Prediction Best 23, Round Zero 2026

[grumbleguts]

Yeah he was good v cats, agree.

But since finishing 3rd in our B&F in 2023, and deservingly earning a good contract extension, he has:

2024 - finished 13th from 25 games
2025 - finished 15th from 22 games

He needs to lift big time in 2026. If not, we're in trouble if he's still a best 2023 lock.

I'm sure he's setting himself for a big 2026 without Worpel and knowing the youngsters are coming for a spot in the middle.

Haha! You realise what 13th and 15th mean in terms of best 23 yeah?

Or did you think both 13th and 15th were outside of the top 23 positions?

This may help.

 

[Del236379]

That’s dribble mate.
You don’t think the team’s improvement in the last two seasons means other players have lifted,not
that Nash has gone backwards?

I think Nash was ok to below expectations in 2025, as I've said.

I hardly think anything I've said is controversial or 'dribble'.

The coaching staff clearly feel our midfield needs to improve. Nash was primarily a midfielder and finished 15th in the Crimmins, voted by coaches and with details of performance we are not privy to .

I doubt as a professional athlete he's attacking preseason like a lock for the 23 given the above.

No doubt he starts, but he needs to improve. And if not, these young kids like Mackenzie, Butler and CMac are burning to get those minutes.

Nash's strength is his size for a mid. You'd think he will be in the hitting zone at stoppage more without Worpel. But with Day and maybe Weddle in the mix, size might only get him so far if he doesn't find his best footy.

Newcombe, Day and Ward. I'd have Nash currently 4th mid. Not sure why anyone is getting upset at needing him to be at his best, or if not, Mackenzie playing at a level to take that spot... Butler and CMAC too.

Competition for spots is what makes premiership teams. Not sure the angst here tbh.

 

[grumbleguts]

Calm down mate, gee.

I think I've covered it enough in the post above.

You covered what you think of Nash, you neglected to cover why you think the 15th best player objectively in the squad doesn't make best 23.

 

[Del236379]

You covered what you think of Nash, you neglected to cover why you think the 15th best player objectively in the squad doesn't make best 23.

I've never said he won't start best 23. He will. I said I don't think he's a "lock" based on his last 2 seasons form and our concerns with the midfield.

I expect we will explore internal growth from Mackenzie, CMAC , Butler, Watson and Weddle even... Those minutes need to be found somewhere. Nash as the 4th mid will feel the most pressure.

When you're a good team, and we are, the margin from your 15th to 25th best player isn't that great and form is king.

I'm sure he will be fired up to start 2026.

 

[Sixpence]

That’s dribble mate.
You don’t think the team’s improvement in the last two seasons means other players have lifted,not
that Nash has gone backwards?

I wouldn't say he's gone backwards per se, but his 2023 season was pretty bloody good. I'd love to see him get back to that form and consistency. Would go a long way to us challenging the likes of Brisbane.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I live by ‘consistency always wins’ mantra and Morrison has this written all over him. Sure, he has a visible ceiling on him, but will take some effort to shake him from the AFL side.

I was trying to tell people for the better part of 2 years that Morrison was a better option than Jiath as a defensive side winger. Most didn't agree.

I wish CJ all the best, but I'm probably the least shocked person with brown and gold glasses on that he's been moved on and Harry remains.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

It’s the dump kick into F50 from Nash for me that needs to be removed from his game. He does this then he’s fine.

He’s more of a lock with Worpel gone.

 

[offtherails9]

I don't completely disagree with the Nash talk. 100% right he is huge to our structures and physically in there. But I don't really love having him in there as such a low attacking output player, I get that's not his role, but I think you need to be able to at least contribute a little more in this area - and I'm not sure we even want him to with his skill level. So it's going to be an interesting watch that one.

 

[kazzooka]

Haha! You realise what 13th and 15th mean in terms of best 23 yeah?

Or did you think both 13th and 15th were outside of the top 23 positions?

This may help.
View attachment 2506772

Well it means 10-12 players have gone past him since 2023. IF that continues he will be 23-25. And that's with Day not playing a whole lot in those 2 years.

I think it's fair that with Mackenzie, Butler, Ward, Maginness all at a level where we think they can play AFL every week (doesn't mean they will, just that they are no longer development players like Anderson or the first years). Hustwaite I also feel is going to be an AFL player, perhaps not for us but I expect him to once again dominate VFL level and get some chances due to injury,suspension and form. Then you have the first and second year crew of Anderson, Dalton, Greeves who could put their hand up. You have Watson, MacDonald, Moore and Weddle all looking like they may play some midfield. AND And Day and Newcombe well above him his position isn't guaranteed and he's certainly the most vulnerable of the 4 current best 22 mids (day, newc, ward, nash).

 

[Del236379]

I don't completely disagree with the Nash talk. 100% right he is huge to our structures and physically in there. But I don't really love having him in there as such a low attacking output player, I get that's not his role, but I think you need to be able to at least contribute a little more in this area - and I'm not sure we even want him to with his skill level. So it's going to be an interesting watch that one.

Maybe it's the Will Day effect taking pressure off the other mids. But in 2023 Nash averaged 24 touches and 5 clearances. I think this is the balance and output you're looking for.

In 2024 it was 19 and 5.
In 2025 it was 18 and 5.

Our clearance numbers were in the bottom half of the league last season. So it's not even as if we can say the structural things Nash brings were contributing to an elite unit.

I think he can, and maybe even will without Worpel, get back to his 2023 form. But I doubt the output of the past 2 years will be strong enough to hold out the developing young mids looking to break in.

 

[Yardie]

We've found our new whipping boy!

 

[bigmaxi]

Just watched the Adelaide semi final, great game to get the footy taste back as we launch into the new season. With Dear, Day, Butler (my new ‘26 fav.) and Lewis having a full preseason and Morrison available going to be fascinating to see who and how Sam moves the magnets around for round one. The added bonus of the extra on the bench throws up a new dimension too. Will he want to bat a bit deeper thru the midfield? That’s my guess.

 

[grumbleguts]

We've found our new whipping boy!

He was never not a whipping boy for some. The blind get an opinion and keep it.Move the room around and they just refuse to walk around a couch they don't know is there.

 

[cryptor]

Nash's importance to the team is being heavily undervalued in this thread.

He plays a lot of crucial and selfless roles in the midfield. Back-up ruck and various defensively focused roles that allow guys like Day, Newcombe and Ward to shine.

Sure there are better ball users challenging for spots, but he provides a lot of flexibility and stability that I don't think Sam will take out of the team any time soon.

There's a reason he was signed up to 2029.

 

[bigmaxi]

With recent the Will Day news, god I’m glad we have Nash! Now which is going to be the other piece to the midfield puzzle. Newc, Nash, Ward, Butler and ………dare I say it’s a big carrot wave to Cam Mackenzie.

 

[Hawkas1988]

Nash's importance to the team is being heavily undervalued in this thread.

He plays a lot of crucial and selfless roles in the midfield. Back-up ruck and various defensively focused roles that allow guys like Day, Newcombe and Ward to shine.

Sure there are better ball users challenging for spots, but he provides a lot of flexibility and stability that I don't think Sam will take out of the team any time soon.

There's a reason he was signed up to 2029.

Was our best mid in the PF. He is a very important piece to our midfield mix.

 

[Howe Amazing]

Finn Maginness is one guy that shouldn’t be discounted in the mid mix. Can tag best mid and help around the stoppages he is a unit

 

[bigmaxi]

Finn Maginness is one guy that shouldn’t be discounted in the mid mix. Can tag best mid and help around the stoppages he is a unit

ageee. The job he did on Oliver vs the Dees was gold, frustrated the bejeezus out of him and even the Dess coach made special mention. Totally in the midfield mix.

 

[kazzooka]

ageee. The job he did on Oliver vs the Dees was gold, frustrated the bejeezus out of him and even the Dess coach made special mention. Totally in the midfield mix.

Wasn't that the game that Joel Smith was busted for bringing coke to, and Oliver was involved in that?

 

[barbster]

Now that it looks as if Day will miss the start of the year I’d go with the following

Foll - Meek Newcombe Ward
B - Scrimshaw Barrass Hardwick
HB - Impey Battle Sicily
C - Amon Nash D’Ambrosio
HF - MacDonald Lewis Moore
F - Ginnivan Dear Gunston
Inter - Watson, Weddle, Mackenzie, Morrison, Chol

 

[ReturningHawk]

Now that it looks as if Day will miss the start of the year I’d go with the following

Foll - Meek Newcombe Ward
B - Scrimshaw Barrass Hardwick
HB - Impey Battle Sicily
C - Amon Nash D’Ambrosio
HF - MacDonald Lewis Moore
F - Ginnivan Dear Gunston
Inter - Watson, Weddle, Mackenzie, Morrison, Chol

Agreed it looks like our most talented 23, but I think for defensive balance at stoppage and in light of rule changes I suspect we might see Butler and Reeves in for Mackenzie and Morrison. She’s gonna be tight!

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Nash's importance to the team is being heavily undervalued in this thread.

He plays a lot of crucial and selfless roles in the midfield. Back-up ruck and various defensively focused roles that allow guys like Day, Newcombe and Ward to shine.

Sure there are better ball users challenging for spots, but he provides a lot of flexibility and stability that I don't think Sam will take out of the team any time soon.

There's a reason he was signed up to 2029.

I thought Nash had an excellent 2024 but I felt he dropped off a little in 2025 in his offensive output.

I do like his size and defensive efforts in the middle but it would be good if got a bit more of his offensive output form 2024 back in his game this season.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Nash has averaged 5 less touches over the last two seasons compared to his 2023 season.

However his tackle numbers have increased, and his clearance numbers have remained the same (2025) and had slightly increased (2024).

His contested possession numbers as a % have actually increased - 38.75% in 2023, 46.03% in 2024 and 47.28% in 2025.

Which suggests he has become more effective, and/or is getting less loose outside ball. Which may be what we want, given some of his disposal issues and his ability to block and shepherd. Ideally we'd have Ward, Newcombe, Day, etc. getting the handball from Nash and not the other way around.

Also worth considering - how much of the drop in raw possession numbers is simply due to playing other roles, such as relief ruck (zero hitouts in 2023, compared to some in the last two seasons)?

And finally we simply need his size in the middle. Geelong taught us a lesson there. Now we won't have Day for however long (and he may not return and play as a midfielder?) and Worpel is gone (for all his faults he was a strong and physical player). Ward isn't the biggest nor is he physically imposing. Watson is tenacious but tiny. Moore is tenacious and slightly less tiny. I think we will really need Nash in there this season.

 

[Davo-27]

Best 23 at round 0, Day out im guessing?

B: Hardwick, Barras, Amon
HB: Impey, Battle, Sicily

C: Weddle, MacKenzie, D'Ambrosio
R: Meek, Ward, Newcombe

HF: Moore, Dear, Ginnivan
F: Watson, Lewis, Gunston

INT: Chol, C.MacD, Scrimshaw, Nash, Morrison

EMER: Mraz, Ramsden, Butler, Nairn

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Best 23 at round 0, Day out im guessing?

B: Hardwick, Barras, Amon
HB: Impey, Battle, Sicily

C: Weddle, MacKenzie, D'Ambrosio
R: Meek, Ward, Newcombe

HF: Moore, Dear, Ginnivan
F: Watson, Lewis, Gunston

INT: Chol, C.MacD, Scrimshaw, Nash, Morrison

EMER: Mraz, Ramsden, Butler, Nairn

Baring injuries I think that is exactly the lineup we will go with

Butler maybe a little stuff to miss.

Possibility of Sam going with Reeves as fifth man on the bench as well as part of a two ruck set up but personally I think that's unlikely so early in the season.