Best 22 for 2015 Final series

[apuchar]

That's why I think he'd rip it up this time - he's got too much talent and aggression to let it happen twice.

You play your seasoned campaigners come finals time (sometimes regardless of form) - if Ballaz is fit he will play.

I think he will play too. I just hope it is not at the expense of Crozier, if he continues to play well. Balla hasn't done enough this year to force Crozier out by present standards imo

 

[Big Animal]

Ideal Side
B L Spurr , L McPharlin , G Ibbotson
HB C Sutcliffe , Dawson ,Johnson
C T Sheridan , M Barlow , Gu
HF M Walters , C Mayne , S Hill
F J Griffin , M Pavlich , H Crozier
Fol A Sandilands , D Mundy , Fyfe
Int N Suban, L Neale , A Pearce, Ballas
.

I like this team. Just replaced d pearce with gu. I don't think we can win all our finals disadvantaged by pearced's poor disposal efficiency. Gu on the weekend reminded me that no one can follow him all day leaving himself free as a marking target around the ground or close to goals.

We would have laughed seeing apearce in this line up at the start of the year. How things change when a talented young kid gets a go.

 

[FreoRicci]

Tbh Alex Pearce playing Finals is a tough ask. He is playing very well, but just worried about his size/fitness when it comes to the high intensity like pressure. Dawson, as much as we can debate about him, is a proven finals player (Won St Kilda's best player of the finals series when they drew that 2010 GF). Another one is Clarke vs Griff- Do we favour Zac's speed and agility or go with Griff and lose that intensity that Clarke provides.
Also Clancee Pearce deserves to be looked at as well, he was in good form early on and his size and kicking is definitely up there with our best.

 

[apuchar]

Tbh Alex Pearce playing Finals is a tough ask. He is playing very well, but just worried about his size/fitness when it comes to the high intensity like pressure. Dawson, as much as we can debate about him, is a proven finals player (Won St Kilda's best player of the finals series when they drew that 2010 GF). Another one is Clarke vs Griff- Do we favour Zac's speed and agility or go with Griff and lose that intensity that Clarke provides.
Also Clancee Pearce deserves to be looked at as well, he was in good form early on and his size and kicking is definitely up there with our best.

A Pearce will likely play forward if he plays finals, not back. Assuming our talls are available.

 

[malpaso]

Tbh Alex Pearce playing Finals is a tough ask. He is playing very well, but just worried about his size/fitness when it comes to the high intensity like pressure. Dawson, as much as we can debate about him, is a proven finals player (Won St Kilda's best player of the finals series when they drew that 2010 GF). Another one is Clarke vs Griff- Do we favour Zac's speed and agility or go with Griff and lose that lack of intensity that Clarke provides.
Also Clancee Pearce deserves to be looked at as well, he was in good form early on and his size and kicking is definitely up there with our best.

EFA

 

[MadDocker]

It's all crystal ball stuff, but, I see Pearce as the kind of player that would rise to the finals atmosphere and stamp his name in the history books with some epic performances. Would be a cult hero.

 

[MadDocker]

B L Spurr , L McPharlin , G Ibbotson
HB C Sutcliffe , Dawson ,Johnson
C T Sheridan , L Neale, S Hill
HF M Walters , C Mayne , M Barlow
F J Griffin , M Pavlich , H Crozier
Fol A Sandilands , D Mundy , Fyfe
Int N Suban, , A Pearce, Mzungu
Sub Ballas

Build Ballas in with the sub vest and see how he goes. Otherwise Weller/DeBoer.

 

[Belnakor]

I know it's exciting with our young developing players doing so well but but we need to look beyond our present perception - Ballantyne is a proven, experienced performer and is more likely to do what's required come finals..

while i do think Balla is a walk up start into our team, his finals record is actually really poor. people forget it wasn't just the GF he had a bad day. He played average in the whole 2013 finals series. He also tends to struggle away from home. This means it is more likely he wouldn't perform in a GF tbh.

 

[Unique Name]

B - Spurr, Macca, Ibbotson
HB - Sutty, Johnson, Sherro
C - Hill, Mundy, D Pearce
HF - A Pearce, Mayne, Crozier
F - Griffin, Pavlich, Walters
Fol - Sandilands, Fyfe, Neale

Int - Barlow, Suban, Mzungu
Sub - ???

 

[mightydockers]

Campaigner

I know it's exciting with our young developing players doing so well but but we need to look beyond our present perception - Ballantyne is a proven, experienced performer and is more likely to do what's required come finals.

You play your most experienced and overall best come GF day.

Ballantyne is a proven shocking finals performer unfortunately - he really does choke. I wouldn't mind seeing him as sub come finals time.

 

[Okinakashi]

B: Spurr Dawson Sutcliffe
HB: Ibbotson McPharlin Johnson
C: D. Pearce Mundy S. Hill
HF: Sheridan A. Pearce Griffin
F: Walters Pavlich Mayne
Foll: Sandi Fyfe Neale
I/C: Suban Barlow Crozier Silvagni

Unlucky: Gu, C. Pearce, Ballaz

 

[jmadrox]

good idea, i wonder how it will compare to the same thread from pre season?

FB: McPharlin, Dawson, Spurr
HB: Sutcliffe, Johnno, Ibbo
C: Hill, Neale, Sherro (Playing behind the ball)
HF: Crozier, A Pearce, Clarke
FF: SonSon, Pav, Mayne

FOL: Sandi, Fyfe, Mundy,

IC: Barlow, D.Pearce, C. Pearce, Sub: Suban

Bolded need a comment proviso:
Crozier: Balla was out of sorts b4 the injury, and would he come back in pretty cold, with no way to play into form? In years gone by, yes, but if Croz kicks a couple goals every week till finals, might be tough to drop him.

Clarke: Ok he is my buddy malpaso , but I genuinely think he offers more than Griffin. I would see Griff stay IN if he does the same as Crozier, but Clarke has the opportunity to pay WAFL and show he deserves back in. With Alex P. in the team, i think we would need clarkes mobility of we suffer an injury to a small option, and sutcliffe / sherro had to play more on ball. A.P could swing back to defense, allowing Ibbo / Jonno to keep plying the creator role.

C.Pearce: Thought his early season form was great. Not sure if he could hold out the likes of Mzungu, DePig

 

[MadDocker]

Damn... Forgot about D.Pearce in my side. Might be fighting it out with Mzungu off the bench or Ballas as the sub.

Come to think of it. D.Pearce would probably make a pretty good sub. Come on fresh and fast, get the ball and smash it into the 50.

 

[theGav56]

Damn... Forgot about D.Pearce in my side. Might be fighting it out with Mzungu off the bench or Ballas as the sub.

Come to think of it. D.Pearce would probably make a pretty good sub. Come on fresh and fast, get the ball and smash it into the 50.

D Pearce isn't actually fighting it out with anyone. He has played every single game since he has been here. He is locked in. We don't have someone in the side that will provide what he provides. I am sure Lyon is well aware that he is not an elite disposer of the ball, and I am equally sure that in his game planning that is fully factored in, and that he remains in Lyon's preferred best team.

He is one of a half a dozen flawed, mature players we have in our best 22 including Dawson, Ballantyne, Mayne, Suban, Mzungu. But they are pretty much locked in because of what they contribute to the structure Lyon has in place.

 

[jmadrox]

D Pearce isn't actually fighting it out with anyone. He has played every single game since he has been here. He is locked in. We don't have someone in the side that will provide what he provides. I am sure Lyon is well aware that he is not an elite disposer of the ball, and I am equally sure that in his game planning that is fully factored in, and that he remains in Lyon's preferred best team.

He is one of a half a dozen flawed, mature players we have in our best 22 including Dawson, Ballantyne, Mayne, Suban, Mzungu. But they are pretty much locked in because of what they contribute to the structure Lyon has in place.

get out of here with this sound reasoning!

OUT: Pearce (D)

 

[MadDocker]

I agree he's in, was just considering who he replaced in my imaginary finals side.

 

[rgauci]

Spurr McPharlin Ibbotson
Hill Johnson Sheridan
Fyfe Neale D.Pearce
Crozier Pavlich Mayne
Walters A.Pearce Griffin
Sandilands Barlow Mundy
Int: Mzungu Sutcliffe Suban
Sub: DeBoer / Crowley
Unlucky: Ballantyne as Crozier has the big game mentality but wouldn't be surprised to see them swapped.

 

[Purple Jesus]

Personally, I'd like to see Barlow in the guts more and Neale sent forward. He has this uncanny goal-sense and the ability to snap a goal out of nothing and yes he can rack up the numbers, so can lots of players. Feel like we'd look a lot more dangerous up forward if he spent more time around 25-55m out, crumbing.

 

[salim malik]

Ballantyne is a proven shocking finals performer unfortunately - he really does choke. I wouldn't mind seeing him as sub come finals time.

Not correct,Balla starred against Geelong at the MCG in the first semi 012 and the Sydney prelim O13.He was also very handy in his other finals appearances.
If he kicked straight in the GF this choking stuff wouldn't be mentioned.

 

[Simmofreo]

Not correct,Balla starred against Geelong at the MCG in the first semi 012 and the Sydney prelim O13.He was also very handy in his other finals appearances.
If he kicked straight in the GF this choking stuff wouldn't be mentioned.

Beat me to it. Totally agree

 

[mightydockers]

Not correct,Balla starred against Geelong at the MCG in the first semi 012 and the Sydney prelim O13.He was also very handy in his other finals appearances.
If he kicked straight in the GF this choking stuff wouldn't be mentioned.

Geelong final in '12 he was good - that was a long time ago. Agree to disagree regarding the sydney game - got a junk time goal at the end but that was about it.

 

[YelloMit]

FF: Clayton Collard, Jack Anthony, Josh Simpson
HF: Dion Woods, Adam Campbell, Colin Sylvia
C: Jayden Pitt, Ryley Dunn, Jesse Crichton
HB: Andrew Siegert, Daniel Metropolis, Mark Johnson
FB: Marcus Drum, Peter Faulks, Daniel Parker
R: Clinton Wolf, Dylan Smith, Nick Lower

I/C: Tim Ruffles, Jarrad Schofield, Ryan Murphy
SUB: Luke Webster

EMG: Simon Eastaugh, Clayton Hinkley, Josh Mellington

Did I do it right?

 

[Unique Name]

At best we can make our forward line passable. However our backline and midfield can be elite, backing in what makes us different to the rest is in my opinion our best chance.

If the issue is our skills why is Dawson coming back into the squad? Forget about our forward line for a second, who improves the skill level of our backline more, Dawson or Alex Pearce? Alex has already proven he can nullify the good forwards like Gunston as well as having the skills to move the ball up field effectively. Macca and Alex Pearce can cover #1 and #2 tall forwards, Johnson can take the third tall/resting ruck allowing him the freedom to peel off when necessary to intercept. Ibbo, Spurr and Sutty round off the defence.

Spurr Macca Pearce
Sutty Johnson Ibbo

From that backline you would say Macca has the least amount of skill with ball in hand but more than makes up for it by being one of the best 1on1 defenders in the league.

Take the same approach with our midfield, make skills a priority.

Fyfe Mundy Neale
Hill Sandi Sherro

Sherro takes D Pearces spot. Can provide the same run as Danyle and is able to both hoof it long as well as pinpoint the shorter passes inside 50. Keep Fyfe in the middle as much as possible to dominate clearances. Rather than quick clearances bombing it long try to get the ball to Mundy, Hill, Sherro as they can run the ball out and kick effectively inside 50.

Of that group Neale would have the most suspect field kicking, but generally it's not terrible. Replacing Danyle with Sherro increases our skill level in the midfield.

That to me is our best midfield and backline, that has been our strength for quite some time now and with so little time to change things we should back our main strengths rather than trying to rob Peter to pay Paul.

So that leaves our forward line.
Pav and Walters are our only two dangerous threats. I think our issues up forward are more to do with structure and delivery than personal. However Mayne missing an easy shot 25m directly in front doesn't help.

The most important point I think is that we go with a tradition 2 tall forwards and resting ruck forward line. We cannot allow another GF repeat where a tall defender is allowed to float around the backline double teaming Pav.

So now that Alex is down back Tabs gets in by default. However our best footy and forward line structure was when Tabs was a main stay, he kicked fairly accurately too kicking 12 goals 5 points. Mayne then becomes a true third tall. Croz has the skills we want just needs to get himself more involved. Unless we want to give Duffy a crack Crozier stays in the squad. Griffin rounds out our forward line as the resting ruck.

Ballas is the unknown, and Crozier's form will decide if Ballas comes in or not. Both have struggled this year to get involved.

Mayne Tabs Crozier
Walters Pav Griffin

Mayne is probably struggling the most for kicking skills with Tabs just behind him, but neither are deplorable.

Now onto the bench, from players that have played this year we have a choice of:
Barlow
Subes
Mzungu
De Boer
Clancee
Weller

Barlow hasn't been in the best form lately but definitely has another level to go come finals. Clancee at the start of the year was a lock for the best 22, not in the best form right now but again has the skill and ability to go to the next level. Weller has sublime skills, he runs out full games for Peel all year so his fitness should not be an issue. Suban is in by default because we have no one else that has played enough games this year and at the very least he can kick more than 50m. De Boer and Mzungu just don't have what it takes, skills are sub-standard. (Poor Muz has dropped off so much this year).

So Bench
Barlow Clancee Weller
Sub: Suban

So all up.

Out: Dawson, D Pearce, De Boer, Mzungu
In: Pav, Weller, Clancee, Tabs


B: Spurr Macca A Pearce
HB: Sutty Johnson Ibbo
C: Hill Fyfe Sherro
HF: Mayne Tabs Crozier
F: Walters Pav Griffin
Fol: Sandi Mundy Neale
Int: Barlow Clancee Weller
Sub: Suban

 

[salim malik]

At best we can make our forward line passable. However our backline and midfield can be elite, backing in what makes us different to the rest is in my opinion our best chance.

If the issue is our skills why is Dawson coming back into the squad? Forget about our forward line for a second, who improves the skill level of our backline more, Dawson or Alex Pearce? Alex has already proven he can nullify the good forwards like Gunston as well as having the skills to move the ball up field effectively. Macca and Alex Pearce can cover #1 and #2 tall forwards, Johnson can take the third tall/resting ruck allowing him the freedom to peel off when necessary to intercept. Ibbo, Spurr and Sutty round off the defence.

Spurr Macca Pearce
Sutty Johnson Ibbo

From that backline you would say Macca has the least amount of skill with ball in hand but more than makes up for it by being one of the best 1on1 defenders in the league.

Take the same approach with our midfield, make skills a priority.

Fyfe Mundy Neale
Hill Sandi Sherro

Sherro takes D Pearces spot. Can provide the same run as Danyle and is able to both hoof it long as well as pinpoint the shorter passes inside 50. Keep Fyfe in the middle as much as possible to dominate clearances. Rather than quick clearances bombing it long try to get the ball to Mundy, Hill, Sherro as they can run the ball out and kick effectively inside 50.

Of that group Neale would have the most suspect field kicking, but generally it's not terrible. Replacing Danyle with Sherro increases our skill level in the midfield.

That to me is our best midfield and backline, that has been our strength for quite some time now and with so little time to change things we should back our main strengths rather than trying to rob Peter to pay Paul.

So that leaves our forward line.
Pav and Walters are our only two dangerous threats. I think our issues up forward are more to do with structure and delivery than personal. However Mayne missing an easy shot 25m directly in front doesn't help.

The most important point I think is that we go with a tradition 2 tall forwards and resting ruck forward line. We cannot allow another GF repeat where a tall defender is allowed to float around the backline double teaming Pav.

So now that Alex is down back Tabs gets in by default. However our best footy and forward line structure was when Tabs was a main stay, he kicked fairly accurately too kicking 12 goals 5 points. Mayne then becomes a true third tall. Croz has the skills we want just needs to get himself more involved. Unless we want to give Duffy a crack Crozier stays in the squad. Griffin rounds out our forward line as the resting ruck.

Ballas is the unknown, and Crozier's form will decide if Ballas comes in or not. Both have struggled this year to get involved.

Mayne Tabs Crozier
Walters Pav Griffin

Mayne is probably struggling the most for kicking skills with Tabs just behind him, but neither are deplorable.

Now onto the bench, from players that have played this year we have a choice of:
Barlow
Subes
Mzungu
De Boer
Clancee
Weller

Barlow hasn't been in the best form lately but definitely has another level to go come finals. Clancee at the start of the year was a lock for the best 22, not in the best form right now but again has the skill and ability to go to the next level. Weller has sublime skills, he runs out full games for Peel all year so his fitness should not be an issue. Suban is in by default because we have no one else that has played enough games this year and at the very least he can kick more than 50m. De Boer and Mzungu just don't have what it takes, skills are sub-standard. (Poor Muz has dropped off so much this year).

So Bench
Barlow Clancee Weller
Sub: Suban

So all up.

Out: Dawson, D Pearce, De Boer, Mzungu
In: Pav, Weller, Clancee, Tabs


B: Spurr Macca A Pearce
HB: Sutty Johnson Ibbo
C: Hill Fyfe Sherro
HF: Mayne Tabs Crozier
F: Walters Pav Griffin
Fol: Sandi Mundy Neale
Int: Barlow Clancee Weller
Sub: Suban

Jonnno is not a one on one defender and A Pearce was rag dolled against WC. Alex would find the big forwards to strong at this stage.. Dawson and Luke as blockers and take the big forwards . Ibbo and Johnno as the intercept marks ,Spurr to take the small forward and Sutcliffe and Johnson the distributors.Alex if he doesn't play forward might miss out.

 

[Unique Name]

I thought apart from a few marks Alex was out muscled quite a bit as a forward. He has the skills but he hasn't delivered anything more as a forward than Tabs.

Thought his best has come as a defender and he is an improvement skill wise on Dawson.