Analysis Our Best 22 ?

[RobsJourney]

Hey guys,

Was thinking about this today and, though we still have work to do in areas, I wondered what people see as our best 22 for the rest of the year? It's looking good but there are tough decisions to make given certain players need to miss out.

Personally I feel we could still use another midfielder on top of Prestia and, I wonder, can we fit Miles in somehow? Absolutely killing it at VFL and no doubt has worked on his running, I'm sure he is moving well enough to play, no worse than, say, Ben Cunnington moves. I still think his inside work would make the other runners just that little bit more damaging than they already are. We could win a few more free kick counts for a change too, given Miles can draw a high free as good as Joel Selwood


OPTION 1

Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
Short, Rance, Houli
Grigg, Cotchin, McIntosh
Caddy, Moore, Castagna
Rioli, Riewoldt, Butler
Nankervis, Martin, Prestia
Lambert, Edwards, Graham, Broad



OPTION 2

Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
Short, Rance, Houli
Grigg, Cotchin, McIntosh
Caddy, Moore, Lambert
Rioli, Riewoldt, Butler
Nankervis, Martin, Prestia
Edwards, Graham, Broad, Miles



OPTION 3

Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
Short, Rance, Houli
Grigg, Cotchin, McIntosh
Caddy, Townsend, Castagna
Rioli, Riewoldt, Butler
Nankervis, Martin, Prestia
Lambert, Edwards, Graham, Broad


I could do a few more options but yeah, it's quite tough to absolutely nail it down due to the following questions:

- Does Moore stay in?
- If so, does Townsend stay out?
- Do we play all 3 of Rioli, Butler and Castagna? Or, just 2 and let the third be a rotation of Edwards/Lambert/Townsend (if Townesend is in), allowing us to play another midfielder in Miles.
- If 2, who partners Rioli? Butler or Castagna?
- Does B. Ellis get back in, OR, do we stick with Broad for the extra height and toughness, given Short and Houli offer us as much run and better skills.



I would love to see the following team play and see how it goes:

Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
Short, Rance, Houli
Grigg, Cotchin, McIntosh
Caddy, Moore, Edwards
Rioli, Riewoldt, Castagna
Nankervis, Martin, Prestia
Lambert, Graham, Broad, Miles

At the end of the day I reckon we should stick with the 3 smalls and the ideal combo is very likely still Rioli/Butler/Castagna. But I would dearly love to see Miles get another go soon, hopefully vs. Port Adelaide in place of maybe Higgins or Menadue. And I miss Townsend but I dunno how to fit him in if Moore plays, nor who I ultimately prefer. The extra height is nice.


Be cool to hear opinions, cheers!

 

[Rubber Hips]

I was thinking this today watching the VFL game

At this point in time, I know our best 22 ain't the 2017 premiership squad...and that was only 8 months ago lol.
Not because we have lots of players out of form...more that we have an embarrassment of riches with younger players developing consistency and pushing for selection (and some injuries)

Our best 22 is fluid...hard to pick at the moment...and there might be a few surprises come finals time

 

[Concatenate]

Think Moore will stay in for Townsend as long as he performs , those 2 are in direct competition I reckon . Ellis Houli and short for 2 spots. With short settled in team not so sure Bachar is 100% in team if Ellis can perform as he has more to offer rotating on the wing

Think graham or Conca fight out a spot once Prestia is back . Grigg versatility / smarts keeps him in this year over another runner or inside mid like Menadue as a runner or cellis as a inside mid.

As improved as Higgins is getting each game , think we roll with George butler and rioli

 

[Gosha]

I think people need to forget about Miles unfortunately. If he’s not getting a game when Prestia is out and he’s having 40 touches and kicking three goals in the VFL, he’s never getting a game.

 

[tony__montana]

Its still a work in progress where some guys like short, conca, menadue, moore, Higgins, Bolton, Lloyd are/have being given an opportunity. Others like BEllis, Macca, Townsend are been asked questions. Then you have the next tier desperate for a chance - Miles, CEllis, Markov, Soldo, Garthwaite. We'll have a good idea in about 8 weeks I reckon

 

[Squibbs]

I wasn't sure about Jayden Short at the start of the year but I ****ing love him now. He's quickly becoming a gun across half back

 

[TigerImposter]

I’m glad I’m not on the selection committee bc it’s a tough job atm and having to tell players they’re omitted for a Prestia , Houli , Castagna or Rioli is going to be tough.
The reality is I think Conca will be in trouble for Dion, Menadue for Houli and Higgins for Rioli . The Castagna one is too difficult for me to make a call on.
There’s a small forward in the vfl in Stengle who deserves a spot as he’s way too good for VFL . It’s great he’s getting some midfield time as well bc I reckon he could be successful at it. It’s also building up his tank.

 

[tigs2010]

I wasn't sure about Jayden Short at the start of the year but I ******* love him now. He's quickly becoming a gun across half back

Rich mans Rory laird

 

[peterbuch74]

We don't have a best 22, we have a best 28! Glad I'm not a selector...

 

[bananatigz]

B: Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
HB: Short, Rance, Houli
C: Edwards, Cotchin, Grigg
HF: Rioli, Caddy, Lambert
F: Castagna, Reiwoldt, Butler
R: Nankervis, Martin, Prestia

I would have that 18 locked in at this stage, the interchange bench is where it gets really hard

I: McIntosh, Broad, Moore, Graham, Conca, Miles, Menadue, B.Ellis, Lloyd, Townsend, Stengle, Bolton, Higgins, C.Ellis, Markov

Genuinely tough to pick 4 guys out of that, very even group and a lot of them banging the door down in the VFL, as well as performing pretty well at AFL level. If we had a mid-season trade period tomorrow I reckon just about all those guys would get offers of game time at other clubs. I suppose it's a very good problem to have and one we haven't had to worry about in year's gone past when we couldn't even find 22 guys worthy of a game.

 

[RobsJourney]

B: Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
HB: Short, Rance, Houli
C: Edwards, Cotchin, Grigg
HF: Rioli, Caddy, Lambert
F: Castagna, Reiwoldt, Butler
R: Nankervis, Martin, Prestia

I would have that 18 locked in at this stage, the interchange bench is where it gets really hard

I: McIntosh, Broad, Moore, Graham, Conca, Miles, Menadue, B.Ellis, Lloyd, Townsend, Stengle, Bolton, Higgins, C.Ellis, Markov

Genuinely tough to pick 4 guys out of that, very even group and a lot of them banging the door down in the VFL, as well as performing pretty well at AFL level. If we had a mid-season trade period tomorrow I reckon just about all those guys would get offers of game time at other clubs. I suppose it's a very good problem to have and one we haven't had to worry about in year's gone past when we couldn't even find 22 guys worthy of a game.

Graham is an absolute lock for mine, as is McIntosh.

Cannot imagine not having either of them in the side nowadays.

Also I completely forgot Conca when I started the thread!! He wasn't in any of my options.

Right now I'd have him as a tentative IN, but if it were he or Graham, Graham for me, as long as Prestia is playing.

 

[Crumpet_avenger]

I remember doing these teams when we were shit. I could lock the top 18 in straight away.
Now i could lock 14 or 15.
We have so much depth now that i dont think we have a best 22 every week. I think it will change over the course of the season depending on our oposition and conditions..

Its kind of a good thing however going back when i was a kid I could tell you the 1st 11 picked for australian cricket. Then we became so good we started this resting policy crap and i lost interest in cricket. Id never miss a ball of test or 1 day cricket. Now il have it on in the background and look up if a wicket goes.

sometimes being so good can prove to be your downfall with constant uninforced changes

 

[RobsJourney]

I remember doing these teams when we were shit. I could lock the top 18 in straight away.
Now i could lock 14 or 15.
We have so much depth now that i dont think we have a best 22 every week. I think it will change over the course of the season depending on our oposition and conditions..

Its kind of a good thing however going back when i was a kid I could tell you the 1st 11 picked for australian cricket. Then we became so good we started this resting policy crap and i lost interest in cricket. Id never miss a ball of test or 1 day cricket. Now il have it on in the background and look up if a wicket goes.

sometimes being so good can prove to be your downfall with constant uninforced changes

Probably doesn't help that 4 out of 5 test pitches are tailored for batsman, super boring.

You get 4 runways then you get some minefield.

I'd lost interest around when Ponting was about to retire, but yeah, the team has absolutely no character now and not a whole lot of skill either. Plus we're apparently now full of c***heads and cheaters...

Then there's 20/20 cricket which is perhaps the catalyst for boring tests. It is okay in doses, but it completely kills what makes a 4 and a 6 so exciting - the contest that led to it.

This is my big worry with AFL and them talking about congestion and the possible need for zones. Can you imagine watching free-flowing footy for 4 quarters? It would be AFL-X for 120 minutes, nine games per round...Horrible.
Free-flowing play is exciting when it breaks away from a hotly contested game, just like one big six out of nowhere in a test match is better than 20 sixes out of 120 balls.

I'll agree that footy is perhaps a little too congested at the moment, just a little, but crowds are higher than ever so?

Anyway, went off on a tangent there sorry!

 

[bananatigz]

Graham is an absolute lock for mine, as is McIntosh.

Cannot imagine not having either of them in the side nowadays.

Also I completely forgot Conca when I started the thread!! He wasn't in any of my options.

Right now I'd have him as a tentative IN, but if it were he or Graham, Graham for me, as long as Prestia is playing.

I’d have McIntosh and Graham in my best 22 as well, but not sure either deserve absolute lock status just yet. I even hesistated putting Castagna and Butler in my ‘locks’ category, we have such great depth with small forwards.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

B: Grimes, Astbury, Vlastuin
HB: Short, Rance, Houli
C: Edwards, Cotchin, Grigg
HF: Rioli, Caddy, Lambert
F: Castagna, Reiwoldt, Butler
R: Nankervis, Martin, Prestia

I would have that 18 locked in at this stage, the interchange bench is where it gets really hard

I: McIntosh, Broad, Moore, Graham, Conca, Miles, Menadue, B.Ellis, Lloyd, Townsend, Stengle, Bolton, Higgins, C.Ellis, Markov

Genuinely tough to pick 4 guys out of that, very even group and a lot of them banging the door down in the VFL, as well as performing pretty well at AFL level. If we had a mid-season trade period tomorrow I reckon just about all those guys would get offers of game time at other clubs. I suppose it's a very good problem to have and one we haven't had to worry about in year's gone past when we couldn't even find 22 guys worthy of a game.

This is pretty much spot on IMO.

Except, when you think about a lock for the bench, it's really out of;

McIntosh, Broad (would say these two are most likely locks for the bench)
Leaves 2 additional spots out of: Graham, B. Ellis, Conca, Lloyd, Townsend and Moore
...and then: The rest aren't in the best 22 at this stage.

I think the starting 20 is a lock. We just have 2 spots up for grabs, really.

 

[Crumpet_avenger]

This is pretty much spot on IMO.

Except, when you think about a lock for the bench, it's really out of;

McIntosh, Broad (would say these two are most likely locks for the bench)
Leaves 2 additional spots out of: Graham, B. Ellis, Conca, Lloyd, Townsend and Moore
...and then: The rest aren't in the best 22 at this stage.

I think the starting 20 is a lock. We just have 2 spots up for grabs, really.

You cant have prestia as a lock. Hes never fit. When hes fit hes playing sore or hasnt had a preseason and is playing catch up.
Hes going to be a 10 - 15 game player and trying to get him ready for finals.

 

[Crumpet_avenger]

I’d have McIntosh and Graham in my best 22 as well, but not sure either deserve absolute lock status just yet. I even hesistated putting Castagna and Butler in my ‘locks’ category, we have such great depth with small forwards.

Some peoples locks are funny. When they put a lock on the front door of their house im sure they would be more cautious before they chose

 

[_RT_]

If we're talking everyone fit and available for selection I'd go.

B: Grimes Astbury Short
HB: Houli Rance Vlastuin
C: Lambert Cotchin Edwards
HF: Caddy Riewoldt Butler
F: Castagna Moore Rioli
R: Nankervis Martin Prestia
INT: Grigg Broad B.Ellis McIntosh
EMG: Menadue Conca Soldo Miles

Backs:
Pretty much pick themselves. Astbury the KPD stopper, Rance the attacking rebounder who can match it with any KPF in the league, even when diving. Grimes has flexibility to play on medium or small forwards, same with Vlastuin. Houli and Short provide the rebound run and carry. 5 of them have been cornerstones of the best back line in the AFL for the last 18 months. Short adds another dynamic to the mix with his run and carry making him a 75m player.

Midfield:
Again pretty much pick themselves. The key here is flexibility every player in the midfield can play a variety of roles. All of them can either win their own footy or can link up on the outside. Martin Cotchin & Edwards can also push forward if needed, McIntosh off the bench also has the ability to go back if things aren't working well down there. Nankervis is clearly first ruck. Personally I'd like to see Moore pinch hit for 5 minutes while Nank takes a break to at least give us a contest. It would also enable us to keep the same structure up forward.

Forwards:
Once again pretty much pick themselves. Slight change from last years set up with Moore replacing Townsend as the second tall. IMO it gives us a much better structure as we can use Jack up the ground to link up and keep Moore closer to goal as the get out option who at worse provides a contest to bring the ball to ground which then allows the likes of Butler George and Rioli to go to work putting pressure on. Caddy as a mid sized marking option is too strong for most medium sized defenders and is a perfect swap with Cotchin and Martin when they want to rest forward.

Interchange:
Grigg needs to play as the hard running midfielder instead of the relief ruckman. Opposition sides are picking up that he doesn't compete in the middle and are starting to get easy clearances when Grigg is pinch hitting. As I said with Moore in the side he needs to pinch hit when Nank needs a break. Broad is part of the defensive rotations who can play tall or small. Brandon looks to have rediscovered his early 2017 form since being sent back to the VFL. Running a lot harder as a rebounder and starting to put himself in the hole to take marks. Can also push up to a wing if required. McIntosh gives flexibility in that he can play on the wing or slot down back if needed to change things up.

Emergencies:
Menadue is the defensive cover, Conca & Miles the midfield cover, Soldo covers the ruck/tall forward(12 months time it could be Chol)

 

[Acinath]

If we're talking everyone fit and available for selection I'd go.

B: Grimes Astbury Short
HB: Houli Rance Vlastuin
C: Lambert Cotchin Edwards
HF: Caddy Riewoldt Butler
F: Castagna Moore Rioli
R: Nankervis Martin Prestia
INT: Grigg Broad B.Ellis McIntosh
EMG: Menadue Conca Soldo Miles

Backs:
Pretty much pick themselves. Astbury the KPD stopper, Rance the attacking rebounder who can match it with any KPF in the league, even when diving. Grimes has flexibility to play on medium or small forwards, same with Vlastuin. Houli and Short provide the rebound run and carry. 5 of them have been cornerstones of the best back line in the AFL for the last 18 months. Short adds another dynamic to the mix with his run and carry making him a 75m player.

Midfield:
Again pretty much pick themselves. The key here is flexibility every player in the midfield can play a variety of roles. All of them can either win their own footy or can link up on the outside. Martin Cotchin & Edwards can also push forward if needed, McIntosh off the bench also has the ability to go back if things aren't working well down there. Nankervis is clearly first ruck. Personally I'd like to see Moore pinch hit for 5 minutes while Nank takes a break to at least give us a contest. It would also enable us to keep the same structure up forward.

Forwards:
Once again pretty much pick themselves. Slight change from last years set up with Moore replacing Townsend as the second tall. IMO it gives us a much better structure as we can use Jack up the ground to link up and keep Moore closer to goal as the get out option who at worse provides a contest to bring the ball to ground which then allows the likes of Butler George and Rioli to go to work putting pressure on. Caddy as a mid sized marking option is too strong for most medium sized defenders and is a perfect swap with Cotchin and Martin when they want to rest forward.

Interchange:
Grigg needs to play as the hard running midfielder instead of the relief ruckman. Opposition sides are picking up that he doesn't compete in the middle and are starting to get easy clearances when Grigg is pinch hitting. As I said with Moore in the side he needs to pinch hit when Nank needs a break. Broad is part of the defensive rotations who can play tall or small. Brandon looks to have rediscovered his early 2017 form since being sent back to the VFL. Running a lot harder as a rebounder and starting to put himself in the hole to take marks. Can also push up to a wing if required. McIntosh gives flexibility in that he can play on the wing or slot down back if needed to change things up.

Emergencies:
Menadue is the defensive cover, Conca & Miles the midfield cover, Soldo covers the ruck/tall forward(12 months time it could be Chol)

This is pretty damn close in my book. I’d probably swap Conca and BEllis for mine, but that’s about it.

 

["The Roar Is Back"]

If we're talking everyone fit and available for selection I'd go.

B: Grimes Astbury Short
HB: Houli Rance Vlastuin
C: Lambert Cotchin Edwards
HF: Caddy Riewoldt Butler
F: Castagna Moore Rioli
R: Nankervis Martin Prestia
INT: Grigg Broad B.Ellis McIntosh
EMG: Menadue Conca Soldo Miles

Backs:
Pretty much pick themselves. Astbury the KPD stopper, Rance the attacking rebounder who can match it with any KPF in the league, even when diving. Grimes has flexibility to play on medium or small forwards, same with Vlastuin. Houli and Short provide the rebound run and carry. 5 of them have been cornerstones of the best back line in the AFL for the last 18 months. Short adds another dynamic to the mix with his run and carry making him a 75m player.

Midfield:
Again pretty much pick themselves. The key here is flexibility every player in the midfield can play a variety of roles. All of them can either win their own footy or can link up on the outside. Martin Cotchin & Edwards can also push forward if needed, McIntosh off the bench also has the ability to go back if things aren't working well down there. Nankervis is clearly first ruck. Personally I'd like to see Moore pinch hit for 5 minutes while Nank takes a break to at least give us a contest. It would also enable us to keep the same structure up forward.

Forwards:
Once again pretty much pick themselves. Slight change from last years set up with Moore replacing Townsend as the second tall. IMO it gives us a much better structure as we can use Jack up the ground to link up and keep Moore closer to goal as the get out option who at worse provides a contest to bring the ball to ground which then allows the likes of Butler George and Rioli to go to work putting pressure on. Caddy as a mid sized marking option is too strong for most medium sized defenders and is a perfect swap with Cotchin and Martin when they want to rest forward.

Interchange:
Grigg needs to play as the hard running midfielder instead of the relief ruckman. Opposition sides are picking up that he doesn't compete in the middle and are starting to get easy clearances when Grigg is pinch hitting. As I said with Moore in the side he needs to pinch hit when Nank needs a break. Broad is part of the defensive rotations who can play tall or small. Brandon looks to have rediscovered his early 2017 form since being sent back to the VFL. Running a lot harder as a rebounder and starting to put himself in the hole to take marks. Can also push up to a wing if required. McIntosh gives flexibility in that he can play on the wing or slot down back if needed to change things up.

Emergencies:
Menadue is the defensive cover, Conca & Miles the midfield cover, Soldo covers the ruck/tall forward(12 months time it could be Chol)

Reasonable side, although I don't think Castagna is a cert.

 

[mopsy]

I think people need to forget about Miles unfortunately. If he’s not getting a game when Prestia is out and he’s having 40 touches and kicking three goals in the VFL, he’s never getting a game.

Yep gotta agree hes better than a fair few getting a go but hes been on the outer for two yrs now and hes done little wrong in that time.
Imo as a club we have crucified this bloke.

 

[juss]

Juss' best 22

B: Grimes Rance Vlastuin
HB: Houli Astbury Short
C: B Ellis Cotchin Edwards
HF: Martin Caddy Rioli
F: Castagna Riewoldt Butler
R: Nankervis Prestia Lambert
INT: Macintosh Grigg Graham Broad

EMG: Townsend Conca Lloyd

 

[sydney_gws]

W

I think people need to forget about Miles unfortunately. If he’s not getting a game when Prestia is out and he’s having 40 touches and kicking three goals in the VFL, he’s never getting a game.

You could trade him back to gws if Kelly leaves at the end of this year to north, which their board thinks is happening

 

[Gosha]

W

You could trade him back to gws if Kelly leaves at the end of this year to north, which their board thinks is happening

Kelly is a lock to sign on at GWS for seven years then

 

[TigerImposter]

If we're talking everyone fit and available for selection I'd go.

B: Grimes Astbury Short
HB: Houli Rance Vlastuin
C: Lambert Cotchin Edwards
HF: Caddy Riewoldt Butler
F: Castagna Moore Rioli
R: Nankervis Martin Prestia
INT: Grigg Broad B.Ellis McIntosh
EMG: Menadue Conca Soldo Miles

Backs:
Pretty much pick themselves. Astbury the KPD stopper, Rance the attacking rebounder who can match it with any KPF in the league, even when diving. Grimes has flexibility to play on medium or small forwards, same with Vlastuin. Houli and Short provide the rebound run and carry. 5 of them have been cornerstones of the best back line in the AFL for the last 18 months. Short adds another dynamic to the mix with his run and carry making him a 75m player.

Midfield:
Again pretty much pick themselves. The key here is flexibility every player in the midfield can play a variety of roles. All of them can either win their own footy or can link up on the outside. Martin Cotchin & Edwards can also push forward if needed, McIntosh off the bench also has the ability to go back if things aren't working well down there. Nankervis is clearly first ruck. Personally I'd like to see Moore pinch hit for 5 minutes while Nank takes a break to at least give us a contest. It would also enable us to keep the same structure up forward.

Forwards:
Once again pretty much pick themselves. Slight change from last years set up with Moore replacing Townsend as the second tall. IMO it gives us a much better structure as we can use Jack up the ground to link up and keep Moore closer to goal as the get out option who at worse provides a contest to bring the ball to ground which then allows the likes of Butler George and Rioli to go to work putting pressure on. Caddy as a mid sized marking option is too strong for most medium sized defenders and is a perfect swap with Cotchin and Martin when they want to rest forward.

Interchange:
Grigg needs to play as the hard running midfielder instead of the relief ruckman. Opposition sides are picking up that he doesn't compete in the middle and are starting to get easy clearances when Grigg is pinch hitting. As I said with Moore in the side he needs to pinch hit when Nank needs a break. Broad is part of the defensive rotations who can play tall or small. Brandon looks to have rediscovered his early 2017 form since being sent back to the VFL. Running a lot harder as a rebounder and starting to put himself in the hole to take marks. Can also push up to a wing if required. McIntosh gives flexibility in that he can play on the wing or slot down back if needed to change things up.

Emergencies:
Menadue is the defensive cover, Conca & Miles the midfield cover, Soldo covers the ruck/tall forward(12 months time it could be Chol)

I’m surprised you didn’t include the best emergency in the history of the game RT . You must be slipping.