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Best 23 for 2026

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roos_fanatic08 said:
AFL

B: Archer, Logue, Hardeman
HB: O'Sullivan, Comben, McKercher
C: Stephens, Parker, Simpkin
HF: Sheezel, Larkey, Zurhaar
F: Dovaston, Trembath, Curtis
Foll: Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw
Int: Powell, McDonald, Banch, Darling, Duursma


VFL

B: Daniel, Dawson, Corr
HB: Goater, Pink, Harvey
C: Scott, Urqs, Fisher
HF: Hansen Jnr, Whitlock, Spargo
F: Konstanty, CCJ, George
Foll: Goad, Vellasaris, Fairlie
Int: Stevens, Thredgold, Mikunda, McPherson, Gollant
Click to expand...
Same 23 players as me bar banch over Konstanty

But that could go either way
 
B: Archer, Pink, Hardeman
HB: Daniel, Comben, McKercher
C: Stephens, Sheezel, FOS
HF: Parker, Larkey, Zurhaar
F: Simpkin, Trembath, Curtis
Foll: Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw
Int: Powell, McDonald, Dovaston, Darling, Duursma

Unlucky - Dawson, Spargo, and Banch. Let's see who has a huge preseason and wants it more.
 
B.George could offer us potentially something different. Duursma is behind Zurhaar.

No LMac, Caleb Daniel and Zac Fisher off HB. All give off the "just happy to be at an AFL club" vibe for mine. Also all these 3 are average mano-e-mano defenders. Also time to find out if Archer and Goater can deliver for us in 2026.

I'd have Goad in the 22 as he can offer Xerri a little breather and is another tall target up forward. Am over the Darling experiment in the ruck as I think is best and only position is up forward (see WCE career). Also Xerri is no Goldy who can ruck all 4 qrts.

Dunno where else to fit FOS so chosen to leave him at HBF. Too good to leave out of the 22.

B: Archer, Logue, Hardeman
HB: O'Sullivan, Comben, McKercher
C: Stephens, Parker, Simpkin
HF: Sheezel, Larkey, Zurhaar
F: Dovaston, Trembath, Curtis
Foll: Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw
Int: Powell, Goater, Banch, Goad, B.George

Let's hope we see something different off the back-line in 2026 because it really does feel like our achilles heel at the moment
 
OK - let's get serious. Anyone got the praccey match dates? I'm slowly being inflated.
 

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roos_fanatic08 said:
AFL

B: Archer, Logue, Hardeman
HB: O'Sullivan, Comben, McKercher
C: Stephens, Parker, Simpkin
HF: Sheezel, Larkey, Zurhaar
F: Dovaston, Trembath, Curtis
Foll: Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw
Int: Powell, McDonald, Banch, Darling, Duursma
Click to expand...
Like it. Like it more with Duursma trialed at half back freeing up one of FOS or Kerch for midfield rotations. Probably need another tall defender instead of Arch or Lmac.
 
What will probably happen R1:

B: Archer Pink Logue

HB: Hardeman Comben Daniel

C: Stephens LDU McKercher

HF: Zurhaar Trembath Spargo

F: Curtis Larkey Dovaston

R: X Wardlaw Sheezel

IC: Parker FOS Konstanty Darling Simpkins/Powell



What would be bloody nice to see at some point:

B: Archer Dawson Logue

HB: Hardeman Comben FOS

C: Stephens LDU McKercher

HF: Zurhaar Trembath George/Duursmas (whoever presents better)

F: Curtis Larkey Dovaston

R: X Wardlaw Sheezel

IC: Parker Goater Simpkins Darling Konstanty/Mikunda (battle of the scoreboard-challenged sub 6-footers. Both preferable to Harvey, as we need pace and blokes who can be arsed leaving their team sheet position. If only he was 15cm taller)
 
Last edited:
Not bad by Riley on the afl site

Only change I’d make is spargo ain’t best 23 and won’t play round 1 has been non contact training the whole time with that shoulder injury

Duursma in for him otherwise the below is decent

Would also rather cooper Harvey compared to Caleb Daniel

B: Luke McDonald, Griffin Logue, Riley Hardeman
HB: Finn O'Sullivan, Charlie Comben, Colby McKercher
C: Jy Simpkin, Harry Sheezel, Dylan Stephens
HF: Charlie Spargo, Cam Zurhaar, Tom Powell
F: Lachy Dovaston, Nick Larkey, Paul Curtis
Foll: Tristan Xerri, George Wardlaw, Luke Davies-Uniacke
I/C: Caleb Daniel, Luke Parker, Jack Darling, Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Trembath

Emerg: Aidan Corr, Zane Duursma, Wil Dawson, Cooper Harvey

It's a developing North Melbourne side, which should be sparked by the addition of first-round pick Lachy Dovaston into the attack. He'll add a bit of spunk to a forward line that's needed an injection of energy and could form a nice partnership with Paul Curtis. Finn O'Sullivan and Colby McKercherare likely to start across half-back, but could be part of the Kangas' midfield and half-forward rotation at different stages. Aidan Corr has battled a calf injury that could put him behind some others early in the year, but will undoubtedly return to the mix. It's clearly going to be a big 12 months for Zane Duursma, while Wil Dawson is another youngster expected to push for more senior opportunities. Cooper Trembath has impressed across the summer and is likely to feature early on. Jackson Archer (knee) is coach Alastair Clarkson's only long-term injury concern. - Riley Beveridge
 
Adjustments due updates re cleanliness and availability...

B:McKercher - Pink - Thredgold
HB:Hardeman - Logue - Hugo
C: Powell - LDU - O'Sullivan
HF: FBGZ - Comben - Curtis
F:Trembath - Larkey - Wardlaw
R: Xerri - Sheezel - Parker
IC: Darling - George - Goad - Banch - Zurhaar

Em: Dawson, Dovaston, Daniels, Whitlock, CCJ, Simpkins, Corrs, Stefans
 
Last edited:
The Nostradamus said:
Not bad by Riley on the afl site

Only change I’d make is spargo ain’t best 23 and won’t play round 1 has been non contact training the whole time with that shoulder injury

Duursma in for him otherwise the below is decent

Would also rather cooper Harvey compared to Caleb Daniel

B: Luke McDonald, Griffin Logue, Riley Hardeman
HB: Finn O'Sullivan, Charlie Comben, Colby McKercher
C: Jy Simpkin, Harry Sheezel, Dylan Stephens
HF: Charlie Spargo, Cam Zurhaar, Tom Powell
F: Lachy Dovaston, Nick Larkey, Paul Curtis
Foll: Tristan Xerri, George Wardlaw, Luke Davies-Uniacke
I/C: Caleb Daniel, Luke Parker, Jack Darling, Jacob Konstanty, Cooper Trembath

Emerg: Aidan Corr, Zane Duursma, Wil Dawson, Cooper Harvey
Click to expand...

Toby Pink has been our #1 KPD in every training and match sim to-date through pre-season. Excluding him from the round 1 squad sort of invalidates the whole affair.
 
Based on reports and match-sim, etc

Projected Best 22 Round 1

B: Daniel, Pink, Logue
HB: Hardeman, Comben, McKercher
C: O'Sullivan, Sheezel, Simpkin
HF: Powell, Larkey, Curtis
F: Dovaston, Trembath, Zurhaar
Foll: Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw
Int: McDonald, Parker, Konstanty, Darling, Stephens

EMG: Urquhart, Spargo, RHJ

Key points to note from match sim and unit-drills at practice for anyone putting together a best 22 like this;
  • Pink and Logue have been the primary KPDs
  • McKercher and Hardeman have very much been the rebounding half-backs charged with running it out and pushing up
  • Powell been playing half-forward/wing type role
  • Zurhaar been playing deep forward, Curtis been playing a little higher up
  • Trembath/Darling could be interchangable in terms of who starts on the field and who starts on the bench, but indications seem that both will play. Trembath has been doing some pinch-hits in the ruck
  • FOS has rotated through the midfield, but part of that has been because guys like LDU have missed time with that bout of gastro that went through the club. He'll get midfield minutes but also spend some time on the wing it seems
  • Larkey has been pushing up the ground a bit more so seems to be the CHF role this year
  • Sheezel, Wardlaw, Parker, Urquhart all been primary midfield roles
 

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Chadwiko said:
Kanga Merchant is a regular track watcher;

Click to expand...


Agree with him regarding Daniel & Kerch.

Kerch plays half back and plays as the primary distributor. Daniel can start the year in the twos.

You can’t have 2 of your 7 defenders completely unable to defend or play one on one.
 
roos_fanatic08 said:
Agree with him regarding Daniel & Kerch.

Kerch plays half back and plays as the primary distributor. Daniel can start the year in the twos.

You can’t have 2 of your 7 defenders completely unable to defend or play one on one.
Click to expand...
which is why i want cooper harvey over caleb daniel

harvey is strong in a contest and has been training in a defensive role that has him locking down and then using his foot skills on the rebound
 
B: McDonald, Pink, Logue
HB: Hardeman, Comben, McKercher
C: O'Sullivan, Sheezel, Simpkin
HF: Parker, Larkey, Curtis
F: Dovaston, Trembath, Zurhaar
Foll: Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw
Int: Daniel, Powell, Konstanty, Darling, Stephens

Emerg: Harvey, Spargo, Duursma
 

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The Nostradamus said:
which is why i want cooper harvey over caleb daniel

harvey is strong in a contest and has been training in a defensive role that has him locking down and then using his foot skills on the rebound
Click to expand...
Cooper is also a better contested mark.
 
roos_fanatic08 said:
Agree with him regarding Daniel & Kerch.

Kerch plays half back and plays as the primary distributor. Daniel can start the year in the twos.

You can’t have 2 of your 7 defenders completely unable to defend or play one on one.
Click to expand...
I agree but I’m just as concerned about 4/6 having zero rebound capability. It’s why we get forced into playing guys who can only rebound.
 
The Nostradamus said:
which is why i want cooper harvey over caleb daniel

harvey is strong in a contest and has been training in a defensive role that has him locking down and then using his foot skills on the rebound
Click to expand...
If he comes on that would be great, but still got a lot to prove on the defensive side imo.
 
roos_fanatic08 said:
Agree with him regarding Daniel & Kerch.

Kerch plays half back and plays as the primary distributor. Daniel can start the year in the twos.

You can’t have 2 of your 7 defenders completely unable to defend or play one on one.
Click to expand...
They wouldn’t have to spend much time “guarding” opposite flanks.

Assuming FOS and Jy are the first choices on the wing, you need rotation options available to play ~40% TOG there, and there’s at least another ~40% to cover Kerch and Hardeman.

Of the options available, I can see how it makes sense for Daniel to be that player.

(Tho I’d rather see him play a HHF role)

He offers more than Fisher and Scott. And Harvey doesn’t have the proven running power.

If FOS and Jy are expected to carve out the bulk of the wing time between them, it could be a choice between selecting Stephens or selecting Daniel.
 

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