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So how we lining up in Rd 1 next year, pending no issues over offseason ?

Lester - Andrews - Answerth
Zorko - Gardiner - Wilmot
Berry - Luggage - Fletcher
Bailey - Morris - Rayner
Cameron - Allen - Lohmann
Draper - Washcroft - Dunkley

Neale - Lashcroft - Bruce - Gallop/McCarthy

EMG - McCarthy/Gallop - Kiddy - Fort

Payne, Hipwood wont be ready rd 1. Noah will be very close



Feels extremely harsh on some players that featured heavily this year. Kiddy is an interesting one. With Fletcher, Zorko and Wilmot running around, I'm not sure he fits in just yet.
 
Big Sauce 21 said:
So how we lining up in Rd 1 next year, pending no issues over offseason ?

Lester - Andrews - Answerth
Zorko - Gardiner - Wilmot
Berry - Luggage - Fletcher
Bailey - Morris - Rayner
Cameron - Allen - Lohmann
Draper - Washcroft - Dunkley

Neale - Lashcroft - Bruce - Gallop/McCarthy

EMG - McCarthy/Gallop - Kiddy - Fort

Payne, Hipwood wont be ready rd 1. Noah will be very close



Feels extremely harsh on some players that featured heavily this year. Kiddy is an interesting one. With Fletcher, Zorko and Wilmot running around, I'm not sure he fits in just yet.
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Think Gallop will stay in, we play 3 key forwards and I can’t see that changing.

Kiddy is the wildcard, if he’s fit he finds a spot in there somewhere, I tend to forget as well but he was becoming a genuine star across half back a season or two ago. Also I don’t think Noah will be ready for round 1 next year so that’s probably Kiddy’s spot
 
Something I think we should lean into more next season is using guys like Zorko and Lachie in more impact roles, particularly Lachie. I was hesitant about him as a sub but if he’s the freshest mid in the middle he could be one of the most impactful weapons in the league. Both Bailey and Levi need to continue increasing their mid time as well, we should look into playing Lachie 60-70% gametime regularly imo
 
Big Sauce 21 said:
So how we lining up in Rd 1 next year, pending no issues over offseason ?

Lester - Andrews - Answerth
Zorko - Gardiner - Wilmot
Berry - Luggage - Fletcher
Bailey - Morris - Rayner
Cameron - Allen - Lohmann
Draper - Washcroft - Dunkley

Neale - Lashcroft - Bruce - Gallop/McCarthy

EMG - McCarthy/Gallop - Kiddy - Fort

Payne, Hipwood wont be ready rd 1. Noah will be very close



Feels extremely harsh on some players that featured heavily this year. Kiddy is an interesting one. With Fletcher, Zorko and Wilmot running around, I'm not sure he fits in just yet.
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Like Fagan said of Levi at the beginning of the year, you just got to find him a spot.

Daniel Annable in for Bruce. Need to play top 5 draft picks from day 1.

I’d play Kiddy too ahead of Answerth (even when Noah’s fit). Kiddy is our best ball user. Hope he gets back to his best again.

​

 

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Maverick said:
Like Fagan said of Levi at the beginning of the year, you just got to find him a spot.

Daniel Annable in for Bruce. Need to play top 5 draft picks from day 1.

I’d play Kiddy too ahead of Answerth (even when Noah’s fit). Kiddy is our best ball user. Hope he gets back to his best again.

​

Click to expand...

Answeth needs to be in the team. Our only small lockdown. If he's fit he plays
 
Maverick said:
I’d play Kiddy too ahead of Answerth (even when Noah’s fit). Kiddy is our best ball user. Hope he gets back to his best again.
Click to expand...
Only concern with that is that’ll be a lot of small defenders that aren’t really defenders.
 
Big Sauce 21 said:
Answeth needs to be in the team. Our only small lockdown. If he's fit he plays
Click to expand...
We managed ok without him yesterday.

This lockdown defender term. It’s a bit overdone.

Each defender has a responsibility not to allow his opponent loose and kick goals.

Yes Starce is likely gone. But those looking for a comparable replacement will be disappointed. He’s a little bit of a unicorn with his mix of traits.

Doedee and Lester are not that much different to him in height. Lester is quite a good defensive player against smalls and talls.
 
Maverick said:
We managed ok without him yesterday.

This lockdown defender term. It’s a bit overdone.

Each defender has a responsibility not to allow his opponent loose and kick goals.

Yes Starce is likely gone. But those looking for a comparable replacement will be disappointed. He’s a little bit of a unicorn with his mix of traits.

Doedee and Lester are not that much different to him in height. Lester is quite a good defensive player against smalls and talls.
Click to expand...
Did alright without him yesterday because of Starc. Don’t think a backline including Zorko, Wilmot, Fletcher and Kiddy is a great balance personally. Would rather push one of those guys further up the ground and play a Doedee/Answerth/Brain as a more defensive minded defender.
 
Payne, Answerth, Hippy all likely not available. Big O probably retires. Ah Chee leaves. Starc either gone or long term injured you'd think.

So...
FB: Doedee/Coleman, Gardiner, Wilmott
HB: Zorko, Andrews, Fletcher
C: Fort, Neale, W.Ashcroft
HF: Rayner, Morris, Bailey
FF: Gallop, Allen, Cameron
Fol: Dunkley, McCluggage, Berry

Int: Draper, L.Ashcroft, Lohmann, Reville/Marshall, Annable

Out (for varying reasons): Hipwood, Doedee/Coleman, Answerth, Ah Chee, Starcevich, McInerney, Payne, McCarthy, Reville/Marshall

Far out, competition for spots is going to be insane. Our second team and retirees could probably make the finals. That's absolutely insane.
 
I think Levi needs to continue to work on his outside game. There's a wing spot there for him but I don't think he fits into the onball group of Neale, Dunkley, Will, McCluggage, Bailey and Annable developing
 
I think Noah will be good to go rd 1. Cam Murray in the NRL tore his achillies Feb 20 and played in the final round 5th September.

Noah has an extra 2 months

If he's not I'd look at Doedee in and Lester playing smaller
 
FB: Answerth, Gardiner, Wilmott
HB: Zorko, Andrews, Fletcher
C: L.Ashcroft, McCluggage, Berry
Fol: Fort, Dunkley, W.Ashcroft
HF: Rayner, Morris, Bailey
FF: Gallop, Allen, Lohmann

Int: Neale, Cameron, Draper, Reville, Marshall

I'm sticking with the GF team + Draper for Oscar, Allen for Ah-Chee, Bez for Lester, Answerth for Starch

Assuming retirement or trades for those players and the fitness of Allen and Draper.

Kai is starting 18. He is just so good, super dangerous in the air and on the ground. Just need to get him 100% right and fit in the off-season.
Like the idea of Charlie and Lachie being damaging, game changing impact players as they get older - keeping them fit and fresh.
I'm retaining Marshall in ahead of Annable to start with, due to we need wings over inside mids and that he's shown he's good enough and will only be better next year. It won't hurt Annable to keep developing in the VFL side and come in when there's an unavailability opportunity.
I'm a Bruce fan; love the way he's progressing, got it all. Just needs a bit of work on spoiling in the marking contest. Sure Harris and Jaspa can teach him that one.

Draper can come on as either a key forward to give Ty or Logan a spell, or second ruck.
Gallop is going to be a star in my opinion and him and Logan should be our long term future key forwards - absolute keepers.
 
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Lets say we lose Big O, Starc and Ah Chee from the grand final team...

We already had Berry, Hipwood, Payne, Answerth, Coleman as arguable best 22 players out injured + Doedee and McCarthy as experienced/injury impacted quality players. (with apologies to the rest of the list!)

and we add Draper, Allan and Annabelle. thats 3 players out of the grand final team and 10 guys who think they should be a change at taking their spots!

+ younger guys like Henry Smith, Tunstill (presumably gone), Will McLachlan who have pressed their claims at times this year.
 
Nathan Barley said:
Probably relies on having less than 6 of our best 22 injured
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Bullish though, even if we have injuries, we have so much depth outside of a few positions.

If Morris, Ty and Allen are all fit and firing, I hope we sink some time developing Eric as a KPD.
 
Nunez said:
Absolutely. Bullish though, even if we have injuries, we have so much depth outside of a few positions.

If Morris, Ty and Allen are all fit and firing, I hope we sink some time developing Eric as a KPD.
Click to expand...

It would be handy to have a forward with the ability to play down back. Not sure Hippy has shown he responds to that though
 

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Nathan Barley said:
It would be handy to have a forward with the ability to play down back. Not sure Hippy has shown he responds to that though
Click to expand...

Wouldn't want to do it mid season, but if it's part of our plans in the pre season and something he can work on in the lead up to his return, I'd back him in as a stopgap.
 
Answerth Andrews Lester

Wilmot Payne Coleman

Berry Neale Lashcroft

Bailey Allen Fletcher

Cameron Morris Rayner

Draper McCluggage Dunkley

Zorko Washcroft Lohmann
Gallop/Hipwood Bruce/Marshall/Annable

My go at a best 23 for next season. Main thing I realised putting this together is that there’s going to be 8-10 genuine AFL level players missing out each week if we are fully fit.

Main thing for next season is managing the older guys again, keep them fresh for finals while also giving our young guns more opportunities in impactful positions.
 
mattsmob said:
Answerth Andrews Lester

Wilmot Payne Coleman

Berry Neale Lashcroft

Bailey Allen Fletcher

Cameron Morris Rayner

Draper McCluggage Dunkley

Zorko Washcroft Lohmann
Gallop/Hipwood Bruce/Marshall/Annable

My go at a best 23 for next season. Main thing I realised putting this together is that there’s going to be 8-10 genuine AFL level players missing out each week if we are fully fit.

Main thing for next season is managing the older guys again, keep them fresh for finals while also giving our young guns more opportunities in impactful positions.
Click to expand...
Yep and this assumes Starcevich leaves and doesn’t list McCarthy, McKenna, or Doedee who are wildcards if they have strong pre seasons and return to full fitness. It doesn’t account for guys like Brain or McLachlan developing into genuine options either, nor does it include Dizzy Gardiner!

Going to be impossible to select a team on paper in here. We will have around 30-32 players minimum deserving of playing seniors.

My biggest hope for 2026 is Kiddy Coleman has a decent pre season and a good run with injury. What a talent to add to an already stacked lineup. Such a fluent, skilful player to watch in full flight. His kicking skills are a delight to watch akin to Drummond and Rich before him.

Edit: Forgot to add, I am so glad they are ditching the sub for 5 on the bench next year. Not only do I hate the sub rule generally, particularly players debuting as sub, but, I don’t think any other team in the league has the depth of talent that we do which will be a massive advantage with 5 on the bench. Our bottom 8 players within the 23 should be far superior to almost every other club next year.
 
Last edited:
lionshine said:
Yep and this assumes Starcevich leaves and doesn’t list McCarthy, McKenna, or Doedee who are wildcards if they have strong pre seasons and return to full fitness. It doesn’t account for guys like Brain or McLachlan developing into genuine options either, nor does it include Dizzy Gardiner!

Going to be impossible to select a team on paper in here. We will have around 30-32 players minimum deserving of playing seniors.

My biggest hope for 2026 is Kiddy Coleman has a decent pre season and a good run with injury. What a talent to add to an already stacked lineup. Such a fluent, skilful player to watch in full flight. His kicking skills are a delight to watch akin to Drummond and Rich before him.

Edit: Forgot to add, I am so glad they are ditching the sub for 5 on the bench next year. Not only do I hate the sub rule generally, particularly players debuting as sub, but, I don’t think any other team in the league has the depth of talent that we do which will be a massive advantage with 5 on the bench. Our bottom 8 players within the 23 should be far superior to almost every other club next year.
Click to expand...
I want to have a stab at doing a best 23 for the season rather than just round 1 but other than a few locks, there is so many spots to be fought out with guys coming in and guys coming back from injury etc.
 
Star studded line up with A grade bench

B: Lester Payne Zorko

HB: Wilmot Andrews Fletcher

C: Berry Neale McCluggage

HF: Bailey Allen Cameron

F: Hipwood Morris Rayner



R: Draper Dunkley Washcroft

Int: Lashcroft Lohmann Annable Coleman McCarthy


E: Gallop Answerth Fort Marshall Reville Gardiner

Doedee - really hoping Doedee can find his best form again (his best football would have him replace Lester).
Gallop - difficult decision to leave him out of the 23. But with Hippy coming back from injury should get every opportunity to lay his claim to being in our best 23.


OUT: Starc Ah Chee McInerney

____________________________________________________

Our best footy is from pin point kicking from defense when we go through the corridor.

Coleman, Wilmot, Zorko and Fletcher delivering the ball from half back will give opposition teams nightmares.
 
Round 1 2026, assuming the only unavailable are Jack Payne, Noah Answerth and Eric Hipwood + Sam Draper, Oscar Allen in, Brandon Starcevich and Callum Ah Chee get their trades.

Ryan Lester, Harris Andrews, Darcy Wilmot.
Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Gardiner, Dayne Zorko.

Sam Draper, Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley.
Jarrod Berry, Hugh McCluggage, Will Ashcroft.

Charlie Cameron, Logan Morris, Zac Bailey.
Cam Rayner, Oscar Allen, Ty Gallop.

Kai Lohmann, Levi Ashcroft, Bruce Reville, Keidean Coleman, Darcy Fort.

Emergencies- Sam Marshall, Linc McCarthy, Tom Doedee.
 

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