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2018 Best 22

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Fremantle’s 2018 best 22


B: Lee Spurr, Alex Pearce, Michael Johnson

HB: Luke Ryan, Joel Hamling, Nathan Wilson

C: Bradley Hill, Nathan Fyfe, Stephen Hill

HF: Harley Bennell, Shane Kersten, Cameron McCarthy

F: Michael Walters, Matthew Taberner, Brandon Matera

R: Shaun Darcy, Lachie Neale, David Mundy

INT: Darcy Tucker, Connor Blakely, Brennan Cox, Griffin Logue
 
WWSD said:
Fremantle’s 2018 best 22


B: Lee Spurr, Alex Pearce, Michael Johnson

HB: Luke Ryan, Joel Hamling, Nathan Wilson

C: Bradley Hill, Nathan Fyfe, Stephen Hill

HF: Harley Bennell, Shane Kersten, Cameron McCarthy

F: Michael Walters, Matthew Taberner, Brandon Matera

R: Aaron Sandilands, Lachie Neale, David Mundy

INT: Darcy Tucker, Connor Blakely, Brennan Cox, Griffin Logue
Click to expand...
Please no.
 

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WWSD said:
Fremantle’s 2018 best 22


B: Lee Spurr, Alex Pearce, Michael Johnson

HB: Luke Ryan, Joel Hamling, Nathan Wilson

C: Bradley Hill, Nathan Fyfe, Stephen Hill

HF: Harley Bennell, Shane Kersten, Cameron McCarthy

F: Michael Walters, Matthew Taberner, Brandon Matera

R: Shaun Darcy, Lachie Neale, David Mundy

INT: Darcy Tucker, Connor Blakely, Brennan Cox, Griffin Logue
Click to expand...

Will be very salty if the 3 in bold get more than a few due to injury or the like.
 
TheMcManusNose said:
Will be very salty if the 3 in bold get more than a few due to injury or the like.
Click to expand...

Agree with Spurr, and I'd replace him in the 22 with Langdon on the interchange and Logue in the back line.

Johnno I don't see much choice until we get some games down back into Cox.

Kersten is a bit hot and cold (he had 4-5 very good games last year) but unless Ballas has a storming pre-season or Apeness comes back in tip-top shape I don't see much choice either...or we play both Sandi and Darcy.

Ideally we get to manage the introduction of Picks 2/5 over the season so Johnno can retire without any real loss at year end.

But I'm just glad we can name a 22 where there are only three cause a bit of angst (I'm on the side of putting 16+ games into Tabs this year as a make or break)...and the names Suban, Sutcliffe, Sheridan and D Pearce are nowhere to be seen...with Ballas, Grey, Nyhuis, P2 and P3 ahead of them.

That's a team that should get in the 7-10 range if we don't get crueled by injuries.
 
Unique Name said:
Hughes - Hamling - Logue
Wilson - A Pearce - Ryan
B Hill - Neale - S Hill
Walters - Cox - Bennell
Matera - Tabs - McCarthy
Darcy - Fyfe - Blakely
Tucker - Mundy - Langdon - Pick2/5
Click to expand...

this is the 22 i want most. beastly team. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a few of MJ/Spurr/Suban/Sutcliffe/Pearce though
 
Unique Name said:
Hughes - Hamling - Logue
Wilson - A Pearce - Ryan
B Hill - Neale - S Hill
Walters - Cox - Bennell
Matera - Tabs - McCarthy

Darcy - Fyfe - Blakely

Tucker - Mundy - Langdon - Pick2/5
Click to expand...
There’s no player there that would make me cringe with ball in hand... is that even a Freo side? Maybe Tabs, but hopefully he stays inside the forward 50 more. And there’s no player being played out of position - WTF?

The best bit would be the WAFL melts as we field the following players;

Ballas, DPearce, Rixx, Kersten, Grey, Sandi, Sutty, Spurr, Apeness, MJ, Nyhuis, Duman, Nads, Pick 2/5

More experience in Peel than Freo. We can only dream! I would only like to see Apeness, Nads, Kersten, and Pick 2/5 on the list long term. Maybe Grey if he can tidy up his disposal, and haven’t seen Duman at AFL level yet. The rest can be phased out. Let’s hope we nail this draft! A lot of focus on picks 2&5, but it’s the other picks that will determine how fast our rebuild is. You know the old saying, “2&5 for rebounding, the others for rebuilding” - classic saying and holds truer than ever here.
 
mike91 said:
Why Kersten? Feel hes too much of a whipping boy on here.
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Does nothing forever then pops up and does something every 3rd game. He'll be 25 years old next season. This is probably as good as he is ever going to be, he is what he was last season and what he was at Geelong. Cam Mac has more talent in his toe than Kersten, is 2 years younger, has a decent excuse for his dip last year, and has still kicked more goals in each of his years than Kersten has (if he's as crap as Kersten is in 2 years then i'll punt him too, but pretty confident he won't be). I'm not a big fan of playing Tabs + 2 other tall-ish forwards, especially when we have the talent that can rotate through the forward line that we do. Especially if Sandi and Darcy might get some games together.

He's just not a useful AFL player in a side that isn't shit. If we're content with being shit, sure, let's play Kersten and be happy with his occasional cameos and 25 goals a season. Otherwise punt him and let's try and build around some tall forwards that have talent or are at least, you know, tall.
 
Even with a couple of struggling old blokes our B22 is actually really good. Problem is we only really have probably 25 genuinely AFL standard (currently) players. Any more than about 6 injuries to our B18 (since we will no doubt be carrying some developing players like Logue, pick 2/5) and we start to look real shaky. If we get an injury run like last year again then we will have a similarly poor year. If we get an injury run like Richmond or Port did this year then I expect we will be close to/in finals. If we have a flawless injury year (hahahaha) we could win the flag.
 

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I'd say our 22 going forward (beyond 2018) has the following players as categorised, which means in 2018 I think there'll be a bit of a struggle if we lose some top end players - however there'll be Mundy, Sandi, Ballas and Spurr there who aren't included below and have all shown they can at the least play an important role for the side.
I tried to make the evaluations as realistic as they could be and based on more than just 1 season.

Blue = Guys that have proven they can be a key part of a good (Top 4) 22.
Black = Guys that look quite likely to reach that level, yet haven't quite done enough to be "proven".
Red = Guys that have shown potential, yet are not quite at the required level or the jury is still out on.
Empty = Nobody has shown enough to say they could be a vital part of the 22 yet.
Not named = Not shown enough as of yet (not writing these guys off, just don't think they can be relied upon to reach the grade)

FB - N. Wilson, J. Hamling, E. Hughes
HB - C. Blakely, A. Pearce, L. Ryan
MID - B. Hill, L. Neale, D. Tucker
HF - H. Bennell, M. Tabener, M. Walters
FF - B. Matera, , C. McCarthy
FOL - S. Darcy, N. Fyfe, S. Hill
INT - E. Langdon, B. Cox*, ,

* = where does he fit? Back? But we Appear better set there?

Anyway, based on this side (may be different to others opinions but I think most of it is quite justifiable), we have only 9/22 players that have proven they play at the required level of footy on a consistent basis.

There are a few others (Matera, Langdon, Pearce) that looked like getting to that level apart from injury troubles, so hoping they all come good we're at 12/22.
I have strong hopes for McCarthy as he showed a LOT of potential at GWS and is a natural goalkicker, which isn't something that leaves you, but he did struggle a lot this year, so if he gets right we reach 13/22.

L. Ryan looks very very likely and I originally had him as a blue however I don't think when you look at it without the purple glasses either he or Darcy have really shown the level required consistently, but they've both shown potential. Ryan got black over Darcy as he appears more composed (he is older so that's to be expected), however I think they'll both get there and well have 15/22 where they need to be.
E. Hughes looks good a lot of the time, and can surely play a role, yet I thought it'd be overrating him to say hes shown ENOUGH to play at this same level the rest of his career and it be good enough, so I think well get 16/22 from him.

Cox has shown loads of potential, but his place in the side is what worries me, I dont see us playing A.Pearce, Hamling + Cox, and I don't know he's a forward (still promising though). Despite all his potential, due to squad balance I don't think we can count all of A.Pearce and Hamling as proven best 22 players as it is unlikely to work out that way.

Tucker and Tabener are the interesting ones, I rate both of them very highly, but they haven't shown all that much on a consistent basis. I'm backing both of these guys to reach blue by the end of the year. Giving us 18/22.

Our biggest issue appears to be a significant lack of Depth, outside of Cox as a backman, there isn't a lot of competiton for spots here.
The backline appears a lot stronger than the forward line, however it is easy to understand why the club made such a tough stand on the Weller trade, as he adds another proven quantity to the mix.

I see the best way forward next year to be getting as many games as possible into these guys, amongst some expereinced heads like Sandi/Mundy/Johno, and trying to expose a few younger players as well as we did in 2017 (Hughes, Ryan, Tabs, Darcy, Cox) would all have not been in this list 1 year ago.

Guys that need exposure include (Logue, Apeness (if he gets a good run at it), Pick 2, Pick 5, Nyhuis, Grey, Kersten (fills a need if Apeness not able), Duman, other draft picks performing at WAFL level.)
Experience that would help the team develop include (Mundy, Johno, Sandi, Ballas, Spurr)

All in all i think the 19 fielded above in those positions, surrounded by the more experienced players will be our starting line-up, however as the season progresses I hope to see some of the experience replaced by the guys in need of exposure, rather than guys like Sheridan/Sutcliffe/Suban(if signs again)/D.Pearce.
 
Snarls Barkley said:
2018 Team - Age at 31/12/17

B: Lee Spurr (30, 120) Joel Hamling (24, 45) Alex Pearce (22, 21)
HB: Nathan Wilson (24, 77) Michael Johnson (33, 231) Luke Ryan (21, 11)

R: Aaron Sandilands (35, 254) Nat Fyfe (26, 138) Lachie Neale (24, 113)
C: Brad Hill (24, 117) David Mundy (32, 272) Stephen Hill (27, 190)

HF: Harley Bennell (25, 83) Matt Taberner (24, 53) Michael Walters (26, 111)
F: Shane Kersten (24, 57) Cam McCarthy (22, 40) Hayden Ballantyne (30, 151)

I: Connor Blakely (21, 33) Darcy Tucker (20, 31) Ed Langdon (21, 25) Brandon Matera (25, 101)

Will be expecting picks 2 and 5 to get a lot of games next year too
Click to expand...
So... If you take away Spurr, Johnson, Sandi and Mundy who are all the 30 year olds, our squad is mainly an under 26 squad
 
Kunna17 said:
Our biggest issue appears to be a significant lack of Depth, outside of Cox as a backman, there isn't a lot of competiton for spots here.The backline appears a lot stronger than the forward line, however it is easy to understand why the club made such a tough stand on the Weller trade, as he adds another proven quantity to the mix.
Click to expand...

Good post (missing a forward pocket though). This is the main line that stands out to me. The 18 is pretty much set.

Fyfe, Neale, Blakely, S.Hill, B.Hill, Bennell
Hamling, Pearce, Ryan, Wilson, Hughes, Logue
Taberner, Walters, Mundy, CamMac, Darcy, Matera is 18.

Realistic competition for bench spots probably comes from:

Cox, Langdon, Tucker, Nyhuis, Grey
Johnson, Sandilands, Sheridan, Spurr, Ballantyne
Picks 2 and 5.

Mix and match depending on your preferences.

It's really all just about development and whether players will make it. Will Tabs transfer his consistency at WAFL through to AFL level? Will Pearce come back ok from the leg? Will Hughes, Logue, Tucker, Cam Mac, Cox and Langdon capitalise on their talent?

That's really what next year is going to be about. Getting 20 games into those guys and getting them all up to the 30-50 game experience mark. And Ross sorting out what the **** Ross is doing. If more of them come off than don't and develop into solid players we're pretty good.
 
Unique Name said:
Hughes - Hamling - Logue
Wilson - A Pearce - Ryan
B Hill - Neale - S Hill
Walters - Cox - Bennell
Matera - Tabs - McCarthy

Darcy - Fyfe - Blakely

Tucker - Mundy - Langdon - Pick2/5
Click to expand...
thats it for me too. It will never happen because Spurr, MJ, Suban, Sutty, Rixx etc but thats what I'd do. Completely new team and let them play on instinct. Build some chemistry.
 
E Shed said:
thats it for me too. It will never happen because Spurr, MJ, Suban, Sutty, Rixx etc but thats what I'd do. Completely new team and let them play on instinct. Build some chemistry.
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I do think you're being a touch pessimistic there given the amount of time those 3 spent at Peel this year, even when they were healthy and Ross could easily have slotted them in. Spurr and MJ I agree that we will probably see a bit of them even though I would prefer not to. But they are a touch better than the bolded.
 

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heavho said:
Wouldn’t mind seeing cox used as key role if we can get Johnson out. He should of retired. But need some experience back there. Interning one will be Alex Pearce and if he can come good
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Maybe Johnson should have* retired, but I'd like to see something along the lines of 50-50 spits next year... guys like Sandi, Johnson, Mundy and Ballas playing half the season interchanging with the young ones.
No need to put too much pressure on the young blokes in a season we're not likely to make finals, or go deep if we do.

*my teeth are only gnashing a little bit....
 
_Wildcard_ said:
Maybe Johnson should have* retired, but I'd like to see something along the lines of 50-50 spits next year... guys like Sandi, Johnson, Mundy and Ballas playing half the season interchanging with the young ones.
No need to put too much pressure on the young blokes in a season we're not likely to make finals, or go deep if we do.

*my teeth are only gnashing a little bit....
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Yeah. From interviews sounds to me like none of MJ, Mundy, Sandi, Ballas have any desire to play for Peel. I think they’ll be either playing AFL, injured, or “rested”. Not sure any will play for Peel next year. Looks like Spurr, Sutty and DPearce will be the old heads for the Thunder.
 
M_rash said:
Yeah. From interviews sounds to me like none of MJ, Mundy, Sandi, Ballas have any desire to play for Peel. I think they’ll be either playing AFL, injured, or “rested”. Not sure any will play for Peel next year. Looks like Spurr, Sutty and DPearce will be the old heads for the Thunder.
Click to expand...
Suban and Sheriden will be there.
 

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2018 Best 22

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