Preview Best 22 in 2012 (minus draftees)

[Big Animal]

Mate that is a cop out. If you think those 2 should be in the team, find the 2 you are going to drop. That is where the tough calls get made. And I can't say I'd be thrilled if MacPhee actually started as a key part of our midfield. He hasn't been training there has he?

Pitt, Duffield

 

[E Shed]

Mate that is a cop out. If you think those 2 should be in the team, find the 2 you are going to drop. That is where the tough calls get made. And I can't say I'd be thrilled if MacPhee actually started as a key part of our midfield. He hasn't been training there has he?

It's hardly a cop-out I made the comment that I love the look of his team but noted a couple I'd like to see in there. It's not a definitive team, just a work in progress. We have more than 22 players I'd like to see out there so it's not possible to fit them all in. I'm not actually selector so I have the luxury of saying I'd like to see all of them in there without having to make tough calls.

If I was however and to answer your question, I'd probably have Pitt out for Morabito and possibly Neale for Lower. Neale should get the start in round 1 as Lower is suspended and IMO will make himself impossible to drop.
Mora won't play round 1 so Pitt or Ibbotson gets the start. Ibbotson is a better mark in defence at this point and certainly a bit bigger and tougher but Pitty "should" have him for decision making and disposal if he can translate his ability into the cauldron of the real thing. If all are available and in good form it makes for a tough time choosing between these 2 as well as Suban and Duffield. I'm backing Duff for a while yet as he's got runs on the board as a top flight rebounder. Suban is harder to judge at this point. Has played at a very high level but injuries have crueled him. Is prone to the odd strange decision and not super quick or smart like a Hayden. Will give his all without question and has that super sweet boot.
Interesting times.

And I agree with Chimera, MhPhee will play all year, mostly in the back half but might get an assignment now and then as a run with on one of his "special" friends like Judd. He (McPhee) was supreme in the NAB across half back. I've never seen him play better.

 

[strobe00]

B: Broughton - Dawson - McPharlin
HB: McPhee - Silvagni - Suban
C: Hill - Barlow - Fyfe
HF: Balla - Pavlich - Morabito
F: Mayne - Kep - Mellington
R: Sandilands - Mundy – De Boer

I: Lower - Ibbo - Clarke – MJ (sub)

I wouldn't see the opposition enjoying the task of extracting the ball from that forward line, and wouldn't expect they'd find it easy to score against that back line. Would like to find a spot for Neale, but couldn't find anyone to boot out.

The lack of top-line kicks in the back line is the only worry I'd have. Hence added MJ as the sub (in place of Mzungu, who I'd probably have picked there otherwise).

However, if McPhee plays like he did in the NAB cup first round, then there'll be no problems rebounding, and good luck to the opposition taking an overhead mark in their forward 50.

 

[Chris25]

Injuries aside, my very rough best 22...

b: Silvagni - Dawson - Ibbotson
hb: Duffield - McPharlin - Johnson
c: Broughton - Hill - Mzungu
hf: Fyfe - Mayne - Morabito
f: Ballantyne - Anthony - Pavlich

r: Sandilands - Barlow - Mundy

i: McPhee - Lower - Griffin - Pitt

But for Round 1...

In: Suban, DeBoer, Crowley, Neale
Out: Barlow, Lower, Mundy, Morabito

 

[Moo]

Those missing Ibbo ....tisk, tisk, tisk

 

[Seppo]

Those missing Ibbo ....tisk, tisk, tisk

I reckon Ross doesn't think he is best 22 material.

Unless he is injured, why wasn't he selected for this weeks Nab cup where Lyon is getting 'game time' into our round 1 side*.

My theory:
Ave tackles for 2011
Clancee Pearce = 4.83
JVB = 3.62
Ibbo = 2.44

Plus Ibbo must not have the best tackling technique. He required shoulder surgery after that tackle against Collingwood at the end of last season.

*JVB and Clancee the exception to the rule.

 

[Righteo]

Those missing Ibbo ....tisk, tisk, tisk

Disagree, he is mainly a liability IMO. I'd even prefer Johnson, who is at least very good by foot and reads the play better.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Disagree, he is mainly a liability IMO. I'd even prefer Johnson, who is at least very good by foot and reads the play better.

I'd take Ibbo over Johnson any day of the week, at least Ibbo doesn't have a deviated septum or wrist tendinitis from scrambling for milk crates

 

[Clay Davis]

Nah, he just lacks awareness and ball skills.

 

[Lach72]

Got a great blind handball over his head under pressure into the corridor though...

 

[more_of_bito]

....then points

 

[Moo]

Nah, he just lacks awareness and ball skills.

Awareness I'll give you.

I'd rate Ibbotson's disposal as above average in our squad, still misses the odd target at critical times ....I'm pinning my hopes on simplified gameplan and Ibbo getting a running role.

I reckon Ross doesn't think he is best 22 material.

Unless he is injured, why wasn't he selected for this weeks Nab cup where Lyon is getting 'game time' into our round 1 side*

Interrupted pre-season

Got a great blind handball over his head under pressure into the corridor though...

Everyone's a critic.

 

[Clay Davis]

Awareness I'll give you.

I'd rate Ibbotson's disposal as above average in our squad, still misses the odd target at critical times ....I'm pinning my hopes on simplified gameplan and Ibbo getting a running role.

Maybe I should have said decision making, because his execution is fine technically. He either takes too long to make a decision or panics and makes a poor one. Too often his ball use results in a turnover.

 

[prattsta]

Ibbotson was our 'go to man' out of defence last season; we were rubbish coming out of defence. It's just not a role that plays to his strengths. Technically and athletically he is fine. However, he doesn't take risks, he doesn't get creative and he makes slow decisions.

I think there is certainly a role for him, it's just not what he was doing in 2011.

 

[Nickos66]

Disagree, he is mainly a liability IMO. I'd even prefer Johnson, who is at least very good by foot and reads the play better.

I'd take Ibbo over Johnson any day of the week, at least Ibbo doesn't have a deviated septum or wrist tendinitis from scrambling for milk crates

Wow, really? I thought we were past this.

I'd expect it from a dimwitted opposition supporter like, maybe a toaster or something.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Wow, really? I thought we were past this.

I'd expect it from a dimwitted opposition supporter like, maybe a toaster or something.

yeah ignore that last comment, bad attempt at humour after a couple of vino's. I am past it.

 

[strobe00]

Those missing Ibbo ....tisk, tisk, tisk

Couldn't find a spot for him in the back line as I couldn't drop any of the three talls (Elvis, SNOS, Dawson) and wanted McPhee down there as well. Think Broughton is our best small defender and Suban gives us a kick-out and rebounding option.

So had to put him on the bench. Don't think it's a bad spot for him to have him in the midfield rotation... maybe rotating from wing to HBF, or even back to the pocket to release Broughton to the midfield every now and then.

 

[Patty_Moz]

Something like this for round 1 assuming no Mundy and Morabito and Lower.

FB: Suban Dawson Silvani
HB: Duffield McPharlin McPhee
C: Mzungu Barlow Hill
HF: De Boer Pavlich Ballantyne
FF: Mellington Bradley Mayne
RUC: Sandilands Fyfe Broughton
INT: Clarke Johnson Ibbotson
SUB: Neale

 

[theGav56]

The pre-season is not making the task of putting up a best 22 any easier. And now someone like Pearce starts to look decent. Fortunately he is a rookie. But I can see that Mellington, Neale, Pitt and Dawson are all going to be either in the 22 or pressuring for a spot. I had also nominally had MacPhee on the fringes, but he has shot to the upper reaches of the selection table.

 

[LemmingMaster]

Watching the game on the weekend, I feel like you should be getting games into Mellington. He was a very good goal scorer in his junior days and he will add further firepower and potentially allow Balla to play midfield a little more.

 

[freodocker5]

Something like this for round 1 assuming no Mundy and Morabito and Lower.

FB: Suban Dawson Silvani
HB: Duffield McPharlin McPhee
C: Mzungu Barlow Hill
HF: De Boer Pavlich Ballantyne
FF: Mellington Bradley Mayne
RUC: Sandilands Fyfe Broughton
INT: Clarke Johnson Ibbotson
SUB: Neale

I reckon that is about right. When mundy and mora get back i think mcphee and mayne are the ones to go. take brought an back to mcphees spot to make way for mundy in the mids. then clarke to take maynes spot in the forward line and mora to the bench. mayne really hasn't shown anything this pre season and didn't do anything last year apart from pressure. neale and mellington are way ahead of him and we don't need to play another tall in the forward line as we would already have clarke pav and kep.

 

[Patty_Moz]

I reckon that is about right. When mundy and mora get back i think mcphee and mayne are the ones to go. take brought an back to mcphees spot to make way for mundy in the mids. then clarke to take maynes spot in the forward line and mora to the bench. mayne really hasn't shown anything this pre season and didn't do anything last year apart from pressure. neale and mellington are way ahead of him and we don't need to play another tall in the forward line as we would already have clarke pav and kep.

Agree with the Mayne comments probly should have had him on the bench and I think he will be the first one to make way. I really don't feel that Mcphee will be going anywhere, he's been great all preseason and the type of player Lyon that I think Lyon likes. I'd say Mcphee is ahead of Johnson and Ibbo at this stage tho this is a good thing for the side.

 

[E Shed]

McPhee will be in the first 12 or so picked and will play every game barring injury.

 

[chinggis77]

Something like this for round 1 assuming no Mundy and Morabito and Lower.

FB: Suban Dawson Silvani
HB: Duffield McPharlin McPhee
C: Mzungu Barlow Hill
HF: De Boer Pavlich Ballantyne
FF: Mellington Bradley Mayne
RUC: Sandilands Fyfe Broughton
INT: Clarke Johnson Ibbotson
SUB: Neale

Good team.

I don't think Ross ever had this kind of depth at St Kilda (their bottom 6 players were usually very ordinary).

When Mundy/Mora are back as well we will have guys like Mayne, maybe Ibbo/Mcphee, Griffin, Roberton, Spurr, Anthony, Grover, Lower, Pitt, Pearce, Crowley. Not to mention young guys like Sheridan, Crozier, Roberts, Sutcliffe et al coming through.

I don't think we have ever had this kind of depth. Those guys listed above who miss out would probably make it into most past Dockers teams.

One point - Ross loves taggers and has consistently been on Crowley's case. One would think Crowls, despite his bomb it in approach to kicking, may be a best 22 player.

 

[Schauermann]

One point - Ross loves taggers and has consistently been on Crowley's case. One would think Crowls, despite his bomb it in approach to kicking, may be a best 22 player.

Agree to this. A lot of media talk (well Freo media) about Crowley being in great form...

Anyway the above team looks reasonable...