Opinion Best side 2018

[DanA]

Blitz to me, people are trying to find a spot for him that's really not there.

I think Blitz has a definite spot. As a defensive mid that drifts forward and 2nd ruck. As long as we don’t have both Smith and Stanley he’s got a clear role,

 

[DanA]

I agree, just think you've probably got the balance wrong. IMO you'd have Hawkins, Menzel and a dedicated small fwd, but the other spots are resting "forward of centre" mids/running half forward types like Duncan, Kelly, Cockatoo, Menegola, Parfitt and also likely one of Danger/Ablett.

Be very unlikely you'd see McCarthy and Miers in the same team I reckon.

Plenary of teams have two dedicated small forwards that don’t really play midfield. Rioli and Puopolo the obvious pair with Breust a 3rd medium forward.

Probably not going to play two rookies forward but it’s not impossible.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

I think Blitz has a definite spot. As a defensive mid that drifts forward and 2nd ruck. As long as we don’t have both Smith and Stanley he’s got a clear role,

Is that a spot that we need? Is Blicavs good enough at doing that that he contributes more to the side than someone who is faster and a better ball user? I don't think he's an especially good defensive mid and would argue we have that covered with Selwood and Guthrie already. I don't think second ruck is really vital anymore either.

 

[Rondog]

The general theme -

Danger has to rotate at FF all year, every game. He's too big a weapon in fwd 50. Tomahawk getting mobile at CHF and Taylor restored to AA defender.

 

[you pick one]

Is that a spot that we need? Is Blicavs good enough at doing that that he contributes more to the side than someone who is faster and a better ball user? I don't think he's an especially good defensive mid and would argue we have that covered with Selwood and Guthrie already. I don't think second ruck is really vital anymore either.

I agree he has become a jack of all trades and master of none with the demise of the third man up,he's not a second rucks arseh*le,doesn't hit the scoreboard often enough drifting forward and only a fair defensive mid,that being said there has been a fair argument he has been best 22 in 2017,there looks to be more competition for spots in the coming season Blits could well come under pressure.

 

[MotleyLemon]

why wouldnt one of kelly or cockatoo take the forward pocket spot rather than start on the bench?

Not sure it particularly matters in the current age of rotations, but I had them as going through the outside middle/as high half forwards with the likes of Duncan/Menegola/Parfitt. I've got Fogarty starting as the "pressure forward" there, not sure that's a position you necessarily would have in a rotation, so he starts on.

I think that would stick with Danger one out at FF, Hawkins up the field, rather than a pocket along side Hawk

I agree with this, probably more just the format of how teams are named... Crameri should be taking marks on the wing when we're coming out of the back line, with Hawkins and Menzel across half forward, with Danger/Ablett deep. I would have Crameri/Menzel/Hawkins rotating through those forward roles across a game though.

Blitz to me, people are trying to find a spot for him that's really not there.

I think Blicavs definitely has a spot, especially now we're a somewhat shorter down back without Lonergan, playing only one of Smith/Stanley, and (hopefully) are going with just Hawkins as the genuine key forward, with Crameri/Menzel as more 3rd tall types.

IMO, Smith should be rucking 80% of games, with Blicavs doing the remaining 20%. Blicavs then also spells any of Taylor/Hendo/Kolo/Stewart, and is also there as a midfield contigency, and even to give us a different look up forward if things aren't working.

 

[Larry Donohue]

For me I hope they can but its getting tight. Maybe try him at chf. Couldnt hurt. Mobility and height

 

[you pick one]

there is no battle. both fit then both play. assuming Crameri can find an injured players spot to take on the list.

That's yesterdays rules i believe,Cameri can play from day one.

 

[DanA]

Is that a spot that we need? Is Blicavs good enough at doing that that he contributes more to the side than someone who is faster and a better ball user? I don't think he's an especially good defensive mid and would argue we have that covered with Selwood and Guthrie already. I don't think second ruck is really vital anymore either.

My stance is that we need to create the right environment but that, yes his spot is needed.

I think on the right player he's a good option to have as a lockdown midfielder. For instance, against Sydney, I'd have S.Selwood lock down Luke Parker, Guthrie play head to head with Zac Jones on the wing and Blicavs tagging JPK. To me that's fine, Blicavs can still come off JPK to play 20% ruck time and drift forward and take advantage of mismatches or running power without an uber tall team limiting his impact.

If we don't play Stanley, Mackie, and Lonergan. And instead play Fogarty, Ablett, and Kelly then IMO the whole dynamic of the team shifts in favour of Blicavs making him a lot more valuable.

 

[DanA]

To put the Blicavs selection in context:

FB: Kolo Henderson Bews
HB: Touhy Taylor Stewart
C: Kelly Duncan S.Selwood
HF: Cockatoo Hawkins Ablett
FF: Fogarty Crameri Parfitt
R: Smith Dangerfield J.Selwood
Int: Guthrie, Thurlow, Menegola, Blicavs

- Here Blicavs would have a key role as a pillar of our zone defense locking into the forward 50 with Smith on the opposite side and the KPD's man on man.

- He plays 20% ruck giving Smith a chop out and hopefully allowing him to be more effective

- He uses his running power to drift forward into a forward-line packed with small defenders that would struggle to spoil. This is because I'd have Hawkins pushing up the ground and Crameri/Menzel on the opposite side of the field.

- At stoppages, he shuts down the big-bodied clearance pig.

To me, that's a valuable role that I wouldn't be quick to get rid of. A lot of it is dependent on us playing a small team but with the list the way it is now, I expect him to be more effective.

 

[you pick one]

To put the Blicavs selection in context:

FB: Kolo Henderson Bews
HB: Touhy Taylor Stewart
C: Kelly Duncan S.Selwood
HF: Cockatoo Hawkins Ablett
FF: Fogarty Crameri Parfitt
R: Smith Dangerfield J.Selwood
Int: Guthrie, Thurlow, Menegola, Blicavs

- Here Blicavs would have a key role as a pillar of our zone defense locking into the forward 50 with Smith on the opposite side and the KPD's man on man.

- He plays 20% ruck giving Smith a chop out and hopefully allowing him to be more effective

- He uses his running power to drift forward into a forward-line packed with small defenders that would struggle to spoil. This is because I'd have Hawkins pushing up the ground and Crameri/Menzel on the opposite side of the field.

- At stoppages, he shuts down the big-bodied clearance pig.

To me, that's a valuable role that I wouldn't be quick to get rid of. A lot of it is dependent on us playing a small team but with the list the way it is now, I expect him to be more effective.

I reckon towards end of the year Scott had finally given up on Blitz as a second ruck option,he's simply not effective and he was forced to go back to Stanley,also Blits can get forward all he likes but he simple doesn't kick goals,his positions on the line in my book.

 

[DanA]

I reckon towards end of the year Scott had finally given up on Blitz as a second ruck option,he's simply not effective and he was forced to go back to Stanley,also Blits can get forward all he likes but he simple doesn't kick goals,his positions on the line in my book.

I don't think he was forced to go back to Stanley, I think he chose too and IMO that was a mistake. The team was too tall, Stanley was ineffective up forward and we completely lost any semblance of forwarding pressure.

And he kicked 12 for the season which isn't too bad for a player that didn't seem to spend much time in the forwardline.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

You're taking the piss surely ChookNorris...
We can't afford to not pick a 40 goal kicker in Menzel. We might as well have let him leave in that case. He will play.

FB: Bews - Taylor - Kolodjashnij
HB: Tuohy - Henderson - Stewart
C: C.Guthrie - J.Selwood - Duncan
HF: McCarthy - Hawkins - Cockatoo
FF: Menzel - Dangerfield - Miers
Fol: Smith - Kelly - Ablett
Int: Blicavs - Menegola - S.Selwood - Parfitt

I have tried to pick the best player for each position and assumes all players are available.

• At full forward I think Danger is our best option and push Hawkins up the field as lead up CHF. Danger can rotate into the midfield if required but he dominated at full forward the few times he played there last year. There is a bit of Ablett Snr about him. Also great defensively so gives balance to having Menz in a pocket.
• Very excited to have what looks to be a natural goal-kicking small forward in Miers. Most of our other small forwards are either mid-fielders or pressure forwards but not natural goal-kickers (ala. Betts/Milne) so Miers gets a gig in a pocket.

• McCarthy and Cockatoo (along with Danger and Miers) provide the forward line pressure

• From the limited footage I have seen of Kelly, I think he will slot straight in and he looks a good contested ball winner so I think he is better in the midfield and Duncan's game is better suited to a wing.

• Ablett is simply the best midfielder of his generation (perhaps all-time) and still plays mostly on ball in my team.

• Backline pretty much picks itself - not much variation to what 99% of others have chosen. I didn't mind someone's suggestion of playing Stewart at full-back when matchups are right to allow Henderson to play that floating intercept marking role. While I loved Domsy, I think we are much better balanced now height-wise with him gone.

• Don't agree with playing Blitz as our sole ruck. Smith has been really good mostly - had some very poor games (Essendon game stands out in my memeory) but he really gives us something when he is on his game. If Smith is playing I'm not really sure what Blitz's role is apart from relief ruckman. With the midfield we have I don't see a role for him there but he is a good fill-in player to have on the bench.

Not sure Miers will play but overall top post.

I agree he has become a jack of all trades and master of none with the demise of the third man up,he's not a second rucks arseh*le,doesn't hit the scoreboard often enough drifting forward and only a fair defensive mid,that being said there has been a fair argument he has been best 22 in 2017,there looks to be more competition for spots in the coming season Blits could well come under pressure.

Keeps Stanley out. That's reason enough to pick him.
Keeps the hack out.

 

[you pick one]

I left both out of my side and backed up Smith with Buzza,and he's no world beater either,but I'd try him in the preseason same size as Brickass.

 

[ChookNorris]

You're taking the piss surely ChookNorris...
We can't afford to not pick a 40 goal kicker in Menzel. We might as well have let him leave in that case. He will play.
Not sure Miers will play but overall top post.

Keeps Stanley out. That's reason enough to pick him.
Keeps the hack out.

I’ve gone hard running. Club dropped his contract and nearly invited him to walk. He and Cram are an easy swap either way.

 

[Reedallaboutme]

Bews Taylor Stewart
Henderson Stanley Tuohy
Cockatoo Selwood Duncan
Menzel Hawkins Menegola
Parfitt Danger Crameri
Smith Selwood Ablett
Guthrie, Kolo, Blicavs, Kelly

 

[Gavin Excell]

I'd like to see something like this, few positions I'm not 100% on, but feel like it's probably structurally how we should go about it... I like Menzel and Crameri in the same tea, FWIW...

FB: Bews - Taylor - Stewart
HB: Kolo* - Henderson - Tuohy
C: Duncan - JSelwood - Menegola
HF: Parfitt - Crameri - Menzel
FF: Fogarty** - Hawkins - Dangerfield

R: Smith - Ablett - SSelwood

I: CGuthrie - Blicavs - Kelly - Cockatoo

*Have Kolo here at present, between he, CGuthrie and Thurlow

**Must be stay at home small fwd, could be filled by Fogarty/McCarthy/Gregson/Miers

I have no real feelings either way about Smith or Stanley in the ruck. Blicavs giving whoever they decide on a chop out, also going through HB/wing and mid if required.

Cant have S Selwood best 22

 

[Hamingja]

S Selwood in our top half dozen most important players. Are you on crack.

 

[MotleyLemon]

Cant have S Selwood best 22

Errr what?

He offers a point of difference to the rest of our mids in his defensive work, which effectively lets Dangerfield etc run forward of the ball without worrying about a man.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I’ve gone hard running. Club dropped his contract and nearly invited him to walk. He and Cram are an easy swap either way.

I believe you'll end up wrong. A) We don't have the luxury of dropping prolific goal kickers B) his only missed games will be rests and injuries.

Cant have S Selwood best 22

Why? Best tackler in the league. By a mile too.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

A) We don't have the luxury of dropping prolific goal kickers

 

[Art Vandelay_]

How'd we fare? Pretty sure Seeds had melt of the year over it. Equally sure he was promptly recalled the following week.
Equally sure you're just looking for a stupid argument. Equally sure we won't be as daft next season and he will play.

Predicted sides with him not in it are frankly going to be wrong.

 

[AM]

Menzel a "prolific goal kicker". Your definition of prolific is way different to mine.

The fact Menz was put out there for not very much at seasons end and no one was interested should tell you something.

Two of our recruits are small forwards who are quick and tackle and have good goal sense. The fact we went after players with those talents should also tell you something.

With Gregson and McCarthy returning unless Menz develops the defensive side of his game so he doesn't leak goals he'll spend quite some time in the twos I suspect.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

How'd we fare? Pretty sure Seeds had melt of the year over it. Equally sure he was promptly recalled the following week.
Equally sure you're just looking for a stupid argument. Equally sure we won't be as daft next season and he will play.

Predicted sides with him not in it are frankly going to be wrong.

The club clearly has some sort of problem with him in spite of his goal output. Dropping him for the first final and giving him every opportunity to leave before signing him for what is likely a low-value contract aren't indicators to me that he's someone they perceive as an automatic best 22 selection. Crameri's drafting would also put pressure on him.

I would have Menzel in my best 22, but I'm not so sure that's the route the club will take. There's very good reason to doubt it.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Menzel a "prolific goal kicker". Your definition of prolific is way different to mine.

The fact Menz was put out there for not very much at seasons end and no one was interested should tell you something.

I mean, Gero used "prolific goal kicker" in direct reference to Menzel. That's who the conversation is about. I'm contesting the assertion that the club wouldn't drop Menzel, who he dubbed a "prolific goal kicker", not me. If you have a problem with that definition, take it up with the one who used it to describe Menzel, not me.

However, Menzel did kick 40 goals from 19 games this year. That's 2.11 goals per game, which is the second highest at Geelong and 17th highest in the league. Also 20th for overall output in the league despite playing only 19 games. Geelong had no other dedicated forwards kicking goals, instead relying heavily on Dangerfield.

I agree with you, though, that I don't think Menzel's place in the side is at all safe. That was, in fact, why I posted that he'd been omitted in response to the claim that the club would not drop someone who could kick goals like him. Clearly they place such a high emphasis on defence that they don't want any dedicated goal scorers. They want more players like Parsons and McCarthy in there who get 2 tackles a game and kick a goal every two games.