Prediction Best 23, Round Zero 2026

[Flukey!]

Any debuts predicted for Saturday?

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Any debuts predicted for Saturday?

No centre bounce after a goal.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

the big selection decision for Sam is Lewis v Reeves, no doubt.
after that, he's got to decide where to move the magnets.
there's no doubt, this is Butler and Ward's time to step up, and if HH can't get a look in with Day, Newcombe, Mackenzie injured, and Worpel departed, you'd think his papers are stamped.

Lewis is playing zero doubt in my mind. People overreact so much it’s laughable.

Reeves could still play tho.

Wards already stepped up last year and will again this year, he’s now probably the second best mid in the team and will have a big say in 2026. Butler is more a forward still which I expect he’ll have some CBA presence. HH might play especially with Mackenzie out R0. Not sure on his role on how it’ll look but he’s still had a good pre season, so one to watch.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

It was only preseason, but I thought our forward line looked a mess.

I'm happy to accept we were just getting revs in the legs and not showing our game style, but by having MacDonald and Moore in the middle more, and Ginnivan just easing back, we lost our biggest strength in high half forwards getting up and back. Creativity. Ball transition.

For all the positivity on MacDonald, personally I thought he looked rushed in possession as a mid and didn't really show anything overly creative. When at half forward his class stood out to me.

I hope we just pick pure mids to spend the bulk of time there, and don't end up regretting limiting what has been our biggest strength and sets us apart from the competition - hard running half forwards that are a nightmare matchup.

When at our best it's these half forwards offering a D50 exit option and linking up to deliver the ball inside 50.

MacDonald looked unreal against the Cats and less so against the Dogs due to his ball use. Definitely think this isn’t an accurate representation of his midfield performance however and as you say about the high half forwards. MacDonald, Moore, Watson will do that whether they line up at half forward or if they’re running through the midfield.

I’m sure there’ll be enough midfield depth and opportunities given outside of that too, say in the sense of Hustwaite, Greaves etc

 

[Dewyyyyy]

We will find out soon enough.

Moore is the best half forward in the game, but he was hardly noticeable when in the midfield last year. I just don't think that plays to his strengths at all, such an important link up player in space for us.

MacDonald, happy to see more of him in the middle as it's early. But his possessions over preseason were rushed and didn't really damage. If rotating through there I think he needs to be damaging and creative as we have better contested players. Could be a bit like Moore in that he operates better in space.

Watson. He's actually the one that would take to midfield the best. But he's too much of a weapon up forward and still building his tank. Hopefully he sees lots of CBAs before drifting forward.

With Newcombe, Ward, Nash and Mackenzie as the primary 4, I don't mind all of the above as rotations and agree with your flexibility point.

I'm talking about without Mackenzie and likely Newcombe, I think it would be a bad call to just significantly up the midfield minutes of these forwards for GWS. We need to bring in an actual pure midfielder, which is Huss for mine.

Our half forwards dominated GWS in the final last year. They're a tall backline even without Taylor and lack the small lockdown defenders to go with them.

Disagree re: Moore. He looked awesome as a mid and at times changed games for us through there, genuine game breaking option. He’s obviously in a niche but now more modernised genuine half forward role, and is elite at it.

An example for Moore was probably R23 v Demons had 32 disposals 2 goals as the 4th rotational mid-fwd.

He’s had others like when he went in there v Adelaide R14 in TAS in a low scoring game. =3rd most CBAs amongst the mids. 23 disp 13 tackles.

He did it more in 2024 but he’s definitely a good option for midfield minutes. MacDonald is obviously the one who’s gonna take more of a jump in there. Moore Watson likely more the rotational types and then Ginnivan, Moore, Watson still play as genuine half and small fwds with MacDonald rotating down and adding in Butler. Still a big strength.

MacDonald I agree with if it was purely off the Dogs game, but against the Cats I felt like he was great and was among the best on the ground with good midfield minute split between the two. Think how Brisbane are managing Zac Bailey ish.

Watson likely gets CBAs and then goes straight forward, but he’s one who has a license to do as he wants around stoppage aswell. As long as you still get him forward when it matters and majority in the forward half.

Definitely think the main four or five are
Newcombe, Ward, Nash, Mackenzie and MacDonald.

MacDonald will get very good midfield minutes to use his class and speed but also still getting him forward to be damaging in that forward half.

Obviously your point was raised before Newcombe got off but still without Mackenzie I think you bring in a mid like Huss anyway.

Meek - Newcombe - Ward
Weddle - MacDonald - D’Ambrosio

Nash, Hustwaite/Greaves

With rotations from Weddle, Moore, Watson or butler if and when needed.

Probably the best midfield group without Mackenzie and Day.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Butler belongs in that group too I think, then Hustwaite behind.

With Day out and Worpel gone, I think 5 of that 6 will play most weeks sometimes all, and only 3 of them are established as AFL players, with Ward only doing it last year, and Nash being a very limited player. And after that it's a huge gap down to 1st and 2nd year players who are yet to debut (anderson, greeves, dalton).

A few injuries and we are putting a lot of reliance on players already in the side changing position and it's not like we have a ready made Watson or MacDonald replacement to drop into HFF.

Butler isn’t in the core mids because he’s played majority of his pre season as a forward and done really well. He’s still a great option as a rotational mid however.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Totally agree. Albeit from preseason I didn't see Butler involved much in the midfield mix, more wing and half-forward. After Jai and possibly Nash, I think Huss is our most likely to win a clearance.

In Moore's example it's moving an A grade forward to become a C grade mid from what I've seen.

MacDonald it's too early to tell, but from preseason it looked to me his class shown when half forward and he looked rushed in the middle.

In the match sim v cats we had Finn at half forward kicking inside 50, which resulted in a turnover. That's our elite skill with Moore, Ginni or MacDonald.

After Newcombe Ward and maybe Nash. Ward is definitely the teams second best mid now and has showcased a strong inside and outside mix.

Huss should get an opportunity this week with no Mackenzie, although Greaves would be close.

Everyone has known how good Wards outside game is with his damaging kicking, class, speed and endurance. However since taking more responsibility his cleanliness, hands and inside game has really shone.

Moore is definitely better than a C grade mid that’s just silly.

MacDonald is too early to tell but I can’t say it’s purely from being “rushed”, as that’s too much to do with recency bias of his last game. He didn’t do that against the Cats.

You can still have both.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Geez take a breath Dewwwy

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Geez take a breath Dewwwy

Breathing is for the weak

 

[kenneje]

FB: Sicily - Barrass - Scrimshaw
HB: Impey - Battle - Amon

MF: Meek - Newcombe - Ward
MF: Moore - Nash - D'Ambrosio

HF: Macdonald - Chol - Ginnivan
FF: Watson - Lewis - Gunston

INT: Hardwick - Weddle - Butler - Maginness - Morrison

Day, Dear and Mackenzie all in our 'best' side come seasons end, but it's a very strong lineup.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

FB: Sicily - Barrass - Scrimshaw
HB: Impey - Battle - Amon

MF: Meek - Newcombe - Ward
MF: Moore - Nash - D'Ambrosio

HF: Macdonald - Chol - Ginnivan
FF: Watson - Lewis - Gunston

INT: Hardwick - Weddle - Butler - Maginness - Morrison

Day, Dear and Mackenzie all in our 'best' side come seasons end, but it's a very strong lineup.

Hardwick and Weddle most definitely start on field. Don’t think Finn plays but he could. I’d have Huss in there. But then as you say, Day Dear and Mackenzie are all in the best side.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Hardwick and Weddle most definitely start on field. Don’t think Finn plays but he could. I’d have Huss in there. But then as you say, Day Dear and Mackenzie are all in the best side.

Doesn't really make much of a difference if he starts on the field or not, given Greene is likely to play midfield now. Who would be his natural matchup?

 

[hawkinoz]

Looking at the video released, Lewis is a surety for Round 0.

Liked that don't argue from the Beast on Perez( or is it Mraz) at the end.

I would like to see same team as the one against Dogs except

Huss or Greeves for CMac

FB: Sicily - Barrass - Scrimshaw
HB: Impey - Battle - Amon

MF: Meek - Newcombe - Ward
MF: Moore - Nash - D'Ambrosio

HF: Macdonald - Chol - Ginnivan
FF: Watson - Lewis - Gunston

INT: Hardwick - Weddle - Butler - Morrison - Huss/Greeves

 

[extractasam]

2 changes from the Prelim team.

Morrison & Maginness for Jiath and Worpel.

Morrison definitely an upgrade on Jiath, keen to see how we go. Surprised how much chat there’s been about our midfield considering it’s basically the identical side that smacked Adelaide in Adelaide

 

[cryptor]

2 changes from the Prelim team.

Morrison & Maginness for Jiath and Worpel.

Morrison definitely an upgrade on Jiath, keen to see how we go. Surprised how much chat there’s been about our midfield considering it’s basically the identical side that smacked Adelaide in Adelaide

Plus a preseason of development into a young core. It should be a better team than what we saw in finals.

 

[Since 2001]

Disappointed that frenchie hasn't forced himself into the team. Is dear a precaution or injured?

Overall happy with the team.

 

[Randy Campbell]

I hope Perez wears the Zero.

 

[kazzooka]

Disappointed that frenchie hasn't forced himself into the team. Is dear a precaution or injured?

Overall happy with the team.

Mackenzie is out with concussion.

Dear didn't play against WB due to form and wasn't selected in rd 0 for the same reason.

He didn't have a great preseason, with a few niggles and load issues.

I think despite the talk of 2x dedicated rucks and 4 tall forwards, we will setup like we did most of last year, with 3x tall forwards and Meek in the ruck with Chol, Weddle and Nash helping out at some ruck contests.

 

[Mr Lizard]

Disappointed that frenchie hasn't forced himself into the team. Is dear a precaution or injured?

Overall happy with the team.

French concussed; Dear not ready yet.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Doesn't really make much of a difference if he starts on the field or not, given Greene is likely to play midfield now. Who would be his natural matchup?

Stringer ?

 

[Since 2001]

Mackenzie is out with concussion.

Dear didn't play against WB due to form and wasn't selected in rd 0 for the same reason.

He didn't have a great preseason, with a few niggles and load issues.

I think despite the talk of 2x dedicated rucks and 4 tall forwards, we will setup like we did most of last year, with 3x tall forwards and Meek in the ruck with Chol, Weddle and Nash helping out at some ruck contests.

Thanks, shows how much I've been paying attention to the updates

 

[Randy Campbell]

Two and a half? Who’s the half?

Don’t say Watson!

How about Ginnivan.