Preview R1: Changes for 2025

[Jeffcrowe]

I’ll never understand the reticence to debut a player as sub. Firstly, if that’s the only spot available that weekend he’d chew your arm off to get it. Secondly, it allows them to ease into the game through the warmup knowing they’ve got a bit of time before they’re out there. Then there’s the benefit of being that bit more fresh than 44 others.

Ever since Mackay boohood saying ‘sub is hard’, numerous posters here have thought it some kind of insurmountable challenge. It was just a whinge because he felt it beneath his station and he couldn’t rack up a dozen touches in a quarter and a half like the Lyons’ of the world.

FWIW I think it could be a good move re Draper for round 1 but only if we actually activate him for 40 mins rather than wait too long

 

[1970crow]

You had me in the first half.

Yeh, I thought I’d lose a few digging up Dmac. But I genuinely can’t understand posters thinking it’s better to play in the 2s than be the sub. And Dmac was the only player that I can recall complaining that it was performance limiting. From memory he complained that it was mentally draining.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Yeh, I thought I’d lose a few digging up Dmac. But I genuinely can’t understand posters thinking it’s better to play in the 2s than be the sub. And Dmac was the only player that I can recall complaining that it was performance limiting. From memory he complained that it was mentally draining.

Depends how you use the sub

Remember when nicks recalled Curtin and gave him anout 4 mins as sub ?

 

[Jcpdragonx]

I’d now go with…

B: Hinge - Murray - Michalanney
HB: Worrell - Keane - Nankervis
C: Cumming - Peatling - Soligo
HF: Neal-Bullen - Fogarty - Keays
F: Rachele - Thilthorpe - Walker
R: O’Brien - Dawson - Rankine

Int: Draper - Curtin - Taylor - Crouch
Sub: Dowling

Emg: Sholl, Ryan, Berry


Notes:
Laird is this year’s Brodie Smith. How anyone thinks he should be out there in Rd 1 is beyond me. A selfish mess of a player. If he was forbidden from screaming for the ball when in a blatantly worse position than the player with the ball and also forbidden from kicking the ball under any circumstances, maybe I could stomach him being out there. Otherwise, nope.

Nankervis and Draper MUST be rewarded for their performances against Brisbane.

Milera needs to regain confidence and form in the SANFL before being considered.

I understand the desire to have a “stopper” in the side, but Bond is just not for me.

I’m fully aware that Taylor won’t be selected, but having someone like Laird, Milera or even Sholl ahead of him is nonsense to me. He’s too good to not be playing and already proved this in the back end of 2024.

Pedlar is another who I just can’t see a spot for and his skill level is somehow getting worse.

Oscar Ryan should be a lot closer to playing than he is in reality due to us needing another speedy ground level player in defence.

I’d keep Crouch in for now.

Dowling to me is an ideal sub due to his versatility.

Agree will all this except Bond, did good jobs on small forwards late last year.

 

[1970crow]

Murphy is in the small forwards ball hunter players and way down pecking order

Dowling is with outside mids and endurance type high forwards and is similarly down pecking order in that bunch

Pedlar Taylor etc in the group with Murphy

Just because Dowling is a bit taller, doesn’t mean he’s not a better ball hunter than Murphy. That’s an absurd view. If you want to win the ball, you select the player best equipped to do it. And that player is not Murphy.

 

[Cromulant]

Just because Dowling is a bit taller, doesn’t mean he’s not a better ball hunter than Murphy. That’s an absurd view. If you want to win the ball, you select the player best equipped to do it. And that player is not Murphy.

It's not Dowling at this point either.

Dowling played his footy on the wing and through half back last year and during pre season..... when did Murphy do that ??

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Just because Dowling is a bit taller, doesn’t mean he’s not a better ball hunter than Murphy. That’s an absurd view. If you want to win the ball, you select the player best equipped to do it. And that player is not Murphy.

If you want to believe that they are competing for same role that’s fine , we can disagree

I don’t believe they are , be like saying Chayce and Murphy are competing for same roles which I don’t believe they are either

Wings and outside depth chart
Cumming Sholl Chayce Dowling

Small forward / relief mid depth chart
Incumbents ( Rachele ANB keays Peatling Soligo etc ) + Pedlar Murphy Taylor Berry

Dowling hasn’t trained with that second batch all summer or played that role in match sim

Remember your point re how coaches earmark these things well back during pre season and it takes a fair bit to change their minds or be flexible to their initial thoughts

 

[WetCrow1991]

*NICKS

Nah it is Nick's, just like how it is Keay's, Butt's, Daw'son, and Nankervi's.



Now we can all head to Cole's and Woolworth's.

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

So looking at our R1 side in 2024 which lost to GC by a goal vs the likely R1 side in 2025, there will probably be 10 changes. And it’s hard to argue that all of them aren’t upgrades.

2024 R1 Side
FF: Gollant Fogarty Burgess
HF: Rachele Rankine Keays
C: Sholl Dawson Jones
HB: Milera Borlase Michalanney
FB: Smith Butts Worrell
R: O’Brien Laird Berry
I: Pedlar Crouch Murphy Hinge
S: Soligo

2025 R1 Side
FF: Walker Fogarty Thilthorpe
HF: Rachele Rankine Keays
C: Sholl Dawson Cumming
HB: Nank Murray Michalanney
FB: Laird Keane Worrell
R: O’Brien Crouch Soligo
I: Hinge Draper ANB Peatling
S: Curtin

CHANGES
2024 R1 —> 2025 R1
Gollant —> Walker
Burgess —> Thilthorpe
Jones —> Cumming
Milera —> Nankervis
Borlase —> Murray
Smith —> Curtin
Butts —> Keane
Berry —> Peatling
Pedlar —> Draper
Murphy —> ANB

That’s quite remarkable when you put it like that, wow

 

[1970crow]

It's not Dowling at this point either.

Dowling played his footy on the wing and through half back last year and during pre season..... when did Murphy do that ??

Not sure how that’s relevant to Dowling being ahead of Murphy for every role on the ground.

 

[1970crow]

If you want to believe that they are competing for same role that’s fine , we can disagree

I don’t believe they are , be like saying Chayce and Murphy are competing for same roles which I don’t believe they are either

Wings and outside depth chart
Cumming Sholl Chayce Dowling

Small forward / relief mid depth chart
Incumbents ( Rachele ANB keays Peatling Soligo etc ) + Pedlar Murphy Taylor Berry

Dowling hasn’t trained with that second batch all summer or played that role in match sim

Remember your point re how coaches earmark these things well back during pre season and it takes a fair bit to change their minds or be flexible to their initial thoughts

And yet Murphy has played as a mid both external trial games.

It’s simple, Dowling can exist in both depth charts. Just like Jones can be in both the wing and backline charts.

 

[Apsaalooke]

Nah it is Nick's, just like how it is Keay's, Butt's, Daw'son, and Nankervi's.



Now we can all head to Cole's and Woolworth's.

Dawson is old English for Dawe/David's son so not too silly

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

I believe almost everyone would agree on 17 of the players I have selected which leaves 6 (spots)* up for grabs. My Round 1 team is as follows;

Michalanney. Murray. Worrell

Cumming. Keane. Hinge

Peatling. Dawson. Sholl*

Keays. Walker. ANB

Rachele. Fogarty. Thilthorpe

O’Brien
Soligo
Rankine

Laird*, Crouch*, Curtin*, Draper*, Nankervis*

Laird wins the 7th defender position over Bond, Ryan and Milera.

Crouch wins the 4th inside mid role over Berry.

Sholl gets first crack at one of the outside mid roles with Peatling, Soligo and Dawson playing a combination of inside and outside mid.

Curtin splits his time between forward and midfield.

Draper fights it out with Nankervis for the last spot with the loser taking the sub role.

Not much has changed in the last month. Imho there are still 17 players locked and loaded.

1) Cumming now seems likely to play on the wing with Sholl on the other wing. This opens up a spot in defence for Nankervis or Bond.

2) It looks like the Sub will be Draper or Curtin.

3) Next in line when injuries inevitably occur appear to be

Tall Defender : Butts then Borlase

Medium small defender : Bond then Milera

Outside Mid : Jones then Dowling

Inside Mid : Berry then Schoenberg (or possibly Murphy?).

Ruck : McAndrew

Tall Forward/Back up Ruck : T Murray

Tall Forward : T Murray (I suspect we will go with one less tall forward.

Medium/Small Forward : Pedlar then Taylor.

 

[adelaidecrows]

I’ll never understand the reticence to debut a player as sub. Firstly, if that’s the only spot available that weekend he’d chew your arm off to get it. Secondly, it allows them to ease into the game through the warmup knowing they’ve got a bit of time before they’re out there. Then there’s the benefit of being that bit more fresh than 44 others.

Ever since Mackay boohood saying ‘sub is hard’, numerous posters here have thought it some kind of insurmountable challenge. It was just a whinge because he felt it beneath his station and he couldn’t rack up a dozen touches in a quarter and a half like the Lyons’ of the world.

I do think its a touch unfair for interstate lads. Family and friends all make the dash to watch the game and I am not sure its then a good look to have them sit on the bench for almost 3 full quarters. Initially I was dead against it but the trend now amongst the entire league is debutants are statistically likely to be the sub or subbed off during their first games. So its something we have to get used to so probably no point even complaining about it. In Drapers case, being a local, his parents, friends and family arent really affected. They can come every week.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

I’ll never understand the reticence to debut a player as sub. Firstly, if that’s the only spot available that weekend he’d chew your arm off to get it. Secondly, it allows them to ease into the game through the warmup knowing they’ve got a bit of time before they’re out there. Then there’s the benefit of being that bit more fresh than 44 others.

Ever since Mackay boohood saying ‘sub is hard’, numerous posters here have thought it some kind of insurmountable challenge. It was just a whinge because he felt it beneath his station and he couldn’t rack up a dozen touches in a quarter and a half like the Lyons’ of the world.

It’s really just about the occasion.

A debut can be a big early milestone in a young players career, and people like to see it fully embraced.

You might that’s being too sentimental but that’s the reason.

From game 2 onwards it doesn’t matter so much.

 

[AFC979810]

Draper is the highest pure midfielder we have ever used a draft pick on. He looked completely at home in the pre-season game against Brisbane and based on that half alone is easily a best 22 player.

Absolutely nothing to be gained by not playing him for a full game round 1. Get him in the side and don't look back.

Usage should resemble what Collingwood did with Daicos in 2023.

 

[Crowtel]

Once Draper has played 287 games, won two Brownlows, a Norm and three flags I don't think he's going to look back and think "damn I'm really spewing my debut was as the sub at home against the Saints. It's eaten away at me my whole career"

 

[Crowtel]

those stats are being conservative too

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Draper is the highest pure midfielder we have ever used a draft pick on. He looked completely at home in the pre-season game against Brisbane and based on that half alone is easily a best 22 player.

Absolutely nothing to be gained by not playing him for a full game round 1. Get him in the side and don't look back.

Usage should resemble what Collingwood did with Daicos in 2023.

I would agree on the Daicos thing re usage other than the history of stress fractures and pars defect which is still being managed

Trust Burgo and docs to get the balance right

 

[Jeffcrowe]

And yet Murphy has played as a mid both external trial games.

It’s simple, Dowling can exist in both depth charts. Just like Jones can be in both the wing and backline charts.

Yep exactly inside mid

I’d like to see Dowling given some inside mid time but hasn’t happened yet as they have him in running for that wing spot

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Not sure how that’s relevant to Dowling being ahead of Murphy for every role on the ground.

I think that’s where the argument is falling flat , they haven’t got Dowling ahead of Murphy in small forward / inside mid relief roles

That’s the crux of it whether we like it or not

 

[1970crow]

Yep exactly inside mid

I’d like to see Dowling given some inside mid time but hasn’t happened yet as they have him in running for that wing spot

I reckon he should be in the chart for half forward/mid too. He’d be better in that role than Murphy.

 

[1970crow]

I think that’s where the argument is falling flat , they haven’t got Dowling ahead of Murphy in small forward / inside mid relief roles

That’s the crux of it whether we like it or not

But they should, that’s why I’m annoyed Murphy was one of the potential sub players Thursday night.

 

[jimvic]

Max Keane Murray
Laird Worrell Hinge
Cumming Dawson Sholl
Rachele Tex ANB
Thilthorpe Fog Keays
1R ROB Soligo Rankine
I/C Nankervis Peatling M Crouch Curtin
Sub Draper
Emergencies Taylor Butts T Murray Pedlar

Yes I’m horrified debuting Draper sub and can potentially swap with Curtin but in potential hot weather with round 1 generally being red hot tempo unleashing him with 40 mins to go might be an absolute weapon

Bond … he’s not far off playing, should be an emergency and will play if max is injured

Laird would want to play well first 3 weeks

works for me although possibly swap Murray for Worrell - it is a good place to be in

 

[WetCrow1991]

Laird is the least deserving of a round 1 spot out of the senior players.

Watch him stink it up on HB every game he plays.