Round 1 - Best 22

[Knightmare]

Projected round 1 best 22:
F: Jarryd Blair Chris Dawes Brent Macaffer
HF: Dayne Beams Travis Cloke Alex Fasolo
CEN: Dale Thomas Luke Ball Steele Sidebottom
HB: Nick Maxwell Ben Reid Harry O'Brien
B: Heath Shaw Chris Tarrant Alan Toovey
FOLL: Darren Jolly Scott Pendlebury Dane Swan
BENCH: Sharrod Wellingham Cameron Wood Marty Clarke
Sub: Tyson Goldsack
EMG: Paul Seedsman Lachlan Keeffe Simon Buckley

Possibly unavailable (and would otherwise be well in the mix):
Andrew Krakouer (personal), Nathan Brown (inj - start at VFL and work way up), Alan Didak (inj - should be ready around the time of round 1 but would like to see him to prove his fitness at VFL level first), Ben Johnson (much the same as Didak).


Assuming whole list is available and healthy (true best 22):
F: Andrew Krakouer Chris Dawes Brent Macaffer
HF: Dayne Beams Travis Cloke Alex Fasolo
CEN: Dale Thomas Luke Ball Steele Sidebottom
HB: Nick Maxwell Ben Reid Harry O'Brien
B: Heath Shaw Chris Tarrant Alan Toovey
FOLL: Darren Jolly Scott Pendlebury Dane Swan
BENCH: Sharrod Wellingham Alan Didak Nathan Brown
Sub: Ben Johnson
EMG: Marty Clarke Paul Seedsman Cameron Wood

*In this setup there is no 2nd ruckman. While we will no doubt include a second ruck option - which probably takes Nathan Brown out of our best team, the reason for this is no other ruckman would rate inside our best 22 players on our list from a quality standpoint at this stage. While Cameron Wood is probably that next ruckman at this stage I see the race opening up as the season goes with any of McNamara, Ceglar, Witts or Keeffe if given games in the ruck this year could get opportunities this year and break into our best side.

Other notes: Marty Clarke and Paul Seedsman I consider to be on the edge of selection but if Didak and Johnson are fully healthy and performing they should both remain inside our best 22 in favour of Clarke + Seedsman (but with injuries that will no doubt happen I can see one or both getting regular games).

Macaffer now that he is healthy has the chance to be a best 22 player again and possibly even best 18. Last year he didn't look like a top 30 player, but now that he is healthy he should get his spot back if he gets back to his 2010 form. Has a unique game with his strong tackling and marking game, not a big goalkicker but he doesn't have to be and just gives the team that little something different that we probably lacked up forward in that 3rd marking target.

Alex Fasolo I have in my starting 18 and well inside my best 21. Performances last year very good. Really nice weapon to have on a forward flank with his long penetrating kick and I don't think he has to start as a sub to be effective. Strong body and more than ready to step up.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Re: Round 1 best 22

Only having one midfield rotation on the bench isn't ideal v Hawthorn..

 

[mattys123]

Re: Round 1 best 22

Don't rule out Nate Brown for round one, apart from that and BJ being a chance, I like the first 22 there Knight.

It does show up our lack of experienced depth, although in saying that, I don't think anyone has any real depth past their 25th player anymore, as with 18 teams the lists are stretched to the extreme.

To counter act our lack of experienced depth, we need our youngsters to take the next step, we need a Thomas or a Sinclair to become a near permanent member of our 22, and the even younger players to push for selection as the season goes on.

We didn't have anyone to replace some of our big names in September last year, but come the finals in 2012 we need to be more versatile, and be willing to players who can last the four quarters.

The NAB Cup is likely to throw up 2-3 new names for contention for round one and beyond though.

 

[Quicky]

Re: Round 1 best 22

FB: ------O'Brien-------Tarrant-------Toovey------
HB: -------Shaw--------Reid---------Maxwell------

C: -------Thomas-------Swan---------Beams------
Fol: -------Jolly----------Ball---------Pendles-----

HF: -------Fasolo--------Cloke--------Rounds------
FF: -------Macaffer------Dawes--------Blair--------

Int: Wood, Wellingham, Sidebottom Sub: Clarke

The loses of Krakouer, Didak and Johnson really hits our depth. I don't think our depth is great this year but i'll hold back my judgment until I see how some of the fringe guys go.

 

[dayna36]

Re: Round 1 best 22

......................................
To counter act our lack of experienced depth, we need our youngsters to take the next step, we need a Thomas or a Sinclair to become a near permanent member of our 22, and the even younger players to push for selection as the season goes on................................

The NAB Cup is likely to throw up 2-3 new names for contention for round one and beyond though.

yes Matty these players who have hardly played seniors & have been around 2 - 3 yrs must take a step upwards & onwards if we are going to keep the wheels turning & the magpie machine rolling...improvement all round is a must yet from these guys it's absolutely crucial if we are to have an opportunity to win the 2012 flag

 

[blaze036]

Re: Round 1 best 22

Based on the fact clarke came 2nd in our endurance tests, make little sense to use him as the sub

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Re: Round 1 best 22

Based on the fact clarke came 2nd in our endurance tests, make little sense to use him as the sub

Fitness is irrelevant, touch is. Bringing him back via the sub bench might be a good way to get him reinvolved.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Re: Round 1 best 22

Blair Dawes Jolly
Beams Cloke Wellingham
Thomas Ball Sidebottom
Maxwell Reid Goldsack
Brown Tarrant Harry

Foll Wood Pendlebury Swan

B Toovey Shaw Fasolo sub Clarke

Thats for all you guys wanting 5 talls down back haha

 

[daics_35]

I think Didak will play round 1 and also the NAB Cup GF if we make it or the praccy match in week 4. Its a 4 week injury and he injured himself 2 weeks before the Nab cup, so he has enought time. My worry is Benny Johnson, he is early 30s now and I think he struggled with his hamstring last year and missed a fair bit of games becuase of it becuase he was rushed back too soon. I think we should nurse him through and play him from round 3 onwards. As for Nathan Brown he is a certain starter for round 1. I hope we learn from Geelong and take good care of the players and give them the right amount of rests, I really wanna see Jolly have a minimum of 6 weeks rest through out the year and see what Wood can produce this season, I think this is his year.

 

[Ed D]

Re: Round 1 best 22

Fitness is irrelevant, touch is. Bringing him back via the sub bench might be a good way to get him reinvolved.

The whole NAB Cup series would be enough for him to find some touch. I think he'd only be the sub if he wasn't seen as being good enough.

Nick Maxwell was also saying Nathan Brown will be right to play round 1, so who knows?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...r-hawthorn-clash/story-e6frf9jf-1226268646588

 

[Gambit78]

If Nate Brown gets back in time for the start of the season, any thoughts on throwing Taz forward in the Leroy role?

Do we need a third tall up forward? I don't think we need a third tall down back.

 

[Knightmare]

FB: ------O'Brien-------Tarrant-------Toovey------
HB: -------Shaw--------Reid---------Maxwell------

C: -------Thomas-------Swan---------Beams------
Fol: -------Jolly----------Ball---------Pendles-----

HF: -------Fasolo--------Cloke--------Rounds------
FF: -------Macaffer------Dawes--------Blair--------

Int: Wood, Wellingham, Sidebottom Sub: Clarke

The loses of Krakouer, Didak and Johnson really hits our depth. I don't think our depth is great this year but i'll hold back my judgment until I see how some of the fringe guys go.

Really interested in the inclusion of Rounds. From my understanding he has had some difficulty during the preseason with injury so not sure what the story is there. Perhaps you know more than I do. But I too am curious as to whether Rounds can take the next step.

If Nate Brown gets back in time for the start of the season, any thoughts on throwing Taz forward in the Leroy role?

Do we need a third tall up forward? I don't think we need a third tall down back.

I don't mind a tall backline - Geelong certainly showed how effective it can be in the grand final, but against midget forwardlines like that of Carlton you'd probably wouldn't want to load up down back with height to the same extent.

Taking a look at how most quality forwardlines set up you have clubs like West Coast with 3 genuine talls in Kennedy, Darling and Lynch. Then other you have the likes of Geelong who can push a Trent West into the forwardline to play alongside Hawkins and Podsiadly to effect. So it will probably become more popular to include that extra key backman in future seasons if more clubs elect to play extra bigs up forward.

Up forward Macaffer can do similar things to what Leroy could offer up forward so if he returns to his 2010 form he should add more than enough size to our forwardline and add that little bit of marking power we missed last season. Also we have to remember our resting ruck will probably have to play forward so there is no need for Tarrant as a forward - where he isn't nearly as effective anymore in any case.

 

[Jesus Baulks]

Why do you list your team line ups starting with FF first? It's never done that way on team sheets or anything. It always frustrates me when I see it for some bizarre reason.

 

[blaze036]

Why do you list your team line ups starting with FF first? It's never done that way on team sheets or anything. It always frustrates me when I see it for some bizarre reason.

1st world problems.

 

[Ed D]

Really interested in the inclusion of Rounds. From my understanding he has had some difficulty during the preseason with injury so not sure what the story is there. Perhaps you know more than I do. But I too am curious as to whether Rounds can take the next step.

IIRC Rounds had hip surgery and missed the trip to Arizona.

 

[Nicco_jj]

Chances of Nath going forward?
I would prefer Nath forward than taz... I think if we have a backman that has been described by the best forward in the league (buddy) as the best defender he's played on... We should keep him in defence.

 

[Ed D]

Nathan Brown hasn't looked very good as a forward. I doubt we'd play a defender as a forward when Cloke & Dawes are fit.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Why do you list your team line ups starting with FF first? It's never done that way on team sheets or anything. It always frustrates me when I see it for some bizarre reason.

When do you ever see teams line up in 3-3-3-3-3-3 formations?

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

When do you ever see teams line up in 3-3-3-3-3-3 formations?

This is true, it's more like the following with T referring to key position players and ruckmen, i.e. genuine talls and S representing everyone else:

F: TS
HF: TS

C: SSSS
FOL: TSS

HB: STSS
FB: TTS

We generally play with 4 forwards, 6-8 midfielders and 6-8 backmen (the numbers being 6, 7 or 8 depending on the situation in the game at the time). If we line up like that I think our lineup will be as follows for R1:

Cloke, Macaffer
Dawes, Fasolo

Thomas, Pendlebury, Beams, Didak
Jolly, Swan, Ball

Young, Reid, O'Brien, Shaw
Toovey, Tarrant, Maxwell

B: Witts, Steele, Wellingham

S: Goldsack
​

I don't think Clarke will make the team first up, nor should he. He should be made to earn his spot via the VFL IMO. He wasn't in our best 22 when he left, he needs to prove that he is now. I really rate Tom Young as well, I reckon he could lock down a spot this year.
​

 

[Jesus Baulks]

1st world problems.

Didn't imply otherwise.

When do you ever see teams line up in 3-3-3-3-3-3 formations?

You do sometimes, especially in country football, but that isn't really relevant. I'm not worried about how they literally line up, just commenting on the quirk of doing something completely opposite to the recognised way.

It's the equivalent of listing net profit after taxes first and revenue at the end of an income statement.

 

[lozza63]

JB I wonder why a couple of people list their side from the forwards too.

In the old days as it was read "from the backs" - during league teams - it does seem the more "normal way".

In soccer they do it too GK up the top of the page, Union too and league i'm not so sure?

So my 22 round 1 from the backs:

Maxwell Tarrant OBrien
Toovey Reid Shaw
D. Thomas Ball Sidebottom
Beams Cloke Clarke
Fasolo Dawes Macaffer

Jolly Pendlebury Swan

I/C - Wellingham Wood Blair Sub Goldsack

Emerg: Buckley Young Seedsman

I echo the sentiments of keeping the older guys such as Dids, Johnno and Krak for when they are truly ready.
Nate Brown - would love to find him a spot but not sure if ready yet?

 

[Trojan Pies]

I think Didak will play round 1 and also the NAB Cup GF if we make it or the praccy match in week 4. Its a 4 week injury and he injured himself 2 weeks before the Nab cup, so he has enought time.

Didak is gone for two months. He has ripped the adductor near off (if not completely) the bone. Inside word from multiple sources.

 

[lozza63]

Reading that about Dids TP really means that this year really becomes transitional one, not just starting from Bucks.
The older Brigade such as

Jolly - Wood
Tarrant - Brown
Johnson - Clarke
Krak or even Dids may not fully get back for one reason or another - so we need - hopefully Sinclair and co will push through this year with another 3/4 games under their belts.

 

[Bianconerri]

If all fit

b Johnson Tarrant Brown

hb Shaw Reid O`Brien

C Thomas Ball Sidebottom

hf Fasolo Cloke Wellingham

F Krakouer Dawes Beams

R Jolly Pendlebury Swan

I/C Macaffer Clarke Wood

S Goldsack

Subject to fitness/availability

Johnson > Young
Brown> Toovey
Krakouer>Blair

Emerg; Didak Maxwell Buckley

 

[Number 10]

FB - Obrien - Taz - Maxwell
HB - Shaw - Reid - Toovey
C - Thomas - Pendles - Sidebottom
HF - Fasolo - Cloke - Beams
FF - Blair - Dawes - Didak
F - Jolly - Ball - Swan
Bench - Wood - Wellingham - Goldsack SUB: Macaffer

Goldsack I feel is very crucial to this season. He is now our only genuine versatility player. You could make a case for Tarrant too but I feel Goldsack's ability in the midfield, forward and especially back make him very useful.