Best 22

[VolgaBoatman]

Dawson McPharlin Spurr
Duffield Johnson Mzungu
Hill Mundy Neale
Suban Mayne Pearce
Walters Pav Ballantyne
Rucks: Sandi Fyfe Crowley

Int: Barlow Clarke Mora

Sub: Ibbotson

Emg: Sutcliffe C.Pearce DeBoer

Unlucky: Sylvia, Sheridan, Crozier

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Duffield omitted on purpose?

Yep. Love the Duffman but IMO this gives us so much versatility

 

[thefreodockers]

This was much much harder than I thought.

All of the spots between Suban/Neale/Mora/Sutcliff/DeBoer/Sylvia/Ibbotson are very hard to split.

On current form, I would have Neale and Suban in the squad and Mora on the bench - purely because of Morabitos' instant impact in his first two games. Sylvia though adds extra strength and marking power than the others but maybe his current form doesn't warrant the spot in a fully fit squad. DeBoer adds similar dimensions to Sylvia but has been out for a while, hopefully we see how he goes this week.

Pearce/Ibbo/Sutcliff are split over who we would be playing. If it is Sydney, with a tall forward line, you pick Ibbo. If it is Hawthorn, Port or Geelong, maybe we would go with Sutcliff for the extra pace.

So here it is:

Dawson McPharlin Spurr
Duffield Johnson Ibbotson
Hill Mundy Pearce
Suban Mayne Barlow
Walters Pav Ballantyne

Rucks: Sandi Fyfe Crowley

Int: Neale Clarke Mzungu

Sub: Morabito

Emg: Sutcliff DeBoer Sylvia

Unlucky: C.Pearce, Sheridan

 

[smokingjacket]

Yep. Love the Duffman but IMO this gives us so much versatility

Bold call but I agree that he's not a lock. Not sure that the versatility gain is more than what we lose in his foot skills out of defence but it's certainly interesting.

 

[Paracleet]

We don't play a 6 man forward line so naming best 22's in the traditional layout is pointless. Also it's not the AA; Fyfe is not a half forward.
B - Dawson McPharlin Spurr
HB - Duffield Sutcliffe Mzungu Johnson
C - Hill Mundy Pearce
Def F - Mayne Sylvia
F - Walters Pavlich Ballantyne
R - Sandilands Fyfe Crowley
Int - Barlow Clarke Suban
Sub - Morabito
Emg - Neale Ibbotson De Boer

Thinking: Our best 25 has more midfielders than we can accommodate, Neale misses out as the least capable of rotating forward*. Sylvia is in as our only player capable of playing defensive forward who commands the attention of his opponent. Playing at least 4 players in our forwardline who demand their opponent stick with them I think will open up space to improve our scoring and reduce the effectiveness of our opponents defensive rebound (I.E. less oppo numbers at the drop).

* Before complaining about this opinion remember we're talking about lining up for 30 40 50% of the game there, not following the ball in for a stoppage. Something he is undeniably good at kicking goals from.

 

[thefreodockers]

We don't play a 6 man forward line so naming best 22's in the traditional layout is pointless. Also it's not the AA; Fyfe is not a half forward.
B - Dawson McPharlin Spurr
HB - Duffield Sutcliffe Mzungu Johnson
C - Hill Mundy Pearce
Def F - Mayne Sylvia
F - Walters Pavlich Ballantyne
R - Sandilands Fyfe Crowley
Int - Barlow Clarke Suban
Sub - Morabito
Emg - Neale Ibbotson De Boer

Thinking: Our best 25 has more midfielders than we can accommodate, Neale misses out as the least capable of rotating forward*. Sylvia is in as our only player capable of playing defensive forward who commands the attention of his opponent. Playing at least 4 players in our forwardline who demand their opponent stick with them I think will open up space to improve our scoring and reduce the effectiveness of our opponents defensive rebound (I.E. less oppo numbers at the drop).

* Before complaining about this opinion remember we're talking about lining up for 30 40 50% of the game there, not following the ball in for a stoppage. Something he is undeniably good at kicking goals from.

I like it, and I agree with the reasoning behind Sylvia - I hadn't thought of his role like that but it is true - he commands the attention of his opponent more than DeBoer because of what he can do.

Would you go taller with Ibbo if we were playing Sydney or same setup?

 

[teamex]

We don't play a 6 man forward line so naming best 22's in the traditional layout is pointless. Also it's not the AA; Fyfe is not a half forward.
B - Dawson McPharlin Spurr
HB - Duffield Sutcliffe Mzungu Johnson
C - Hill Mundy Pearce
Def F - Mayne Sylvia
F - Walters Pavlich Ballantyne
R - Sandilands Fyfe Crowley
Int - Barlow Clarke Suban
Sub - Morabito
Emg - Neale Ibbotson De Boer

Thinking: Our best 25 has more midfielders than we can accommodate, Neale misses out as the least capable of rotating forward*. Sylvia is in as our only player capable of playing defensive forward who commands the attention of his opponent. Playing at least 4 players in our forwardline who demand their opponent stick with them I think will open up space to improve our scoring and reduce the effectiveness of our opponents defensive rebound (I.E. less oppo numbers at the drop).

* Before complaining about this opinion remember we're talking about lining up for 30 40 50% of the game there, not following the ball in for a stoppage. Something he is undeniably good at kicking goals from.

If were getting technical, Is Crowley a tagger or a rover?

 

[Paracleet]

I like it, and I agree with the reasoning behind Sylvia - I hadn't thought of his role like that but it is true - he commands the attention of his opponent more than DeBoer because of what he can do.

Would you go taller with Ibbo if we were playing Sydney or same setup?

You know I'm really not sure. I am sure that if you throw in C Peace that this is out best 26 players.

 

[Paracleet]

If were getting technical, Is Crowley a tagger or a rover?

I was already pushing it with 9 lines surely?

 

[feds2000]

Much as I like Suttcliffe hes gonna get bashed finals and Neale

 

[estibador]

Sutcliffe is our best running defender.

I rate Sutty so highly that if it came down to it I would drop Duffman for the finals over him.

I haven't been able to squeeze Sutty into the top 5 for votes much this year, but I reckon he's been consistently in our best 6-10 most weeks.

 

[such is fyfe]

KPD- McPharlin, Dawson (2)
Tall/Med Def- Ibbo, Johnson (2)
Small Def- Spurr (1)
Rebounding Def- Suttcliffe, (1)
Wing- Hill, Pearce (suban), Mzungu (run with) (4)
Followers- Fyfe, Mundy, (Barlow), Crowley (Tagger) (4)
Rucks- Sandi, Clarke (2)
Small Fwd- Ballas, Walters (2)
Mid/Def dwd- (Mayne) , Sylvia (2)
KPF- Pav (1)
Interchange- Mayne, Suban, Barlow
Sub- Mora (1)
Emg- Duffield, Neale, DeBoer, Apeness

Maybe Duffield in for Mora but starting on the field and someone like suban or sylvia as sub. I genuinely believe that we will adapt to our opposition a little bit. Neale and Duffield desperately unlucky.

Traditional/on paper
FB- Spurr Dawson, Ibbo
HB- Sutcliffe Mcpharlin Johnson
C- Hill Fyfe Pearce
HF Sylvia Pav Mzungu(run with mid)
FF Walters Clarke Ballas
R Sandi, Mundy Crowley (T)
int: Mayne, Suban, Barlow (Mora)

 

[Schauermann]

As we are approaching the finals and we have an idea as to who may be available it maybe a good time for a bump:

Best 22 for 1st week in finals:

B: Spurr Dawson Johnson

HB: Ibbotson McPharlin Duffield

C: D Pearce Barlow Hill

HF: Fyfe Mayne Mzungu

F: Walters Pavlich Ballantyne


R: Sandilands Mundy Crowly

I: Clarke Sutcliffe Neale

Sub : Suban


Emerg: DeBoer Sylvia Morabito

I find this very reasonale.

@all Mora love: Really think he needs a few more (full) games to make a true claim at a best 22 spot. Obviously he is a good sub at the moemnt, but surely with everybody fit and firing the sub will change most weeks anayway.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Surely our best 22 would be aiming for a high impact sub. Especially considering guys like Gu and Mayne can move into other roles if we cop an injury

 

[Schauermann]

Surely our best 22 would be aiming for a high impact sub. Especially considering guys like Gu and Mayne can move into other roles if we cop an injury

Perhaps. But in most cases there will be subs forced through injury or development anyway...

 

[Freoforever86]

B - Spurr Dawson Ibbo
HB - Duff McPharlin Johnson
C - Hill Fyfe D Pearce
HF - Walters Pav Mzungu
F - Clarke Mayne Ballaz
R - Sandi Mundy Crowley
I/C - Barlow Suban Neale MDB

I think we struggle to fit sutty in with a full available team. Nothing against him, but he was filling Ibbos role last year, with him back he struggled to get in.
Morabito hadn't played enough yet, but I'd love to have him in.
I think Sylvia could swap with MDB, although Sylvia has been ok, his spot is anything but cemented

 

[democritus]

You play your way in and play your way out. I'm genuinely surprised by those dropping Sutcliffe and Neale from the team at this point.

B: Spurr, Dawson, Johnson
HB: Sutcfliffe, McPharlin, Duffield
C: Mzungu, Mundy, Hill
HF: Walters, Clarke, Pearce
FF: Ballantyne, Pavlich, Mayne
R: Sandilands, Fyfe, Barlow
I/C: Crowley, Suban, Neale, sub: Morabito


Sylvia hasn't grasped his opportunities.
Ibbo has had an interrupted year and could consider himself unlucky. If Johnson is fit and Duffman/Sutcliffe are there to provide some drive I would rather squeeze in another midfielder that can impact the scoreboard.
MDB would need some huge games to stake his claim for his spot back.

 

[Reginald Perrin]

Best 22 is an outdated concept. To make a firm decision on who will play, firstly you need to know who the opposition is and what the weather is going to be like.

 

[FrancisX]

Tend to think the best 22 is a myth - because it is rare not to missing at least one player or so. Not to mention you could say there is a cemented top 16 - 18 and the latter 4-6 may well be decent players able to crack into other teams but they are not quite the caliber of Hill, Ballantyne, Pav, Mac etc ... So there is a measure of horses for courses and I guess also the selection team also have to go in part on gut feel. If Freo maintain their reasonable run with injuries till finals there are going to be handful of talented and handy players who miss out.

And maybe you could not necessarily say if you swapped one of them for the latter 17 - 22 that the side is definitely stronger. It is more what the selection panel think is the right mix on the day.

I am certain Ibbotson is in the top 16 but whether or not the selectors are worried he might be a bit of a risk around finals in place of another form regular player I am not sure. I am glad the latest info (if honest) suggests it is a minor injury.

 

[Big Animal]

Dropping Duffield? WTF! Last time we played a team with a good forward line (west Coast...compliment...shudder) he was best 3 (with Hill and Fyfe) and got us out of trouble time and time again. Don't ever say that to Ross or you, like Shane, will feel his wrath. Seriously, WTF. We need to play some quality opp just to show again who stands up when the heat is on

 

[Unique Name]

I rate Sutty so highly that if it came down to it I would drop Duffman for the finals over him.

I haven't been able to squeeze Sutty into the top 5 for votes much this year, but I reckon he's been consistently in our best 6-10 most weeks.

This........

IMO Sutty is cemented in the 21. On this years form he is head and shoulders above Ibbo and if push came to shove I would probably take him ahead of Spurr aswell.

#103

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Dropping Duffield? WTF! Last time we played a team with a good forward line (west Coast...compliment...shudder) he was best 3 (with Hill and Fyfe) and got us out of trouble time and time again. Don't ever say that to Ross or you, like Shane, will feel his wrath. Seriously, WTF. We need to play some quality opp just to show again who stands up when the heat is on

I agree that we need another solid test before stating where we're at. The month leading into the finals will be a ripper. Wonder if Shane will be in the gallery post Cats after considering what he stands for as a journalist for the last year

 

[pavsbootlace]

Sutcliffe is our best running defender.

Interesting.Obviously you can't measure defence. But, here's some stats on the "running aspect...

Avg KICKS: Johnno 14; Duff 12.9; Sutty 10.9; Spurr 10.8; Ibbo 9.1
Avg r50s: Johnno 4.5; Duff 3.6; Spurr 3; Sutty; 2.6; Ibbo 1.6
Avg Bounces: Johnno 2.1; Sutty 0.5; Duff and Spurr 0.2; Ibbo 0.1
Avg i50s: Johnno and Duff 2.1; Ibbo 1.7; Sutty 1.6; Spurr 1.2
Avg Goals: Duff 0.4; Johnno 0.2; Spurr 0.1 (2 total); Sutty 0.1 (1 total); Ibbo 0
Avg Goal assists: Duff 0.4; Johnno and Spurr 0.2; Sutty and Ibbo 0.1
DE%: Duff 84; Ibbo 79.6; Spurr 78.3; Johnno 77.2; Sutty 76.8;

...if only they'd let us see "metres gained".


Sutcliffe is not quite at Duffields level yet in terms of offence. You could also argue that Johnson is our best runner.

I'd argue that Duffield is our best in attack and Spurr is best in defence. Sutcliffe may be the best of the 3 at balancing both.

...and Ibbo is the 7th wheel in defence. *ducks and runs*

 

[Redgum]

Duffield is the best kick- out at Freo, never stuffs up ( very rare ), he is an immaculate user of the ball. I was tossing up between Spurr & Sutcliffe and the stats lean toward Spurr, but I do love the long runs Sutcliffe gives us and he is getting better ( only 22 yo ). Ibbotson has been injured for long periods , so there are question marks , if he could get back to last years form, for mine he still panics when he is under pressure to handball or kick, brilliant overhead mark. Mzunga has grown again this year from last year and he runs and runs and is also a brilliant mark. Other backline players pick themselves. I am leaving Mora in, he will be a weapon ( fingers crossed ), that will give our midfield a new name, not the big 3 but now the big 4 ! Other players pick themselves which leaves the sub, I am taking a gamble on Sylvia , highlight reels show this guy can seriously play , I am hoping he will soon click because he could be our big X factor on the MCG in September, can turn a game real quick. Unlucky for DeBoer ( a dour trier ), Sutcliffe and Ibbotson( Spurr has them covered at this stage ). A mention must also go out to Clancy Pearce, who is also close.



Duffield Dawson Spurr
Johnson Mcpharlin Mzungu
Hill Mundy Pearce D
Mayne Pavlich Suban
Walters Clarke Ballantyne
Rucks: Sandilands Fyfe Crowley
Int: Barlow Morabito Neale
Sub: Sylvia ( x factor )
Emg: Sutcliffe Ibbotson DeBoer

 

[pavsbootlace]

Dropping Duffield? WTF! Last time we played a team with a good forward line (west Coast...compliment...shudder) he was best 3 (with Hill and Fyfe) and got us out of trouble time and time again. Don't ever say that to Ross or you, like Shane, will feel his wrath. Seriously, WTF. We need to play some quality opp just to show again who stands up when the heat is on

The thing with Duff is that his ball use coming off half back is elite. He may not defend as well as Spurr or Sutty, but if we are to kick 2 extra golas per game, dropping Duffman will not help.