Team Mgmt. Best 22 for '22

Aug 15, 2011
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I reckon you've gone 12 months too early.

Heppell's value as captain extends well beyond what he does as a player playing a position. From what I can tell he is instrumental as a leader both on and off field. You don't mess with that at the stage of development/evolution the team is currently in.

On his ability to play a role, I agree Heppell's only just scraping into the 2022 best 22 if at all. Now that we have Kelly, whether he is best 22, in the sense we are discussing, will come down to whether Reid is ready.

I'd be disappointed if Heppell is playing best 22 footy in 2023. Between Stewart, Redman, Ridley, Laverde and Kelly you'd think we have someone who can marshal the defence. Redman seems the most likely to me. I'd also be hoping Reid has caved the door in, even if he's only playing as a half back/third tall initially (which is likely).

I think in the next 12 months it will become difficult, if not entirely impossible, to mount a sensible argument Heppell should have a spot in a best 22 which contains:

SD: Kelly (3TD)KPD: Stewart3TD: Reid (KD)
HB: HindKPD: Laverde (3TD)HB: Redman (SD)
7D: Ridley (i.e. Heppell's role)

Before that stage, you have to have made it clear that Heppell's no longer the captain because you don't want the captain's position in the side to be up for debate. It looks like there will be a natural progression to Merrett or McGrath in the next 12 months anyway.

Heppell is safe in the side in 2022. Injuries the only thing that can hurt him.

His 2021 year i thought was very good across half back. Hes still one of the first picked imo
 

Mikevk123

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B J.Kelly J.Laverde N.Hind
HB D.Heppell Z.Reid J.Ridley
C K.Langford A.McGrath Z.Merrett
HF J.Stringer H.Jones A.Perkins
F A.Tipungwutti P.Wright D.Smith
FOLL: S.Draper D.Shiel D.Parish
INTER: J.Caldwell, W.Snelling, N.Cox, M.Redman
Sub: S.Durham
 
FB: Jake Kelly - James Stewart - Nick Hind
HB: Jordan Ridley - Jayden Laverde - Dyson Heppell
MF: Kyle Langford - Dylan Shiel - Nik Cox
HF: Jye Caldwell - Harrison Jones - Archie Perkins
FF: Jake Stringer - Peter Wright - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
OB: Sam Draper - Darcy Parish - Zachary Merrett
IC: Andrew McGrath - Aaron Francis - Mason Redman - Will Snelling
MS: Matthew Guelfi
 
Aug 15, 2011
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Our best 22 seems pretty settled between fans

Basically only discrepancies for Round 1 seem to be

Z.Reid vs Stewart

Dev Smith vs Francis (Small vs Tall)

Durham, Guelfi, Cutler, Dev Smith/ Francis as medical sub whoever misses out. Francis probably less likely as a sub but I can see it working aswell
 

blitzer

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Our best 22 seems pretty settled between fans

Basically only discrepancies for Round 1 seem to be

Z.Reid vs Stewart

Dev Smith vs Francis (Small vs Tall)

Durham, Guelfi, Cutler, Dev Smith/ Francis as medical sub whoever misses out. Francis probably less likely as a sub but I can see it working aswell

What about pick 11? I hear they are great.

But yeah our best 22 is a lot more settled than last year after we basically gave everyone a go this year.
 
Aug 15, 2011
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What about pick 11? I hear they are great.

But yeah our best 22 is a lot more settled than last year after we basically gave everyone a go this year.
Yeh that's true. Every chance that guy can be best 22 as most top picks get a pretty good look early

Although who do they knock out?

It's a great issue to have and obviously it depends who we pick up and what preseason they have

No doubt they could be a sub for a few times

But who could they potentially knock out?

Reid/Stewart, Kelly, Ridley, Laverde, Heppell, Hind, Redmam (7 Backs)

Cox, Langford, Z.Merrett (3 wings)

Draper, Parish, McGrath, Caldwell, Shiel (5 Onball)

H.Jones, P.Wright, Francis/D.Smith, Stringer, Snelling, Tippa, Perkins (FWD 7)

The most vulnerable spot is Francis/Dev Smith for me but he needs to get past both

Lucky for injuries and we love lots of injuries

This is why I think we need a big mid to develop in the 2s with pick 11/13. A bonus and a serious player if they're best 22 in 2023 or 2024 they're forcing D.Shiel into another position
 

Joeyjoejoe

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Oct 5, 2008
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(Age)

1sts
B: Jake Kelly (26.9) Jayden Laverde (25.7) Nick Hind (27.2)
HB: Dyson Heppell (29.6) James Stewart (27.8) Jordan Ridley (23.0)

C: Andrew McGrath (23.5) Zach Merrett (26.1) Nik Cox (19.9)
Foll: Sam Draper (23.1) Jake Stringer (27.6) Darcy Parish (24.3)

HF: Devon Smith (28.5) Harry Jones (20.8) Kyle Langford (24.11)
F: Anthony Tippa (28.6) Aaron Francis (24.3) Peter Wright (25.2)

B: Mason Redman (24.2) Archie Perkins (19.7) Dylan Shiel (28.8) Jye Caldwell (21.1)


2nds
B: Matt Guelfi (24.3) Brandon Zerk-Thatch (23.2) Cody Brand (19.2)
HB: ......................... Zach Reid (19.8) Tom Cutler (26.8)

C: Brayden Ham (22.6) ............................. Sam Durham (20.4)
Foll: Nick Bryan (20.0) ............................. ............................

HF: Alec Waterman (25.2) Josh Eyre (19.0) Will Snelling (24.3)
F: Tom Hird (20.7) Kaine Baldwin (19.5) Michael Hurley (31.5)

B: Cian McBride (20.6) Andrew Phillips (30.4) ................ ..................
 
(Age)

1sts
B: Jake Kelly (26.9) Jayden Laverde (25.7) Nick Hind (27.2)
HB: Dyson Heppell (29.6) James Stewart (27.8) Jordan Ridley (23.0)

C: Andrew McGrath (23.5) Zach Merrett (26.1) Nik Cox (19.9)
Foll: Sam Draper (23.1) Jake Stringer (27.6) Darcy Parish (24.3)

HF: Devon Smith (28.5) Harry Jones (20.8) Kyle Langford (24.11)
F: Anthony Tippa (28.6) Aaron Francis (24.3) Peter Wright (25.2)

B: Mason Redman (24.2) Archie Perkins (19.7) Dylan Shiel (28.8) Jye Caldwell (21.1)


2nds
B: Matt Guelfi (24.3) Brandon Zerk-Thatch (23.2) Cody Brand (19.2)
HB: ......................... Zach Reid (19.8) Tom Cutler (26.8)

C: Brayden Ham (22.6) ............................. Sam Durham (20.4)
Foll: Nick Bryan (20.0) ............................. ............................

HF: Alec Waterman (25.2) Josh Eyre (19.0) Will Snelling (24.3)
F: Tom Hird (20.7) Kaine Baldwin (19.5) Michael Hurley (31.5)

B: Cian McBride (20.6) Andrew Phillips (30.4) ................ ..................
Snelling finished 3rd in our bnf, he's in our best side
 
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I assume with no injury to any of Zerrett, Caldwell, Shiel, Parish, Mcgrath, Langford, N.Cox

Hobbs has to play in the VFL

I just cant see how we fit him in Yoda_ has a point

Hes ready to go now, thats the whole point of Hobbs

Unless we play Stringer as pretty much a pure forward

Langord - Shiel - Zerrett (N.Cox)
Caldwell - H.Jones - Snelling (Perkins)
Tippa - P.Wright - Stringer
Draper - Parish - A.Mcgrath (Hobbs)

Means Francis, D.Smith, Durham, Waterman all miss out unless replacing Perkins which he adds much needed speed none of these guys have plus scope

Caldwell plays more permanent forward more, swaps roles with Shiel at stages ect
 

Ambrosia

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Really like the midfield depth we are building. It was a worry last year that 3-4 injuries to midfielders left us with the likes of Cahill, Johnson and Hird as the only smalls playing VFL. I think having a stronger 2s midfield will be critical in the development of our raw talls in Bryan, McBride and Baldwin
 
Aug 15, 2011
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Really like the midfield depth we are building. It was a worry last year that 3-4 injuries to midfielders left us with the likes of Cahill, Johnson and Hird as the only smalls playing VFL. I think having a stronger 2s midfield will be critical in the development of our raw talls in Bryan, McBride and Baldwin
Why dont we just recruit good 2nd tier comp guys if were worried about the development of key forwards due to having guys like Durham, Dev Smith/Perkins, Guelfi, Waterman in the VFL from the AFL side

I also assume we have some good VFL guys outside of the AFL list. Dyl Clarke would be one now, Cahill aswell some think hes a mid (If both stay around). If not id hope were recruiting in the VFL to replace these guys like any good club would do
 

Ambrosia

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Why dont we just recruit good 2nd tier comp guys if were worried about the development of key forwards due to having guys like Durham, Dev Smith/Perkins, Guelfi, Waterman in the VFL from the AFL side

I also assume we have some good VFL guys outside of the AFL list. Dyl Clarke would be one now, Cahill aswell some think hes a mid (If both stay around). If not id hope were recruiting in the VFL to replace these guys like any good club would do

I think last year the quality of the VFL listed guys was impacted by Covid
 

eorl

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Why dont we just recruit good 2nd tier comp guys if were worried about the development of key forwards due to having guys like Durham, Dev Smith/Perkins, Guelfi, Waterman in the VFL from the AFL side

I also assume we have some good VFL guys outside of the AFL list. Dyl Clarke would be one now, Cahill aswell some think hes a mid (If both stay around). If not id hope were recruiting in the VFL to replace these guys like any good club would do
Cahill has signed at Carlton VFL
 

Bombers36

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1sts;-

Ridley Stewart Kelly
Heppell Laverde Hind
Merrett Stringer Shiel
Langford Jones Smith
2MP Francis Tippa

Draper Parish McGrath

Bench: Redman Snelling Cox Guelfi


2nds;-

Brand McBride McDonagh
Hird Zerk Lord
Cutler Waterman Ham
Eyre Reid Durham
Bryan Baldwin Perkins

Phillips Caldwell Hobbs
 

Joeyjoejoe

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Oct 5, 2008
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(Age)

1sts
B: Jake Kelly (26.9) Jayden Laverde (25.7) Nick Hind (27.2)
HB: Dyson Heppell (29.6) James Stewart (27.8) Jordan Ridley (23.0)

C: Andrew McGrath (23.5) Zach Merrett (26.1) Nik Cox (19.9)
Foll: Sam Draper (23.1) Jake Stringer (27.6) Darcy Parish (24.3)

HF: Devon Smith (28.5) Harry Jones (20.8) Kyle Langford (24.11)
F: Anthony Tippa (28.6) Aaron Francis (24.3) Peter Wright (25.2)

B: Mason Redman (24.2) Archie Perkins (19.7) Dylan Shiel (28.8) Jye Caldwell (21.1)


2nds
B: Matt Guelfi (24.3) Brandon Zerk-Thatch (23.2) Cody Brand (19.2)
HB: Alastair Lord (18.0) Zach Reid (19.8) Tom Cutler (26.8)

C: Brayden Ham (22.6) Sam Durham (20.4) Garrett McDonagh (25.5)
Foll: Nick Bryan (20.0) Ben Hobbs (18.2) ............................

HF: Alec Waterman (25.2) Josh Eyre (19.0) Patrick Voss (18.4)
F: Tom Hird (20.7) Kaine Baldwin (19.5) Will Snelling (24.3)

B: Cian McBride (20.6) Andrew Phillips (30.4) Michael Hurley (31.5) ................
 

Ants

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My little prediction. Bench on the far right.

FB: Kelly Laverde Reid
CB: Heppell Ridley Hind .......... Redman
C: Langford Stringer Cox ......... McGrath
Rk: Draper Merrett Parish ........ Caldwell
HF: Shiel Francis Snelling
FF: Walla Jones Wright ............ Smith

Emg: Perkins, Cutler, Stewart, Baldwin, Durham, Guelfi, Ham, Hobbs
 
Jul 23, 2018
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My little prediction. Bench on the far right.

FB: Kelly Laverde Reid
CB: Heppell Ridley Hind .......... Redman
C: Langford Stringer Cox ......... McGrath
Rk: Draper Merrett Parish ........ Caldwell
HF: Shiel Francis Snelling
FF: Walla Jones Wright ............ Smith

Emg: Perkins, Cutler, Stewart, Baldwin, Durham, Guelfi, Ham, Hobbs
Id swap Stewart and Reid but the mix is good
 
My little prediction. Bench on the far right.

FB: Kelly Laverde Reid
CB: Heppell Ridley Hind .......... Redman
C: Langford Stringer Cox ......... McGrath
Rk: Draper Merrett Parish ........ Caldwell
HF: Shiel Francis Snelling
FF: Walla Jones Wright ............ Smith

Emg: Perkins, Cutler, Stewart, Baldwin, Durham, Guelfi, Ham, Hobbs
I'd prefer to have a better kick than Shiel at HFF but ****ed if I know where else he goes. Maybe he lets Merrett spend less time in the guts.
 

Mikevk123

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B Kelly Laverde Hind
HB Ridley Reid Redman
C Langford McGrath Merrett
HF Stringer Jones Snelling
F Tipungwutti Wright Smith
FOLL: Draper Shiel Parish
INTER: Heppell, Caldwell, Cox, Perkins
Sub: Durham

Emergencies
Francis, Waterman, Guelfi, Hobbs, Ham,
Cutler, Stewart, Bryan
 

Ants

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Id swap Stewart and Reid but the mix is good
I think they’ll look to play Reid if he’s near ready. Otherwise I’d have Stewart.

I'd prefer to have a better kick than Shiel at HFF but f’ed if I know where else he goes. Maybe he lets Merrett spend less time in the guts.
I think Shiel gets a bit more flack for his kicking than he should. Melbourne has Brayshaw on the wing who misses his target 8 in 10.

Realistically Shiel, McGrath, Caldwell will all rotate through midfield, bench and forward.
 
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