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after reading some training reports, I guess I should add Bennell to B22, can't wait for my dreams to be dashed
FB: Ryan Nyhuis/Joel Hamling/Taylin Duman
HB: Nathan Wilson/Alex Pearce/Luke Ryan
C: Bradley Hill/Connor Blakely/Ed Langdon
HF: Michael Walters/Jesse Hogan/Harley Bennell
FF: Rory Lobb/Matthew Taberner/Sam Switkowski
R: Aaron Sandilands/Nathan Fyfe/Stephen Hill
INT: Adam Cerra/Reece Conca/Andrew Brayshaw/David Mundy
EMG: Brett Bewley/Travis Colyer/Bailey Banfield
I think we've got a real group coming through. Our backline could become one of the better ones with more synergy and our forward line while messy has some real firing power in there.
Some notes
-I've got Nyhuis over Hughes. I see a lot more potential in Nyhuis
-I've got Shilly in the guts. Think he can add alot to our midfield. Also considered Walters in that position but I want him kicking goals
-Sandi over Darcy. This is probably Sandi's last year but an extra year of development wouldn't hurt Darcy, especially if he plays away games while Sandi plays at home
-Conca is 100% B22. He's a role player which we need and he can just bully other players if need be. Could be on the HB but I'd like to see him in the middle
-Colyer will probably play round 1 but our small forward depth (Matera/Schultz/Switto) will push him out of the forward line eventually
-Bewley barely doesn't fit. I've got him behind Cerra/Brayshaw/Mundy
-Mundy could be phased out depending on his performance at the start of the year.
-Matera and McCarthy I'm hopeful on. I think McCarthy having better talls around him will help him and I think Matera could do some good stuff
-Tom North and Luke Valente are chasing Banfield's spot for an emergency.
-Sam Sturt will play at some point this year. He might push Walters into the mid, think this kid will be a gun
-Banfield and Crowden will be interesting to watch as with Giro. I think they'll need to put a lot of hard work to make B22 this year
Would have to agree with that, he is still our "mr fix it".Not even the slightest chance Mundy gets phased out
After missing nearly all year with injury and only playing 13 or so games, Louge is not a walk up start no matter how fit he is. I'd rather Duman any day based on his form at end of last year and Louge should go to peel and put in some solid form before being considered a lock for our best 22...timing is everything and missing out of cashing in on some games last year will affect Louge's chances of getting into the side now.I can't see any mention of Logue. Based on what I've seen at training he'll play if fit and would probably take Duman's spot
Totally agree. They don't have to play the same role to keep each other out of the best 22 though. The decision that I expect effects them both playing or not is if we are better off having a midfielder back in defence. That has been quite standard for us, notably SHill and Blakely, and Ross seems to value their ball winning and run and carry over the input of more pure defenders. And it could be a great development role for Cerra, and potentially where Conca or Bewley may find their way in. So that makes it a little more complicated.I am pretty sure Logue and Duman are not even in direct competition for spots anyway.
Totally agree. They don't have to play the same role to keep each other out of the best 22 though. The decision that I expect effects them both playing or not is if we are better off having a midfielder back in defence. That has been quite standard for us, notably SHill and Blakely, and Ross seems to value their ball winning and run and carry over the input of more pure defenders. And it could be a great development role for Cerra, and potentially where Conca or Bewley may find their way in. So that makes it a little more complicated.
The like for like for Ibbotson is Ryan I think.Ross has always loved having two out and out KPDs plus another intercepting tallish defender e.g. McPharlin, Johnson and Ibbotson. From todays’s list, that combo is closest replicated with Hamling, Pearce and Logue.
Legitimate opinion I reckon. But it's a bit like saying if the Australian cricket team didn't play a specialist wicket keeper and played a specialist batsman instead, then our batting would better; True, but the team would be weaker.Is this controversial?
Tabs or Cox > Lobb.
I watched lots of GWS games last year due to fantasy footy and even though I think Lobb is solid fwd ruck, I still prefer the potential of Cox and Tabs. Cox could be anything as a forward and I rate Tabs more in the air than Lobb. Lobb obviously has them covered as a second ruck and we do need a second ruck because of Darcy's tank. But If we play Sandi(who can ruck alone) I think our forward line looks stronger with Lobb out and Cox and Tabs in.
Bennell Hogan Walters
Switta Tabs Cox
Is this controversial?
Tabs or Cox > Lobb.
I watched lots of GWS games last year due to fantasy footy and even though I think Lobb is solid fwd ruck, I still prefer the potential of Cox and Tabs. Cox could be anything as a forward and I rate Tabs more in the air than Lobb. Lobb obviously has them covered as a second ruck and we do need a second ruck because of Darcy's tank. But If we play Sandi(who can ruck alone) I think our forward line looks stronger with Lobb out and Cox and Tabs in.
Bennell Hogan Walters
Switta Tabs Cox
Worked for the eagles, and against the best rucks in the game. Playing two ruckman limited their possession count.It’s a reasonable question to ask, no chance Lobb gets overlooked for the R1 team though.
Freo will look to stretch teams for height this year, move it quickly and look for the tall mismatch, even if Lobb brings it to ground Ross will be ok with it.
I wonder if Freo might look at playing all 4 of Hogan, Lobb, Cox and Tabs in the side at the same time.
If the rule changes provide a lot more 1v1 marking contests it could happen.
Can't believe I forgot Logue, I was trying to think of who I forgot. Yeah he takes Duman's spotI can't see any mention of Logue. Based on what I've seen at training he'll play if fit and would probably take Duman's spot
The like for like for Ibbotson is Ryan I think.
Ibbotson and Ryan are almost exactly the same height and weight, and both are intercept defenders who can play tall if required. Ryan a far better distributor, Ibbo did some good jobs on talls when required. Apart from being defenders, neither are significantly like Hamling, Pearce or Logue which is what's being discussed. All three of those are genuine KPD options.Ryan is just as good as Ibbotson at intercepting and reading opposition play. That where the similarities end though. Ryan is an exquisite distributor of the ball from the back line - Ibbotson was at the other end of the spectrum at this (very indecisive indeed; and invariably went sideways or backwards)
Ryan is just as good as Ibbotson at intercepting and reading opposition play. That where the similarities end though. Ryan is an exquisite distributor of the ball from the back line - Ibbotson was at the other end of the spectrum at this (very indecisive indeed; and invariably went sideways or backwards)
Forgetting Banfield?
I think we can rate the following as A, or close enough to give A grade a shake;Our depth is fine this year imo - from players 23-30 anyway. Where we might fall down is not having enough A Grade talent and not being as strong from players 16-22 (mainly due to inexperience) than many other clubs. There’s little difference between this group and those just outside the best 22 imo. We simply do not have the depth to cover Fyfe, Walters, probably even Hogan at this stage.
Ibbo could play a lot taller. Was much better at 1v1 contests