Analysis Speculation best team in 2016: List & depth analysis

[Nathan Patch]

This assumes all goes well at trade period and maybe Pav goes again one last time. If all goes well it could potentially be one of the better trade periods for the club.

B Lee Spurr, Michael Johnson, Zac Dawson
HB Stephen Hill, Garrick Ibbotson, Cameron Sutcliffe
C Harley Bennell?, Lachie Neale, Danyle Pearce,
HF Chris Mayne, Cam McCarthy?, Michael Walters
F Hayden Ballantyne, Matthew Pavlich, Matt Taberner/Michael Apeness?
FOL Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Nat Fyfe
I/C Matt de Boer, Tommy Sheridan, Michael Barlow, Alex Pearce

If recruited:

Cam McCarthy as a lead up half forward who kicks goals he is agile for his size at 193cm. Harley Bennell in the midfield to pinch hit in the forward line & switching with Fyfe in this role periodically so both get a run through both spots. Although both initially named in midfield/follower spots.

Players in jeopardy for spots and future are:

Matt Taberner doesn't seem to handle the big stage but actually has the talent. Jonathon Griffin we were playing him I know but we need a more agile mobile 2nd ruck. Only got games due to Zac Clarke's lack of form. Zac Clarke was okay at the start of 2015 but needs to play consistently. If other ruckman overtake him or become developed he becomes trade fodder. Nick Suban a constant underachiever who has potential but sometimes can't find the leather, with no sub but has to play a full game without being a liability. Chris Mayne, Matt de Boer don't get me wrong great pressure players but need to do more with the ball in my opinion to take the club to the next level. If younger players can apply that defensive pressure, with offensive potency those 2 spots are at risk.

Development opportunities are:

The 2nd ruck & mobile forward is a significant problem we have as is key forward support to Pav why not take the opportunity to address them both. Michael Apeness afterall at 200cm and 101kg he was a ruck/forward at Eastern Ranges. Matt Taberner as a 2nd ruck? Matt has great endurance but he is 198cm at the shorter end for any would be ruckman still if he can clean up his marking can cause problems around the ground. Even so, I am not sure on this Matt in some ways is the new Kepler Bradley and could do a few more funny things. Perhaps Jack Hannath will come along some more.

Depth includes:

Veterans: Alex Silvangi, Clancee Pearce, Tendai Mzungu I like them as players some of them haven't had the best season though. Potentially the depth we could have would keep them out. Although since most of them are defender utility types all it would take is an injury.
Youth: Anthony Morabito (lets hope body holds up essentially like a new player ), Tanner Smith, Brady Grey as defender options, utilities. Michael Apeness as Key Forward. Connor Blakely, Lachie Weller as a midfield options, or utilities. Ed Langdon, Hayden Crozier as smaller forward options, or utilities. Jack Hannath in the ruck, forward role.

Delistings & retirements:

Looking at our depth gives me great confidence in our list management following the retirements of Paul Duffield and Luke McPharlin. Also Thomas Vandeleur, Ryan Crowley, Max Duffy, Jacob Ballard, Craig Moller and Josh Deluca being delisted. Note: Josh Deluca is to be redrafted as a rookie.

 

[Deathly]

This is what I dream of seeing next year. I think we need a bigger shake up with the B22.

DEFENDERS
Lee Spurr - Michael Johnson - Defender Spot
Alex Pearce - Garrick Ibbotson - Stephen Hill[2]

MIDFIELD
Tommy Sheridan - Harley Bennell[3] - Michael Barlow

RUCK
Aaron Sandilands[1] - Lachie Neale - David Mundy[2]

FORWARDS
Michael Walters - Nat Fyfe[3] - Hayden Crozier
Jonathon Griffin[1] - Matthew Pavlich - Cam McCarthy

INTERCHANGE
Cameron Sutcliffe[2] - Matt Taberner - IC Spot - IC Spot

Defender Spot - Have some selection competition going, I'd want to see it between Dawson, Bootsma and Smith.

IC Spot - Lachie Weller, Zac Clarke[1], Brady Grey, Hayden Ballantyne, Matt De Boer, Ed Langon and Connor Blakely. (Order of preference)

Taberner / Apeness - Haven't seen much of him or know where he's at, but I'd give him an opportunity sometime during the year to see if he can hold his spot.

Numbers are straight or 3-way rotations between players.

Outs: Mayne, Suban, Mzungu and D.Pearce
No Guarantees: Dawson, Ballantyne, Clarke, Hannath and MDB
>10G Preference: Weller, Grey, Langdon and Blakely.

I honestly think Crozier needs to start and be played at CHF, he can work through the midfield and push up like Walters and Fyfe. Let him have another pre-season and not hit the injury road block and he will be hungrier than anyone. I'd have Clarke travel for Pavlich and compete for Sandilands when he's resting.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Spurr Dawson Ibbotson
Sheridan Johnson Sutcliffe
Hill Neale D. Pearce
Mayne McCarthy Walters
Ballantyne Pavlich Griffin
Sandilands Mundy Fyfe
Suban de Boer Barlow Bennell

That's my expectation.

 

[salim malik]

Spurr Dawson Ibbo
Johnno A Pearce Sutcliffe
Hill Mundy D Pearce
Walters Fyfe McCarthy
Zac D Pav/Tabs Balla
Sandi Neale Bennell

Barlow Sheridan Mayne Then out of Langdon,Grey,Blakely

 

[meima]

As long as suban, d.Pearce got less game time I am happy men. Not saying they are no good, if we don't play grey, blakely with Faye and mundy instead of playing in peel thunder how we know they are not better.

 

[PurpleWizard]

Spurr Dawson Ibbo
Johnno A Pearce Mundy
Hill Neale Bennell
Walters McCarthy Mayne
Apeness Pav Ballas
Sandi Neale Fyfe
Barlow D.Pearce Weller Langdon

Unlucky Sutcliffe, de Boer, Sheridan, Pearce, Mzungu, Suban, Griffen and Zarke + probably others

I like to see Mundy full time at half back. We need polish at half back and he should give us that. Bringing in Bennell should give us the freedom to do this. I like Hill to push back to and help out as well. Having Neale, Bennell, Fyfe and Langdon should be enough scoring mid options.

I like Apeness as our 2nd ruck. I know he's unproven but he seems too slow to be a permanent KPF. If he can ruck a little and snag a few grabs (like he has proven he can) we should play him instead of Griffen/Zarke. Griffen/Zarke both are okay but I feel Apeness needs AFL experience to develop and we don't lose that much playing him.

I think we have to play Weller and Langdon. Both have great pace and need to develop (I think playing AFL is the fastest way to develop young players). Bennell, Weller, D.Pearce, Sunny and Ballas gets me pretty excited about our leg speed across the middle and half forward.

Unlucky Sheridan and Sutcliffe. But I feel with injuries and form they will play most games.

 

[13then7]

This is like walking into a shopping centre in November and hearing Christmas carols.

 

[Nathan Patch]

This is like walking into a shopping centre in November and hearing Christmas carols.

lol yes it happens

 

[Grape Bear]

This is like walking into a shopping centre in November and hearing Christmas carols.

Back where I come from, they actually start playing them in September.

 

[FreoRicci]

Thought would post here in regards to the average age of the current list (including Bennell) .
With Duffield, Crowley and McPharlin gone- the average age is 25.3 years of age (End of December 31 2015).
Take out the top four oldest (Pav, Sandi, MJ and Mundy) the average drops to 24.4 years of age.
In 2015, Freo had the oldest list of all 18 clubs at 25.4.

 

[MadDocker]

B Spurr, Dawson, Johnson
HB Sheridan, A.Pearce, Ibbo
C Bennell, Mundy, Hill,
HF Mayne, Fyfe, Walters
F Balla, Pav, Tabs
FOL Sandi, Neale, Barlow
I/C Clarke/Griff, Langdon, Suban, D.Pearce

Guess so far. Keen to revisit if/when we trade someone else in and round 1 to see how spectacularly wrong I got it.

 

[eastfreo75]

=
Dawson A Pearce Ibbottson
Spurr Johnson S Hill
D Pearce Mundy Bennell
Mayne Taberner Walters
Fyfe Griffin/Clarke Ballatyne

Ruck
Sandilands, Neale, Barlow

Bench
Sheridan, Sutcliffe, Weller, Blakely

 

[kingswood71]

AP, Dawson, Spurr.
Ibbo, Johnno, Sutty.
Hilly, Fyfe, Harley.
Son-Son, Tabs, Crozier.
Ballas, Pav, D. Pearce.
Sandi, Mundy, Neale.
Interchange: Suban, Griff, Tommy, Z. Clarke.

??Barlow. ??Mayne. ??Weller. ??Grey
Nice to appear to have some decent depth

 

[Agenfrida]

Spurr Dawson Ibbo
Johnno A Pearce Mundy
Hill Neale Bennell
Walters McCarthy Mayne
Apeness Pav Ballas
Sandi Neale Fyfe
Barlow D.Pearce Weller Langdon

Unlucky Sutcliffe, de Boer, Sheridan, Pearce, Mzungu, Suban, Griffen and Zarke + probably others

I like to see Mundy full time at half back. We need polish at half back and he should give us that. Bringing in Bennell should give us the freedom to do this. I like Hill to push back to and help out as well. Having Neale, Bennell, Fyfe and Langdon should be enough scoring mid options.

I like Apeness as our 2nd ruck. I know he's unproven but he seems too slow to be a permanent KPF. If he can ruck a little and snag a few grabs (like he has proven he can) we should play him instead of Griffen/Zarke. Griffen/Zarke both are okay but I feel Apeness needs AFL experience to develop and we don't lose that much playing him.

I think we have to play Weller and Langdon. Both have great pace and need to develop (I think playing AFL is the fastest way to develop young players). Bennell, Weller, D.Pearce, Sunny and Ballas gets me pretty excited about our leg speed across the middle and half forward.

Unlucky Sheridan and Sutcliffe. But I feel with injuries and form they will play most games.

I really like the idea of Mundy at HB. (Hill and Bennell on each wing) The added bonus of playing him in the backline is that he's 193cm. He could if needed play on a tall and then cut them up on the rebound.

 

[_007_]

FB: Grey A Pearce Ibbotson
HB: Hill Johnson Mundy
C: Bennell Fyfe Crozier
HF: Weller McCarthy Walters
FF: Ballantyne Sandilands Pavlich
R: Clarke Neale Barlow

Sherridan, Sutcliffe, D Pearce, Blakely.

 

[DudleyDocker]

FB: Grey A Pearce Ibbotson
HB: Hill Johnson Mundy
C: Bennell Fyfe Crozier
HF: Weller McCarthy Walters
FF: Ballantyne Sandilands Pavlich
R: Clarke Neale Barlow

Sherridan, Sutcliffe, D Pearce, Blakely.

There is a premiership side right there!

 

[E Shed]

FB: Grey A Pearce Ibbotson
HB: Hill Johnson Mundy
C: Bennell Fyfe Crozier
HF: Weller McCarthy Walters
FF: Ballantyne Sandilands Pavlich
R: Clarke Neale Barlow

Sherridan, Sutcliffe, D Pearce, Blakely.

I really like this. Getting Barlow back in the guts by playing Mundy and Hill off half back. Super attacking back half although I think Spurr might still get a gig.
IMO this is almost exactly how we should line up come round 1. So much run, skill, some youthful enthusiasm and some solid experience.
I would freakin love to see this happen.

 

[SHill Shall]

Thought would post here in regards to the average age of the current list (including Bennell) .
With Duffield, Crowley and McPharlin gone- the average age is 25.3 years of age (End of December 31 2015).
Take out the top four oldest (Pav, Sandi, MJ and Mundy) the average drops to 24.4 years of age.
In 2015, Freo had the oldest list of all 18 clubs at 25.4.

Assume the average will come down once you bring a few 18 y.o. draftees?

 

[dimesdimesdimes]

This assumes all goes well at trade period and maybe Pav goes again one last time. If all goes well it could potentially be one of the better trade periods for the club.

Really good analysis , heres my best 22 assuming we get McCarthy and Pav plays on

B: SPURR PEARCE IBBOTSON
HB: HILL* JOHNSON SUTTCLIFFE
C: BENNELL• NEALE PEARCE*
HF: CROZIER• TABENER WALTERS
F: BALLANTYNE McCARTHY PAVLICH
R: SANDILANDS FYFE MUNDY

I/C: BARLOW GRIFFEN WELLER SHERIDAN

*HILL AND PEARCE SWITCHING FROM HB TO WING
•BENNELL AND CROZIER SWITCHING FROM WING TO HF

Depth players: Clarke Mayne Silvagni Langdon Grey Blakley

 

[_007_]

I really like this. Getting Barlow back in the guts by playing Mundy and Hill off half back. Super attacking back half although I think Spurr might still get a gig.
IMO this is almost exactly how we should line up come round 1. So much run, skill, some youthful enthusiasm and some solid experience.
I would freakin love to see this happen.

Sadly, don't hold your breath.

 

[E Shed]

Sadly, don't hold your breath.

I was trying not to be negative. I wrote a whole paragraph about not wanting to see certain players inning up in Rd 1 in place of the ones in your team but I'm trying to be more positive so I deleted it.

I'm pretty realistic about the fact we will probably line up next year with the same team that finished this year with Bennell in it unless we manage to trade in another forward.

 

[_007_]

I was trying not to be negative. I wrote a whole paragraph about not wanting to see certain players inning up in Rd 1 in place of the ones in your team but I'm trying to be more positive so I deleted it.

I'm pretty realistic about the fact we will probably line up next year with the same team that finished this year with Bennell in it unless we manage to trade in another forward.

Sorry about that mate, might I suggest an alternative approach to the positivity???

Example: I am positive Brady Grey will not be in the side for round 1 2016.

 

[yakamoto]

In my view next season we would want to replace four of last year's regular top 22.
McPharlin has already hung up the boots. Replace with Pearce, Dawson, Silvagni, Johnson playing more games.
Pav should also give it away. It would be terrible to see him play on at grave risk of becoming an embarrassment. His presence would also hinder the development of another tall forward and of a new and more potent forward structure. Replace with McCarthy(or other recruit) or Taberner/Pearce.
Two of the bottom four(Mayne, De Boer, Suban, Mzunga) can not remain as regulars. Bennell takes one of these spots. Jetta would have been good for another. Hopefully the youngsters can step up and play 25 games between them.

 

[Nothing]

Thought would post here in regards to the average age of the current list (including Bennell) .
With Duffield, Crowley and McPharlin gone- the average age is 25.3 years of age (End of December 31 2015).
Take out the top four oldest (Pav, Sandi, MJ and Mundy) the average drops to 24.4 years of age.
In 2015, Freo had the oldest list of all 18 clubs at 25.4.

This is not true. NM were older.

Here's what I had on the Tues. after the GF:-
View attachment 183447

 

[Sweetback]

If we don't get McCarthy, then I would have Fyfe and A Pearce training as forwards in the preseason.