Prediction Best 23 - 2026 edition

[sharps24]

After 6 games I see it like this:

Players who are locks every week, no question over them at all. Starting back and moving forward:

Tier 1: Ginbey, Baker, Lindsay, McCarthy, Allan, Davis, Yeo, H Reid, Kelly, B Williams, Duursma, Shannahan, Waterman, Murdock.

14 players locked in. Solid spine and all talented.

Players who are currently under little to no scrutiny due to either injuries or being slightly ahead of their competition:

Tier 2: Duggan*, Hough, Schoenberg, Young, Brock.

Players who are being carried but it is positive for development:

Tier 3: CDT, A Reid, Hewett

Thats 22 of 23 players who are either locks or you either couldn't mount a strong case for dropping or count make a strong case for keeping..

Players who are in the seniors but have to go down to WAFL immediately:

Tier 4: Cripps. * Duggan is playing like a tier 4 player but has the immunity cloak of captaincy. He could be genuine tier 2 in a different role though, even go back to tier 1 if he makes it his own. Unlike Cripps, who is just genuinely cooked physically.

WAFL players who deserve to be elevated for selection integrity:

Champion, Owies, maybe Cole, maybe Flynn.

Players who have done enough in the WAFL to displace one of the tier 3 or tier 2 players: Definitely Cole, and any of J Williams, Greggo, Bazzo, Maric or Gross acceptable inclusions to play for their spot. Flynn an edge case, like Cole has consistently shown he's too good for WAFL but a liability at AFL level- could be done for sure but proceed with caution.

AFL listed players who currently belong in the WAFL: Hutch [too few games, stocks will rise], Hall [stocks crashed], Johnston [meh], Williams [too young].

Inured players who are in the mix to press for senior selection upon return: Graham, Edwards.

Unknown quantity: Allen. Looks a gun though.

Not this year: Robbo, Newto, SoLongo

This is a definitive guide and nothing here is debatable to anyone who has a solid grasp of AFL football.

 

[WCE777]

After 6 games I see it like this:

Players who are locks every week, no question over them at all. Starting back and moving forward:

Tier 1: Ginbey, Baker, Lindsay, McCarthy, Allan, Davis, Yeo, H Reid, Kelly, B Williams, Duursma, Shannahan, Waterman, Murdock.

14 players locked in. Solid spine and all talented.

I mostly agree with your tier rankings, except Yeo & Kelly are 2 years away from not being on our list and Davis is a solid contributor but a better player would relegate him to depth.
Waterman is a great player and our best KPF, he is definitely carrying an injury and after that there is Shanahan, very thin.

Players who are currently under little to no scrutiny due to either injuries or being slightly ahead of their competition:

Tier 2: Duggan*, Hough, Schoenberg, Young, Brock.

Duggan, Schoenberg, Brock really are depth. Young has improved but he is a solid B grade if we had better.
Duggan probably won't be dropped but his role should be the defensive mid, tag role to complete his career as he offers no more than experience as his disposals are mostly ineffective.
Hopefully Edwards returns healthy in the last half of the year but he is limited in his role, big bodied KPF's and full health is a B+.

Players who are being carried but it is positive for development:

Tier 3: CDT, A Reid, Hewett

Thats 22 of 23 players who are either locks or you either couldn't mount a strong case for dropping or count make a strong case for keeping..

Hewett has talent no doubt but unless he forces his way into the midfield soon he will be a HF who pushes into the midfield for rotations as his body isn't allowing him to be a full time mid.

Players who are in the seniors but have to go down to WAFL immediately:

Tier 4: Cripps. * Duggan is playing like a tier 4 player but has the immunity cloak of captaincy. He could be genuine tier 2 in a different role though, even go back to tier 1 if he makes it his own. Unlike Cripps, who is just genuinely cooked physically.

Cripps has father time catching him, he should be in his last year. The biggest problem is our stocks to fill his position are thin, Champion is building and next in line, Owies is depth at best, Williams too young.

WAFL players who deserve to be elevated for selection integrity:

Champion, Owies, maybe Cole, maybe Flynn.

Players who have done enough in the WAFL to displace one of the tier 3 or tier 2 players: Definitely Cole, and any of J Williams, Greggo, Bazzo, Maric or Gross acceptable inclusions to play for their spot. Flynn an edge case, like Cole has consistently shown he's too good for WAFL but a liability at AFL level- could be done for sure but proceed with caution.

Cole is better than most but realistically he is depth, better skills than Duggan but should be kept as depth.
Flynn is depth. If we get another quality ruck through FA then he is WAFL.
Bazzo is a WAFL player, every time he steps up he doesn't take someone's spot.
JW is genuine depth, not breaking into the side in front of Shanahan makes him a solid depth player.
Maric is depth, his deficiencies are his defensive game, solid depth.
Hutch is depth, has mostly good skills except he's not a mid of high quality as he isn't clean enough to make any more than depth player. Could be strong enough in the forward line.
Gross & Grego are building and look genuine chances to make it with time.

AFL listed players who currently belong in the WAFL: Hutch [too few games, stocks will rise], Hall [stocks crashed], Johnston [meh], Williams [too young].

Johnson just not going to make it.
Hall is a depth player and will be strong at WAFL.
McRae isn't WAFL standard.

Inured players who are in the mix to press for senior selection upon return: Graham, Edwards.

Unknown quantity: Allen. Looks a gun though.

Not this year: Robbo, Newto, SoLongo

This is a definitive guide and nothing here is debatable to anyone who has a solid grasp of AFL football.

Allen looks a gun.
Rodriguez looks to be ok when he gets a run.
Long I dont think makes it, behind Murdoch/Newton/Champion.

Realistically depending on trades/draft there is a case that 7-8 players that need replacing pretty much now.
Bazzo
Cripps
Johnston
McRae
Barnett
Brockman
Long

Flynn: keep if can't replace
Maric: depth
Cole: depth

Desperately need someone behind Waterman/Shanahan: trade J Walter.
Desperately need KPD's: trade J Butts/draft 2 this year.
Desperately need an upgrade on Flynn & BW: if can't replace Flynn keep and keep developing CDT & A Reid.
Desperately need more midfield stocks: draft the best or 2/trade L Neale.

 

[sharps24]

I mostly agree with your tier rankings, except Yeo & Kelly are 2 years away from not being on our list and Davis is a solid contributor but a better player would relegate him to depth.
Waterman is a great player and our best KPF, he is definitely carrying an injury and after that there is Shanahan, very thin.

Duggan, Schoenberg, Brock really are depth. Young has improved but he is a solid B grade if we had better.
Duggan probably won't be dropped but his role should be the defensive mid, tag role to complete his career as he offers no more than experience as his disposals are mostly ineffective.
Hopefully Edwards returns healthy in the last half of the year but he is limited in his role, big bodied KPF's and full health is a B+.

Hewett has talent no doubt but unless he forces his way into the midfield soon he will be a HF who pushes into the midfield for rotations as his body isn't allowing him to be a full time mid.

Cripps has father time catching him, he should be in his last year. The biggest problem is our stocks to fill his position are thin, Champion is building and next in line, Owies is depth at best, Williams too young.

Cole is better than most but realistically he is depth, better skills than Duggan but should be kept as depth.
Flynn is depth. If we get another quality ruck through FA then he is WAFL.
Bazzo is a WAFL player, every time he steps up he doesn't take someone's spot.
JW is genuine depth, not breaking into the side in front of Shanahan makes him a solid depth player.
Maric is depth, his deficiencies are his defensive game, solid depth.
Hutch is depth, has mostly good skills except he's not a mid of high quality as he isn't clean enough to make any more than depth player. Could be strong enough in the forward line.
Gross & Grego are building and look genuine chances to make it with time.


Johnson just not going to make it.
Hall is a depth player and will be strong at WAFL.
McRae isn't WAFL standard.

Allen looks a gun.
Rodriguez looks to be ok when he gets a run.
Long I dont think makes it, behind Murdoch/Newton/Champion.

Realistically depending on trades/draft there is a case that 7-8 players that need replacing pretty much now.
Bazzo
Cripps
Johnston
McRae
Barnett
Brockman
Long

Flynn: keep if can't replace
Maric: depth
Cole: depth

Desperately need someone behind Waterman/Shanahan: trade J Walter.
Desperately need KPD's: trade J Butts/draft 2 this year.
Desperately need an upgrade on Flynn & BW: if can't replace Flynn keep and keep developing CDT & A Reid.
Desperately need more midfield stocks: draft the best or 2/trade L Neale.

Fred Rodreigez! Knew I'd forget at least one, cheers.

Anyway WCE777 your a good egg and I appreciate that you are among the 5 people on the board who still like my posts.

But I did say this list was definitive and not up for debate. Thats a block for you son.

edit: nah just kidding. I'd never block you my post to like ration is in dire straights.

 

[WCE777]

Fred Rodreigez! Knew I'd forget at least one, cheers.

Anyway WCE777 your a good egg and I appreciate that you are among the 5 people on the board who still like my posts.

But I did say this list was definitive and not up for debate. Thats a block for you son.

edit: nah just kidding. I'd never block you my post to like ration is in dire straights.

take the block with pleasure
if I can't stand someone or their opinion I have found the block button works wonders, your not in there, yet after calling me son!!

 

[Bender_]

Anyway WCE777 your a good egg and I appreciate that you are among the 5 people I haven't blocked yet.

Fixed

 

[KBLT]

Fixed

Sometimes I wonder what the board looks like for ol' sharpy

 

[txbyhull]

this must be some old school BF beef that I have no clue about

 

[Pottering]

I mostly agree with your tier rankings, except Yeo & Kelly are 2 years away from not being on our list and Davis is a solid contributor but a better player would relegate him to depth.
Waterman is a great player and our best KPF, he is definitely carrying an injury and after that there is Shanahan, very thin.

Duggan, Schoenberg, Brock really are depth. Young has improved but he is a solid B grade if we had better.
Duggan probably won't be dropped but his role should be the defensive mid, tag role to complete his career as he offers no more than experience as his disposals are mostly ineffective.
Hopefully Edwards returns healthy in the last half of the year but he is limited in his role, big bodied KPF's and full health is a B+.

Hewett has talent no doubt but unless he forces his way into the midfield soon he will be a HF who pushes into the midfield for rotations as his body isn't allowing him to be a full time mid.

Cripps has father time catching him, he should be in his last year. The biggest problem is our stocks to fill his position are thin, Champion is building and next in line, Owies is depth at best, Williams too young.

Cole is better than most but realistically he is depth, better skills than Duggan but should be kept as depth.
Flynn is depth. If we get another quality ruck through FA then he is WAFL.
Bazzo is a WAFL player, every time he steps up he doesn't take someone's spot.
JW is genuine depth, not breaking into the side in front of Shanahan makes him a solid depth player.
Maric is depth, his deficiencies are his defensive game, solid depth.
Hutch is depth, has mostly good skills except he's not a mid of high quality as he isn't clean enough to make any more than depth player. Could be strong enough in the forward line.
Gross & Grego are building and look genuine chances to make it with time.


Johnson just not going to make it.
Hall is a depth player and will be strong at WAFL.
McRae isn't WAFL standard.

Allen looks a gun.
Rodriguez looks to be ok when he gets a run.
Long I dont think makes it, behind Murdoch/Newton/Champion.

Realistically depending on trades/draft there is a case that 7-8 players that need replacing pretty much now.
Bazzo
Cripps
Johnston
McRae
Barnett
Brockman
Long

Flynn: keep if can't replace
Maric: depth
Cole: depth

Desperately need someone behind Waterman/Shanahan: trade J Walter.
Desperately need KPD's: trade J Butts/draft 2 this year.
Desperately need an upgrade on Flynn & BW: if can't replace Flynn keep and keep developing CDT & A Reid.
Desperately need more midfield stocks: draft the best or 2/trade L Neale.

Personally I'd just ruck Archer Reid and Cooper Duft-Tuytler from here on in.

B Williams and Flynn are never going to get any better as ruckman, so why just keep trotting them out and watch them get towelled up?

I'd actually like to see if B Williams could be made into a key defender. He's shown he's not a key forward, but he has the physical attributes to be a key defender. Whether he's got the nous or concentration to be a key defender, who knows. But rather than having playing ruck at WAFL level and get 100 hit outs, stick him down back and see what he's got.

 

[ziad]

Personally I'd just ruck Archer Reid and Cooper Duft-Tuytler from here on in.

B Williams and Flynn are never going to get any better as ruckman, so why just keep trotting them out and watch them get towelled up?

I'd actually like to see if B Williams could be made into a key defender. He's shown he's not a key forward, but he has the physical attributes to be a key defender. Whether he's got the nous or concentration to be a key defender, who knows. But rather than having playing ruck at WAFL level and get 100 hit outs, stick him down back and see what he's got.

B Williams contested well against Freo, and was useful at ground level. Key defender?? who know - we never know if we don't go. I do however think CDT and Archer are too physically immature to ruck on their own.

 

[stallon]

Personally I'd just ruck Archer Reid and Cooper Duft-Tuytler from here on in.

B Williams and Flynn are never going to get any better as ruckman, so why just keep trotting them out and watch them get towelled up?

I'd actually like to see if B Williams could be made into a key defender. He's shown he's not a key forward, but he has the physical attributes to be a key defender. Whether he's got the nous or concentration to be a key defender, who knows. But rather than having playing ruck at WAFL level and get 100 hit outs, stick him down back and see what he's got.

BW has been fine since he got into the side, a million times better than Flynn

BW is undroppable right now

 

[Pottering]

BW has been fine since he got into the side, a million times better than Flynn

BW is undroppable right now

Being better than Flynn is nothing to hang your hat on. BW has been around long enough to see he'll never be anything more than a C grade AFL ruckman, see if he can be made into a key defender I say.