : Campbell - Armstrong - Hotton
F : Rioli - Faull - Lalor
F : Nank - Taranto - Prestia - Campbell
I : Mansell - Short - Sims - McAuliffe - Trainor

Nope, you still have 24.........

 

[sante]

B: Gibcus - Miller - Vlastuin
HB: Brown - Balta - Broad
C: Hopper - Trainor - Ralphsmith
HF: Hotton - Faull - Campbell
F: Armstrong - Lynch - Lalor
Foll: Nankervis - Taranto - McAuliffe
I/C: Prestia - Cumming - Sims - Mansell - Smillie
Emg: Gray - Alger - Retschko

Banks?

 

[THE_GUN]

Nope, you still have 24.........

Take your pick of Cumming & Grlj

 

[Tigerturbulance]

Banks?

the half‑back line is already full (Brown, Balta, Broad) and the bench covers mids, ruck, and depth. To fit Banks in, I’d have to drop one of those defenders or a bench option - so he misses out purely due to balance, not form.

 

[THE_GUN]

the half‑back line is already full (Brown, Balta, Broad) and the bench covers mids, ruck, and depth. To fit Banks in, I’d have to drop one of those defenders or a bench option - so he misses out purely due to balance, not form.

No Chance Banks misses out IMO

 

[Tigerturbulance]

No Chance Banks misses out IMO

Banks was certainly one of the most improved last season but was squeezed out due the depth I was after, if I was to put him the side I'd drop Ralphsmith for him but as I've posted the team that's how Richmond is going in Round 1.

 

[THE_GUN]

Banks was certainly one of the most improved last season but was squeezed out due the depth I was after, if I was to put him the side I'd drop Ralphsmith for him but as I've posted the team that's how Richmond is going in Round 1.

Your team
B: Gibcus - Miller - Vlastuin
HB: Brown - Balta - Broad
C: Hopper - Trainor - Ralphsmith
HF: Hotton - Faull - Campbell
F: Armstrong - Lynch - Lalor
Foll: Nankervis - Taranto - McAuliffe
I/C: Prestia - Cumming - Sims - Mansell - Smillie
Emg: Gray - Alger - Retschko

He gets a spot ahead of
Prestia - Mansell - Cumming - Smillie - McAuliffe for round 1
your backline has no run apart from brown which is more intercept

 

[Tigerturbulance]

Your team
B: Gibcus - Miller - Vlastuin
HB: Brown - Balta - Broad
C: Hopper - Trainor - Ralphsmith
HF: Hotton - Faull - Campbell
F: Armstrong - Lynch - Lalor
Foll: Nankervis - Taranto - McAuliffe
I/C: Prestia - Cumming - Sims - Mansell - Smillie
Emg: Gray - Alger - Retschko

He gets a spot ahead of
Prestia - Mansell - Cumming - Smillie - McAuliffe for round 1
your backline has no run apart from brown which is more intercept

Banks is definitely in the frame, but it’s not as simple as slotting him ahead of five players you mentioned. Prestia and Taranto give us midfield drive, Mansell’s versatility covers forward and back, and Smillie/Cumming are part of the youth squeeze. My backline isn’t short on run, Balta can break lines, Broad gives rebound, and Brown adds intercept plus carry. The structure’s about balance first, then run. Banks will get his games, but round 1 is about locking down and letting the mids and half-forwards provide the burst.

 

[THE_GUN]

Banks is definitely in the frame, but it’s not as simple as slotting him ahead of five players you mentioned. Prestia and Taranto give us midfield drive, Mansell’s versatility covers forward and back, and Smillie/Cumming are part of the youth squeeze. My backline isn’t short on run, Balta can break lines, Broad gives rebound, and Brown adds intercept plus carry. The structure’s about balance first, then run. Banks will get his games, but round 1 is about locking down and letting the mids and half-forwards provide the burst.

I highly doubt you would find 1 backline in the comp where you have 5 players over 190cm and 1 187cm
None of the players you have in the back lone provide run and carry and the ones you mention are either intercept players or KPD most teams actually have 2 and i will guarantee you we will have atleast 1 for every game in 2026

 

[spky1234]

I highly doubt you would find 1 backline in the comp where you have 5 players over 190cm and 1 187cm
None of the players you have in the back lone provide run and carry and the ones you mention are either intercept players or KPD most teams actually have 2 and i will guarantee you we will have atleast 1 for every game in 2026

Look, there's no doubt in the world Banks is 1 of the first chosen on the team sheet. He is the only ball-accumulating half back, with drive on our entire list (aside from short). If they can't see that, they never will lol.

And Banks is one of our "youth". He's only 22.

The 2021 draft class will be the most important part of our rebuild in the coming seasons. Once all our veterans (Lynch, Prestia, Vlastuin, Nank, Broad, Short) retire or slowdown in 2026/27, it's going to be on mostly Banks and Brown + Gibcus to keep us steady.

These lot are going to be crucial to us from 2027-2029, offering guidance and support to those youngsters.

He just came 7th in our best and fairest as well. Him and Seth our 2 best performing youngsters. Wasn't one I would've ever thought anyone would omit from the team.

 

[sante]

B: Vlastuin
HB:
C: Taranto
HF:
F: Lynch
1R: Nankervis

Int:

 

[rfctigerarmy]

B: Vlastuin
HB:
C: Taranto
HF:
F: Lynch
1R: Nankervis

Int:

Gonna be the oldest team in the comp