Changes to best 22

[maximus steel]

Who do we drop to bring back in these guys? The teams looking fantastic at the moment, and its difficult to choose who to drop. Ive ordered the players being dropped by importance (first least important) but have not ordered who is coming in for them.

Corey for Hogan - While hogan has been serviceable, he sometimes looks a bit out of his depth among the geelong team. Dont get me wrong good player who should be good for the club in the future but at the moment probably the weakest link.

Scarlett for Byrnes - Big call but Byrnes hasn't been in the best of form this year. You would say one of Byrnes/Varcoe/Stokes will be dropped and with varcoe playing so well (in my opinion he has been our most improved) and stokes playing well it looks like he is the one.

Ottens for Blake - This was the hardest one, and I am still 50/50 on it. Blake has been very good in the ruck and has been winning hit outs, but playing Hawkins in the ruck has given him an extra something that has lifted his game. Note i would be very happy to see blake remain in the team when ottens returns, but he could easily be the unlucky one.

Rooke for Lonergan/not regain a place? - Rooke may be another unlucky one who doesnt get a place. I think rooke will get his place at some stage (his hardness will be needed come finals time) but its going to be another selection dilemma. The thing about lonergan is he struggles on better forwads, altough this year has been his best i cant see him keeping rooke out.

My best team
FB: Wojo - Scarlett - Milburn
HB: Enright - Taylor - Mackie
C: Corey - Ablett - Bartel
HF: Chapman - Mooney - Varcoe
FF: Stokes - Podsiadly - Johnson
R: Ottens - Ling - Selwood
I: Hawkins - Rooke - Hunt - Kelly
E: Blake - Lonergan - Byrnes

Thoughts?

 

[kriso182]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

Lonergan for Scarlett
Hogan for Corey
Blake for Ottens
Stokes or Byrnes for Rooke

 

[Pivo]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

As I much as I love Rooke, he'll need to prove to me he is right to go before he displaces anyone.

I still scratch my head over how he got that game against Carlton.

 

[JUBJUB]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

Could've sworn we had a smilar topic to this a week or two ago.
I'll give the same answer,worry about it when they're actually ready to play.

 

[Duskfire]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

Lonergan for Scarlett
Hogan for Corey
Blake for Ottens
Stokes or Byrnes for Rooke

I somewhat agree with this, even though I am hesitant to leave Brynes and Strokes out of the side.

However, we'll never be full strength. Someone will always be injured, so we'll never have to woryr about getting into this situation.

 

[Exhale You]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

I'll give the same answer,worry about it when they're actually ready to play.

I know people enjoy speculating and masticating over the prospect but for me (and i suspect the coaching group) it's pointless worrying about something that may not even eventuate.

If and when we get in the position that we've got our best 24-25 players fit all at once the coaches will assess the form of those currently in the team, explore the best structure for finals and make decisions based on that.

I'm just glad to be safe in the knowledge that the club has the courage to make the tough calls and do what's in the best interests of the team.

 

[Belisarius]

We have sometime before such decisions need to be made.

My guess is Rooke is a long way away, Corey and Ottens a fair way away and Scarlett at least few weeks away before returning.

If, in that period we do not sustain any injuries then it will be interesting round 14 or so. With the extra week off with a split round - we may see them all fit.

Take the time then to see how we go with a few lesser lights that might just unfortunately be needed later in the finals. Scarlett would be straight back in after a good long recovery period - but I would prefer to see Corey play a partial seconds game before returning to the firsts - and with Ottens and Rooke having decent game time in the VFL.

There is time to do this.

Given Hogan looked poor last week - maybe try Gillies this week ?

Good to keep in Lonergan and Pods, the new team members, gaining experience on good players each week. They seem to be doing a good job as well.

If it comes to pass - that all of the team is fit at the same time - then in this miraculous event - I would think Wojo would be in danger of missing the cut.

 

[DanA]

I don't think we can play Blake, Otten, Hawkins, Mooney, Pods and Rooke in the same team. Possibly even 2 of them would need to make way if we were playing best 22.

 

[Belisarius]

I don't think we can play Blake, Otten, Hawkins, Mooney, Pods and Rooke in the same team. Possibly even 2 of them would need to make way if we were playing best 22.

May not see Rooke for a long time - and in case I have been assuming Pods has taken his spot in the forward line structure - and we look just as good, if not more dangerous thus far. So that is one removed.

Then you have to add Lonergan - as he is as tall as Hawkins.

Very hard to work it all out. Ottens has to play if fit - as does Mooney. This I think could nearly be said of Pods as well. Cannot see Hawkins being dropped at present nor Lonergan.

I think Blake and Lonergan are the 2 most likely candidates to make room for Ottens and Scarlett - and Rooke to be replaced by Pods.

It will not happen - but Hawkins to CHB that allows Blake to stay as second ruckman - but Lonergan makes way - I believe makes the best balanced team. But Geelong do not seem to have this in mind - which means Blake could be in some trouble come later in the season if Hawkins keeps his form up.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Teams rarely, if ever, have their best 22 fit and ready to go. By the time one or all of these players are ready to come in i am pretty sure other players currently in the 22 will have injuries. Hopefully not too many! But one or two are more than likely to succumb to some problem.

 

[maximus steel]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

Could've sworn we had a smilar topic to this a week or two ago.
I'll give the same answer,worry about it when they're actually ready to play.

sorry if it was, went on for first time in a while late last week

 

[AcidFiend]

As others stated, we might have some sore bodies to give a weeks rest, solving the dilemma.

However, assuming thats not the case:

-Hogan makes way for Corey
-Blake for Ottens
-Wojak for Scarlett
-Rooke retires

I love Rooke but I have a sneaking suspicion his body has had enough. I think he should play at least a game in the VFL to prove he's 100% as others have stated.

Also I like Byrnes & Lonergan over Wojak. Lonergan is better in defense than Wojak. We have Byrnes, Stokes & Varcoe to keep our team speedy.

 

[bulletproof]

I watched the 09 GF last night, Rooke will squeeze in somewhere. Off the bench for ten minutes a quarter, he could yet turn a game for us.

I think Hunt is the one who will come under pressure, not Wojack. Stokes, Byrnes and Varcoe (how does his name even come up now?) are all safe.

Hogan will certainly go. Lonergan may yet get squeezed out to get an extra runner on the bench. Rooke can cover in the back half.

 

[catempire]

Spot on bulletproof. People are deluded if they think Rooke won't make his way back into this team. People are putting too much weight on the Carlton performance and not understanding that he will be given months to get his knee right. He is not the type of player that needs a lot of matches to have an impact. He has an impact just walking onto the ground fully fit.

The players to make way for Ottens, Corey, Scarlett and Rooke will be from (in no particular order):

Wojcinski, Byrnes, Hogan, Stokes, Varcoe and Lonergan.

It will come down to form and fitness at the time.

 

[thrillhouse]

My best team
FB: Wojo - Scarlett - Milburn
HB: Enright - Taylor - Mackie
C: Corey - Ablett - Bartel
HF: Chapman - Mooney - Varcoe
FF: Stokes - Podsiadly - Johnson
R: Ottens - Ling - Selwood
I: Hawkins - Rooke - Hunt - Kelly
E: Blake - Lonergan - Byrnes

Thoughts?

Move Kelly to the half back line, Dasher on the bench instead of Hunt. Rooke could probably fit in the forward line at times... Kicked the first and last of the GF last year

In: Duncan, Lonergan
Out: Wojo, Mackie

Mackie is moving to the fringe IMO

 

[Pivo]

Spot on bulletproof. People are deluded if they think Rooke won't make his way back into this team. People are putting too much weight on the Carlton performance and not understanding that he will be given months to get his knee right. He is not the type of player that needs a lot of matches to have an impact. He has an impact just walking onto the ground fully fit.

I don't think it is a matter of putting too much weight on that performance, all Geelong fan knows what a fully fit Max brings to the table. However, that doesn't give the guy a free pass into the side if he ain't 100%. What the Carlton game showed was, if he isn't fully fit he doesn't bring the Max performance we all know is there.

As such, I'll stand by my comment. He'll need to prove he is right to go before he displaces anyone...months off or not.

 

[OldStyle2007]

Gotta have Wojo. He's our only speedy defender

Blake for Ottens would be an okay swap

I really don't see where Rooke fits in this year, with this season being all about pace. And I hate that!!

Corey for Hogan is a fair swap

Lonergan is doing well, but obvious swap for Scarlo

I think that they'll have to pick the teams for the finals to match up well against the opposition.

The trick will be that they then can't be afraid to drop players for the next match if those players are a bad match up

I'd really like to see Bomber try and get another speedy defender into the mix. We seriously struggle against Carlton

Hogan down back pocket??

 

[DanA]

Gotta have Wojo. He's our only speedy defender

Blake for Ottens would be an okay swap

I really don't see where Rooke fits in this year, with this season being all about pace. And I hate that!!

Corey for Hogan is a fair swap

Lonergan is doing well, but obvious swap for Scarlo

I think that they'll have to pick the teams for the finals to match up well against the opposition.

The trick will be that they then can't be afraid to drop players for the next match if those players are a bad match up

I'd really like to see Bomber try and get another speedy defender into the mix. We seriously struggle against Carlton

Hogan down back pocket??

It wasn't the backline that struggle it was our inability to contain there half backline. Walker, Gibbs and Armfield destroyed us. Trav will make a big difference in that regard.

I think the problem was we had Pods, Mooney, Hawkins, Ottens all spending time forward with an underdone S.J and totally unfit Rooke. Byrnes was so busy chasing he only managed to get 8 disposals.

It was probably compounded by also having Blake, Lonergan, Taylor against the smallest attack in the league.

 

[yogogorilla]

This is purely based on speculation and other things.

And i know Gary is in our best 22...

But what happens if the rift between coach and player goes up a few notches, and Gary is maybe excluded from the team. Id like to see some hypothetical on that situation.

If this isnt appropriate to this thread i apologise, as its just as much speculation. But so is max rooke being fit this year!

 

[The Rusty Clam]

Teams rarely, if ever, have their best 22 fit and ready to go. By the time one or all of these players are ready to come in i am pretty sure other players currently in the 22 will have injuries. Hopefully not too many! But one or two are more than likely to succumb to some problem.

This. We can speculate all we want, but by the time guys like Corey and Otto are ready to return there will be other players from our best 22 forced out with injury. When was the last time we actually had our best 22 out on the park?

 

[The Casey Cat]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

Could've sworn we had a smilar topic to this a week or two ago.
I'll give the same answer,worry about it when they're actually ready to play.

This

Spot on bulletproof. People are deluded if they think Rooke won't make his way back into this team.

And you are deluded if you think he will just stroll back in. He has knee tendinitis and the club have not been able to get it to improve in 8 or 9 months. He is my fav player and I would love to see him back but we just need to worry about him getting to a state where he can move well enough on the fiend for the moment which right now he can't.

 

[catempire]

Re: In: Rooke, Corey, Ottens, Scarlett. Out: ?

And you are deluded if you think he will just stroll back in. He has knee tendinitis and the club have not been able to get it to improve in 8 or 9 months. He is my fav player and I would love to see him back but we just need to worry about him getting to a state where he can move well enough on the fiend for the moment which right now he can't.

Then I am not deluded because that's not what I said.

 

[OldStyle2007]

It wasn't the backline that struggle it was our inability to contain there half backline. Walker, Gibbs and Armfield destroyed us. Trav will make a big difference in that regard.

I think the problem was we had Pods, Mooney, Hawkins, Ottens all spending time forward with an underdone S.J and totally unfit Rooke. Byrnes was so busy chasing he only managed to get 8 disposals.

It was probably compounded by also having Blake, Lonergan, Taylor against the smallest attack in the league.

Yes, but you have to admit it is a serious weak point. Beams kicked 4 on us! We can contain every other type of forward, but if a team has multiple quick forwards we are a little exposed

 

[Sttew]

We do face some tough decisions, or should I say Bomber does.

You could mount an argument that of the big 4 currently out, only Scarlett is guaranteed a spot.

Kelly has slotted into the midfield beautifully, at Corey's expense.
Blake & Hawkins are doing well enough in the ruck. IMO Blake would not deserve to be dropped. He has rucked tirelessly, and apart from last week's game where he lowered his colours, he has held his own. Hawkins is a big improver.
My views on Rooke are clouded by his recent game against Carlton where, understabadbly, he was slow and underdone. It is easy to forget his GF performance, and IF he can recapture that form he should force his way back in.

So who goes out?
Corey for Hogan
Rooke for Byrnes
Scarlett for Lonergan or Wojo (Wojo's form has been indifferent IMO, as has Mackie's)
Ottens in - someone injured!!

 

[DanA]

Yes, but you have to admit it is a serious weak point. Beams kicked 4 on us! We can contain every other type of forward, but if a team has multiple quick forwards we are a little exposed

I think it's a minor problem at the moment but with our Best 22 it's not a problem at all for me

My best 22:

FB: Kelly Scarlett Hunt
HB: Enright Taylor Mackie
C: Corey Ablett Ling
HF: Varcoe Podsiadly Chapman
FF: Johnson Mooney Byrnes
R: Ottens Bartel Selwood
Int: Blake Rooke Milburn + one of Wojak/Lonergan/Stokes

That's how we lined up last Grand Final with only 2 changes.
Pods in for Hawkins - Pods has been a revelation
Hunt in for Harley - Gain Hunt's left peg, lose Harley's marking.

In my view a small forward line would cause us no problems at all. Wojak would be my first choice unless their was a particularly good match up for Lonergan.