2018 is obviously out the window so we have to look to who will take the field in our 2019 Premiership.
This is the team that lined up last Friday night, which was pretty close to our 2018 best 22
I present below, speculation without much real substance
Obviously there's going to be some changes next year, with HOPEFULLY Tom Lynch and Brad Crouch (although I haven't heard much from the latter) coming to the club - so the challenge is to find room. Brandon Ellis, Jacob Townsend, and Dan Butler all appeared to fall out of it too this year, so they may force their way back.
I'm in the camp that reckons minimal change is required going forward - yes the prelim leaves a bitter taste but the reality is that for most of the year no one could get near us at our best.
In the backline, I reckon Jayden Short could be in a bit of trouble. I love the guy and felt he was really stiff in 2017, but he had a couple of poor finals. Ultimately we are playing for premierships here and you need to win the odd final to get there - Brandon Ellis may not be a direct replacement but he stood up in the 2017 finals and we may choose to put him in instead.
In the middle, the likes of Dusty, Cotchin, Prestia, Lambert, Edwards are all locks in our best 22. Shaun Grigg the ruckman may be finished, and for that I wonder if his time in the best 22 is too. Do we replace him with a 2nd ruck? A quality wing? Brad Crouch?
I also reckon Jason Castagna, for all the energy he brings, may find it difficult to hold his spot. Should Lynch come, he'll obviously demand a spot, and even if someone else comes out for him, I reckon Butler is equal or greater in most parts of the game.
That's 3 possible outs, there could be more, there could be less, I'm likely totally wrong. What do you reckon? I don't know too much about the players that spent most of the year in the VFL, those who follow that side, is there anyone I haven't mentioned that could come in and hold down a spot?
This is the team that lined up last Friday night, which was pretty close to our 2018 best 22
B
David Astbury, Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes
HB
Jayden Short, Nick Vlastuin, Nathan Broad
C
Shaun Grigg, Trent Cotchin, Kamdyn McIntosh
HF
Daniel Rioli, Shane Edwards, Jack Higgins
F
Jack Riewoldt, Dustin Martin, Josh Caddy
FOL
Toby Nankervis, Kane Lambert, Dion Prestia
I/C
Jason Castagna, Bachar Houli, Reece Conca, Jack Graham
I present below, speculation without much real substance
Obviously there's going to be some changes next year, with HOPEFULLY Tom Lynch and Brad Crouch (although I haven't heard much from the latter) coming to the club - so the challenge is to find room. Brandon Ellis, Jacob Townsend, and Dan Butler all appeared to fall out of it too this year, so they may force their way back.
I'm in the camp that reckons minimal change is required going forward - yes the prelim leaves a bitter taste but the reality is that for most of the year no one could get near us at our best.
In the backline, I reckon Jayden Short could be in a bit of trouble. I love the guy and felt he was really stiff in 2017, but he had a couple of poor finals. Ultimately we are playing for premierships here and you need to win the odd final to get there - Brandon Ellis may not be a direct replacement but he stood up in the 2017 finals and we may choose to put him in instead.
In the middle, the likes of Dusty, Cotchin, Prestia, Lambert, Edwards are all locks in our best 22. Shaun Grigg the ruckman may be finished, and for that I wonder if his time in the best 22 is too. Do we replace him with a 2nd ruck? A quality wing? Brad Crouch?
I also reckon Jason Castagna, for all the energy he brings, may find it difficult to hold his spot. Should Lynch come, he'll obviously demand a spot, and even if someone else comes out for him, I reckon Butler is equal or greater in most parts of the game.
That's 3 possible outs, there could be more, there could be less, I'm likely totally wrong. What do you reckon? I don't know too much about the players that spent most of the year in the VFL, those who follow that side, is there anyone I haven't mentioned that could come in and hold down a spot?