Prediction Best 23 - 2026 edition

[Dom sheed pocket]

I’ll roundhouse kick McQualters extended family in the jaw one by one if he does that. Davis and Duursma are locks for Round 1

Less so Davis even though he’s had a great preseason. I thought Allan won that battle on Friday.

I had all three in my B23 because it allows us to move Duursma around a little bit if we want to give him a few centre bounces, but it becomes a big squeeze when the baker becomes available again.

 

[Keys]

Hewett had been tracking just fine prior to the setback with his calf that has kept him out of main training for 3 weeks (and counting)

If he can resume training at least 2 weeks before R1 then he’ll be in the side - provided he’s fit he’s best 23

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Hewett had been tracking just fine prior to the setback with his calf that has kept him out of main training for 3 weeks (and counting)

If he can resume training at least 2 weeks before R1 then he’ll be in the side - provided he’s fit he’s best 23

Who would miss from say Schoenberg/Kelly/Hewett .I think it’s 2 out of those 3 and so far looks to be Schoenberg Kelly duo

 

[Carbine Chaos]

If Hewett is fit, he plays.

Any suggestions to the contrary are madness.

 

[eaglevision]

B: B.Starcevich, H.Edwards, B.Hough

HB: R.Ginbey, T.Young, L.Duggan

C: W.Duursma, H.Reid, H.Davis

HF: E.Hewett, J.Shanahan, L.Baker

F: C.Duff-Tytler, J.Waterman, J.Newton

FOLL: M.Flynn, E.Yeo, T.McCarthy

I/C: T.Kelly, J.Graham, J.Lindsay, A.Reid, H.Schoenberg

EMG:, D.Robertson, C.Hall, J.Cripps

 

[Barrybran]

Hewett is in year 4 now. At some stage being talented it’s just not enough. He really needs to start putting runs on the board, and so far there’s a lot of blokes who have made a much stronger case for a R1 spot than Hewett has over the pre-season.

We still have next week against Freo and an another game against Port, so there’s plenty of time for things to change but right now I don’t have him in the 23.

Hewett plays ahead of Cripps, Newton and Davis/Allan and likely Schoenberg as well if we're being honest

 

[stallon]

A lot has changed since last year in terms of our list, availability and form.

It’s not like Hewett knocked it out of the park last year. He had a couple of stand out performances and some really average games too.

I already spoke to this in my original post . A healthy Yeo, in form Kelly, McCarthy playing midfield would all be in front of him as a mid, and you could argue Schoenberg based off the intra club and pre-season noise would be short odds for a round one spot, same for Newton, and Graham would be a R1 lock, unless his hammy isn’t right in time.

It just doesn’t leave a whole lot of room to be honest.

As I said, it doesnt really matter
Hes our 4th most talented young player and has done nothing to lose his spot.

If Duursma hadnt had an incredible off-season because he was injured a bit, he would still be named round 1 if healthy

Schoenberg or Newton have been having great pre-seasons but that doesnt necessarily mean theyre ahead of Hewett

 

[stallon]

Schoenberg taken his spot in my opinion. He can earn it in the WAFL

Disagree

Hewett will be named round 1 if fit, a good preseason from a guy who failed in 60 odd games at a stronger club doesnt put him ahead of one of the more talented young players in the comp who had an injury in the pre-season

 

[stallon]

Who would miss from say Schoenberg/Kelly/Hewett .I think it’s 2 out of those 3 and so far looks to be Schoenberg Kelly duo

Hewett is first selected there by a mile

 

[Pottering]

What i mean is its not ability or anything thats holding him back this preseason. Its injury.
If he got an injury during the season he would be straight back in once recovered.

Hewett was embedded in our starting side and probably still is, until he does something to lose that spot.

He hasn't done anything to lose it yet

Not sure he's done anything to earn a walk up start either. Would it be a travesty to have him earn a spot by performing strongly at WAFL level?

 

[stallon]

FB: Hough Edwards Ginbey
HB: Baker Young Starcevich
C: Duursma Reid Davis
HF: Schoenberg Shanahan Hewett
FF: CDT Waterman Yeo
R: Flynn McCarthy Graham
Int: A.Reid Dev Kelly Duggan Cripps

Lindsay to cover Baker suspension
Allan fighting Duursma and Davis for a spot it could be any 2 of those 3
Newton fighting Schoenberg or Cripps for a spot
Hall probably the next mid in line

Id like Flynn to do CBAs then sit behind the play, swapping out with one of our defenders who comes up to the play as an extra mid. Then CDT or Archer rucking around the ground with their mobility

 

[stallon]

Not sure he's done anything to earn a walk up start either. Would it be a travesty to have him earn a spot by performing strongly at WAFL level?

You wouldnt say the same thing about Schoenberg or Newton who both literally just rocked up?

 

[Shueygod]

If Hewett can’t make our side we certainly aren’t a bottom 4 team.

Which we are.

Yes his position is one of the areas we’re strongest now, but he does things that Schoenberg/Kelly simply aren’t capable of.

 

[PepperTom32]

Is there any difference between a centre position mid and a following mid? I see some people putting Harley, for example, in the centre while others have him as a follower.

 

[Knifey Spoony]

Very happy for Hewett to spend 75% of his time playing up forward, but he is definitely in our best team.

 

[amazingjoshy]

I think he is too good for a back pocket but we simply have no back pocket at all outside of a 19 year old Grego who isn’t really ready at all and Tom Cole who is on his way out. Our lock down defenders is a big area of weakness so when he went into the midfield it was robbing Peter to pay Paul . With McCarthy going into the midfield it’s a better fit, especially when we run Lindsay and Baker down back to play the half back roles which is alot more ideal then chucking Hough into the midfield to play Tom Cole at back pocket

Dont rate Starcevich?

 

[stallon]

Is there any difference between a centre position mid and a following mid? I see some people putting Harley, for example, in the centre while others have him as a follower.

No real difference

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

If Hewett is fit, he plays.

Any suggestions to the contrary are madness.

Exactly, our wealth of unproven midfield talent isn't keeping him out just yet. Plus he can always spend time forward if need be.
He's undoubtedly best 23 at this stage with our still very poor list.

 

[Obeanie1]

Exactly, our wealth of unproven midfield talent isn't keeping him out just yet. Plus he can always spend time forward if need be.
He's undoubtedly best 23 at this stage with our still very poor list.

Very poor list?

Or a young unproven list?

Two pick 1s, a pick 4 and several other young 1st rounders picked at 9, 14, 16 and 19.

Seven 1st rounders developing, oldest of them Ginbey / Hewett..

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

 

[Keys]

Schoenberg or Newton instead of Owies

Lindsay or Dewar instead of Allan

Allan potentially on a wing instead of Davis

The rest looks about right

 

[wafooty2]

I’ll roundhouse kick McQualters extended family in the jaw one by one if he does that. Davis and Duursma are locks for Round 1

It won't happen. It will be Duursma and Davis on the wing Rd 1. Will be very surprised if it isn't.

 

[wafooty2]

Looks pretty close.

Think Owies misses out with Newton or Schoenberg instead
Lindsay instead of Allan

 

[Obeanie1]

It won't happen. It will be Duursma and Davis on the wing Rd 1. Will be very surprised if it isn't.

Plus a rotation on the bench.

Duursma and Davis will need a bench buddy to help them run out games.

So say Bo Allan to the wing and Davis the bench rotation.

That's three hard running wingers we didn't have two years ago.

But posters who don't follow the Eagles can't see where the improvement will come from.

 

[wafooty2]

Plus a rotation on the bench.

Duursma and Davis will need a bench buddy to help them run out games.

So say Bo Allan to the wing and Davis the bench rotation.

That's three hard running wingers we didn't have two years ago.

But posters who don't follow the Eagles can't see where the improvement will come from.

Agree. So refreshing to add some much needed running power to this team. I include MCcarthy also.