Line ups

[StingaArmstrong]

Well seeing as we won't be participating in the preseason draft, i thought i'd try and put together something like what our strongest line ups will look like for next year.

Seniors:

FB: Whelan, Nicholson, Bizzell
HB: Wheatley, Rivers, Brown
C: Johnstone, Yze, Green
HF: Robertson, Miller, Bruce
FF: Smith, Neitz, Davey
FOLL: White, Moloney, McDonald
INT: Ferguson, Sylvia, McLean, Bell

Reserves:

FB: Hunter, Carroll, Broadbridge
HB: Ward, Dunn, Williams
C: Heffernan, Godfrey, Armstrong
HF: C. Johnson, Holland, Bate
FF: Newton, P. Johnson,
FOLL: Jamar, Rigoni, Read
INT: B. Vanschaik, M. Warnock

Smith, Sylvia, McLean, Bell force out Read, Holland, Heffernan and Godfrey as they should be ready for the big time and are our future and the others are essentially experienced back ups. Maybe one of them will come in for one of the young to offset the experience factor. But they should all play at least 15 games.
Ferguson is in there as a floater who can play where required. FB if Nicho struggles, up forward if needed and pinch hitting in the ruck with Miller and possibly Smith.

I'd like to hear your opinions as long as they are constructive.

 

[Klyntonius]

Looks pretty strong to me. Probably pretty accurate too. I reckon Holland is probably more likely to be played instead of Smith but will see what happens during the off-season. Daniher may trial Smith early and he may force his way into the side. I think we generally have good depth with most positions having ready made replacements but if Neitz and/or White went down then we will struggle to cover them.

 

[Deestroy]

I'd love for it to be Smith as the 3rd tall, but I believe it will be Holland. This is the side I would like to see by mid-season....

Seniors:

B: Whelan, Ferguson, Brown
HB: Bell, Rivers, Wheatley
C: McLean, Yze, Green
HF: Sylvia, Miller, Bruce
F: Smith, Neitz, Davey
R: White, Johnstone, Moloney
INT: McDonald, Robertson, Bizzell, Jamar
E: Armstrong, Heffernan, Betts (like you I would like him on the list)

Reserves:

B: Williams, Nicholson, Carroll
HB: Ward, Dunn, Broadbridge
C: Heffernan, Godfrey, Armstrong
HF: C.Johnson, Bate, Hunter
F: Betts, P.Johnson, Newton
R: Rookie, Rigoni, Read
INT: Holland Rookie

I doubt Bell, Sylvia and McLean will all become starting 18 players by then. Hopefully at least one if not 2 succeed. Ferguson is my big hope for full back, but it will most likely still be Nicho next year. The forward pocket is another interesting one, I hope one of Smith and Johnson can will the void but again I think Holland will still lumber around.

 

[Demonheart]

That's a pretty strong bench deestroy, looks good doesn't it?

Bell, Sylvia and McLean are interesting, I think all three of them will force there way into the team early in the season.
Daniher has already said that he's very impressed with Bell so far this pre-season, he's a bit bigger and training very well. I'd expect him to start the season in the first 22.
McLean will continue to get better and be a good solid player, he'll hold his spot and get more game time.
I can't wait to see what Sylvia can do with a full pre-season behind him. Has he ever done one? He is just too good for VFL standard and I don't see how playing him there can improve him anymore. He needs to play at the top level to develop.
My smokie for a spot later in the year is Chris Johnson. He developed alot quicker than expected this year and only the 12 player rule kept him out of the sandy seniors.

 

[ExTasDeeMan]

I love the lists - happy to see B Holland languishing in the magoo's

Would like to see Smith get some exposure at the Top level - really want him to perform after so many raps.

 

[Sylvia Saint]

My smokie for a spot later in the year is Chris Johnson. He developed alot quicker than expected this year and only the 12 player rule kept him out of the sandy seniors.

I doubt it. He had a shoulder op a couple of months ago and can't start full training until March. He'll be there come Round 1 for Sandy but I can't see him getting any senior games until 2006.

 

[davey_magik]

firstly i pity phil read because he will be out of the side with bell,mclean and sylvia pushing for spots in the senior side. i dont think however that these three will automatically be placed in our midfield. heffernan is still good and i think he will keep a place in the side for the first half of 2005 but might be pushed out. i think that all 3 young midfielders will get in the side eventually but they still need to improve. and also Deestroy bizzel should be starting on the ground because hes just signed a 3 year deal at 28 and is still a very good defender. but aside from that our side is looking the best it has in a very long time.

 

[Sylvia Saint]

Best 22:

B. Whelan Nicholson Bizzell
HB. Wheatley Rivers Brown
C. Moloney Yze Green
HF. Johnstone Miller Sylvia
F. Davey Neitz Robertson
R. White Bruce McDonald
Int. Jamar, Bell, Heffernan, Broadbridge

Sandy Reserves: Newton, C. Johnson (to begin with) and Rookies (?).

The rest: Sandy Seniors.

 

[Deestroy]

firstly i pity phil read because he will be out of the side with bell,mclean and sylvia pushing for spots in the senior side. i dont think however that these three will automatically be placed in our midfield. heffernan is still good and i think he will keep a place in the side for the first half of 2005 but might be pushed out. i think that all 3 young midfielders will get in the side eventually but they still need to improve. and also Deestroy bizzel should be starting on the ground because hes just signed a 3 year deal at 28 and is still a very good defender. but aside from that our side is looking the best it has in a very long time.

If Bizzell has a first half of the season like his last half of this year he may be struggling to make the 22 let alone 18. I predect that within 2 years he will be out of our best side, which is why I only wanted him signed for 2 years. Happy for him to prove me wrong though, he has been extremely good when played as an undersized CHB.

 

[Demonheart]

I doubt it. He had a shoulder op a couple of months ago and can't start full training until March. He'll be there come Round 1 for Sandy but I can't see him getting any senior games until 2006.

Is that on the same shoulder that was operated on last year? Two shoulder ops in two years is not a good sign.

 

[Marns]

I like Phil Read, keep him in. He's pretty aggressive which is what we need.

 

[Demonheart]

I doubt it. He had a shoulder op a couple of months ago and can't start full training until March. He'll be there come Round 1 for Sandy but I can't see him getting any senior games until 2006.

http://www.demonland.com/Training/target17.html

Check this link, it was taken yesterday morning.
Do you think he'd be able to do this if he'd just had a shoulder op recently?

 

[StingaArmstrong]

http://www.demonland.com/Training/target17.html

Check this link, it was taken yesterday morning.
Do you think he'd be able to do this if he'd just had a shoulder op recently?

Looks pretty fit and strong to me

 

[dees_best]

The likely Melbourne side for Round 1:

B: Whelan, Nicholson, Brown
HB: Bizzell, Rivers, Wheatley
C: McLean, Moloney, Green
HF: Yze, Miller, Robertson
F: Holland, Neitz, Davey
R: White, Johnstone, Bruce
I: Bell, McDonald, Read, Jamar

The side I'd want playing for Round 1:

B:Whelan, Ferguson, Brown
HB: Bizzell, Rivers, Wheatley
C: McLean, Moloney, Green
HF: Yze, Miller, Robertson
F: Smith, Neitz, Davey
R: White, Johnstone, Bruce
I: Bell, McDonald, Read, Jamar

*Keep in mind that I'd have Sylvia in my best 22

As you can see there is not much difference between Melbourne's likely 22 and my preferred 22.

The only differences are Nicholson and Holland being replaced by the younger,more promising and talented Ferguson and Smith who should be ready to put their hand up for senior selection in 2005.

I would also like to see Chris Johnson given a few opportunities as the season progresses. He could be the missing link in our forward line now that Vardy is gone (although they are both completely different types of players).

Come finals time if we're there of course, I would love to see us start a final with Sylvia and Moloney in the centre square.

 

[Marns]

Yeah dees_best, I dont think I could argue with either of your teams. I really hope you're right with Holland and Nicho being ousted for Fergo and Smith. It'd be a perfect way to really give these guys a good opportunity in the big time. Both have played plenty of footy for Sandy - in a premiership side. Having said that, it would be a mighty task for Fergo to hold up FB all year. He could be our new Rivers, and they could be the leagues new Scarlett and Harley. As for Smith, he'd be perfect in there as another tall, learning off Neita.

Btw, Sylvia Saint, do you know who Sylvia Saint actually is?

 

[The Shev]

If Bizzell has a first half of the season like his last half of this year he may be struggling to make the 22 let alone 18. I predect that within 2 years he will be out of our best side, which is why I only wanted him signed for 2 years. Happy for him to prove me wrong though, he has been extremely good when played as an undersized CHB.

If he plays like he did in the first half of 2004, 2003 and 2002 then he deserves a spot. How quickly we forget.

 

[Marns]

Very true Shev

 

[The Shev]

Whelan - Nicholson - Bizzell
Brown - Rivers - Wheatley
Moloney - Bruce - Green
Yze - Miller - Robertson
Davey - Neitz - Johnson
White - Johnstone - McDonald

INT: Broadbridge + 3 midfielders (Heffernan, Read, Sylvia, Bell or McLean)

- Backline to remain unchanged unless Ferguson can show enough form to replace Nicholson. Wheatley, Brown and Whelan really cemented their spots in 2004 with good performances.

- Moloney to slot in on the wing, with Green occupying the other side. Bruce to continue on the ball, McDonald the clearance king and hopefully a fit Johnstone to start in the middle.

- Yze is versatile and given the many midfield options, we can afford to have him up forward where he is very, very, dangerous. Can swap with Davey at times so that he is closer to goal and so that Davey can deliver some midfield pressure. Miller, Robertson and Neitz in their usual roles. From some reports, it seems Paul Johnson is looking good for a run up forward to replace Holland.

- Jeff White in the ruck with the back-up ruckman being the third tall from up forward (Johnson, Jamar, Smith, Holland).

- Broadbridge deserves a spot after his efforts, he is versatile as he can play tall or small. The rest of the bench will be determined by whoever is showing the best form at the time. I'd like to include the youngsters but they do have to earn a spot first.

 

[Deestroy]

If he plays like he did in the first half of 2004, 2003 and 2002 then he deserves a spot. How quickly we forget.

And if Lockett played like he did before his first retirement he'd still be playing now.

His form is a big worry as
a) he is getting older
b) he doesn't have the option of playing on a much taller player who he could run off, he may be too slow for a mid sized player
c) his focus has to be changing from the fact he missed pre-season training sessions to take acting lessons
d) some players are never the same after serious facial injuries, and he has so far not been anywhere near the same player.

How quickly we forget? No, I haven't forgotten. Bizzell has been one of our best players over the last few years but he may not return to that yet.

Just as you can predict he will return to his previous form, I can predict he won't.

FWIW I hope you are right.

 

[al_redleg]

I doubt it. He had a shoulder op a couple of months ago and can't start full training until March. He'll be there come Round 1 for Sandy but I can't see him getting any senior games until 2006.

C. J. Will be a gun ! I hope he gets a start in 2005

 

[al_redleg]

I think you guys are forgetting one of our prized recruits from Perth ? perhaps this is due to not seeing him that much for the most of us vic's

Paul Johnson will probably get quite a few games.

 

[Deestroy]

I think you guys are forgetting one of our prized recruits from Perth ? perhaps this is due to not seeing him that much for the most of us vic's

Paul Johnson will probably get quite a few games.

I don't know about 'prized recruit'.

We took a punk on Paul Johnson because of his size and because he was an impressive junior. He never really achieved much at West Coast except in that Wizard Cup game against us.

If he was able to bump Holland out of the forward pocket during the season at some stage it would be great (hey anything to get rid of Holland!) but I can't see it as being that likely.

Hopefully he at least gets a shot in the Wizard Cup.

 

[al_redleg]

Possible Line up...

Whelan Ferguson Bizz
Wheatey Rivers Brown
T.J YZE Green
Robbo Miller Bruce
Read Neitz Davey
White Moloney McDonald
------------------------------
Nico Jamar Bell Heffernan

************************
McLean Rigoni Smith

Appologies to others

 

[Rednecknow]

I don't know about 'prized recruit'.

We took a punk on Paul Johnson because of his size and because he was an impressive junior. He never really achieved much at West Coast except in that Wizard Cup game against us.

He was actually an impressive Junior because of his size, once they caught up to him things leveled out a lot as it always does. Hey the boy can play but there were no big wraps from the west.

 

[finders]

Well seeing as we won't be participating in the preseason draft, i thought i'd try and put together something like what our strongest line ups will look like for next year.

Seniors:

FB: Whelan, Nicholson, Bizzell
HB: Wheatley, Rivers, Brown
C: Johnstone, Yze, Green
HF: Robertson, Miller, Bruce
FF: Smith, Neitz, Davey
FOLL: White, Moloney, McDonald
INT: Ferguson, Sylvia, McLean, Bell

Reserves:

FB: Hunter, Carroll, Broadbridge
HB: Ward, Dunn, Williams
C: Heffernan, Godfrey, Armstrong
HF: C. Johnson, Holland, Bate
FF: Newton, P. Johnson,
FOLL: Jamar, Rigoni, Read
INT: B. Vanschaik, M. Warnock

Smith, Sylvia, McLean, Bell force out Read, Holland, Heffernan and Godfrey as they should be ready for the big time and are our future and the others are essentially experienced back ups. Maybe one of them will come in for one of the young to offset the experience factor. But they should all play at least 15 games.
Ferguson is in there as a floater who can play where required. FB if Nicho struggles, up forward if needed and pinch hitting in the ruck with Miller and possibly Smith.

I'd like to hear your opinions as long as they are constructive.

There are NO Melbourne "reserves" the left overs play for Sandringham and half of them will be in the Zebras reserves.