Prediction Best 23, Round Zero 2026

[Buckemenico]

Love Lloyd Meek and he is a weapon but when he is off or tired, like in the prelim, we often lose. Happy for Reeves to get some good game time this year. His taps out of middle are elite and might just be one out biggest assets out of our centre square guys.

 

[matey]

I reckon this guy could do well with the new ruck rule changes!

 

[LRobbo]

I think we’ll see Reeves and Meek to start the season but with Chol who is about the best pinch hitting ruck in the comp I’m not sure we’ll continue to play all 3 throughout the year.
It may work early as we work over Briggs and then against Essendons miserable rucks but I feel against the better teams, the extra outside runner will be more suited and Chol does the chop out rucking for whoever is he number 1 ends up being.

 

[peetoo]

I feel we have really good ruck options collectively even though the media don’t rate any of them in top 10 etc

We just need to maximise their offensive power and don’t let switched on opposing midfielders shark them

 

[TylerDurden]

No need. Chol is the best chop out ruck in it. His cente bounce work is elite.

 

[To the Hawk]

Hardwick Barrass Battle
Amon Sis Impey
Weddle Nash Massimo
Ginni Lewis Moore
Wiz Chol Gunston
Reeves Newk Ward

Meek Scrim Croc Buttler Dear

i am really starting to think Meek & Reeves will play along with the 4 talls
They are ALL best 23 players atm
Reeves will be essential to get our weak midfield first use (best performed ruck stays when Day is fit)
there is enough utility types in this lineup to cover the ground
Lewis, Chol & Dear can all cover the ground well for big men & we will be flush with marking targets & big men close to where a quick ball up will be taken
Cam McKenzie isn't a walk up start for best 23 yet imo needs to work on his spacial awareness & when to distribute
HMoz & Finn starting to far back with limited pre seasons & think Perez (contract pending) would be closest to come if we weren't to play a tall

Playing 2 rucks and 4 talls means that Reeves and Meek simply rotate on/off the bench all game.

We would also have one of the 4 tall forwards on the bench at all times. Plus the 7th defender.

I just can't see that.

We cop an injury to a mid/runner and our rotations are a mess.

Reeves might be low game time, but Meek will spend time forward I feel. He has been training more here in preseason and spoken of this.

I think playing 2 and 4 is just trying to fit in our best players on paper, disregarding actual structure.

In the finals last year let's remember we went with 1 ruck and 3 tall forwards such is the importance on ground ball and run. Two additional talls is a big jump up.

A very good tall in Reeves, Chol or Dear misses for mine.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

No need. Chol is the best chop out ruck in it. His cente bounce work is elite.

Will only get better with the changes to the ruck contest as well.

For me the best policy with our rucks this year would be to continue to roll with a Meek / Chol combo but also give Meek more games off to rest (he looked pretty cooked at times last year) and see what Reeves can do as primary ruck (say 4 to 6 games).

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I reckon this guy could do well with the new ruck rule changes!

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Remember that time he leapfrogged over the Wiz in that final two years ago!

He’s probably got the best vertical leap in the game, he just elevates.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

Anyone watching some of the GWS match sim?

How does their midfield look?

 

[Blackhawk42]

Anyone watching some of the GWS match sim?

How does their midfield look?

Daniels did his hamstring within 12 minutes.

 

[brew]

Daniels did his hamstring within 12 minutes.

Crazy run of injuries!

 

[Roughest Head]

Hardwick Barrass Impey
Amon Battle Sicily
Weddle Ward D’Ambrosio
Moore Chol Ginnivan
Watson Lewis Gunston
Meek Newcombe MacDonald

Scrimshaw Nash Dear Mackenzie Butler

 

[Changa10]

Anyone watching some of the GWS match sim?

How does their midfield look?

Oliver was good. They played Rowston and X O'Halloran through there a lot in the first half. No Toby Greene or Coniglio today though either.

Their ruck set up was interesting, ran Riccardi at centre bounces with Briggs forward. Briggs kicked 4 or 5 goals.

They will still be a tough opposition first up.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Oliver was good. They played Rowston and X O'Halloran through there a lot in the first half. No Toby Greene or Coniglio today though either.

Their ruck set up was interesting, ran Riccardi at centre bounces with Briggs forward. Briggs kicked 4 or 5 goals.

They will still be a tough opposition first up.

I honestly can't remember the last time we beat them at Engie.

For some reason GWS have always troubled us, they seem to match up very well against the Hawks.

 

[Fulgent]

I honestly can't remember the last time we beat them at Engie.

For some reason GWS have always troubled us, they seem to match up very well against the Hawks.

Didn’t we beat them their two games ago?

 

[SSSSSS]

No need. Chol is the best chop out ruck in it. His cente bounce work is elite.

He's actually kick started our midfield a few times when we've been in a midfield arm wrestle.

He's just so much better than most teams second ruckmen that he gaps them.

 

[Slainte]

Oliver was good. They played Rowston and X O'Halloran through there a lot in the first half. No Toby Greene or Coniglio today though either.

Their ruck set up was interesting, ran Riccardi at centre bounces with Briggs forward. Briggs kicked 4 or 5 goals.

They will still be a tough opposition first up.

I can't see us using two rucks if GWS is going use Riccardi at centre bounces.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

I honestly can't remember the last time we beat them at Engie.

For some reason GWS have always troubled us, they seem to match up very well against the Hawks.

Errr… there was an elimination final not that long ago.. like 2 games ago that we won.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Errr… there was an elimination final not that long ago.. like 2 games ago that we won.

Oh yeh, oops

Prior to that I guess we have struggled.

Always a good game against GWS though, we had some cracking matches against them.

 

[Changa10]

I can't see us using two rucks if GWS is going use Riccardi at centre bounces.

They did bring Madden on later, so will be interesting to see what they do next week in official practice match

 

[Roger Rogerson]

I honestly can't remember the last time we beat them at Engie.

For some reason GWS have always troubled us, they seem to match up very well against the Hawks.

Can you please drink heavily again before round 0 so you can’t remember the game as it obviously worked a treat in the elim final last year.

 

[Dewnior]

Oh yeh, oops

Prior to that I guess we have struggled.

Prior to that we had an ordinary squad.

 

[SJT76]

Can you please drink heavily again before round 0 so you can’t remember the game as it obviously worked a treat in the elim final last year.

If he doesn’t I will. In fact, I’ll do it anyway. If I remember this of course

 

[GinniAndTonic]

I reckon this guy could do well with the new ruck rule changes!

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Chip Scab1 look at the machine.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Chip Scab1 look at the machine.

Love Hawforn youf.

Flying all the way to 4th, again.