First 22 in 2023

[mpal6]

B Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
HB Rich Payne Coleman
C Berry McCluggage Bailey
HF Zorko Hipwood Rayner
F Cameron Daniher Gunston
R McInerney Neale Dunkley
B McCarthy McKenna Ashcroft Robertson Wilmot

I think this is our best 23. Someone on the bench to be tactical sub(Dev or Wilmot). If we went for our most experienced and battle hardened side you’d replace Ashcroft, Dev and Wilmot with Lyons, Ah Chee and Answerth and I expect those three to play a large number of games(That would round out the top 26 on our list I think).

Fort, Fullarton and Joyce are our main KP depth. Based on pre season form and last year, players like Prior, Tunstill, Sharp, Lohmann will push for games and the likes of Lester, Mathieson and Cockatoo will support those guys in the VFL and be ready if needed to step up into the seniors.

Pretty close to mine, I'll have Ah Chee or Prior in place of Robertson.

We need a utility there in my view instead of another mid. There's just too many midfield options already on the field like Zorko, Berry, Bailey, Rayner etc.

 

[mattsmob]

Having listened to the recent Roar Deal podcast and hearing the way they spoke about Tunstill I’m actually coming around to him being the second winger opposite of Berry. I liked what he did last season and he has a bit of McCluggage about him to me, can use the ball well, is clean and seems to make things slow down a little bit around him.

Originally I thought Ashcroft and Bailey would spend a bit of time out there but by the sounds of it those two (Ashcroft particularly) have looked really good with time in the midfield. If we were thinking about Hugh or guys like Ah Chee/Answerth out there I’d rather give the first crack to Tunstill.

 

[Dalions]

Having listened to the recent Roar Deal podcast and hearing the way they spoke about Tunstill I’m actually coming around to him being the second winger opposite of Berry. I liked what he did last season and he has a bit of McCluggage about him to me, can use the ball well, is clean and seems to make things slow down a little bit around him.

Originally I thought Ashcroft and Bailey would spend a bit of time out there but by the sounds of it those two (Ashcroft particularly) have looked really good with time in the midfield. If we were thinking about Hugh or guys like Ah Chee/Answerth out there I’d rather give the first crack to Tunstill.

One thing that I really liked about him in the latest Match Sim is that when the ball was in the centre he really kept his width really well and got a lot of ball as a result when the ball broke to that side.
He runs his absolute ass off and is really quick with his hands when in close.
When Dev come out to the wing where I was sitting, he played the wing role completely different to Jimmy and ran nowhere near as hard.
If Jimmy is taking anyone’s spot in my 22 it may be Dev for me.
I love what Dev offered at the back end of last year mind you, but the other thing that Jimmy did in that game was that when he got the ball he looks for a target rather than just bombing it long like Dev has a tendancy to do.

 

[mattsmob]

One thing that I really liked about him in the latest Match Sim is that when the ball was in the centre he really kept his width really well and got a lot of ball as a result when the ball broke to that side.
He runs his absolute ass off and is really quick with his hands when in close.
When Dev come out to the wing where I was sitting, he played the wing role completely different to Jimmy and ran nowhere near as hard.
If Jimmy is taking anyone’s spot in my 22 it may be Dev for me.
I love what Dev offered at the back end of last year mind you, but the other thing that Jimmy did in that game was that when he got the ball he looks for a target rather than just bombing it long like Dev has a tendancy to do.

Yep that’s who I’ve come to as well, I really like Dev but we’ve got 4 genuine mids ahead of him imo and I just think Tunstill has more upside and is better on the wing.

 

[KissKiss]

From watching other sports (nba and epl) typically key players are “rested”; if they are carrying a small injury that can be managed with a short break and the schedule is deemed to be soft, or the team is approaching finals and the sports science team want to freshen up a couple of key veterans.

Of course such rests are fluid, and dependant on injuries within the squad and to key players.

Yeah you can't lock in a plan and stick to it at all costs. You have to take the season as it comes - I'm certain we wanted to give Hippy a game or 2 in the twos this year but when all the forwards went down we rushed him back and then there was no point sending him back down.

But you have to look ahead 3 or 4 weeks at a time and see when the short breaks and long flights are. When the game against North or West Coast (or other struggling team) and assess can we give a freshener here? Who's desperate for a game in the twos? There have been plenty of times we could have rested players like that in the last few years and haven't. Maybe that's been the difference when we've fallen just short a few times now

 

[SizeMatters]

B Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
HB McKenna Payne Coleman
C mccluggage dunkley Ashcroft
HF Bailey Hipwood Rayner
F Cameron Daniher Gunston
R McInerney Neale robertson
B fort zorko berry Wilmot lohman

first 22 after bye

 

[Dalions]

B Starcevich Andrews Gardiner
HB McKenna Payne Coleman
C mccluggage dunkley Ashcroft
HF Bailey Hipwood Rayner
F Cameron Daniher Gunston
R McInerney Neale robertson
B fort zorko berry Wilmot lohman

first 22 after bye

First 23 after the bye?

Rich is done!

 

[Cubs2Lions]

First 23 after the bye?

Rich is done!

 

[SizeMatters]

First 23 after the bye?

Rich is done!

Where does he fit?

 

[Dalions]

Where does he fit?

With all of Zorkos injuries of recent years, I would be more inclined to Think, he is more done than Rich.
Barring injury, Rich will be best 22 this year and I agree there is a squeeze on for spots in the half back type role for sure.

 

[On the quiet]

With all of Zorkos injuries of recent years, I would be more inclined to Think, he is more done than Rich.
Barring injury, Rich will be best 22 this year and I agree there is a squeeze on for spots in the half back type role for sure.

Been stated previously by other posters, but I think it is time for a new captain with Zorks age and injuries. Obviously Andrews has to be considered but I would like to see Neal, if he sought it.

I don't see Zorks or Rich playing every game this season. A Geelong type approach for these two older warriors, we will need to firing come finals and the GF.

 

[SizeMatters]

With all of Zorkos injuries of recent years, I would be more inclined to Think, he is more done than Rich.
Barring injury, Rich will be best 22 this year and I agree there is a squeeze on for spots in the half back type role for sure.

I think the team I put together has pace and skill on all lines. Rich doesn’t have anything he can provide. Cooked unfortunately. No pace, can’t defend, kicking is average these days. He’s Witherden level now.

 

[Nathan Barley]

I think the team I put together has pace and skill on all lines. Rich doesn’t have anything he can provide. Cooked unfortunately. No pace, can’t defend, kicking is average these days. He’s Witherden level now.

Same Rich who was all australian in 2021?

 

[rye]

rich was one of our best players in the semi-final against melbourne. he got shown up against geelong but you could say that for most of the team. i dont see why he cant be an asset to the team, especially if improved team defence helps to shore up some of his deficiencies on opposition rebound

 

[SizeMatters]

Same Rich who was all australian in 2021?

Irrelevant. 2021 was 2 years ago. That’s like saying the same teams will be good for years on end. Lol.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Irrelevant. 2021 was 2 years ago. That’s like saying the same teams will be good for years on end. Lol.

Finished 7th in our BnF last year

 

[martinson]

Richy isn't getting any younger but if he's fit and good to go there isn't one team in the AFL where he wouldn't be an automatic selection.

 

[Section 5]

Irrelevant. 2021 was 2 years ago. That’s like saying the same teams will be good for years on end. Lol.

The 2021 all Australian team was named in August 2021
Thats only 1 year as we have not started 2023 yet.
But agree you can't rest on past form although 2022 stats wise was still a good year for Rich at HB.
Rich played 22 games with 79.4% TOG. His TOG was down 3.9% on the previous 3 years. So, in theory that should result in less disposals etc.

Danial Rich basic stats for year 2022
Average 23.1 disposals (2nd best career high)
Average 558 meters gained (2nd best career high)
Effective disposals 19.2 (2nd best career high)
Disposal efficiency 83.3% (career high)

Stats that were around his career average

Marks - 4.5 (career average 3.8)
Tackles - 1.6 (2.9)
Rebound 50's - 6.3 (3.7) (3rd best career high)
Inside 50's - 3.3 (3.3)
Goals - 0.1 (0.4)
Goal assists 0.3 (0.3)
Clearances - 0.9 (2.0)
Contested marks - 0.2 (0.2)
1 Percenters - 2.2 (1.8)

 

[POBT]

I think it is what Rich did last year without the footy that would have been more of a concern than his attacking output. It's hard to know from the outside but he looked like he struggled to cover the ground, was a bit slow off the mark and lost some contests that he'd have once won.


Having said all of that, I'm willing to back him in at this stage. One (slightly?) lesser year is not necessarily the start of a terminal decline of his career. We'll probably know more by about round 6, I reckon.

 

[Mighty Lions]

I think it is what Rich did last year without the footy that would have been more of a concern than his attacking output. It's hard to know from the outside but he looked like he struggled to cover the ground, was a bit slow off the mark and lost some contests that he'd have once won.


Having said all of that, I'm willing to back him in at this stage. One (slightly?) lesser year is not necessarily the start of a terminal decline of his career. We'll probably know more by about round 6, I reckon.

When a player of his age comes to the start of a full season with half a pre-season done (like Richy did last season) , it doesn't matter how good you are or if you still have an A+ footy head on you, you will struggle. This season he has had no interruptions and will come in at Round 1 in the best physical condition possible. Often people are quick to bag players out of form without taking into account their physical condition. (same as JL) To quote another poster last week, Blind Freddy could have seen that Richy's condition was a long way being good yet he was selected every week. This season he has no excuses and I am confident he will be very important for us. He is a champion of the club and we all know what often happens when you write off Champions too early.

 

[twhowler]

Jon Ralph named our best 22 in the Herald Sun (attached). Always of some interest when a footy scribe puts up a team so thought I would post.

FROM THIS TEAM

Pretty obvious Payne in for Joyce assuming Payne fit.

Also would be staggered if Coleman is sub, so putting him in for Answerth.

Other possible ins Dev, Wilmot, Prior.

Possible outs Ah Chee and McKenna.

I am seeing a lot of people talk about Tunstill from pre-season scrimmages. I had him pegged as an inside mid, but he has been playing wing apparently. Does he have a good tank? Any pace? Would people have Tunstill ahead of Sharp?

With Ashcroft just about a lock it will be interesting to see how many young / inexperienced players we go with. A premiership side usually doesn't have too many. Others in contention seem to be Tunstill, Sharp and Wilmot in terms of players with fewer than 10 games. There's no exact formula but probably playing all of them is one too many? I would think only one of Sharp or Tunstill will make the side anyway, if any.

Overall our experience levels are getting pretty impressive, regulars or near regulars with fewer than 50 games include Coleman on 41, Payne who is 23yo so no baby, Prior on 30, Robertson on 25, Ashcroft on 0.

 

[Tom14]

Jon Ralph named our best 22 in the Herald Sun (attached). Always of some interest when a footy scribe puts up a team so thought I would post.

FROM THIS TEAM

Pretty obvious Payne in for Joyce assuming Payne fit.

Also would be staggered if Coleman is sub, so putting him in for Answerth.

Other possible ins Dev, Wilmot, Prior.

Possible outs Ah Chee and McKenna.

I am seeing a lot of people talk about Tunstill from pre-season scrimmages. I had him pegged as an inside mid, but he has been playing wing apparently. Does he have a good tank? Any pace? Would people have Tunstill ahead of Sharp?

With Ashcroft just about a lock it will be interesting to see how many young / inexperienced players we go with. A premiership side usually doesn't have too many. Others in contention seem to be Tunstill, Sharp and Wilmot in terms of players with fewer than 10 games. There's no exact formula but probably playing all of them is one too many? I would think only one of Sharp or Tunstill will make the side anyway, if any.

Overall our experience levels are getting pretty impressive, regulars or near regulars with fewer than 50 games include Coleman on 41, Payne who is 23yo so no baby, Prior on 30, Robertson on 25, Ashcroft on 0. View attachment 1607596

That's such a funny, outrageously bad best 22. Coleman as the sub is all you need to see.

Lester would be ahead of Joyce as the backup to Payne as well.

 

[martinson]

That's such a funny, outrageously bad best 22. Coleman as the sub is all you need to see.

Lester would be ahead of Joyce as the backup to Payne as well.

Coleman is likely one of the first picked.

 

[Warwick]

The gross lack of knowledge regarding Coleman’s importance (and ability) to this team by media and southern supporters is criminal.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Anyone mistaking Jon Ralph for someone with a huge breadth of footy knowledge outside Melbourne is new to the scene