2013 Team

[POBT]

Very few people have Polks pencilled into the best 22 but I suspect Voss does.

FWIW, I hope he's in there because he's torn apart the pre-season and has kept a youngster out on performance.

 

[GoTheLions]

As harsh as it seems I would not have Polkinghorne in the 22, so I wouldn't say forgot
I like that team actually, I like it a lot. Only I would probably change Harwood out, Adcock to HBF, McGrath to BP, Staker to FP? and maybe Bewick for Karnezis ~ but I am biased there.

Yeah I know a few on here feel similarly about Polks, I think he gives it all he has, but just realised myself how easy he was to overlook when selecting a team. I guess the little things he does right are paying off for him.

I like Harwood's bone crunching abilities, keeps the forwards looking back wondering where he is.

I think Karnezis has huge potential and he could be in the team Rd 1 but it is hard to tell who will be in form then. One thing that usually happens is that someone will step up in the NAB Cup and cement a spot, another will drop off and out such is the competition for spots.

It is an exciting time to be a lions supporter, I am enjoying watching the team develop and like any fan, hope for the best each year!

 

[PrideIsInstinctive]

2013 Round 1 Team

B: Patfull, Merrett, Golby
HB: Hanley, Maguire, Adcock
C: Rich, Redden, Beames
HF: Zorko, Martin, Lisle
F: Green, Brown, McGrath
R: Leuenberger, Black, Rockliff
I: Raines, Harwood, Moloney Sub: Banfield

Polkinghorne - needs to get more of the ball/ increase 'hurt' factor
Yeo - same
Crisp - Same
Polec - crowded midfield, still a bit under developed physically
Staker - coming off two knee recos
Lester - behind a fit Staker in terms of current ability
McKeever - Maguire slightly ahead
Cornelius - needs to bulk up and build consistency
Docherty - behind Golby, Hanley, Harwood
Karnezis - needs to be more consistent
Mayes - vying with Karnezis for the half forward role
Bewick - another half forward in the mix
Longer - understudy to Leuenberger

 

[Morgs_]

I'll give this a crack so here goes

B: Patfull, Merrett, Golby
HB: Docherty, Maguire, Adcock
C: Rich, Redden, Hanley
HF: Zorko, Lisle, Cornelius
F: Green, Brown, McGrath
R: Leuy, Moloney, Rockliff
I: Raines, Beams, Black Sub: Karney

So many different options available at different positions, we are finally sitting at a good position draft wise and will only get better as the years continues. Golby/Doc to do the kick-ins which allows Hanley to connect between back and forward using his tackle breaking ability and awareness. Forward line isn't too tall but with Zorko and Green in there it is still agile enough to cause problems for most teams. Very difficult to finalise a team but there it is!

 

[captainrich]

Interesting that Polec is not appearing regularly in these teams but seems firmly anchored in the 2s.Seems to be starting to be regarded as a mucked up draft choice.

very harsh he is still developing and has had bulk injury problems has the potential to be our best midfielder

 

[Dylan12]

Very few people have Polks pencilled into the best 22 but I suspect Voss does.

Agreed. I judged him pretty harshly throughout the season, but upon reflection and re-watching all Lions games on Fox Footy since the conclusion of the season, Polkinghorne was better than I'd given him credit, despite going missing regularly and being somewhat inconsistent. Considering he is entering his 6th season and played in 42 out of the past 44 games, I'd be very surprised if after a solid off season that he would fall that dramatically out of the match committee's favour and wasn't included in the 22 selected in round one, injuries aside.

I personally just don't see how a fit James Polkinghorne will not be included in our round one starting line up. I think the only way Polkinghorne is ommitted is when guys like Polec, Karnezis, Crisp, Banfield etc are banging down the door demanding selection.

 

[Sam The Doc]

Claye Beams to be a regular in 2013? In for a breakout year?

 

[Toffee Lion]

Claye Beams to be a regular in 2013? In for a breakout year?

Yes*.

*I hope so.

 

[wantok]

Patfull Maguire Adcock

Docherty Merrett Golby

Hanley Rich Zorko

Bewick Brown Mcgrath

Rockliff Martin Green

Luenberger Moloney Redden

IC Black Beams Raines Sub Karnezis

First choice emergencies.. Lisle,Crisp,Staker,Longer,Polec,Harwood,Lester,Polkinghorne

key points..
-Merrett is more mobile and quicker than Maguire so he is a better match up to the likes of Riewoldt or Cloke at CHB
- Our 3 most experienced backs are in the last line
- Docherty and Golby are both hardworkers and excellent decision makers and ball users
- The run of Hanley and Zorko needs to be used through the middle. Rich is a natural centreman and shouldn't be used on the ball where he may be dragged too deep
- Beams is heading for a breakout year and it is no coincidence that he played in most of our winning teams last year
- Bewick and Mcgrath are excellent accurate kicks and will make the most of opportunities

- Martin is in on trust from his 2010 form. If Lisle lifts his agression he can overtake him

- Polkinghorne goes missing too often and needs to work on his defensive run. He shirks the hard chase

We have some nice depth developing

 

[Quigley]

Agreed. I judged him pretty harshly throughout the season, but upon reflection and re-watching all Lions games on Fox Footy since the conclusion of the season, Polkinghorne was better than I'd given him credit, despite going missing regularly and being somewhat inconsistent. Considering he is entering his 6th season and played in 42 out of the past 44 games, I'd be very surprised if after a solid off season that he would fall that dramatically out of the match committee's favour and wasn't included in the 22 selected in round one, injuries aside.

I personally just don't see how a fit James Polkinghorne will not be included in our round one starting line up. I think the only way Polkinghorne is ommitted is when guys like Polec, Karnezis, Crisp, Banfield etc are banging down the door demanding selection.

Polkinghorne pretty much proved to everyone last year that he is a forward who is capable of relief midfield. He is not a full time midfielder despite him being given every opportunity to establish himself in that role. Up forward he did pretty reasonable things but I would have him behind Zorko, Green, Bewick and McGrath given the work those guys do both ways. Then there is the likes of Mayes and Karnezis who both have a huge amount more upside than Polks. On exposed form Polkinghorne should not be in the 22 imho.

 

[pauldrc]

First choice emergencies.. Lisle,Crisp,Staker,Longer,Polec,Harwood,Lester,Polkinghorne


We have some nice depth developing

Also Banfield, Yeo, Cornelius, McKeever, O'Brien and all the new guys....

Nice depth indeed!

 

[wantok]

Also Banfield, Yeo, Cornelius, McKeever, O'Brien and all the new guys....

Nice depth indeed!

Yes, I don't know how i forgot Yeo! he will be an outstanding player and should be right on top of the emergency list or sub.

 

[mish33]

I had a think about how our team might set up and came up with this. Is that about right?

B: BP KPD 3rd
HB: HBF KPD HBF
C: OutMId InMId OutMid
HF: OutMId CHF 3rd
F: Crumb FF Fwd/Ruck
OB: Ruck Inmid Tag

Int: HBF Mid Ute Sub

So listing the players by position in the order I think they'll get a game.

BP: Golby, Harwood, Wriggles,
KPD: Rog, Goose, McKeevs, Clarke
3rd Defender: JPat, Weardo, Bourke(?)
HBF: Adcock, Hanley, Doc, Yeo
InMid: Black, Rich, Beamer,
OutMid: Reddo, Rock, Zorks, Beams, Crisp, Polec, Jessie O
KPF: Browny, Lisle, Stakes, Close
3rd Tall(marking med): McGrath, Bewick, Ace, Patty K, Mayes, Polka, Papa, Hayes that's a lot of med forwards.
Crumb: Green, Banners, Cal
Fwd/Ruck: Martin, Longer, Michael
Utility: Lester, Stakes, Papa,
Ruck: Leuey, Longer, Martin
Tag: Rainesy, Newell
Sub: Green, Beams, Bewick,

So putting the team together just off those lists I've come up with

B: Golby Rog JPat
HB: Adcock Goose Hanley
C: Reddo Beamer Rocky
HF: Black Browny McGrath
FF: Green Lisle Martin
R: Leuey, RIch, Rainesy
Int: Doc, Zorks, Lester Sub: Bewick

Edit: Had to add the Zork! (and Polec )

 

[Fatcat08]

I had a think about how our team might set up and came up with this. Is that about right?

B: BP KPD 3rd
HB: HBF KPD HBF
C: OutMId InMId OutMid
HF: OutMId CHF 3rd
F: Crumb FF Fwd/Ruck
OB: Ruck Inmid Tag

Int: HBF Mid Ute Sub

So listing the players by position in the order I think they'll get a game.

BP: Golby, Harwood, Wriggles,
KPD: Rog, Goose, McKeevs, Clarke
3rd Defender: JPat, Weardo, Bourke(?)
HBF: Adcock, Hanley, Doc, Yeo
InMid: Black, Rich, Beamer,
OutMid: Reddo, Rock, Beams, Crisp,Jessie O
KPF: Browny, Lisle, Stakes, Close
3rd Tall(marking med): McGrath, Bewick, Ace, Patty K, Mayes, Polka, Papa, Hayes that's a lot of med forwards.
Crumb: Green, Banners, Cal
Fwd/Ruck: Martin, Longer, Michael
Utility: Lester, Stakes, Papa,
Ruck: Leuey, Longer, Martin
Tag: Rainesy, Newell
Sub: Green, Beams, Bewick,

So putting the team together just off those lists I've come up with

B: Golby Rog JPat
HB: Adcock Goose Hanley
C: Reddo Beamer Rocky
HF: Black Browny McGrath
FF: Green Lisle Martin
R: Leuey, RIch, Rainesy
Int: Doc, Beams, Lester Sub: Bewick

Pretty good effort but I've looked pretty hard and I think you've forgotten someone who I'm pretty sure will be best 22 next year........ Zorko!

Also Polec isn't on that list anywhere either.

I'd say Zorko in and Doc out personally. I would have Bewick off the bench. Think his running and endurance are best used for a full game.

Certainly some competition for spots hopefully. Early days but its going to be a tough post season next year, some highly regarded players will be unlucky.

 

[POBT]

Pretty interesting post mish33

I guess the issue with naming the side like that is that you don't necessarily get to factor in flexibility. eg McGrath might be a 3rd forward, crumbing forward, small defender or half back flanker. Assuming he's in the best 22, the position he plays has a knock on effect on other selections. eg if he is nominally the crumber, it means someone like Green drops out and someone like Cornelius or Karnezis might come in.

Another example might be the fact that Patfull is capable of playing key defender. That potentially opens up his spot for a swingman/3rd tall like Staker or Lester.
But a really interesting exercise.

 

[Panthera]

2013 Round 1 Team

B: Patfull, Merrett, Golby
HB: Hanley, Maguire, Adcock
C: Rich, Redden, Beames
HF: Zorko, Martin, Lisle
F: Green, Brown, McGrath
R: Leuenberger, Black, Rockliff
I: Raines, Harwood, Moloney Sub: Banfield

Polkinghorne - needs to get more of the ball/ increase 'hurt' factor
Yeo - same
Crisp - Same
Polec - crowded midfield, still a bit under developed physically
Staker - coming off two knee recos
Lester - behind a fit Staker in terms of current ability
McKeever - Maguire slightly ahead
Cornelius - needs to bulk up and build consistency
Docherty - behind Golby, Hanley, Harwood
Karnezis - needs to be more consistent
Mayes - vying with Karnezis for the half forward role
Bewick - another half forward in the mix
Longer - understudy to Leuenberger

Maguire is light years ahead and was in line for AA before his injuries this year. Will be even better in 2013!

 

[mish33]

Pretty interesting post mish33

I guess the issue with naming the side like that is that you don't necessarily get to factor in flexibility. eg McGrath might be a 3rd forward, crumbing forward, small defender or half back flanker. Assuming he's in the best 22, the position he plays has a knock on effect on other selections. eg if he is nominally the crumber, it means someone like Green drops out and someone like Cornelius or Karnezis might come in.

Another example might be the fact that Patfull is capable of playing key defender. That potentially opens up his spot for a swingman/3rd tall like Staker or Lester.

True true, we have that flexibility - who plays where also depends on form and opposition as well.

Actually, as I was doing this, Patfull and Mcgrath were two who I thought really shaped the team. In the Backline he gives us so much flexibility to basically play our best 5/6 other defenders. If that means Rog and Goose, the Patfull plays smaller, but if one is injured, then we don't HAVE to bring in another tall if say Doc is the next best defender.

Similarly, I saw McGrath as a marking forward, and that meant that two bigs and the resting ruck wasn't over the top, and fortunately we have Bewick who I think offers a simlar target if McGrath were to play in the backline.

Those guys who fill a couple of slots (runners who are also legitimate marking targets) are invaluable if they're in form, which is probably why we have a thousand HFFers!

 

[Morgs_]

I think we'll see McKeever play up forward in NAB Cup, just a sneaky suspicion I have.

 

[Quigley]

I think we'll see McKeever play up forward in NAB Cup, just a sneaky suspicion I have.

We just added 6 forwards to our team in the offseason and no KPDers (although a couple might find their way back there). I read that as the club being pretty comfortable with the current backups in McKeever and Clarke and I would be shocked if they played anywhere other than at the back in the NAB.

 

[charles202]

Polkinghorne for me is an interesting one, I’ve been a fan for a while, but his role in the team really is that of a medium forward or bigger bodied midfield.

The problem for Polka is that with the physical development of a number of recent draftees and other recruits there are some players which may have moved past him. Whilst he is a good user of the ball and a willing defender I often have the image of him chasing but not having the foot speed to lay the tackle (I don’t think effort is an issue):
In my mind the following players will have moved ahead of him for 2013:
· Zorko – Splits time between the middle and HF line;
· Maloney – recruited to be that big bodied midfielder;
· Bewick – As a medium forward has more pace and would be an equally skilled ball user;
· McGrath – His move forward may come Polka’s expense; and
· Polec – A better ball user (however more lacking in defensive pressure), the youth movement continues.

This shouldn’t be seen as a slight on Polka as I think he gets the most out of the skills that he has and is a great team player. It is a long time since we have had backup who can come who with over 80 games of AFL experience.
I don’t have him in my best 22 but would not be surprised (or overly disappointed) if the coaches had him in there as every successful team has a few of those good hard working honest footballers who are prepared to sacrifice for their own game (and stats) for be benefit of the group – which Polka certainly is.

 

[Toffee Lion]

I think we'll see McKeever play up forward in NAB Cup, just a sneaky suspicion I have.

We're stacked in the forward position now, especially for the NAB cup where I think we'll see Close/Paparone both get some time.

 

[borrat]

patfull-maguire-golby

docherty-martin?-adcock

hanley-redden-rich

zorko-merret-polkinghorne

green-brown-bewick

berger-black-rockliff

beams-polec-raines-moloney

 

[dlanod]

Going through our senior list (plus Bartlett), I've got 17 musts:

Patfull Merrett Golby
Adcock Maguire Hanley
Rich Redden Rockliff
Zorko Brown ???
Bewick ??? McGrath
Leuenberger Moloney Raines
Int: Black ??? ??? ???

I've then got another 14 maybes, for reasons ranging from injury to role to fitness to competition for slots. All have been at least regulars in the seniors at different points:

Polkinghorne
Staker
Cornelius
Banfield
Lisle
Harwood
Beams
Karnezis
Green
Lester
Polec
Yeo
Crisp
Martin

And then the remaining nine, squeezed out either due to competition for slots (McKeever and Longer), injury to a fringe player (O'Brien) or yet to debut so no form line yet:

McKeever
O'Brien
Bartlett
Longer
Docherty
Wearden
Mayes
Paparone
Close

Given my initial team, the missing slots are a second tall forward and a forward/ruck out of Martin, Lisle and Cornelius, and three smalls or utilities on the interchange with one the sub. I like Yeo, Crisp, Polec and Harwood but I think each will have to force their way back in to a fit side. That leaves Staker and Lester as utilities, Polkinghorne, Banfield, Beams, Karnezis and Green as the smalls. The three slots I'd pick would be Staker, Banfield and Green, because we're still quite one-paced, and I rate Staker above Lester assuming his preseason goes without a hitch. The three slots I think Voss would pick would be Lester, Polkinghorne and Green.

Patfull Merrett Golby
Adcock Maguire Hanley
Rich Redden Rockliff
Zorko Brown Lisle/Cornelius
Bewick Martin McGrath
Leuenberger Moloney Raines
Int: Black Lester Polkinghorne Green

The actual spots may be rearranged between bench and field. I honestly can't split Lisle and Cornelius at this stage given we don't need Lisle's rucking as I've picked Martin as the second ruck, so I'll leave them to fight it out in the preseason.

Edit: Looking at that team, I'm pretty happy with it. Moloney has forced out Beams, as he would've been my pick for that slot otherwise. The fact that we've only really got a handful of slots to fill warms the cockles of my heart.

 

[borrat]

looks like im the only one who thinks mcgrath wont play that big a part next year

i have a feeling that mcgrath might only get a few games

 

[Morgs_]

We just added 6 forwards to our team in the offseason and no KPDers (although a couple might find their way back there). I read that as the club being pretty comfortable with the current backups in McKeever and Clarke and I would be shocked if they played anywhere other than at the back in the NAB.

Wouldn't be surprised if one of the three out of Papa,Close or Bourke are trialled down back in the NAB Cup. Voss likes to throw curve balls so I'll wait and see what happens.