Best 22

[Effes]

Can Melbourne fans post their best 22 for the coming season?

 

[Bartram_Class]

B: Whelan, Carroll, Ferguson
HB: Bartram, Rivers, Bell
C: Green, McLean, Johnstone
HF: Pickett, Miller, Bruce
FF: Davey, Neitz, Robertson
R: White, McDonald, Moloney

B: Yze, P Johnson, Bate, Jones

 

[dutchy12]

FB:Matthew Whelan Nathan Carrol Ryan Ferguson
HB:Clint Bartram Jared Rivers Daniel Ward
C: Travis Johnstone Brock McLean Brad Green
HF: Aarron Davey Brad Miller Cameron Bruce
FF: Russel Roberston David Netiz Byron Pickett
R: Whitey Jimmy Mac Beamer

I: Matthew Bate Adem Yze Colin Sylvia Mark Jamar

Emergency: Nathan Jones Lynden Dunn Paul Johnson


Next in line:
Rickey Pettard
Simon Buckely
James Frawley
Michael Newton

Oldies: Bizzel, Browny Wheatley, Dutchy

 

[rick James]

B: Whelan, Carroll, Holland
HB: Bartram, Rivers, Bruce
C: Green, McLean, Johnstone
HF: Pickett, Miller, Davey
FF: Yze, Neitz, Robertson
R: White, McDonald, Moloney

B: Sylvia, P Johnson, Bate, Jones

Mine is similar to BC's except I've put Bruce back, Yze forward and dropped Bell for Sylvia, on the proviso he is fit (which may be unlikely). I just think he is a better footballer than Bell and can be a real weapon in the forward line. I really rate Bell's aggression though and he seems to be a real hard worker off the field.

I've also dropped Ferguson for Holland in the backline, as Dutchy is better stuied to the bigger forwards. But if there's no match up for Dutchy we would see Ferguson or even Bell put in.

Really disappointing not to be able to find a spot for Dunn though. Perhaps if Yze's form isnt up to scratch we could see him dropped and Dunn put in and really stretch other teams for height and marking ability as all of Miller, Neitz, Robertson, Dunn, Sylvia and Bruce are good contested marks.

All in all, I'm confident in our teams ability to adjust our lineup no matter who we're facing. As always the real key is the midfield and if we get some improvement out of Sylvia, and some natural devlopment out of Jones, Bate and Bartram, and with Moloney back fit and firing - we should really be one of the deepest midfields going around.

 

[oooze]

B: Whelan, Carroll, Ferguson
HB: Bartram, Rivers, Yze
C: Pickett, McLean, Johnstone
HF: Green, Dunn, Davey
FF: Bruce, Neitz, Robertson
Foll: White, McDonald, Moloney

Int: Sylvia, P Johnson, Bate, Jones

I think Bruce and Green are best served as forwards. Especially Green. I think we have enough depth with Bate, Jones and Sylvia to ensure that we can load up our forward line with Bruce and Green who are deadly around goals.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Robbo is really just warming Dunn's spot at the moment, a lapse in form and I could see Dunn taking Robbo's spot in the 22.

 

[oooze]

I think im setting myself up here, but you have to be joking??! Robbo not in the 22?

 

[Headless]

FB: M Whelan, N Carrol, R Ferguson
HB: C Bartram, J Rivers, D Ward
C: B Green, B McLean, T Johnstone
HF: B Pickett, B Miller, A Davey
FF: A Yze, D Neitz, R Robertson
R: J White, J McDonald, B Moloney
I: C Bruce, P Johnson, N Jones, M Bate

E: C Sylvia, L Dunn, B Holland

 

[rick James]

FB: M Whelan, N Carrol, R Ferguson
HB: C Bartram, J Rivers, D Ward
C: B Green, B McLean, T Johnstone
HF: B Pickett, B Miller, A Davey
FF: A Yze, D Neitz, R Robertson
R: J White, J McDonald, B Moloney
I: C Bruce, P Johnson, N Jones, M Bate

E: C Sylvia, L Dunn, B Holland

Oh my god, I can't beleive I forgot Ward.

 

[benrey_demons]

please guys, fergy is depth at the best

 

[stickman11]

I think im setting myself up here, but you have to be joking??! Robbo not in the 22?

I with you. No robbo in the 22 would be an absolute joke. Our best forward - neitz is still good but he is getting on in age.

Robbo is still our best mark and forward who can kick an arsie goal when we are five points down.

Bartram_class, don't take up coaching

 

[skywalk750]

Is Bizzel finnished?

 

[stickman11]

Is Bizzel finnished?

Bizzel is set to return and play forward and kick bags ever week.

 

[stickman11]

I reckon a fit clint bizzel would have to be in our best 22 somewhere.

 

[davey_magik]

If the Biz wants to get back in he'll have to work very hard and would have to knock out Ward I'd think.

 

[Silvagnis]

These dreamteam threads are getting old.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

I like the fact that there are a few positions that will be contested by quite a few promising players, I just wish we had 3 settled tall defenders. Rivers, Carrol and ....

 

[dspeed]

My best 22:

B: Whelan Carroll Ferguson
HB: Bruce Rivers Ward
C: Johnstone McLean Green
HF: Davey Miller Pickett
F: Robertson Neitz Yze
R: White McDonald Moloney
Int: P.Johnson Jones Sylvia Bartram

Em: Bate Bell Dunn

Just missed out: C.Johnson Holland Brown Godfrey Wheatley

Four of the last spots i was deciding on were really hard (Ward's HBF and 3 Int spots), those 4 spots came down to 8 players and is probably a good predicament to be in, showing we have a bit of depth, Bate and Bell i see as extremely unlucky and i would love them to be in the team as i rate both very highly, but they will get there chances

This team looks very solid, especially in the middle, with one of the tougher centre trios in the league, the Threes M-igos (pretty poor nickname i know, but it only just came to me, lol) in McLean, McDonald and Moloney

In the backs i went with Fergy over Holland as he is the younger player and whilst i love Dutchy the times have started to pass him, Ward got the spot on the HBF and should be rewarded for a great season last year, whilst Bruce is on the other flank more due to the fact there simply wasn't enough room in the engine room for him, and he played this role with good effect on numerous occasions last year

The forward line should use Miller leading up with Davey and Pickett also coming up near the wing, leaving space for Neitz, Robbo and Yze to lead into, then Davey and Pickett must flood forward looking for the crumbs

I believe we must persist with Miller who must be left in the one position and not simply moved down back everytime Sydney is on the schedule, he is a good enough player and will show it in time

Yze had a poor year last year but i believe he should be played from the goalsquare and is capable of kicking 40+ goals a small forward, if he can play well we will have one of the most potent forward lines in the league

On the bench i went for PJ over the big Russian as i liked what i saw from him in very limited time last year before he went down at the SCG, he looks a likely type with great speed for a big man and a good mark

All in all i am very excited about 2007 and hopefully we can break the drought!

 

[rick James]

dspeed you've got everything right except I'd swap Moloney and Johnstone, and also, Yze 's suposedly "poor year" in 2006 still netted 40 goals - so he ain't just capable, he did it. Most FP's would be happy with that. Aaron Davey for example.

Oh and I'd mix and match Dutchy with Ferg, depending on match ups.

 

[dspeed]

dspeed you've got everything right except I'd swap Moloney and Johnstone, and also, Yze 's suposedly "poor year" in 2006 still netted 40 goals - so he ain't just capable, he did it. Most FP's would be happy with that. Aaron Davey for example.

Oh and I'd mix and match Dutchy with Ferg, depending on match ups.

yeh fair call on moloney and TJ, and dutchy is handy against gorillas like anthony rocca and gehrig so definitely isn't out of the thinking

one thing i'd like to say in relation to moloney, and i am not sure if anyone else has picked up on it, but it is to do with his kicking, many people see his booming kick as one of his best assets, but everytime he booms one in deep to neitz in the forward 50 i get frustrated, because he has a habit of kicking the ball in far too high, it is rarely a deadly stab pass over 50 metres ala TJ, it oftens means defenders are able to give Neitz's opponent the chop out, so whilst i love beamer i want to see him use his booming kick in a sharper manner (i realise i am going on a bit on a little thing, but came to mind at the time, lol)

 

[Bring-Back-Powell]

My best 22:

Bate and Bell i see as extremely unlucky and i would love them to be in the team as i rate both very highly, but they will get there chances

Interesting about Bate.

I'd be shattered if he wasn't an integral part of our 22 for next year.

 

[dspeed]

Interesting about Bate.

I'd be shattered if he wasn't an integral part of our 22 for next year.

i have no doubt due to injuries and poor form on the part of others that he will end up playing 15+ games, yet at this stage i see others just ahead of him in order to make a balanced side, but i do love the master

 

[stickman11]

i have no doubt due to injuries and poor form on the part of others that he will end up playing 15+ games, yet at this stage i see others just ahead of him in order to make a balanced side, but i do love the master

Bate is a star. Whenever he plays, he just seems to have so much time to decide what he is going to do with the ball. I reckon this kid is going to be a huge player.

 

[davey_magik]

yeh fair call on moloney and TJ, and dutchy is handy against gorillas like anthony rocca and gehrig so definitely isn't out of the thinking

one thing i'd like to say in relation to moloney, and i am not sure if anyone else has picked up on it, but it is to do with his kicking, many people see his booming kick as one of his best assets, but everytime he booms one in deep to neitz in the forward 50 i get frustrated, because he has a habit of kicking the ball in far too high, it is rarely a deadly stab pass over 50 metres ala TJ, it oftens means defenders are able to give Neitz's opponent the chop out, so whilst i love beamer i want to see him use his booming kick in a sharper manner (i realise i am going on a bit on a little thing, but came to mind at the time, lol)

Beamer does also pass into the F50. Get a tape of Essendon Round 1 2005 and Geelong round 20 2005 and you'll see when he wants to pass it properly he can still launch it 50+ but doesn't give defenders a chance. I remember in particular in 2006 a beautiful pass to Neita against Hawthorn which set up Neita's record breaking goal.
In his few showings in 2006 he showed he thought more when he got the ball and didn't just blaze away. I love the guy and I'll admit I'm biased when it comes to him but this year he'll top his 2005 performances and take another step.

 

[rick James]

Bate is a star. Whenever he plays, he just seems to have so much time to decide what he is going to do with the ball. I reckon this kid is going to be a huge player.

Yeah I'm excited about him, I reckon he's a gun. So much power.