2010 Best 22

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Well it's that time of the off season again. And I've been sitting at home bored all day. And with a quick search, this thread hasn't been done since July...? Doesn't sound right, but what the heck, we need a new one.

Complete List Here

I know our list isn't finalised, but we don't have a pick in the PSD and I severely doubt any rookies we pick will feature in any game in 2010.

So if everyone is 100% fit...

FB: Baker, Dawson, Blake
HB: Gilbert, Fisher, Smith
C: Montagna, Hayes, Lovett
HF: Goddard, Riewoldt, Gram
FF: Milne, Koschitzke, Schneider
R: Gardiner, Dal Santo, Jones
I: King, Ray, Armitage, Dempster

Others: Clarke, McQualter, Geary, McEvoy, Peake, Pattison, Eddy, Gwilt

Younguns with a chance: Heyne, Lynch, Steven, Miles

That's a lot harder than I thought it would be. :|

Plus Goddard and Gram are hardly HF's. I spose no team sets up like this anymore, they'll just be midfield rotations.

Obviously, JWS is unlikely to be ready for Round 1, so swap him for Raph. And I guess McEvoy is likely to be an emergency for most games next season...of the ones he's not playing in of course.

Been a lot of criticism of Milne...but he kicked more goals than Kosi IIRC. He didn't do much in the finals...but I seriously doubt any suggest replacements (Heyne, Jack) are going to have anywhere near the influence/game changing abilities. Him and Schneider to gel beautifully again with 70-80 goals between them.

Your attempts/thoughts...

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Smith starts on the pine and Gram to HB. How could you not pick Mini brother? Outstanding effort this year and easily deserves a spot on the starting 22.

B: Baker Dawson Gilbert

HB: Gram Fisher Blake

C: Lovett Hayes Montagna

HF: McQualter Riewoldt Goddard

F: Milne Kosi Schneider

R: Gardiner Dal Santo Armitage

I: McEvoy, Jones, Ray, Smith.

It's a tough gig. I think it's a bit much for us to expect Smith to slot straight into the one of the best defences in the league. Squizzy will be happy with my Goddard as the 3rd tall selection.

Still plenty of depth here and I think this side looks better than our 2009 GF side.

 

[The Punter]

Just at a quick attempt

Baker Dawson Gilbert
Fisher Blake J Smith
Dal Santo Goddard Montagna
Gram Riewoldt McQualter
Milne Koschitzke Schneider
Gardiner Jones Hayes
McEvoy Lovett Ray Armitage
Steven Gwilt Clarke

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Haha I had Mini on the HF line until I realised that I was missing Gram and Goddard.

Clarke also deserves to be there...it's just incredibly hard to fit everyone in.

Dawson managed to get into the best defence in the league! Well technically it wasn't the best when he started in it....but lets not let that fact get in the way of a good point!

To fit all the midfield rotations in we need to stick a mid on the HB and HF line. We got 7 gun mids (Hayes, Dal, Joey, Goddard, Jones, Gram, Lovett) not to mention the likely interchange players (Armitage and Ray).

Starting Backs: Baker, Dawson, Gilbert, Fisher, Blake, (Dempster/Clarke/Smith)
Starting Mids: Hayes, Dal Santo, Montagna, Jones, Goddard,
Rotating Mids: Lovett, Gram, Armitage, Ray
Starting Forwards: Riewoldt, Kosi, Schneider, Milne, McQualter
Rucks: Gardiner, King

People forget how good Dempster was for us in 2008, I think he'll play 22(cough, 25) games for us next season. Ross evidently loves him. He's pretty damn versatile, and it seems if you're versatile you're gonna get a gig with us.

 

[Alpha Male]

Baker - Dawson - Dempster
Baker is our tough nut back pocket. He can play on bloke taller than him (See Stevie J in the GF) and has great stopping abilities. Dawson is our fullback. Not the best pure stopper going around but he is a nice kick and isnt afraid to throw his weight around. I compare him to Leo Barry. Sean Dempster is a great player when he is down back. No more of this defensive forward stuff. He generates run and I see him as the ideal Midsized stopper.

Fisher - Blake - Gram
Fisher is no longer our CHB. He is too important going forward to be locked onto the best forward from the opposition. I'd let the other sides player their stoppers on Fish and try to allow him to play that 3rd man/Sweeper role that he does so well. Blake is our CHB for mine. He is a great defender, has a huge tank and can play on opponents of any size. Gram nearly won the Norm Smith playing on the HBF. I don't get the reasons some people have for playing him forward as his long kicking is best suited for coming out of defence.

Montagna - Hayes - McQualter
Montagna just runs and runs and we love him for it. The number 1 wingman in the game. Lenny too is just a set and forget player. Both of these guys would be in the first 5 picked every week. Mini should spend more time in the middle with the addition of Lovett to the team. I don't think he kicks enough goals as a forward (even though he is a defensive one) and I for one, would like to see him push up the ground more often to get dangerous.

Goddard - Riewoldt - Schneider
Goddard is the opposite of Gram. I think he should play forward more often rather than being benched as he does get dangerous around the big sticks. He would play mostly as a midfielder though. Riewoldt is by far our best player and could keep doing what he does for the next 5 years. Schneider has solid hands and is a very good field kick. I think that with Lovett spending some time forward Schneids could be used further up the ground. He would play inside 50 but as a half forward hitting the front of the packs.

Milne - Kosi - Lovett
Milney just needs to keep on the straight and narrow. He won alot of respect this year and he nees to back it up with more chasing, tackling and of course, goals. Kosi has to spend as much time at FF as possible so that he can continue to grow in the role. Last season was his first go at it full time and he was ok but we need more. Lovett is the X Factor we have been missing. Some people think he is a running half back but they are crazy if they think that's what he has been doing. He is a fantastic forward who has built up a tank to play in the middle. Very much like Montagna, he is going to be a running machine next year who, hopefully, can be our version of Paul Chapman/Ryan O'Keefe and add an extra option to our attacks.

Gardiner - Jones - Dal Santo
Gardiner is our number 1 ruck when full fit and he showed how good he can be this season. Joned is just a set and forget. Needs to work on his kicking but he is a ball magnet. Dal Santo is our best kick and I'd like to see him spend a little time across half forward to add to the delivery. Playing the outside role is great but he needs to keep pushing through those tags.

McEvoy - Ray - JW Smith - Gilbert
Big Ben needs to play as many games as possible. Ray is our Jimmy Bartel and is brave to the point of being stupid sometimes. JWS can slot straight into Raph's spot (this is coming from a Raph fan) and help free up Fisher/Gram. Gilbert is our swingman. He can play like Goddard pushing forward or back as we need him.

King, Pattison, Peake, Armo, Raph, Eddy, Gwilt and Geary are the guys in line for spots and I think all of them will play games next year. Geelong learned and now so must we, that it's better to play with a squad of 25-30 rather than trying to put our best 22 out there every single week.

 

[Squizz]

Squizzy will be happy with my Goddard as the 3rd tall selection.

He is indeed.

Lovett certainly does change the mix.

What I like most is who is not in the team (note this is intended as a positive comment regarding depth).

 

[saintwazza]

Well it's that time of the off season again. And I've been sitting at home bored all day. And with a quick search, this thread hasn't been done since July...? Doesn't sound right, but what the heck, we need a new one.

Complete List Here

I know our list isn't finalised, but we don't have a pick in the PSD and I severely doubt any rookies we pick will feature in any game in 2010.

So if everyone is 100% fit...

FB: Baker, Dawson, Blake
HB: Gilbert, Fisher, Smith
C: Montagna, Hayes, Lovett
HF: Goddard, Riewoldt, Gram
FF: Milne, Koschitzke, Schneider
R: Gardiner, Dal Santo, Jones
I: King, Ray, Armitage, Dempster

Others: Clarke, McQualter, Geary, McEvoy, Peake, Pattison, Eddy, Gwilt

Younguns with a chance: Heyne, Lynch, Steven, Miles

That's a lot harder than I thought it would be. :|

Plus Goddard and Gram are hardly HF's. I spose no team sets up like this anymore, they'll just be midfield rotations.

Obviously, JWS is unlikely to be ready for Round 1, so swap him for Raph. And I guess McEvoy is likely to be an emergency for most games next season...of the ones he's not playing in of course.

Been a lot of criticism of Milne...but he kicked more goals than Kosi IIRC. He didn't do much in the finals...but I seriously doubt any suggest replacements (Heyne, Jack) are going to have anywhere near the influence/game changing abilities. Him and Schneider to gel beautifully again with 70-80 goals between them.

Your attempts/thoughts...

Pretty much spot on for mine except i recon McQualter's really unlucky considering the season he had.I would probably have mini just over dempster (even though i rate him highly and his a gun)!!...going off this years form that is.Its good to have this problem i guess as it shows our depth.

Hopefully our list can be as fit & healthy next season!! fingers crossed.

 

[Squizz]

better to play with a squad of 25-30 rather than trying to put our best 22 out there every single week.

That is one thing I'd very much want to see changed next year.

Don't like the Australian Cricket Team approach where it's harder to get out of the team than in.

 

[dan0z]

FB: Baker, Dawson, Blake
HB: Gilbert, Fisher, Ray
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gram
HF: Goddard, Riewoldt, Lovett
FF: McQualter, Koschitzke, Schneider
R: Gardiner, Dal Santo, Jones
I: McEvoy, Smith, Armitage, Peake

 

[ILY Leonard]

B: Baker Dawson Blake
HB: Gram Fisher Gilbert
C: Goddard Jones Montagna
HF: McQualter Riewoldt Lovett
F: Milne Koschitzke Schneider
R: Gardiner Hayes Dal Santo

Int: King Smith Armitage Ray

 

[goodie23]

Baker Dawson Gilbert
Fisher Blake Smith
Montagna Jones Gram
Schneider Riewoldt Armitage
McQualter Koschitzke Goddard

Gardiner Hayes Dal Santo

Lovett Ray King Geary

 

[The Punter]

Just at a quick attempt

Baker Dawson Gilbert
Fisher Blake J Smith
Dal Santo Goddard Montagna
Gram Riewoldt McQualter
Milne Koschitzke Schneider
Gardiner Jones Hayes
McEvoy Lovett Ray Armitage
Steven Gwilt Clarke

In addition to these 25, I would be pretty happy with Dempster coming in, as long as he is played in position (which is backward of centre).

The thing I wonder is how you get guys like Steven and Gwilt a regular game. Steven is going to be the next big thing, and like it or not, St Kilda play better when Gwilt plays across half-forward.

Notice I also haven't mentioned King, Heyne, Stanley (who'll be behind Pattison this year if RL's comments yesterday are to be believed), Lynch, Eddy, Miles or Peake. I think we have 32-34 players who we will all be happy to see running around next year.

But of course St Kilda are too old and have no depth.

 

[Squizz]

This is what I like :
B: Geary Dawson Clarke
HB: Smith Gilbert Dempster
C: Gram Armitage Ray
HF: Eddy Goddard Gwilt
F: Schneider McEvoy McQualter
R: Pattison Dal Santo Jones

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

This is what I like :
B: Geary Dawson Clarke
HB: Smith Gilbert Dempster
C: Gram Armitage Ray
HF: Eddy Goddard Gwilt
F: Schneider McEvoy McQualter
R: Pattison Dal Santo Jones

yeah, can't wait for the NAB cup either...

 

[Squizz]

Thought a couple of you guys would get it.

For a supposedly ancient list, a starting 18 of players under 26yo who have all played some solid games at AFL level isn't bad!

This will hopefully get added to via Miles, Steven, Lynch and Stanley to round out the 22.

And at least one of Walsh, Heyne, Simpkin, Winmar and Smith.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

In addition to these 25, I would be pretty happy with Dempster coming in, as long as he is played in position (which is backward of centre).

The thing I wonder is how you get guys like Steven and Gwilt a regular game. Steven is going to be the next big thing, and like it or not, St Kilda play better when Gwilt plays across half-forward.

Notice I also haven't mentioned King, Heyne, Stanley (who'll be behind Pattison this year if RL's comments yesterday are to be believed), Lynch, Eddy, Miles or Peake. I think we have 32-34 players who we will all be happy to see running around next year.

But of course St Kilda are too old and have no depth.

They will have to step up and demand it. James Gwilt has just turned 23. Although he wasn't there in finals, 2009 was by far his best season with 15 of his 23 games. We have seen from CJ, that a 23 yo can still improve a lot. If Gwilt could try to improve his weak areas, and demand more of the ball he has enourmous potential. But if he doesn't improve there are others who can get that position.
IMO we have a number of champions and a number of solid players. It is the non-champions that need to watch their backs.
Without being derogatory, because I really rate these players, McQualter , Dempster, Blake, Ray, Schnieder, Clarke and Kosi are not champions, It is very feasible that someone else could do better than they do and represents opportunities for younger players.
The other aspect is that if , for example, DalSanto started playing like he did in 2008, we have the depth so we can just drop him and make him work his way back in.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Thought a couple of you guys would get it.

For a supposedly ancient list, a starting 18 of players under 26yo who have all played some solid games at AFL level isn't bad!

This will hopefully get added to via Miles, Steven, Lynch and Stanley to round out the 22.

And at least one of Walsh, Heyne, Simpkin, Winmar and Smith.

In all fairness Squizz, I would love to see big Macca spend some time up forward this year for a period as I reckon he showed in the Hawks game that he has a great pair of hands and can thread a sausage.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

They will have to step up and demand it. James Gwilt has just turned 23. Although he wasn't there in finals, 2009 was by far his best season with 15 of his 23 games. We have seen from CJ, that a 23 yo can still improve a lot. If Gwilt could try to improve his weak areas, and demand more of the ball he has enourmous potential.

I think in fairness to Jimmy, the latter half of the year we became far too Riewoldt focused and missed plenty of opportunties when we had other blokes free inside 50. Milne, Schneider and Gwilt were all examples of making great position but not being honoured.

 

[The Punter]

Milne in the final against Collingwood is a prime example of leads not being honoured. But Riewoldt kicked five, so hard to argue with how we played.

Kosi isn't a champion, but unlike the others, I believe he certainly could be. His drop off in form this year was almost purely injury related (the massive splitting of the webbing on his hand), and he somehow managed to poll 11 Brownlow votes. He could win one if he put it all together.

The problem with Gwilt is who do you leave out? You want Armo in to replace Ball, and add goals. Steven isn't even in my side. Maybe Farren Ray is vulnerable. Will Baker produce another season like 2009? Will Jesse Smith get his body right?

And I just realised I completely forgot about Jarryn Geary.

Hey boys, hands up who wants to play in a premiership? Get to work.

Ross Lyon's best 22 right now?

B
HB
C
HF
F
Foll
Int

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Milne in the final against Collingwood is a prime example of leads not being honoured. But Riewoldt kicked five, so hard to argue with how we played.

Kosi isn't a champion, but unlike the others, I believe he certainly could be. His drop off in form this year was almost purely injury related (the massive splitting of the webbing on his hand), and he somehow managed to poll 11 Brownlow votes. He could win one if he put it all together.

The problem with Gwilt is who do you leave out? You want Armo in to replace Ball, and add goals. Steven isn't even in my side. Maybe Farren Ray is vulnerable. Will Baker produce another season like 2009? Will Jesse Smith get his body right?

And I just realised I completely forgot about Jarryn Geary.

Hey boys, hands up who wants to play in a premiership? Get to work.

Ross Lyon's best 22 right now?

B
HB
C
HF
F
Foll
Int

Yeah I used to be sure that Kosi would be a champion one day, now I say he still has potential, but I'm not sure it will ever happen. Right body, wrong brain.

I reckon Ross Lyon's best 22 right now would be something like.

B: Dawson ( Declared by Ross to be his love child ).
HB: Fisher
C : Lenny
HF :Riewoldt
F:
Foll:Gardiner
Int:
Somewhere in there is BJ.

The rest is up for grabs. May the best man win.
Haning out for an intra club game next Feb.

 

[Ricmel]

I am surprised no one has Brett Peake in a 22.

He has placed 3rd in Freo's B&F (year they made Prelim Final) and is as quick as anyone going around. I think Lyon would have a spot for him in his best 22 if he finds form.

This is assuming all players are in good form,

B: Baker Dawson Blake

HB: Peake Gilbert Fisher

C: Lovett Hayes Montagna

HF: Gram Riewoldt Goddard

F: Milne Kositchke Schneider

R: Gardiner Dal Santo Armitage

I: McEvoy, Jones, Ray, Smith.

I think Geary is going to be first choice in for an injured midfielder. Could not find a place for McQualter, Gwilt or King but they will be in mix with injuries.

Clarke for me is just too slow and there is no easy way to fix that.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I am surprised no one has Brett Peake in a 22.

He has placed 3rd in Freo's B&F (year they made Prelim Final) and is as quick as anyone going around. I think Lyon would have a spot for him in his best 22 if he finds form.

This is assuming all players are in good form,

B: Baker Dawson Blake

HB: Peake Gilbert Fisher

C: Lovett Hayes Montagna

HF: Gram Riewoldt Goddard

F: Milne Kositchke Schneider

R: Gardiner Dal Santo Armitage

I: McEvoy, Jones, Ray, Smith.

I think Geary is going to be first choice in for an injured midfielder. Could not find a place for McQualter, Gwilt or King but they will be in mix with injuries.

Clarke for me is just too slow and there is no easy way to fix that.

I agree regarding Peak. He was part of a strategy to inject some speed into the team, and that won't happen if he's not playing. I'd be inclined to pick Ray up front, but a lot can happen with the young guys over the pre-season, and its not beyond all credibility for Geary to steal his spot.

If Smith is fit I don't know If I'd start him on the bench, but it could be a while before he plays in any event.

 

[Squizz]

I think Peake will be prominent too, and thought there's alot to like from his games against St Kilda*, but fair enough to wait until see see a bit of action in Saints colours before he gets into the first choice 22.

* although noting that his career high kicks (19) was in a 27 possession (10 mark) game against the Saints in 2006, his career high tackles (7) was against us in 2009, and had 24 possessions in one of the games against us in 2008.

 

[Ricmel]

If Smith is fit I don't know If I'd start him on the bench

Yeah Smith is a hard one. He is a real punt. No doubt if they can get him match fit he is in the starting 18 and probably one of the greatest draft selections in history.

But it is a BIG if. My understanding is his condition is chronic. Saints gambled on him no doubt but worth it at pick 90 or whatever it was.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Yeah Smith is a hard one. He is a real punt. No doubt if they can get him match fit he is in the starting 18 and probably one of the greatest draft selections in history.

But it is a BIG if. My understanding is his condition is chronic. Saints gambled on him no doubt but worth it at pick 90 or whatever it was.

If Misson has had a good look at him, and considers him odds on to get better, then the gamble is probably no worse than picking some kid and hoping that he will improve enough to play AFL level.
I think it was Sheedy who said on the radio the other week, that 50% of first round draft picks will go on to play 50 games, and 50% of that half will go on to play 100 games. I assume the amount of 3rd round picks is less.
( I'm not sure if these are real statistics or some crap Sheeds made up ).