Prediction Round 1 2021 best 22 team

[7577969923]

I couldn't get to sleep last night so I thought I would try guess the team

FB: Zieb, Taz, Hayden
CHB: Luke Mac, B McKay, Perez
C: Polec, Cunners, Scott

Then alarm went off and it was 6:00 already! Worked like a treat.

On Pixel 4a using BigFooty.com mobile app

Just another manic Tuesday?

 

[Psicosis]

If 18 of them aren't locks, I'll give it away.

I just reckon a few will get squeezed out for pace. The bench in particular is not that quick.

Tend to agree, feel like we probably need 1-2 more players with above average pace... Additional options:

Atu/Kayne - Can definitely see us playing 2 small forwards, and both would make us quicker/higher pressure in the forward line. Personally I don't think the forward line pace is the biggest issue in that team though.

Spicer - Not ready, but I rekn he is exactly the type that they'd want to play across HFF/Wing

Menadue - Haven't heard/seen enough about him this preseason but he definitely is lightning quick on a wing/hbf

Hall - Certainly ticks the speed box. The age debate will be interesting on here if he gets a game ahead of Scott, Phillips, Mahoney, Atu...

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

Giving this another crack based on what I think will happen...

FB - Tarrant - Mckay - McDonald
HB - Ziebell - Corr - Atley

C - Polec - Cunnington - Dumont
FOL - Goldstein - Davies-Uniacke - Simpkin

HF - Taylor - Xerri - Stephenson
FF - Mahoney - Larkey - Zurhaar

INT - Anderson - Phillips - Thomas - Hayden

EMG - J.Walker - Scott - Young


Reasoning:

- Two rucks as Noble has indicated
- Ziebell to play at least the first 5 games in defense to see if it works
- Combination of youth/experience means that some on here won't be happy, for example Atley playing ahead of Scott, however we still have 12 players 23 and under. Is this enough/too much to be blooding at once? I have NFI, and am interested to see if they go more..
- Perez, Bonar, Comben, Garner all under injury cloud
- I've gone with Mahoney ahead of Atu/Turner due to my personal bias - could easily replace him & Hayden with 1 of these two, however I think they'll play Phillips as a small forward at times

I think what you are showing here is that we have options - not bad for a team predicted to finish bottom 2.

We can mix and match with a squad of around 28 blokes who are good enough to play.

I think the final 22 is still 4-6 blokes off being selected - practise games, training and match ups will decide that.

That backline you have listed would be the oldest in the comp - Noble won't go that way but it shows what we can do if that's the path we wanted to take.

As you say we can go 'old' or 'young' - fast or slow - big or small.

That's the sort of flexibility we have now with this better structured list and I suspect Noble will use that flexibility through the year and we sill see far more 'tactical' changes on Thursday night compared to the Scott area where he talked a good story but kept the same 22 pretty much week in week out.

 

[Psicosis]

Could also potentially swap Phillips for Scott, which would give us more run. I know we all want phillips playing round 1, but I’d almost prefer him play full time midfield in the VFL then on a flank in the AFL (like LDU had to).

 

[Psicosis]

I think what you are showing here is that we have options - not bad for a team predicted to finish bottom 2.

We can mix and match with a squad of around 28 blokes who are good enough to play.

I think the final 22 is still 4-6 blokes off being selected - practise games, training and match ups will decide that.

That backline you have listed would be the oldest in the comp - Noble won't go that way but it shows what we can do if that's the path we wanted to take.

As you say we can go 'old' or 'young' - fast or slow - big or small.

That's the sort of flexibility we have now with this better structured list and I suspect Noble will use that flexibility through the year and we sill see far more 'tactical' changes on Thursday night compared to the Scott area where he talked a good story but kept the same 22 pretty much week in week out.

The lack of run in the back 6 is mildly concerning. If Corr plays a more attacking role it will help.

 

[Draftables]

Have a new series going on our website in preparation of the 2021 season. Running through all the club's lists and best 22s and North Melbourne is the next cab off the rank. Always feel like a supporters' judgement is one of the best going around so give us a follow, check it out and let us know your thoughts!

North Melbourne 2021 best 22 and list assessment

Will it be another year of woe for the Kangaroos?

t.co

 

[CunnyTarryn]

Well done, the team and analysis is pretty spot on.
Although W Walker & Lazarro are mids, Xerri is a ruck/forward.
Maybe another tall in the 22. Not sure about Phillips yet, perhaps Perez/Mahoney/Haydon/Atu/Menedue/Turner/Garner or a tall take that spot until he, or any of the newbies, have exposed form.

 

[the Ziebull]

Nobles interview today on sen confirmed stephenson to play mid to give us a different mix - put him on a wing
Larkey and zurhaar as the main forwards so sounds like we go smaller there

 

[Wonderdog]

View attachment 1033883

Atley currently shits all over both of them.

I don’t think we can compare Ats & Ronny as they are different types of players. Ronny takes Marley’s role as the lockdown specialist on small forwards eg Betts. Ats can‘t play the lockdown role eg Betts sliced him to bits. I think the Perez Ats comparison is sound: speedy line breakers. I see them competing for the same spot.

 

[Luca Toni Time]

After Noble's interview today I have made a few changes to my starting 22. Still no room for McKay in my side, I think we present too slow with LMac, Ziebs and McKay in the back 6. Atu gets the nod for small forward for now, I think Spicer will be playing in 2021 if he can stay injury free. Jed, Bailey and Will move into a forward mid rotation with Cunners, Jy and Stephenson spending time in the front half.

FB - L McDonald, R Tarrant, K Hayden
CHB - Ziebs, A Corr, F Perez
C - J Polec, B Cunnington, J Stephenson
CHF - T Thomas, T Garner, C Taylor
FF - Atu, N Larkey, C Zurhaar
Ruck - T Goldstein, J Simpkin, LDU
Bench - S Atley, B Scott, W Phillips, J Anderson

Emerg - L Young, B McKay, K Turner, T Xerri.

 

[Snake_Baker]

I don’t think we can compare Ats & Ronny as they are different types of players. Ronny takes Marley’s role as the lockdown specialist on small forwards eg Betts. Ats can‘t play the lockdown role eg Betts sliced him to bits. I think the Perez Ats comparison is sound: speedy line breakers. I see them competing for the same spot.

What rot!

 

[Psicosis]

Few tweaks after Noble's interview this morning...

FB - Tarrant - Mckay - McDonald
HB - Ziebell - Corr - Atley

C - Polec - Cunnington - Dumont
FOL - Goldstein - Davies-Uniacke - Simpkin

HF - Taylor - Zurhaar - Thomas
FF - Anderson - Larkey - Small Forward*

INT - Phillips - Stephenson - Hayden - Scott

EMG - J.Walker - Young - Xerri

Changes:
- Have * the Small Forward as it could be any of Mahoney Atu Turner Spicer, no idea who is first picked.
- Taken out Xerri for Scott, with Zurhaar & Larkey as the two pillars. Also playing Hayden allows us to swing Ziebell forward if needed.
- Anderson rotating with Cunnington between mid and forward pocket.


A bit happier with this team, definitely a bit quicker then the one I picked yesterday.

 

[Val Keating]

Few tweaks after Noble's interview this morning...

FB - Tarrant - Mckay - McDonald
HB - Ziebell - Corr - Atley

C - Polec - Cunnington - Dumont
FOL - Goldstein - Davies-Uniacke - Simpkin

HF - Taylor - Zurhaar - Thomas
FF - Anderson - Larkey - Small Forward*

INT - Phillips - Stephenson - Hayden - Scott

EMG - J.Walker - Young - Xerri

Changes:
- Have * the Small Forward as it could be any of Mahoney Atu Turner Spicer, no idea who is first picked.
- Taken out Xerri for Scott, with Zurhaar & Larkey as the two pillars. Also playing Hayden allows us to swing Ziebell forward if needed.
- Anderson rotating with Cunnington between mid and forward pocket.


A bit happier with this team, definitely a bit quicker then the one I picked yesterday.

Not bad. Atu is miles off it imo. Very much a project player. Turner & Mahoney and even Spicer are above him in the picking order.

 

[Val Keating]

I’ll have a crack.

FB Hayden Tarrant Corr
HB Ziebell McKay McDonald
C. Polec LDU Dumont
HF Taylor Larkey. Stephenson
FF Turner Zurhaar. Mahoney
FOL. Goldy Cunners. Simpkin
I/C Phillips, Walker, Anderson, Hall

 

[the Ziebull]

yep adjusting mine with noble confirming stephenson midfield, ziebs back and larkey/zurhaar as the main targets up forward

B: Hayden Tarrant Corr
HB: Ziebell McKay/JWalker McDonald
C: Dumont LDU Stephenson
HF: Garner Larkey Thomas
F: Taylor Zurhaar Turner
R: Goldy Simpkin Cunners
I: Phillips Anderson Atley McKay/JWalker

emg: Perez Young Polec Scott

 

[Val Keating]

yep adjusting mine with noble confirming stephenson midfield, ziebs back and larkey/zurhaar as the main targets up forward

B: Hayden Tarrant Corr
HB: Ziebell McKay/JWalker McDonald
C: Dumont LDU Stephenson
HF: Garner Larkey Thomas
F: Taylor Zurhaar Turner
R: Goldy Simpkin Cunners
I: Phillips Anderson Atley McKay/JWalker

emg: Perez Young Polec Scott

He confirmed that Stepho wanted to play mid but he also said that he needs to prove that he can do it.

 

[Val Keating]

I’m very hopeful that under Noble player’s positions aren’t cemented in. Be great if we finally have a side that players rotate through multiple positions during a game. Makes us so much harder to coach against

 

[shimaburnsgrieg]

He confirmed that Stepho wanted to play mid but he also said that he needs to prove that he can do it.

Agree - Stevo playing a full or even majority mid is still a ways off. He will be spending plenty of time ie the majority - forward in 2021.

 

[the Ziebull]

He confirmed that Stepho wanted to play mid but he also said that he needs to prove that he can do it.

In the interview he mentions Stepho will be majority mid to give us a different mix

much prefer him on a wing than polec

 

[Val Keating]

Agree - Stevo playing a full or even majority mid is still a ways off. He will be spending plenty of time ie the majority - forward in 2021.

He can play on a wing but his kicking needs work if he’s going to be delivering the ball inside 50

 

[Val Keating]

In the interview he mentions Stepho will be majority mid to give us a different mix

much prefer him on a wing than polec

Polec’s kicking inside 50 is deadly. Stephenson doesn’t have that. Hopefully he can improve that but at the moment I much rather him close to goal. I think he’ll rotate from forward-wing but if his kicking means the oppo defense can pick it of and rebound I think it’ll be short lived.

I’d be very happy if he does improve in that regard, because if he does then wowee he’s going to be a player

 

[the Ziebull]

Polec’s kicking inside 50 is deadly. Stephenson doesn’t have that. Hopefully he can improve that but at the moment I much rather him close to goal. I think he’ll rotate from forward-wing but if his kicking means the oppo defense can pick it of and rebound I think it’ll be short lived.

I’d be very happy if he does improve in that regard, because if he does then wowee he’s going to be a player

He’s an underrated field kick, has great skills

I’m glad Noble will start stevo midfield, he’ll still be able to push hard forward and be dangerous

 

[Flawed Genius]

Here's my best attempt after watching a few pre-season sessions:

FB: McKay - Tarrant - Hayden
HB: McDonald - J.Walker - Ziebell
C: Polec - Cunnington - Scott
HF: Stephenson - Zurhaar - Thomas
FF: Mahoney - Larkey - Taylor
R: Goldstein - Davies-Uniacke - Simpkin
I: Corr - Anderson - Atley - Hall

The twos:

FB: P.Walker - Young - Menadue
HB: Bonar - McGuinness - Perez
C: Dumont - Powell - Lazzaro
HF: Garner - Xerri - Bosenavulagi
FF: Turner - Comben - Ford
R: Campbell - Tyson - Phillips
I: Spicer - W.Walker - Skinner


The immediate concerns I have is that the backline in the 1s is too tall, but realistically J.Walker might get used as a swingman more than we think, given we are playing one recognised KPF. At training, Tarrant and J.Walker have been the KPDs on the first team, with McKay taking the opposition's best forward. I believe they'll go Tarrant & McKay as Gorilla 1 and Gorilla 2, with J.Walker used as a swingman and Corr lining up on utilities i.e., a resting Martin or Fyfe.

I've barely seen Polec train so he may be injured, but he walks into our best team on a wing. It appears Noble views Stephenson as a wingman and he's certainly been training there in spurts so start him on a HFF and rotate him with Scott or a resting midfielder.

At points during the pre-season, all of Taylor, Stephenson and Thomas have played midfield so we are building a really deep MID/FWD and FWD/MID roster. Lots of rotations in and out of the FWD line but it appears we'll roll with Larkey as the #1 banana KPF and Zurhaar playing as more of a de facto KPF. I see this as similar to Brisbane's situation where they relied a lot on midfielders and resting FWDs to kick goals - I expect we'll see a lot of goals out of the likes of Stephenson, Taylor, Thomas, Polec, Mahoney, Scott etc.

Goldstein/LDU/Simpkin is a very exciting proposition as a midfield line, with Cunnington in there as well it adds some grunt to class and speed. I expect Cunners to rotate through a deep FWD role as well. Anderson will add to a midfield that is increasingly batting deeper and deeper and he'll increase the grunt quotient. Atley needs to rotate through the defensive six, and Hall gets the nod over Dumont because of Frog's injury. I expect if Dumont is fit that Hall will make way.

No room for Phillips, Lazzaro, Powell or Ford. Turner and Mahoney is a toss up but I give the edge to Mahoney for his ability to find the footy - he has impressed me more than Kayne throughout pre-season. Garner is simply too much of an unknown in terms of output and Taylor has been more impressive. Perez should push Hayden for his spot, the pair should keep each other honest - Hayden gets the nod because he has been very good this pre-season and has simply trained more than Perez.

Xerri suffers from our smaller FWD line structure, but if we do decide to go with two rucks I think he is the better choice over Campbell. Xerri is more dangerous forward than Campbell is. Spicer is tantalising but doesn't push anyone out of a spot just yet.

 

[Val Keating]

He’s an underrated field kick, has great skills

I’m glad Noble will start stevo midfield, he’ll still be able to push hard forward and be dangerous

The perfect player for him to swap wing and forward with would be Will Walker but I’m not sure where Walker is at fitness wise

 

[the Ziebull]

think if stevo starts wing he can play there majority and rest forward swapping with curtis or tarryn