Best 23 in 2025

[Jen2310]

Wouldn’t be surprised if Allan takes Sidebottoms spot pretty early on.

I don't think Allan is a winger. He's been playing more on the inside during match sims.
Demattia though would be after Sidey's spot

 

[adammania9]

I think Allan's midfield opportunities will come through Jordy at this stage. Just hard to see De Goey getting any serious continuity in full-time midfield roles from here on.

 

[RobJD]

Lippa and Sidey will be the wingers.
WHE will only play a third string wing if he rotates there from stints in the forward line.

I expect Sidey to start on a wing and then assume a run-with role with one of our opponent's mid-fielders - that means that one of our centre-mids needs to spit out to a wing (or possibly a forward flanker moves up the ground) - can't see Pendles taking on that role, so possibly Perryman as the defensive mid takes the centre bounce and then moves to a wing - possibly with Pendles to the interchange.

 

[Jen2310]

I expect Sidey to start on a wing and then assume a run-with role with one of our opponent's mid-fielders - that means that one of our centre-mids needs to spit out to a wing (or possibly a forward flanker moves up the ground) - can't see Pendles taking on that role, so possibly Perryman as the defensive mid takes the centre bounce and then moves to a wing - possibly with Pendles to the interchange.

Yeah I think it’ll depend on the player if they want a tag. Will vary per side. Crisp can then rotate through sideys position on the wing. I saw him there a few times during match sim.

 

[Jock1eyemcpie]

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I don't think Allan is a winger. He's been playing more on the inside during match sims.
Demattia though would be after Sidey's spot

Wouldn’t be surprised if someone like WHE moves to a wing. I’m not sold on Sidebottom keeping his spot all season. He struggled at times last season, especially early on.

 

[MoreMoore]

Lippa and Sidey will be the wingers.
WHE will only play a third string wing if he rotates there from stints in the forward line.

Don’t particularly want Lippa in my team
WHE is more versatile and can’t believe I am saying it, but much harder in a contest

 

[DopeMaster]

Don’t particularly want Lippa in my team
WHE is more versatile and can’t believe I am saying it, but much harder in a contest

Agreed.

Unless Lippa shows big improvement this year he’s very vulnerable IMO.

 

[Mick F]

Agreed.

Unless Lippa shows big improvement this year he’s very vulnerable IMO.

Been training well. He will have his opportunity in the practice matches. A few boys are putting their hand up.

A fit McStay and an in form Moore will make a big difference. Mitchell may make it three ‘additions’, later in the season.

 

[TheVillageIdiot7]

need 3-4 wingers per game anyway.

the 3rd winger will be made up of 2-3 others, but will end up covering about 25% game time.
Which isn't insignificant.
We'll also want 1-2 others who can play the role in case we need to shuffle in game for one reason or another.

So in effect, its at least 4 who will need to role through the wing on any given week.

It's not necessarily about their primary role, it's about the flexibiity they offer to provide quality Wing / HB coverage during rotations.

So question for track watchers...who has been playing wing during match sim (besides Lippa / Sidey)?

 

[Mick F]

need 3-4 wingers per game anyway.

the 3rd winger will be made up of 2-3 others, but will end up covering about 25% game time.
Which isn't insignificant.
We'll also want 1-2 others who can play the role in case we need to shuffle in game for one reason or another.

So in effect, its at least 4 who will need to role through the wing on any given week.

It's not necessarily about their primary role, it's about the flexibiity they offer to provide quality Wing / HB coverage during rotations.

So question for track watchers...who has been playing wing during match sim (besides Lippa / Sidey)?

Crisp, WHE and DeMattia.

 

[Jen2310]

Don’t particularly want Lippa in my team
WHE is more versatile and can’t believe I am saying it, but much harder in a contest

It’s clearly the coaches preference to have him in the team and on the wing
WHE has been playing forward 99% of the time
They’ll put WHE wherever they need him at specific times but wing isn’t something he has been training.

 

[Jen2310]

need 3-4 wingers per game anyway.

the 3rd winger will be made up of 2-3 others, but will end up covering about 25% game time.
Which isn't insignificant.
We'll also want 1-2 others who can play the role in case we need to shuffle in game for one reason or another.

So in effect, its at least 4 who will need to role through the wing on any given week.

It's not necessarily about their primary role, it's about the flexibiity they offer to provide quality Wing / HB coverage during rotations.

So question for track watchers...who has been playing wing during match sim (besides Lippa / Sidey)?

Crisp ive seen at times on the wing. Markov as well
I’ll keep an eye out this week

 

[sr36]

need 3-4 wingers per game anyway.

the 3rd winger will be made up of 2-3 others, but will end up covering about 25% game time.
Which isn't insignificant.
We'll also want 1-2 others who can play the role in case we need to shuffle in game for one reason or another.

So in effect, its at least 4 who will need to role through the wing on any given week.

It's not necessarily about their primary role, it's about the flexibiity they offer to provide quality Wing / HB coverage during rotations.

So question for track watchers...who has been playing wing during match sim (besides Lippa / Sidey)?

I'm with you. I think there will be a lot of rotation of roles. Sidebottom, Pendles, Perryman, Lippa, Crisp, Josh WHE - they can all play wing. Allan needs to learn another role quick, as he's unlikely to justify a game as a strating full time midfielder..

 

[TheVillageIdiot7]

I'm with you. I think there will be a lot of rotation of roles. Sidebottom, Pendles, Perryman, Lippa, Crisp, Josh WHE - they can all play wing. Allan needs to learn another role quick, as he's unlikely to justify a game as a strating full time midfielder..

I'm ok with carrying Allan as a primary mid for games this year.
If he is playing at the level.
Can work around that with others rotating out of the mid to cover other roles.

But requires him to play near the level titch did in '23 for that to be sustainable or justify it.

I just don't know what other role Allan can slot into at this stage??!

 

[Rusty Beam]

A legit question for those that have Membrey / Checks / McStay fwd.

What is it that demands we should go that way?
Specifically over the 2 ruck strategy we've favour?

I absolutely do not get the love for it.
i'm actually intrigued to hear about why we should go this path?

I’m all in on McStay playing second ruck.

He’ll be more than competitive enough particularly against the opposition second ruck.

By bringing in Membrey it also means that whilst McStay is playing there Mihochek doesn’t have to compete as the sole key.

McStay/Mihochek/Membrey will speed up the ball movement centre forward exponentially, over having Cox in the team, simply by opening up space through their leading patterns.

 

[sr36]

I'm ok with carrying Allan as a primary mid for games this year.
If he is playing at the level.
Can work around that with others rotating out of the mid to cover other roles.

But requires him to play near the level titch did in '23 for that to be sustainable or justify it.

I just don't know what other role Allan can slot into at this stage??!

Definitely for games, but hard to see him locking himself into best 22, if he's inside mid only. Needs to be able to play another role. Titch 23 is a very high bar for someone with two games under their belt, who is hoping to become a senior player. And with his attributes, if he's mid only, there's got to be game sense flaws likely to stop him getting to that bar. I'm more hopeful of him developing another role than of him becoming a senior regular as an inside mid only option.

 

[sr36]

I’m all in on McStay playing second ruck.

He’ll be more than competitive enough particularly against the opposition second ruck.

By bringing in Membrey it also means that whilst McStay is playing there Mihochek doesn’t have to compete as the sole key.

McStay/Mihochek/Membrey will speed up the ball movement centre forward exponentially, over having Cox in the team, simply by opening up space through their leading patterns.

Have we moved it quicker in the big chunks of games when Cox isn't forward and it's been McStay/Mihocek/Elliott?

 

[TheVillageIdiot7]

Definitely for games, but hard to see him locking himself into best 22, if he's inside mid only. Needs to be able to play another role. Titch 23 is a very high bar for someone with two games under their belt, who is hoping to become a senior player. And with his attributes, if he's mid only, there's got to be game sense flaws likely to stop him getting to that bar. I'm more hopeful of him developing another role than of him becoming a senior regular as an inside mid only option.

to be fair I did say 'near' titch '23 (how near is subject to debate).

Our strength over the past few years has been our positional flexibility.
its why so many younger players aren't playing.
They may be the next best mid (outside the team)....but instead we just roll a HB up to play mid and slot in a mature HB.

If Allan can't develop as a player who can play impactful minutes in another role, he is always going to be on the fringe (unless he shows enough in games for us to carry the position).

He's a really interesting watch this year.

I guess we'll know by about mid year (pending injury) as to what his longer term future looks like.

 

[LuckyLee]

I'm ok with carrying Allan as a primary mid for games this year.
If he is playing at the level.
Can work around that with others rotating out of the mid to cover other roles.

But requires him to play near the level titch did in '23 for that to be sustainable or justify it.

I just don't know what other role Allan can slot into at this stage??!

Half Forward Flank?


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[RobJD]

Half Forward Flank?


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There's a lot of competition for the HFF, and he'd be behind Pendles and Perryman for the defensive mid role. If Membrey can force his way into the best 22, then maybe he could establish himself a role rotating between mid-field and forward line as the 3rd tall (haven't seen anything to suggest that he could fill that role).

 

[cfc19902010]

Agreed.

Unless Lippa shows big improvement this year he’s very vulnerable IMO.

Lippy gets a lot of the ball but is soft on occasions and that can kill you in big moments in big games

 

[LuckyLee]

There's a lot of competition for the HFF, and he'd be behind Pendles and Perryman for the defensive mid role. If Membrey can force his way into the best 22, then maybe he could establish himself a role rotating between mid-field and forward line as the 3rd tall (haven't seen anything to suggest that he could fill that role).

Allan is tall and quick with clean hands. Surely he could rotate through HFF for ~5mins per quarter when not on the ball or on the bench?


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[Jen2310]

Allan is tall and quick with clean hands. Surely he could rotate through HFF for ~5mins per quarter when not on the ball or on the bench?


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I think thats what is being attempted atm

 

[sr36]

to be fair I did say 'near' titch '23 (how near is subject to debate).

Our strength over the past few years has been our positional flexibility.
its why so many younger players aren't playing.
They may be the next best mid (outside the team)....but instead we just roll a HB up to play mid and slot in a mature HB.

If Allan can't develop as a player who can play impactful minutes in another role, he is always going to be on the fringe (unless he shows enough in games for us to carry the position).

He's a really interesting watch this year.

I guess we'll know by about mid year (pending injury) as to what his longer term future looks like.

I struggle a bit with the discussion around Allan. AFL mid only guys tend to be plodders who are as smart as they come but don't have the pace and or kicking penetration to be effective on a flank. I struggle to see how you can have Allan's attributes with the game sense to play mid, but not be effective on a flank/wing.

 

[Granit1962]

I struggle a bit with the discussion around Allan. AFL mid only guys tend to be plodders who are as smart as they come but don't have the pace and or kicking penetration to be effective on a flank. I struggle to see how you can have Allan's attributes with the game sense to play mid, but not be effective on a flank/wing.

well put!

I felt the last part of the 2024 season his VFL form improved markedly capped with the promising Melbourne game - despite still looking like he hadn’t grown into his body. This year he looks like a lean athelete, well proportioned, with as you say all the physical attributes to play flank/wing. My hope is that the improved form last year was not just positional, and represented a progression in overall AFL traits - which will take another step up this year and translate into competence in other AFL roles apart from pure mid.