Analysis 2020 List, Game Plan and Best 22?

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I think we can be a top 6 team next year..provided buddy is fit

Idf buddy is fit, wer gonna get 40-50 goals

Mccartin is still very young but has 2 hears of senior afl experience under his belt...despite age...really should make some serious strides now

Heeney needs to step up..not saying hes been poor...he had a very good year...but he needs to take the reigns...make this his team.one of the most talented players on the list. Right age now to start dominating

Aliir just needs to keep doing what hes doing

Florent looks to have added a bit of size...drastic improvement last season

Hayward....whether it was injuries, form, whatever...took a step backwards...still young and immense talent...needs to get back on track and aim for a 30 goal season

Blakey.....could not have been more impressive...if he can get 20-30 goals again.....awesome.

Reid had a solid year...rinse and repeat.

Melican..poor imo... showed in 2017(from memory) has the ability to be a good defender...needs to improve

Dawson is a big unknown...top end of the elite bracket for foot skills...hopefully we find his niche and he starts to be utilised as the weapon he can be.

Paps...rinse and repeat year

Rampe " " "

My quick analysis..havnt included guys like parker (we know what we will get) and kennedy (getting on, bruised and battered warrior...will give 100% and thats enough for me)
 

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I think we can be a top 6 team next year..provided buddy is fit

Idf buddy is fit, wer gonna get 40-50 goals

Mccartin is still very young but has 2 hears of senior afl experience under his belt...despite age...really should make some serious strides now

Heeney needs to step up..not saying hes been poor...he had a very good year...but he needs to take the reigns...make this his team.one of the most talented players on the list. Right age now to start dominating

Aliir just needs to keep doing what hes doing

Florent looks to have added a bit of size...drastic improvement last season

Hayward....whether it was injuries, form, whatever...took a step backwards...still young and immense talent...needs to get back on track and aim for a 30 goal season

Blakey.....could not have been more impressive...if he can get 20-30 goals again.....awesome.

Reid had a solid year...rinse and repeat.

Melican..poor imo... showed in 2017(from memory) has the ability to be a good defender...needs to improve

Dawson is a big unknown...top end of the elite bracket for foot skills...hopefully we find his niche and he starts to be utilised as the weapon he can be.

Paps...rinse and repeat year

Rampe " " "

My quick analysis..havnt included guys like parker (we know what we will get) and kennedy (getting on, bruised and battered warrior...will give 100% and thats enough for me)

Very slack SS, no mention of Hewett, Lloyd, Papley, Ronke etc ;)
 
Expect week one to be something like this but come preseason there's always a bolter or two. Reckon Thurlow, Knoll, O'Riordan or Naismith could edge Menzel or Ronke out

B: Mills, Aliir, Lloyd
HB: Dawson, Rampe, McCartin
C: Taylor, Hewett, Rowbottom
HF: Blakey, Reid, Heeney
F: Papley, Buddy, Hayward
R: Sinclair, Parker, Florent
INT: Kennedy, Clarke, Ronke, Menzel

Midfield & defence lacks depth while we have too many specialised forwards
 
A guess at what the round 1 team could look like.


B: Rampe, Aliir, Lloyd
HB: Dawson, McCartin, Mills
C: Blakey, Hewett, Rowbottom
HF: Taylor, Reid, Heeney
F: Papley, Buddy, Hayward
R: Naismith, Parker, Florent
INT: Kennedy, Clarke, O’Riordan, Pick 5
 
A guess at what the round 1 team could look like.


B: Rampe, Aliir, Lloyd
HB: Dawson, McCartin, Mills
C: Blakey, Hewett, Rowbottom
HF: Taylor, Reid, Heeney
F: Papley, Buddy, Hayward
R: Naismith, Parker, Florent
INT: Kennedy, Clarke, O’Riordan, Pick 5

Mostly agree Oli, though Aliir is more of a floating back pocket type for Fu.
 
So, looking at the teams over the last few pages, I think it is clear that there is consensus about our best 19 players.

B: Rampe, Aliir, Lloyd
HB: Dawson, McCartin, Mills

C: Heeney, Hewett, Florent

HF: Taylor, Reid, Blakey
F: Papley, Buddy, Hayward

R: Naismith, Parker, Kennedy

INT: Rowbottom, ???, ???, ???

At the very least, everyone has those 19 players in the best 22 they have submitted, even if they might have some slight variations in where they have placed them on the field.

Now, to remind everyone of their "List Management 101" we actually need to have a best 28 who are the players that are going to take on the bulk of AFL duties over the season. Beyond that players are rarely getting called on for more than one or two games.

There are a combination of names who have get mentioned for those final three places in 22 but not made everyone's list:

Clarke, Cunningham, Fox, Menzel*, O'Riordan, Ronke, Sinclair.

With those seven we are up to 26, albeit with the asterisk on Menzel as technically he is not on the list for 2020 yet.

So, who are the players from those that haven't been mentioned who can step it up in to the best 28 next year?

Amartey, Bell, Foot, Hirst*, Knoll, Ling, Maibaum*, McInerney, McLean, Melican, O'Connor, Pink*, Reynolds, Stoddart, Thurlow, Wicks*
 
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Looks like I'm gonna go ahead and dip my toe in here.

FB: Rampe, Melican, Aliir
HB: Lloyd, McCartin, Mills
C: Florent, Parker, Dawson
HF: Kennedy, Franklin, Blakey
FF: Papley, Reid, Hayward
Fol: Sinclair, Hewett, Heeney
Int: Cunningham, Rowbottom, Ronke, O'Riordan

Em: Menzel*, Clarke, McLean, Fox

plus Thurlow, Naismith (fitness pending), Taylor
unknowns are Ling (fitness pending), Bell, Stoddart

I know, Melican. I'll back him in again and he can prove me wrong or most others wrong in the first few games next year. I'm with Fu and agree Aliir can float around as a back pocket.

I think Dawson was most effective on the wing this year where he can drift back and intercept but also deliver up the ground into the forward 50. He's a handy goalkicker too. I almost swapped Mills and Dawson, not that I see Mills playing on a wing, but I would love to see him have a go in the middle. Having trained with the mids last pre-season it will be interesting to see if he is there again this one coming. Wouldn't mind seeing Lloyd on a wing either.

Will assume Blakey plays mostly forward and pinch hits on the wing as he builds his tank.

Kennedy has been a warhorse for a decade now and I'm wondering if its time he spends more time up forward to give others a go. This could not only allow for more midfield depth but could possibly extend his career. He could rotate with Heeney.

O'Riordan and Fox are basically interchangeable for me, though I'd almost put Fox in due to his performances towards the end of the season. Clarke will still play a role throughout next year and I hope Thurlow finds his mojo. McLean looked quite good playing exclusively as a forward in the NEAFL. Would like to see Wicks* get another year and Pink* if possible.
 
B: O'Riordan; McCartin; Rampe
HB: Lloyd; Aliir; Mills
C: Dawson; Parker; Florent
HF: Heeney; Franklin; Hayward
F: Sinclair; Reid; Papley
R: Naismith; Hewett; Kennedy
INT: Rowbottom; Cunningham; Blakey; Taylor

Thurlow; Clarke; Fox; Stoddart; McInerney; McCartin; Ronke; Menzel; McLean
Like this. Would only swap Florent and Blakey. He and Dawson would give us better forward 50 entries based on last displayed form this (except Taylor) is our best 22. Melican not mentioned but he wasn't best 22 at the end of the season. First in though if a tall is injured. McLean handy forward if needed. Fox is solid if someone drops form or instead of Taylor as the extra back. Rampe beside McCartin will steer him. Will be interested to see if Mills is given another midfield role preseason. Might push out Taylor with Melican or Thurlow in.
 

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Looks like I'm gonna go ahead and dip my toe in here.

FB: Rampe, Melican, Aliir
HB: Lloyd, McCartin, Mills
C: Florent, Parker, Dawson
HF: Kennedy, Franklin, Blakey
FF: Papley, Reid, Hayward
Fol: Sinclair, Hewett, Heeney
Int: Cunningham, Rowbottom, Ronke, O'Riordan

Em: Menzel*, Clarke, McLean, Fox

plus Thurlow, Naismith (fitness pending), Taylor
unknowns are Ling (fitness pending), Bell, Stoddart

I know, Melican. I'll back him in again and he can prove me wrong or most others wrong in the first few games next year. I'm with Fu and agree Aliir can float around as a back pocket.

I think Dawson was most effective on the wing this year where he can drift back and intercept but also deliver up the ground into the forward 50. He's a handy goalkicker too. I almost swapped Mills and Dawson, not that I see Mills playing on a wing, but I would love to see him have a go in the middle. Having trained with the mids last pre-season it will be interesting to see if he is there again this one coming. Wouldn't mind seeing Lloyd on a wing either.

Will assume Blakey plays mostly forward and pinch hits on the wing as he builds his tank.

Kennedy has been a warhorse for a decade now and I'm wondering if its time he spends more time up forward to give others a go. This could not only allow for more midfield depth but could possibly extend his career. He could rotate with Heeney.

O'Riordan and Fox are basically interchangeable for me, though I'd almost put Fox in due to his performances towards the end of the season. Clarke will still play a role throughout next year and I hope Thurlow finds his mojo. McLean looked quite good playing exclusively as a forward in the NEAFL. Would like to see Wicks* get another year and Pink* if possible.

Welcome to BF :)
 
B: O'Riordan, Rampe, Aliir

HB: Lloyd, Melican, Mills

C: Dawson, Hewett, Blakey

R: Naismith, Florent, Rowbottom

HF: Parker, Franklin, McCartin

F: Papley, Heeney, Hayward

I/C: Kennedy, Taylor, Cunningham, McLean

Interesting team, as are the others posted above. No Reid is I believe an error as is the inclusion of Melican.

I really like the inclusion of McLean, presumably as back-up to Naismith. I hope he has a blinder of a pre-season and improves his tank. He is a flexible player and I will be curious to see which group(s) he works with in the pre-season.

We do not know yet who will be selected at Pick 5 or the other picks. It would not surprise to see one or more get a crack. I have considered only the known knowns, aside from assuming all our blokes are fit. My best 22 also has an eye to List Management 101, so I will nominate another 6 players who I expect to play a heap of games.

B O'Reardon Rampe Allir

HB Mills McLean Cunningham

C Dawson Rowbottom Blakey

HF Heeney McCartin Franklin

F Papley Reid Parker

R Naismith Hewett Florent

I/C Kennedy, Taylor, Lloyd, Hayward

Back up next six players
- Sinclair, Foot, Wicks*, Ling, McInerney, Maibaum (if fit I expect most will get a lot of games).

Open only in case of emergency - Fox, Clarke, Bell, Stoddard

Players I do not expect to get games based on 2019 - Melican, Menzel*, Thurlow, Knoll*, Pink*, Amartey*, Hirst*.
 
Optimistic

Yep. A good run of injuries not being inflicted on key players will help us improve on 2019. Natural development of younger players will also help. If that happens and we get only 8 wins we are in strife and Horse will have to assess his future.

I hope Taylor works out for him and us. I am optimistic about him. Even being a Taylor makes me think he is a natural fit. Gentleman Jim Taylor and Kevin Taylor were bloody handy players in their time.
 
Back up next six players - Sinclair, Foot, Wicks*, Ling, McInerney, Maibaum (if fit I expect most will get a lot of games).

Open only in case of emergency - Fox, Clarke, Bell, Stoddard

Players I do not expect to get games based on 2019 - Melican, Menzel*, Thurlow, Knoll*, Pink*, Amartey*, Hirst*.

I realised that I posed the question "who of the rest are going to step up?" but didn't actually give an opinion.

I'm inclined to wait until the list is actually settled and we know who we have delisted and who we have drafted to do that... but if I was to have a go now I think my impressions of the players are quite different to yours.

I think the two I most disagree with you on are Clarke and Melican. I think both have their limitations, but they can both play a role at AFL level. I'd expect the two of them to definitely be in our 28.
 
I realised that I posed the question "who of the rest are going to step up?" but didn't actually give an opinion.

I'm inclined to wait until the list is actually settled and we know who we have delisted and who we have drafted to do that... but if I was to have a go now I think my impressions of the players are quite different to yours.

I think the two I most disagree with you on are Clarke and Melican. I think both have their limitations, but they can both play a role at AFL level. I'd expect the two of them to definitely be in our 28.

Fair enough. I thought Melican was among the worst KPDs in the league in 2019.

His form in 2017 was good but he was protected by an experienced backline of proven performers.

Clarke unless he is kicking the ball for three hours a day and improving only has a future as a stopper.

Agree it is early to be doing the exercise, esp as some players may depart and we may pick some in the draft of DFAs and the draft. I'd be tempted to draft Martin if GoCo, Melbourne or Adelaide do not. Would be fun to screw the CarlCrims.
 
Still think Clarke has something to work with. Works bloody hard on field and is a gut runner.

Should spend the whole preseason working on his kicking. He needs to kick a lot flatter. His kicking is too up and under and invites in defenders by giving them more time to mobilise.

His whole preseason should consist of changing his kicking so he connects with the ball earlier making his kicking flatter and inside the contest under pressure to improve his decision making by hand.
 
Still think Clarke has something to work with. Works bloody hard on field and is a gut runner.

Should spend the whole preseason working on his kicking. He needs to kick a lot flatter. His kicking is too up and under and invites in defenders by giving them more time to mobilise.

His whole preseason should consist of changing his kicking so he connects with the ball earlier making his kicking flatter and inside the contest under pressure to improve his decision making by hand.


Which afl players have gone from sub standard to decent kicks in reality?

Doesn’t happen much imo

Look at a good player like k jack, never developed a kick at all on his wrong foot

Expecting skills to rapidly improve at this level is fools gold, not saying it can’t happen but they should have a core already and Clarke is abysmal by foot

Just my view I’m sure everyone else thinks he is skilled
 
Still think Clarke has something to work with. Works bloody hard on field and is a gut runner.

Should spend the whole preseason working on his kicking. He needs to kick a lot flatter. His kicking is too up and under and invites in defenders by giving them more time to mobilise.

His whole preseason should consist of changing his kicking so he connects with the ball earlier making his kicking flatter and inside the contest under pressure to improve his decision making by hand.

Completely agree with this. I want him to practise every day with Davis and Dawson. McCartin's kicking in 2019 was considerably better than 2018 and it seemed he had worked on that skill. #IlikeMikePike could not kick a Corgi when he started and became proficient through hard work.
 
I think melican last year was awful but he just looked lost

He has the tools there though

But you can’t allow the separation he does

I think mccartin looked better in defence with aliir and rampe as the talls


Mills seems to play tall a bit sometimes

Going off on on a tangent but I want Lloyd on a wing
He can have way more impact there and not just collect nothing stats, he also was drawn back deep by smart opposition at times this year
 

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