Prediction 2025 Best 23

[jdstorm]

Thanks for update, seems Zerrett has been all over the place

Maybe its
Ridley - Mckay - Reid
Redman - Mcgrath - Shiel (Roberts)

Bryan- Caldwell - Parish (Tsatas)
Duursma - Durham - Martin(El Hawli)

HJ/Perkins - Kako - Zac Merrett (Hobbs/Gresham)
Langford - Caddy - Draper

Dont think i forgot anyone. Ill be a bit annoyed to see both Shiel and Gresham for the first 6 weeks though.

Harder to be tagged starting as genuine forward, maybe an avenue to break it, i feel Zerrett will face his toughest year of tags/attention but maybe clubs dont go that way again, although in vogue last year

Id love to see the trio of speed in Kako, Saad and Davey

Sheil’s 15 games short of 100 for Essendon. Clubs going to get him past that mark for sure.

 

[eth-dog]

Sheil’s 15 games short of 100 for Essendon. Clubs going to get him past that mark for sure.

In what world does Shiel's kid pick us over GWS?

 

[jdstorm]

In what world does Shiel's kid pick us over GWS?

One where they grow up in Melbourne and don’t want to move

 

[eth-dog]

One where they grow up in Melbourne and don’t want to move

Honestly don't see it. I'd love to see Shiel get to 100 Essendon games as he's been a very good player for us, to whom we sold a lemon, but it's not the end of the world if he doesn't. If we're no chance for finals and he needs 3 games to get there at the end, go for your life but I'd rather the team picked on merit for the next 5 years rather than something that may or may not happen down the line

 

[jdstorm]

Honestly don't see it. I'd love to see Shiel get to 100 Essendon games as he's been a very good player for us, to whom we sold a lemon, but it's not the end of the world if he doesn't. If we're no chance for finals and he needs 3 games to get there at the end, go for your life but I'd rather the team picked on merit for the next 5 years rather than something that may or may not happen down the line

I think picking on merit can be a loosely defined thing. What’s the most valuable quality for a player to have. Effort, Skill, talent, popularity. Production.

As long as a player can justify their selection enough that it’s not wierd I’m fine with guys getting games.

Especially at HB which is a position a rookie can play effectively year 1. Can easily have Sheil in for his training standards/professionalism for 12 months and get him past the 100 game mark.

 

[TheUnicorn]

McGrath - McKay - Prior
Redman - Reid - Ridley

Duursma - Merrett - El-Hawli
Parish - Bryan - Caldwell

Langford - Caddy - Martin
Kako - Draper - Gresham


Tsatas, Durham, Shiel, Jones

 

[bombreys]

McGrath - McKay - Prior
Redman - Reid - Ridley

Duursma - Merrett - El-Hawli
Parish - Bryan - Caldwell

Langford - Caddy - Martin
Kako - Draper - Gresham


Tsatas, Durham, Shiel, Jones

I'll be so flat if Archie Roberts isn't in the side. He'd have been Top 10 in the B&F if we played him all 2024.

 

[jdstorm]

I'll be so flat if Archie Roberts isn't in the side. He'd have been Top 10 in the B&F if we played him all 2024.

This I’m hoping our defence starts a bit smaller and our VFL guys and AFL guys are like for like replacements

AFL > VFL
KPD1 McKay - Laverde
KPD2 Reid > Hayes
MD1 Ridley > prior
MD2 Redman > Clarke
SD1 McGrath > Loul
SD2 Sheil> Nguyen
D7: Roberts > Cox/baldwin

Could also see Cox being used as a wing

 

[Bjchan13]

B McGrath McKay Ridley
HB Redman Reid Roberts
C Durham Setterfield Duursma
HF Martin Caddy Merrett
F Kako Draper Langford
R Bryan Caldwell Tsatas
INT Shiel Perkins Gresham Hobbs El Hawli

 

[FootyGuru]

McGrath McKay Ridley
Redman Reid Shiel
Martin Merrett duursma
Perkins caddy Durham
Kako Draper langford

Mids Bryan tsatas Caldwell

Int - Gresham prior Robert’s Hobbs.

 

[JT_the_Man]

After first praccy I’m thinking something like this for round 1.

B McGrath - McKay - Ridley
HB Redman - Reid - Shiel
C Duursma - Tsatas - Jones
HF Martin - Caddy - Gresham
F Kako - Draper - Langford
R Bryan - Merrett - Durham
Int. Caldwell - Perkins - Roberts - Prior
Sub El-Hawli

Although I’m opposed to sub debuts so probably flip Roberts and El-Hawli. Hobbs stiff, he gets a run if we want to bat a little deeper through the middle.

 

[ant555]

McGrath McKay Ridley
Redman Reid Shiel
Martin Merrett duursma
Perkins caddy Durham
Kako Draper langford

Mids Bryan tsatas Caldwell

Int - Gresham prior Robert’s Hobbs.

Think this will be close.

 

[ghostdog]

McGrath - McKay - Shiel
Redman - Reid - Hayes

Duursma - Merrett - Martin
Durham - Bryan - Tsatas

Langford - Caddy - Jones
Kako - Draper - Gresham


Caldwell, Roberts, Prior, Setterfield

Haven't listed Ridley and Parish due to ongoing injury recovery. Was hesitant about McKay, but he has started training. Hopefully plays the praccy against Cats.

If Edwards has a good game against the Cats, Jones could be vulnerable. I love Jones's defensive intensity i50 though. I need to see something similar from Edwards.

 

[Chief Hopper]

McGrath - McKay - Shiel
Redman - Reid - Hayes

Duursma - Merrett - Martin
Durham - Bryan - Tsatas

Langford - Caddy - Jones
Kako - Draper - Gresham

Caldwell, Roberts, Prior, Setterfield

Haven't listed Ridley and Parish due to ongoing injury recovery. Was hesitant about McKay, but he has started training. Hopefully plays the praccy against Cats.

If Edwards has a good game against the Cats, Jones could be vulnerable. I love Jones's defensive intensity i50 though. I need to see something similar from Edwards.

I thought of a team similar.
Hayes seems ready to play over injured Ridley or Cox. Setterfield in the team, and not playing injured, really made us much more competitive against bigger bodied midfields. Roberts brings a much needed xfactor similar to Martin.

Deffo controversial, but I would play Edwards instead of Caddy. Jones showed heaps last year. Caddy isn't accurate enough from what I've seen and needs to buildup. Edwards at 24 is primed to play right now.

 

[ghostdog]

I thought of a team similar.
Hayes seems ready to play over injured Ridley or Cox. Setterfield in the team, and not playing injured, really made us much more competitive against bigger bodied midfields. Roberts brings a much needed xfactor similar to Martin.

Deffo controversial, but I would play Edwards instead of Caddy. Jones showed heaps last year. Caddy isn't accurate enough from what I've seen and needs to buildup. Edwards at 24 is primed to play right now.

Yep. That is controversial. All I'd say is that Caddy has already shown he's so much more than a finisher. He can finish, just needs polish. Edwards on the other hand, has shown he can finish but not much more. I need to see him.play the Cats first.

Caddy's field kicks and marking are going to be priceless.

 

[ant555]

McGrath - McKay - Shiel
Redman - Reid - Hayes

Duursma - Merrett - Martin
Durham - Bryan - Tsatas

Langford - Caddy - Jones
Kako - Draper - Gresham


Caldwell, Roberts, Prior, Setterfield

Haven't listed Ridley and Parish due to ongoing injury recovery. Was hesitant about McKay, but he has started training. Hopefully plays the praccy against Cats.

If Edwards has a good game against the Cats, Jones could be vulnerable. I love Jones's defensive intensity i50 though. I need to see something similar from Edwards.

Unless he gets injured again Ridley will be ready for round 1. He is going to play on Tuesday.

 

[ant555]

I thought of a team similar.
Hayes seems ready to play over injured Ridley or Cox. Setterfield in the team, and not playing injured, really made us much more competitive against bigger bodied midfields. Roberts brings a much needed xfactor similar to Martin.

Deffo controversial, but I would play Edwards instead of Caddy. Jones showed heaps last year. Caddy isn't accurate enough from what I've seen and needs to buildup. Edwards at 24 is primed to play right now.

The only way Caddy does not play is if he gets injured. He is also bigger and fitter than Edwards. Edwards may be 24 but he is rather skinny and has had some minor health issues that have slowed his development body wise. He is actually primed to get stuck into the AFL program to see if he can develop a bit.

 

[ghostdog]

Unless he gets injured again Ridley will be ready for round 1. He is going to play on Tuesday.

I hope so, but I won't be unhappy if it's Hayes.

 

[Chief Hopper]

The only way Caddy does not play is if he gets injured. He is also bigger and fitter than Edwards. Edwards may be 24 but he is rather skinny and has had some minor health issues that have slowed his development body wise. He is actually primed to get stuck into the AFL program to see if he can develop a bit.

There is that re fitness, so a full game, and many matches, much favour Caddy.

I just haven't seen many take good marks, good positions and snap goals continually like Edwards has for a long while at Essendon. Lucas or Lloyd like. Could all end up as another fluke that doesn't transition to AFL.

Caddy may get there, but he has had several chances now kicking goals, and is a little off. Only 10 games

 

[ant555]

There is that re fitness, so a full game, and many matches, much favour Caddy.

I just haven't seen many take good marks, good positions and snap goals continually like Edwards has for a long while at Essendon. Lucas or Lloyd like. Could all end up as another fluke that doesn't transition to AFL.

Caddy may get there, but he has had several chances now kicking goals, and is a little off. Only 10 games

They will play Caddy. No question.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Can't see Hayes getting a game if Reid and McKay are fit. I'd play Prior or Redman as the third tall if Ridley is unavailable.

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Ridley McKay McGrath
Redman Reid Shiel
Duursma Caldwell Martin
Perkins Langford Gresham
Kako Caddy Draper

Bryan Merrett Durham

Tsatas Roberts Jones Prior Hobbs

This is how I'd line up for round 1. Parish comes in when fit for one of the underperformers.

 

[pazza]

Best 23 for me:

B: Ridley, McKay, Redman
HB: McGrath, Reid, Shiel
C: Martin, Caldwell, Duursma
HF: Perkins, Wright, Kako
F: Caddy, Langford, Draper
R: Bryan, Durham, Merrett
Int: Parish, Tsatas, Roberts, Hobbs, El-Hawli

Emerg: Edwards, Jones, Gresham

 

[gillon]

Assuming everybody is fit this is how I’d line up

FB: Ridley McKay McGrath
HB: Redman Reid Shiel
C: Duursma Caldwell Martin
HF: Perkins Caddy Gresham
F: Kako Draper Langford
FOL: Bryan Merrett Durham
INT: Tsatas Roberts El-Hawli Jones
Sub: Edwards

Emg: Setterfield Parish Hayes

 

[Godzke]

Everyone seems to have Shiel as a lock down back. Are we satisfied with his defensive work?