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Team Mgmt. 2026 Best 23

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Unless something goes astray I am seeing Nguyen in the side for round 1.
 
Will we be good one day?
 
Bombers36 said:
I feel like we are finally starting to trend in the right direction. New president Welsh & he has bought with him some strong ex players (Soloman/Richards) with him plus a bit of a player clean out this year & some new faces still to come in via the draft. Right now I've got our best available 23 (plus emergencies) looking something like;-

Ridley McKay McGrath
Redman Reid Roberts
Fiorini Caldwell Duursma
Perkins Caddy Kako
2MP Langford Gresh

Blaki Durham Merrett

Parish Tsatas Clarke Johnson Guelfi

Emergency: Prior Nguyen May McMahon

Injured: Hayes Cox Martin Bryan

We clearly need a lift out of the players in bold (or to find replacements)- but the good thing is ALL of them are out of contract at the end of 2026..!! I think if we can keep most of that 23 on the park for the majority of 2026 we will finish in the 8 - 15 ladder range (remembering we get to plug Martin and Bryan back into the 23 at some stage). I feel like all going well we can make a serious challenge for the finals in 2027. Things can only get better from here..!!
Click to expand...

Agree with almost the entire team

Aside from Johnson - couldn’t get a game in a 13 straight loss side with 16-odd injuries.
And Prior played every game/no VFL. That’d be my only swap
 

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Just came across this thread. Thought I'd have a go. I'm going to assume at this stage that there isn't any draft night trading, and that whoever is picked with picks #5 and #6 play in the first game. I do think if they match a bid on Adam Sweid, he could also play early because he plays a position of need. This is more for the first game not BEST 23, so I haven't put Nic Martin or Nick Bryan in. Bryan would replace Blakiston and Martin would probably replace one of the draftees depending on who it is.

Full Back - Jayden Nguyen, Ben McKay, Jordan Ridley
Half Back - Archie Roberts, Zach Reid, Mason Redman
Centre - Xavier Duursma, Jye Caldwell, Brayden Fiorini
Half Fwd - Jade Gresham, Nate Caddy, Sam Durham
Full Fwd - Matthew Guelfi, Peter Wright, Isaac Kako
Followers - Lachlan Blakiston, Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath
Bench - Pick #5, Pick #6, Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford, Angus Clarke
Emergencies - Elijah Tsatas, Jaxon Prior, Vigo Visentini

Jaxon Prior is stiff to miss out. I know he played every game last year, which is admirable given the circumstances surrounding the team, but if everyone was fit I think he would've been dropped during the first half of the season. I also don't think he does enough offensively to justify him playing as a medium defender, where he is competing with Redman and to a lesser extent Ridley. Prior is a tidy kick, but he doesn't do much with his kicking to make him a good kick, if that makes sense. Elijah Tsatas is also stiff to miss out, if he has a good preseason and there is an injury, I could maybe see him playing, but at this stage I don't think he'll leapfrog any of the midfielders in the team. Archie Perkins is another one who is on the fringe for mine. I think Gresham just gets in over him, because I think Gresham is better as that high forward. Both are horribly inconsistent, but Gresham is out of contract this year so he'll probably play really well. Vigo Visentini could also get the nod to be the ruck, I think it'll just depend on who has a better preseason.
 
ant555 said:
Unless something goes astray I am seeing Nguyen in the side for round 1.
Click to expand...
Agree, i think one of mcgrath/roberts will always be used further up the ground and thrown around more so it opens up a small defender spot for nguyen/Johnson.
 
B mcgrath mckay ridley
Hb roberts reid redman
W Martin caldwell fiorini
Hf. Gresham Caddy Kako
F Wright Langford guelfi
R Byran Merret Durham
I/c perkins, Clarke, pick 5/6, nguyen, duursma

Even though 5 on the bench, think we should only play 1 ruck plus wright, I would maybe play byran, blakiston and wright but blakiston starts as a key back and only rucks if wright or byran injured.

We really need small/ agile fwds with guelfi, gresham and perkins getting games. So id also try mcgrath, roberts as rotating smalls.
 
Bombers36 said:
I feel like we are finally starting to trend in the right direction. New president Welsh & he has bought with him some strong ex players (Soloman/Richards) with him plus a bit of a player clean out this year & some new faces still to come in via the draft. Right now I've got our best available 23 (plus emergencies) looking something like;-

Ridley McKay McGrath
Redman Reid Roberts
Fiorini Caldwell Duursma
Perkins Caddy Kako
2MP Langford Gresh

Blaki Durham Merrett

Parish Tsatas Clarke Johnson Guelfi

Emergency: Prior Nguyen May McMahon

Injured: Hayes Cox Martin Bryan

We clearly need a lift out of the players in bold (or to find replacements)- but the good thing is ALL of them are out of contract at the end of 2026..!! I think if we can keep most of that 23 on the park for the majority of 2026 we will finish in the 8 - 15 ladder range (remembering we get to plug Martin and Bryan back into the 23 at some stage). I feel like all going well we can make a serious challenge for the finals in 2027. Things can only get better from here..!!
Click to expand...
You're very optimistic.
I don't think 'seriously challenging for finals' is actually a serious thing anymore.
 
jdstorm said:
Going Full Bevo with the magnets and I don’t hate it.

Roberts Hayes Ridley
Redman Reid Caldwell
Fiorini Martin Dursma
Bryan Durham Merrett
McGrath May Clarke
Kako Wright Caddy

IC Johnson Langford 2xmids(Parish and Tsatsas penciled in) 1x pressure forward (Gresham????)

Mid rotation
A: Martin Merrett Duz
B: Caldwell + 2 bench guys
Pinch hitters with speed Kako + McGrath

VFL

Nguyen McKay Cox
Prior Blackison SEH

Viggo pick 5 pick 6
Jones Perkins Day-wicks

Guelfi McMahon Sweid
Unwin Gerryn Edwards

IC 2x draft picks + VFl players
Click to expand...
Hayes and Reid is interesting. I'm not sure Hayes has the strength for it, has he?
 
McGrath McKay Redman
Ridley Reid Roberts
Duursma Caldwell fiorini
Robey Langford Martin
Kako Caddy Doviston
Bryan Merrett Durham

Clarke, May, Parish, Farrow, Sweid


Unlucky to miss: Johnson, perkins, Wright, prior, Hayes, Vigo, Nguyen
 
Last edited:
ghostdog said:
You're very optimistic.
I don't think 'seriously challenging for finals' is actually a serious thing anymore.
Click to expand...

You only have to finish 10th to challenge for finals - so we are a small chance in 2026 if everything goes right - if not then certainly by 2027 we should be targeting finals
 

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Bombers36 said:
You only have to finish 10th to challenge for finals - so we are a small chance in 2026 if everything goes right - if not then certainly by 2027 we should be targeting finals
Click to expand...
Sorry, I mistook 'seriously challenging for finals' for 'seriously challenging in finals.'

Really though, finishing 10th doesn't mean much. It's not serious.
 
ghostdog said:
Sorry, I mistook 'seriously challenging for finals' for 'seriously challenging in finals.'

Really though, finishing 10th doesn't mean much. It's not serious.
Click to expand...
It is now 🙂
Same as finishing 7th/8th/9th.
Get to play another week.
It will be 1000% serious when the game rolls around.
 
with Nick Martin gone for season and Sharp, Robey and Farrow in.

b: Nguyen McKay Ridley
hb: McGrath REID Redman
c: Fiorini SHARP Duursma
hf: Durham Caddy Caldwell
f: Wright Langford Kako
r: Bryan Merrett Parish
int:Johnson, ROBEY, Roberts, Clarke, El-Achkar
emg: Farrrow, Tsatas, Perkins

Reserves:

FB: Max Kondogiannis - Lewis Hayes - Jaxon Prior
HB: Jaxson Prior - Lachlan Blakiston - Jacob Farrow
MF: Saad El Hawli - Elijah Tsatas - Nick Cox
HF: Archie Perkins - Archer May - Archer Day-Wicks
FF: Harrison Jones - Liam McMahon - Jade Gresham
OB: Vigo Visentini - Xavier O'Neill - Jackson Hately
IC: Matt Guelfi, Rhys Unwin, Kayle Gerryn, Edwards + VFL players

This acting under the assumption that Martin isn't fit round 1

Robey and Perkins will be an interesting battle in preseason
Achkar & Gresham
Johnson & Farrow & Prior
 
Last edited:
Round 1:

B: Ridley - McKay - Redman
HB: McGrath - Reid - Roberts
C: Duursma - Merrett - Fiorini
HF: Robey - Caddy - Durham
F: Kako - Wright - Langford
R: Blakiston - Caldwell - Parish
I/C: Clarke - Sharp - Prior - Farrow - Guelfi
 
Last edited:
Now list a little more settled (please no injuries!) round 1 should look something like this;-

Ridley McKay Nguyen
Redman Reid Roberts
Fiorini Caldwell Duursma
Robey Caddy Merrett
2MP May Kako

Blaki Durham McGrath(c)

Parish Sharp Clarke Prior Langford

Emerg: Perkins Tsatas Gresh Vigo
 

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JT_the_Man said:
With trade period done I think we at least have a reasonable idea of what the list will look like. I need to refresh myself on how the injury front looks for round 1 though... Assuming no Martin, I don't remember how bad any of the other timelines were. Is Bryan still going to be out? Hayes?

Honestly this is wayyyy harder than I thought, trying to juggle the incumbents and the guys who came on in leaps and bounds this year.

B Ridley - McKay - Prior (Hayes)
HB McGrath - Reid - Redman
C Duursma - Caldwell - Roberts
HF Kako - Caddy - Langford
F Perkins - Wright - Guelfi
R Blakiston (Bryan) - Merrett - Durham
Int. Parish - Fiorini - Clarke - Nguyen - Tsatas
Emg. Johnson - Visentini - Setterfield - Gresham

Would like to see Johnson take Prior's spot. Setterfield is probably ahead of Tsatas but I'll give pick 5 one last shot.

Edit - CBF'd doing musical chairs changing all the spots now but I'd much rather see McGrath in the middle than down back.
Click to expand...
B Ridley - McKay - Prior
HB Redman - Reid - Roberts
C Duursma - Caldwell - Fiorini
HF Kako - Caddy - Langford
F Perkins - Wright - Guelfi
R Blakiston - Merrett - Durham
Int. McGrath - Sharp - Clarke - Nguyen - Parish
Emg. Johnson - Visentini - Robey - Tsatas
 
JT_the_Man said:
B Ridley - McKay - Prior
HB Redman - Reid - Roberts
C Duursma - Caldwell - Fiorini
HF Kako - Caddy - Langford
F Perkins - Wright - Guelfi
R Blakiston - Merrett - Durham
Int. McGrath - Sharp - Clarke - Nguyen - Parish
Emg. Johnson - Visentini - Robey - Tsatas
Click to expand...
Robey > Perkins
HEA > Prior
Farrow v Nguyen v Z.Johnson

For me. Wont surprise me if Scott doesnt go this young but i think he should. Prior/Perkins hardly offer that much in the way of battle hardened quality experience

HEA and Farrow both have senior experience
 
Seniors:

FB: Andrew McGrath (c) - Ben McKay - Jayden Nguyen
HB: Mason Redman - Zach Reid - Archie Roberts
MF: Xavier Duursma - Zach Merrett - Brayden Fiorini
HF: Kyle Langford - Nate Caddy - Matt Guelfi
FF: Isaac Kako - Peter Wright - Archie Perkins
OB: Lachlan Blakiston - Jye Caldwell - Sam Durham
IC: Darcy Parish - Dyson Sharp - Jordan Ridley - Angus Clarke - Sullivan Robey

Reserves:

FB: Max Kondogiannis - Kayle Gerreyn - Jaxon Prior
HB: Zak Johnson - Harry Jones - Jacob Farrow
MF: Saad El Hawli - Elijah Tsatas - VFL player
HF: Jade Gresham - Archer May - Rhys Unwin
FF: Archer Day-Wicks - Liam McMahon - Hussein El Achkar
OB: Vigo Visentini - Xavier O'Neill - Jackson Hately
IC: Nik Cox - 4x VFL players

This acting under the assumption that Hayes, Edwards, Bryan and Martin aren't fit round 1. Perkins and Gresham was a genuine 50/50. Hoping Unwin can displace both soon enough.
 
FBRedman (vc)McKayNgyuen
HBRidleyReidRoberts
CDuursmaParishFiorini
HFD.SharpCaddyMerrett
FFLangfordWrightKako
RV.VisentiniDurhamCaldwell (vc)
IZ.JohnsonA.McGrath (c)A.PerkinsEl Achkar
A.Clarke
E:J.PriorBlakistonTsatasGuelfi

How I'd role things out round 1. I could be convinced of playing Wright as our main ruck in the early period until Bryan is fit (and slip into the 23 another young forward like May) but I think Visentini deserves a clear run of games to get a sense of what's required at this level. I know others are selecting Blakiston here which makes sense but candidly I want him to continue to hone his craft as a backman in the VFL: if McKay goes down again we don't have anyone to cover. Could see Robey press his case with a good pre-season but I think I want he and Tsatas to string some VFL-dominant performances together before they get a look: by contrast, think Sharp is AFL-ready.
 

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