Our Best 23 2026 Cannot change once selected

[THE_GUN]

I agree but I have a feeling Cumming is ready to go and will overtake them pretty quick

I love Cumming but round 1 2026
I think the team selection will be best team available to win and coaches will want to have the best start to the season as possible so a fit ready to go player like Prestia / Ross / Sonsie / Kane McAuliffe with ready bodies or any mature player with experience will be the way they go

But a long way to go still and injuries will play a part and Cumming may get his chance round 1 v Carlton which i do like

 

[_RT_]

Then put in the team that you would pick

I will after the Christmas break.

 

[tigs2010]

B: Vlastuin - Miller - Broad
HB: Banks - Balta - Brown
C: Trainor - Taranto - Hugo
HF: Campbell - Faull - Rioli Jnr
F: Mansell - Lynch - Hotton
1R: Nankervis - Lalor - Hopper

Int: Short - Gibcus - Prestia - Ross - Cumming

Cumming hasnt played a game

 

[sante]

Cumming hasnt played a game

By that logic Dusty wasn’t best 23 in 2010

 

[sante]

If you had to put another tall into that team (Ryan or Armstrong for example), who would you take out?

Cumming, which is what I probably should have done

 

[tigs2010]

By that logic Dusty wasn’t best 23 in 2010

 

[rfctigerarmy]

Cumming hasnt played a game

He cant change it now hes done it, but he regrets putting cummings in

 

[Timothy Luncheon]

Cumming, which is what I probably should have done

I'd still want to keep Cumming in. Was thinking someone else would need to go out if we wanted another tall. Not sure who though

 

[Wrenny]

I'd still want to keep Cumming in. Was thinking someone else would need to go out if we wanted another tall. Not sure who though

 

[Hydatina Physis]

B: Vlastuin - Miller - Broad
HB: Banks - Balta - Brown
C: Grlj - Taranto - Mansell
HF: Hotton - Faull - Rioli
FF: Lefau - Lynch - Campbell
Foll: Nankervis - Lalor - Hopper
I/C: Ross - Trainor - Armstrong - Prestia - Gibcus
Emerg: McAuliffe - Short - Ralphsmith - Trezise - Cumming​

 

[Hoos]

B: Vlastuin - Miller - Broad
HB: Banks - Balta - Brown
C: Grlj - Taranto - Mansell
HF: Hotton - Faull - Rioli
FF: Lefau - Lynch - Campbell
Foll: Nankervis - Lalor - Hopper
I/C: Ross - Trainor - Armstrong - Prestia - Gibcus
Emerg: McAuliffe - Short - Ralphsmith - Trezise - Cumming​

Not a bad side. Who's your second ruck?

 

[Hydatina Physis]

Not a bad side. Who's your second ruck?

Good question. Probably Sims in all reality, could swap him with Armstrong/Prestia each week give either one of them a rest. He will take a little bit to grow into the role though so in the meantime I picked Lefau.

Maybe have a zone ruck thing in place. Miller/Balta chops out down back where applicable, same with Lefau/Lynch up forward.

To me, ruck is the least important position and will be easy enough to pick up someone tall (and hopefully aggressive) at some point if we are desperate. But as I reckon you can cover a poor ruckman easier than any other position, I'm willing to take the ruck hit to keep spots open to develop more kids.

Forgot Sampson Ryan. Don't see him making it. Wish he would.

Not trying to disrespect Nank but I can't remember the last really good ruck we had. Ottens? Maybe Tuck but I remember him more for his follow up work and less his pure rucking (memory might be warped).

 

[Yze does it]

Not a bad side. Who's your second ruck?

Lefau did it in 2024. Fairly good job. Fawcett might get first crack at it. If Sims don't play

 

[Hoos]

Not trying to disrespect Nank but I can't remember the last really good ruck we had. Ottens? Maybe Tuck but I remember him more for his follow up work and less his pure rucking (memory might be warped).

Hmmm. Yes, I think it might be just a little warped. Tuck was a beast but he wasn't a ruckman.

Forgot Sampson Ryan. Don't see him making it. Wish he would.

Same. I hope I'm wrong but I can't see it. If he could hold on to a mark or two it would do wonders for his confidence.

 

[Hoos]

Lefau did it in 2024. Fairly good job. Fawcett might get first crack at it. If Sims don't play

Maybe they're waiting to see how Balta goes in defence first. If he spuds it up like he did last year maybe he will be the one to give Nank a hand.

 

[_RT_]

My best 23 is selected with development as the major focus rather than winning, although the aim is still trying to win if that makes sense.

B: Brown Miller Balta
HB: Vlastuin Gibcus Banks
C: Grlj Taranto Trainor
HF: Campbell Faull Hotton
F: Lynch Lalor Armstrong
R: Nankervis Hopper Cumming
INT: Ross Short Smillie Rioli Ryan

This line up gives us a good balance of experience and youth where the kids are given the chance to develop their games, without being thrown to the wolves and being asked to carry the load themselves.

A fairly settled back 7 group with Vlastuin Short Miller & Balta providing the experience and leadership, Banks continues in the rebounding role where he flourished last year, Gibcus gets the nod over Broad as the 3rd tall defender now that the injuries seem to be behind him. Brown is given the chance to develop as Vlastuins long term replacement.

In the midfield we have the leadership of Nankervis Taranto & Hopper to lead the way, while we inject a bit of speed into the mix with both Cumming & Grlj featuring as part of the starting mix, with the likes of Ross Lalor Hotton & Smillie rotating through. I've gone with Grlj & Trainor as the wings with Trainor to float back as the defensive wing to give the back line a chop out, while Grlj becomes an extra rebounding option as he also pushes back into D50 to provide an outlet when we switch the play.

Up forward I've gone with the 3 pronged tall forward set up which allows Lynch to play as the on field mentor, while also allowing both Faull & Armstrong plenty of opportunity to develop their games. Surrounding them I've gone with Campbell who will play the Lambert role, Hotton & Lalor(playing the Martin role up forward and in the midfield as needed), with Rioli coming off the bench to add a bit of X factor to the mix.

Ryan gets the nod as the 2nd ruck given the changes to the ruck rules and sub rule being abolished. This is pretty much a make or break year for Ryan as he needs to show he can become our next number 1 ruck.

I realize that this line up may not be a popular one but I do believe it will be quite similar to the line up that Yze will end up with by seasons end after he probably starts with a few more of the older guys in the line up to start the year.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

How can people not have Broad in their teams

 

[_RT_]

How can people not have Broad in their teams

IMO he starts in the 23 but as the year unfolds he is likely replaced by a younger player given he reportedly said it would be his final year.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

IMO he starts in the 23 but as the year unfolds he is likely replaced by a younger player given he reportedly said it would be his final year.

You don't have him in your best 23

 

[_RT_]

You don't have him in your best 23

To start the year I have him in the mix, but by the end of the year I don't.

 

[rfctigerarmy]

To start the year I have him in the mix, but by the end of the year I don't.

Whats the title of the thread

 

[_RT_]

Whats the title of the thread

Our best 23.

The issue is are you picking a best 23 just for this year or picking a best 23 for the long term future as we look to build a side that can win our next premiership.

My focus is on building a 23 that can win our next premiership, which I also believe is what the clubs view is given the comments by Hartley about that being the focus of the list management team.

So when I pick what I believe is our best 23 I look at it from that angle and I have guys that have previously been automatic picks missing out.

It's a tough call but one I feel that Yze needs to make to help fast track the next generation. When I look at the group of players aged 27 I feel we should only be playing 6 of the 9 on a regular basis and my 6 are Lynch Vlastuin Nankervis Short Hopper & Taranto given the roles they play and how they provide leadership & experience.

 

[Yze does it]

To start the year I have him in the mix, but by the end of the year I don't.

It took injury for Grimes to get replaced with Brown.
but 3 flags Broad plays every game. Dion "playing coach " Prestia being injury prone gives a chance for the kids.

Lynch misses games & now, easy set shot goals which made the fwd line very young. Campbell our leading goal kicker.

 

[_RT_]

It took injury for Grimes to get replaced with Brown.
but 3 flags Broad plays every game. Dion "playing coach " Prestia being injury prone gives a chance for the kids.

Lynch misses games & now, easy set shot goals which made the fwd line very young. Campbell our leading goal kicker.

If you get stuck in the past you die in the present is Yzes mantra. Hopefully he sticks to that this year and we see players who are in their final year not being picked for 23 games when younger options are available to be picked ahead of them. If we had a proven young core of KPF I'd say the same thing about Lynch, but we don't so having him playing alongside the likes of Faull & Armstrong will be invaluable to their development as they will not be forced to deal with the number 1 defender like they are when he is missing. With the likes of Broad and Prestia, we have experienced younger options that we can pick instead of them to provide the leadership and experience in the middle and down back.

 

[tiger_tough]

Bloody hard to pick a best 23 now.

This would be my ideal r1 side, but I expect Ralphsmith and probably Prestia play, maybe Ross also.

fb- Broad, Miller, Brown
hb- Vlastuin, Balta, Banks
c- Grlj, Hopper, Trainor
hf- Lalor, Faull, Campbell
ff- Mansell, Lynch, Armstrong
c- Nank, Taranto, McAuliffe

i/c- Gibcus, Short, MRJ, Cumming, Hotton
emg (from) - Ralphsmith, Alger, Sonsie, Ross, Prestia, Smillie, Gray, Retschko

Update after pre-season reports so far.

fb- Broad, Miller, Brown
hb- Vlastuin, Gibcus, Banks
c- Ross, Hopper, Campbell
hf- Hotton, Armstrong, Alger
ff- Mansell, Lynch, MRJ
c- Nank, Taranto, Lalor

i/c- Gray, Balta, Grlj, Short, Cumming
emg (from) - Trainor, McAuliffe, Ralphsmith, Sonsie, Prestia, Smillie, Retschko, Faull