2010 Best 22

[SaintsSeptember]

Can he find the ball, and take a couple of bounces before bombing it long.
If so , he should fit right into our backline.

 

[duffman324]

I don't understand why so many people have Walsh, we haven't even seen him play yet!

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I'm wondering how strong Mini's position is.
If both Steven and Armitage are pushing for selection, Mini would probably be the weakest link.

 

[goodie23]

I think you're underestimating Mini. He really came along last year, and he's a beautiful kick for goal. 22.7 last year, and remember that set shot from the boundary against Collingwood?

Ray is the one I'd say is under the pump. He had a good year, but with all the competition he needs to step it up another level if he wants to keep his spot.

 

[The Punter]

There are a few spots where someone needs to emerge.

In the back six, I think lock in Gilbert, Baker, Dawson, S Fisher and Blake. The sixth spot is a smaller spot (mediums Gilbert and Blake, S Fisher and Dawson the talls), so the likely nominees are Goddard, Gram, Geary, Clarke, Dempster, Ray & Peake. All except Clarke can go into the midfield, and Clarke himself can go forward.

In the forward six, Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Milne, Schneider and McQualter pretty much pick themselves. The sixth spot is the lead-up decoy mid-sized pressure spot. I've had Gwilt in my side (08-09 we won 82% of the time when he played, 59% of the time when he didn't), but could also see Goddard moving forward to fill this role, Heyne and Lynch emerging, or someone else chipping in (apparently Sam Fisher played forward in the intra-club). Dempster played this role in the Grand Final, but he's not a good enough kick for the role (Dempster and Gwilt are at the opposite ends of the kicking chart at St Kilda).

The middle six will have Gardiner in the ruck, Hayes, Montagna, Dal Santo, Jones and one other. Nominees are Goddard, Gram, Ray, Peake, Geary, Eddy, McQualter, Steven and Armitage.

I'd have Goddard in the guts and Gram across half-back.

Interchange right now is probably McEvoy (2nd ruckman), Armitage (back up-mid), Peake (utility) & Ray (utility). In the interchange conversation are Steven, Clarke, Dempster & Geary.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I think you're underestimating Mini. He really came along last year, and he's a beautiful kick for goal. 22.7 last year, and remember that set shot from the boundary against Collingwood?

Ray is the one I'd say is under the pump. He had a good year, but with all the competition he needs to step it up another level if he wants to keep his spot.

Yeah, Id have Ray as more pressured by Peake or Geary.

McQualter's goals ( nearly one per game ) and tackles were OK. I'm certainly not bagging him, but I can't help thinking it would be good to get someone in that can get a bit more of the ball.

Armitage last year ( though he only got a couple of go's ) was able to average a similar number of tackles and goals, possessions, but Armitage seems to have more of an upside. I'm not sure if there is anything that Mini would be able to do better than Armitage.
Now if Steven, who also seems to be an inside player, is also pushing for selection, I would expect that it would be McQualters spot he would be pushing for. I certainly don't think that Jones, Montagna, Hayes ,DalSanto, would be out of the team before McQualter.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Yeah, Id have Ray as more pressured by Peake or Geary.

McQualter's goals ( nearly one per game ) and tackles were OK. I'm certainly not bagging him, but I can't help thinking it would be good to get someone in that can get a bit more of the ball.

McQualter's job isn't to get the ball. He's a defensive forward. If he's getting 20 possies as a defensive forward we're doing something wrong in our attacking setup. McQualter played his role brilliantly in 2009 and it would take someone to produce flawlessness in this role to replace him.

 

[Zagg]

Mini got promoted to the leadership group this year, so I think his spot is safer than some of you believe. He was an underrated player last year

 

[ExodusAU]

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

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Hayes on the bench? *******.

 

[The Punter]

A2R - I think our Collingwood visitor is having a little joke. A similar joke would be

Bathurst 1000

Holden Racing Team (Car 55) - Drivers H Shaw & A Didak

 

[Defacto]

I actually favor bringing Steven in for Hayes in the low risk games. Hayes is getting on and we need to manage him right to get the most time out of him.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I actually favor bringing Steven in for Hayes in the low risk games. Hayes is getting on and we need to manage him right to get the most time out of him.

I'm not sure that Hayes would agree with you after last season.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

A2R - I think our Collingwood visitor is having a little joke. A similar joke would be

Bathurst 1000

Holden Racing Team (Car 55) - Drivers H Shaw & A Didak

Haha yes, I saw it. Just didn't wanna give him credit for a pretty bad joke!

PS. I think they'd be in a Ford, not a Holden.

 

[hayes]

Goddard isn't going to play as a forward. I know I put him as a forward in my best 22, but I have him there as the forward that pushes into the midfield because he's one of the best ball users in the competition, so he's not going to be wasted as a forward.

 

[Frankencow]

Changes to the GF team should be:

Out: Ball, Dempster

In: Armitage, Peake

Tommy Walsh was next to useless in the intra-club. Might be as much as a whole season away. I don't mind Gwilt. I'd prefer to drop McQualter but it looks like his spot is safe. If Jesse Smith gets fit he may push Raph. McEvoy could take over a rucking spot if the other two deteriorate. I don't think our list topping-up was great, but a lot was unforseen. Stanley is a lot bigger but may still be a bit away. There's a lot of talk about Steven, hopefully we'll get a better look at him in the NAB Cup to see whether he could fit in somewhere. Archer got made to look like a ******* and wasn't even competitive against Riewoldt in the intra-club. Cahill is skinny, but looks a natural forward. We could have a height deficiency in defence if we pick up an injury, and might have been better off keeping Goose as backup.

 

[rowdy3012]

I was wondering how far back is Tom Lynch?
I know your top 25 are very strong but is he far behind them?
I noticed he had some good performances in VFL late in the season. Is he only a chance if Riewoldt or Koschitzke get hurt or is he chance to play as a 3rd tall in the forward line this year.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Changes to the GF team should be:

Out: Ball, Dempster

In: Armitage, Peake

Tommy Walsh was next to useless in the intra-club. Might be as much as a whole season away. I don't mind Gwilt. I'd prefer to drop McQualter but it looks like his spot is safe. If Jesse Smith gets fit he may push Raph. McEvoy could take over a rucking spot if the other two deteriorate. I don't think our list topping-up was great, but a lot was unforseen. Stanley is a lot bigger but may still be a bit away. There's a lot of talk about Steven, hopefully we'll get a better look at him in the NAB Cup to see whether he could fit in somewhere. Archer got made to look like a ******* and wasn't even competitive against Riewoldt in the intra-club. Cahill is skinny, but looks a natural forward. We could have a height deficiency in defence if we pick up an injury, and might have been better off keeping Goose as backup.

Might want to pull back on the the throttle there champ.

 

[Squizz]

We could have a height deficiency in defence if we pick up an injury, and might have been better off keeping Goose as backup.

I think we'd need to have two injuries to be exposed. Note that Goose had his own injuries (missed the last 4 games in the VFL).

Dawson, Gilbert, Fisher, Blake - probably don't need them all down back anyway depending on the opposition.

Gram, Clarke & Goddard have taken taller opponents down back if required.

The younger guys look OK to me as prospects to replace the above over time - Gaertner, Simpkin and Johnson.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Changes to the GF team should be:

Out: Ball, Dempster

In: Armitage, Peake

Tommy Walsh was next to useless in the intra-club. Might be as much as a whole season away. I don't mind Gwilt. I'd prefer to drop McQualter but it looks like his spot is safe. If Jesse Smith gets fit he may push Raph. McEvoy could take over a rucking spot if the other two deteriorate. I don't think our list topping-up was great, but a lot was unforseen. Stanley is a lot bigger but may still be a bit away. There's a lot of talk about Steven, hopefully we'll get a better look at him in the NAB Cup to see whether he could fit in somewhere. Archer got made to look like a ******* and wasn't even competitive against Riewoldt in the intra-club. Cahill is skinny, but looks a natural forward. We could have a height deficiency in defence if we pick up an injury, and might have been better off keeping Goose as backup.

It seems that some of the people who were a bit quick in expecting Walsh to be a gun straight out of the box are now writing him off too quickly.
He's only had around 2 months of serious training, and he may or may not become good enough by the end of year.

It seems that Johnson is ready to play and he is a full cm taller than Goose. Don't forget that those making the drafting decisions would have been watching Johnson and Maguire playing side by side.

 

[StFly]

I'll be frank, I suck at kicking a footy, no matter what my ball drop is horrible and it shanks more often than not, first game I played was in Kilmore and it was pissing down rain and the kick naturally went about 5m along the ground. Over the course of a year and spending everyday at the club to work at it (2ish hours) I could at least spot up weighted kicks on the lead or in effect pull a Grammy and kick the sweet merciful bejesus out of it.

And this is using a sherrin from the get go, Walsh while he may have the capacity to kick a ball, I'm not surpsied in the least if he takes a year to get the swing of how the hell that ball reacts because hell, I've probably got 1/100th of his innate talent yet about 15-20 years fo working with the thing and I still can't do it properly. Rest assured though, if he wants to kick the thing and kick it properly he'll work it out in due course.

 

[Frankencow]

I don't think my assesment of Walsh was unfair or writing him off. He didn't play well in the intra-club, and I think it'll take at least a year. I think that's fair comment. I also believe Archer, Gaertner, etc. are a long way off. As for McQualter, he's just in a strange role. I don't think he gives the opposition too much to think about. Doesn't win much ball or kick many goals. I know he's a defensive forward, but I'd prefer someone dangerous who can kick more goals than that (depends if you think 22 is enough). Goddard wouldn't be bad there as he can mark and kick a thumping goal, and he's disciplined enough to maintain pressure and structure. I have a feeling Goddard may be a midfielder this year after the intra-club though.

 

[estibador]

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 certainly don't think Peake's rubbish either. Like Farren Ray he has plenty of talent (shown when he finished 3rd in Freo's B&F in '06) but hasn't really fulfilled his potential,

I don't know how this myth got started (maybe Harves was trying to con you ) but not only did Peake not finish 3rd in our 2006 B+F, he didn't even finish in the top 10.

2006
1. Matthew Pavlich- 34
2. Peter Bell- 31
= Michael Johnson- 31
4. Shane Parker- 28
5. Josh Carr- 25
= Aaron Sandilands- 25
7. Jeff Farmer- 23
8. David Mundy- 21
= Stephen Dodd- 21
9. Luke McPharlin- 20
= Matthew Carr- 20

In fact, Peake never finished top 10 in any year he was at Freo.

 

[Frankencow]

Peake got 10 Brownlow votes in 2006, a bit stiff from the B&F votegivers.

Who was still to come into tonight's side? I figure probably Gram, Gardiner, Dal Santo and Hayes? Did I miss anyone?

 

[estibador]

Peake got 10 Brownlow votes in 2006, a bit stiff from the B&F votegivers.

More just a sign that the umpires favour flashy runs over substance.