Prediction 2025 Best 23

[eth-dog]

Bit harsh on Hobbsy. He definitely made a few errors, but I feel like we need to live with them, to some degree. Also, it'd be a bit hypocritical to not play Hobbs because he looks like a 'panic merchant' when we have McGrath as our VC...

Not really. He worked hard but he made more than "a few errors". He had 8 Clangers. 8. And as far as McGrath, his turnovers are mostly at least 50+ metres further along than where he is rather than the exact spot he's standing. He also has an outside game due to his speed and more often than not he finds a target. Hobbs is slow and his kicking is shocking, not to mention he has no idea what to do with the ball when he finds himself in space

 

[ghostdog]

Bit harsh on Hobbsy. He definitely made a few errors, but I feel like we need to live with them, to some degree. Also, it'd be a bit hypocritical to not play Hobbs because he looks like a 'panic merchant' when we have McGrath as our VC...

McGrath's clangers are negligible next to last night's Ben Hobbs.

We didn't play Tsatas last year until he fixed his kicking. Why should Hobbs be privileged an easy in to the seniors?

Setterfield's disposal by foot was far superior. Hobbs needs to go and fix his. It will cost us a game or more the way it is.

 

[bombreys]

Not really. He worked hard but he made more than "a few errors". He had 8 Clangers. 8. And as far as McGrath, his turnovers are mostly at least 50+ metres further along than where he is rather than the exact spot he's standing. He also has an outside game due to his speed and more often than not he finds a target. Hobbs is slow and his kicking is shocking, not to mention he has no idea what to do with the ball when he finds himself in space

Last night wasn't his best on that front, that's for sure. Agree his slow and his mid-long range kicking was/is ordinary - if it were up to me, I'd give him another chance early on in the season. I'd like to see the reward for effort. If he has similar clanger/turnover numbers, then off to the VFL.

 

[bombreys]

McGrath's clangers are negligible next to last night's Ben Hobbs.

We didn't play Tsatas last year until he fixed his kicking. Why should Hobbs be privileged an easy in to the seniors?

Setterfield's disposal by foot was far superior. Hobbs needs to go and fix his. It will cost us a game or more the way it is.

Not negligible - McGrath had two you could argue set up direct Geelong goals. One was a handball at a teammate's feet, which are awful in the D50.

I don't think you can call playing Hobbs an 'easy in'. I'd be fine with Setterfield playing ahead of Hobbs, but I do think some are being a touch harsh on Hobbs.

 

[crackers65]

Didn’t watch much of the game last night. At one stage McGrath had two turnovers that cost goals. He wasn’t trying to take the game on, they were just terrible disposals.CLANGERS!

 

[ant555]

Hobbs not an impact player for me. Gresham was a passenger in the first half but got going in the second half, I don't think that earns him a starting spot.

Hobbs was a panic merchant last night away from the contest, a vital area for him to improve upon. Look beyond the stats. They also play completely different spots, one is playing as a forward, the other a mid. I think Edwards will impact more forward of centre than Hobbs will.

Coach wants pressure. Hobbs provided the most pressure and most tackles including back half pressure. Disposal was crap yes but our focus so far this pre season has been pressure and team defence.
After watching the game a few times there were plenty of crap disposals from both sides.
I may be wrong but they have pretty much played Hobbs whenever he has been fit other than playing Parish in front of him last year.
I think he will be on the bench and part of the midfield rotation and Durham will play a bit more forward.

 

[ant555]

McGrath's clangers are negligible next to last night's Ben Hobbs.

We didn't play Tsatas last year until he fixed his kicking. Why should Hobbs be privileged an easy in to the seniors?

Setterfield's disposal by foot was far superior. Hobbs needs to go and fix his. It will cost us a game or more the way it is.

Setterfield was just as bad and he has no spread.

 

[ghostdog]

Not negligible - McGrath had two you could argue set up direct Geelong goals. One was a handball at a teammate's feet, which are awful in the D50.

I don't think you can call playing Hobbs an 'easy in'. I'd be fine with Setterfield playing ahead of Hobbs, but I do think some are being a touch harsh on Hobbs.

Hobbs handballed directly to Atkins which led to a goal.

Setterfield was just as bad and he has no spread.

I haven't finished watching the game again but that's not how I remember it.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Brad leaked the round one side to me.

B: Ridley - McKay - McGrath
HB: Redman - Reid - Shiel
C: Duursma - Merrett - Martin
HF: Durham - Caddy - Gresham
F: Langford - Draper - Kako
R: Bryan - Tsatas - Caldwell
I/C: Perkins - Prior - Roberts - Jones
Sub: Hobbs

This is the 23. Feels pretty clear after Monday.

 

[ant555]

Hobbs handballed directly to Atkins which led to a goal.

I haven't finished watching the game again but that's not how I remember it.

Hobbs disposal 55% eff
Setterfield disposal 53% eff
They where both poor.

Setterfield looks like he is running in concrete boots. The only real plus I saw for him was he blocked well and had a couple of nice clearances.

I base it on watching the game then looking at the stats and then watching it again. Not really seeing Setters being any better myself.

 

[ghostdog]

Hobbs disposal 55% eff
Setterfield disposal 53% eff
They where both poor.

Setterfield looks like he is running in concrete boots. The only real plus I saw for him was he blocked well and had a couple of nice clearances.

I base it on watching the game then looking at the stats and then watching it again. Not really seeing Setters being any better myself.

I can appreciate that. I probably responded emotionally, having recalled a couple of kicks that looked pretty slick to me. Hobbs' were probably more memorable because he found so much of it, and that kick for goal was a howler.

 

[ghostdog]

Hobbs not an impact player for me. Gresham was a passenger in the first half but got going in the second half, I don't think that earns him a starting spot.

Hobbs was a panic merchant last night away from the contest, a vital area for him to improve upon. Look beyond the stats. They also play completely different spots, one is playing as a forward, the other a mid. I think Edwards will impact more forward of centre than Hobbs will.

Interesting. Was Hobbs worse than Duursma? Hobbs was stronger at contested, and although he fluffed kicks he also gave us lots of opportunity. Why not put Roberts on Duursma's wing and Hobbs or Setterfield on the bench?

 

[bombreys]

Hobbs handballed directly to Atkins which led to a goal.

I haven't finished watching the game again but that's not how I remember it.

Yeah, and like I said, his disposal was poor. But again, if we're going to forgive 26 year old Vice Captain Andrew McGrath, we should also be forgiving 21 year old Ben Hobbs. To say the difference in turnovers is negligible is not accurate.

 

[Bombers36]

Lav McKay McGrath
Redman Ridley Roberts
Martin Caldwell Duursma
Guelfi Langford Gresham
Edwards 2MP Kako

Draper Durham Merrett

Bench: Tsatas Parish Johnson Caddy
SUB: Perkins

 

[Yoda_]

After 7 rounds, it's safe to say things are starting to take shape. Thought id have a look at who could realistically be apart of a finals pushing side and see just how far off we are and the amount of work the list still requires.

Backline. **** - Zac Reid - Jordan Ridley

14

Jordan Ridley

Age

26

Ht

195cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

4.5

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.7

4star

MG

244.8

4star

D

17.0

4star

K

11.9

5star

HB

5.1

3star

M

6.7

5star

T

1.7

3star

MG

265.4

4star

D

13.8

4star

K

9.6

4star

HB

4.2

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.4

4star

MG

208.2

4star

Half Backline. Archie Roberts - ** - **

Centreline. Xavier Duursma

28

Xavier Duursma

Age

24

Ht

186cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.5

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

8.5

5star

M

5.4

5star

T

2.1

4star

CL

1.6

4star

D

13.0

3star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

3.8

4star

T

2.3

3star

CL

0.5

3star

D

16.8

4star

K

8.4

4star

HB

8.4

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

1.6

4star

- Jye Caldwell

6

Jye Caldwell

Age

24

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.7

5star

CL

1.8

4star

D

14.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

7.3

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.3

4star

CL

1.8

4star

D

13.6

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.8

5star

CL

1.6

4star

- ****

Half Forwardline. ** - Nate Caddy - **

Forwardline. Isaac Kako - **** - Kyle Langford

4

Kyle Langford

Age

28

Ht

192cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.3

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

17.4

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.6

3star

G

0.7

4star

D

8.2

2star

K

3.2

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

3star

Ruck. Sam Draper - Zac Merrett - Sam Durham

These guys are currently 50:50 in my eyes (yes, I will have missed people. Sorry!)

* = ive got faith that would help us be competitive but im not sold they will be apart of anything
Nick Bryan
Matt Gulefi
* Ben Hobbs
Nic Martin
Andy McGrath
Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

* Darcy Parish

3

Darcy Parish

Age

27

Ht

180cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.4

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

9.1

5star

M

1.4

2star

T

2.0

3star

CL

3.1

4star

D

22.2

5star

K

7.6

3star

HB

14.6

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

Archie Perkins

• Mason Redman
• Will Setterfield

Obviously this is tipping on the side bordering on unrealistic but the amount of softness the group has staggers me. The guys in the 18 at least have a competitive streak.

 

[Vander18]

With Anzac Day behind us, time to forget about best 23 and get on with a proper rebuild. We have never done this - have always played our best side - time to acknowledge that we are nowhere near contending for anything and select our team accordingly.

Defence
No spot for Prior. If we are really ruthless about this then Pidge and Mackay could go as well. They are not our future.

Get games into Hayes (can’t play him with Reid, Mackay and Ridley). Get games into Lual, Clarke and Johnson as well - let’s see what they can do

Would consider Merrett to half back - we badly need a general and ball use back there.

Midfield
Can’t keep playing Shiel and Setterfield even through they are best 23.

Tstatas has to play and the club needs to make a call. If he’s not best 23 by end of year 3 then we need to think about making a call. At most you might give him 1 more year to make it. Same for Hobbs.

Durham and Caldwell is our midfield core and our future leaders. We build around these two and their unconditional approach to footy.

Forwards
Have to play Wright I think as Caddy getting too much quality attention won’t help his develop. Wright and Langford gives him a chance at some decent match ups to exploit and build confidence.

Move on from Gresham and Menzie - neither bring true small forward pressure. Let’s see ADJ and Unwin buzzing around with Kako.

Have always backed Jones but I think he’s peripheral at this point. Not fussed if he goes back to VFL - he’s not a real wing and makes us too tall forward with Wright playing.

Feels like we are still betwixt and between - there has been talk of a rebuild but it’s not reflected in selection. We need to full embrace where are at, be ruthless with experienced players, play as many kids as possible to develop them and hopefully hit the pointy end of the draft.

Look to trade some players at end of year to accumulate draft capital - McGrath, Redman, Mackay, Perkins and Jones would all have some currency.

 

[eth-dog]

With Anzac Day behind us, time to forget about best 23 and get on with a proper rebuild. We have never done this - have always played our best side - time to acknowledge that we are nowhere near contending for anything and select our team accordingly.

Defence
No spot for Prior. If we are really ruthless about this then Pidge and Mackay could go as well. They are not our future.

Get games into Hayes (can’t play him with Reid, Mackay and Ridley). Get games into Lual, Clarke and Johnson as well - let’s see what they can do

Would consider Merrett to half back - we badly need a general and ball use back there.

Midfield
Can’t keep playing Shiel and Setterfield even through they are best 23.

Tstatas has to play and the club needs to make a call. If he’s not best 23 by end of year 3 then we need to think about making a call. At most you might give him 1 more year to make it. Same for Hobbs.

Durham and Caldwell is our midfield core and our future leaders. We build around these two and their unconditional approach to footy.

Forwards
Have to play Wright I think as Caddy getting too much quality attention won’t help his develop. Wright and Langford gives him a chance at some decent match ups to exploit and build confidence.

Move on from Gresham and Menzie - neither bring true small forward pressure. Let’s see ADJ and Unwin buzzing around with Kako.

Have always backed Jones but I think he’s peripheral at this point. Not fussed if he goes back to VFL - he’s not a real wing and makes us too tall forward with Wright playing.

Feels like we are still betwixt and between - there has been talk of a rebuild but it’s not reflected in selection. We need to full embrace where are at, be ruthless with experienced players, play as many kids as possible to develop them and hopefully hit the pointy end of the draft.

Look to trade some players at end of year to accumulate draft capital - McGrath, Redman, Mackay, Perkins and Jones would all have some currency.

Defence: McKay and McGrath have enough footy left in them to be part of our future. No to Lual, we've seen what he can do at VFL level and it ain't flash.

Midfield: Agree with everything there.

Forward: Unwin is struggling for consistency in the ressies, I'd rather see him play a good month of VFL footy until we expose him. Drop Gresham 100%

Trade wise I have zero issues with Reddog, I'd keep Perko as that half forward and would add Parish if we can get a top 30 pick by paying part of his salary

 

[Vander18]

Defence: McKay and McGrath have enough footy left in them to be part of our future. No to Lual, we've seen what he can do at VFL level and it ain't flash.

Midfield: Agree with everything there.

Forward: Unwin is struggling for consistency in the ressies, I'd rather see him play a good month of VFL footy until we expose him. Drop Gresham 100%

Trade wise I have zero issues with Reddog, I'd keep Perko as that half forward and would add Parish if we can get a top 30 pick by paying part of his salary

Some differences but main thrust of my post is let’s acknowledge exactly where we are at and start picking the team accordingly.