Starting linup for rd1

[daddy_4_eyes]

Well, we have 3 weeks to burn and I figured the best way to do this is to prepare for the derby. Since there is in the vicinity of 15 regulars now, I though we might all post up our best 22, tally up the number of people who picked each player, and come up with an official "bigfooty WCE best 22". (hope you all know what i'm blabbing about).

Here goes:

FB: Collica Glass Taylor
HB: Roo Jakovich Williams
C: Kerr Cousins Wirrpunda
HF: Jones Gardiner Embley
FF: Fido Wilson Merenda
RR: Cox Banfield Braun
Bench: Judd Sierakowski McIntosh Fletcher

Emergency: Prior, Carroll, Haynes, Sampi, Wooden
(assuming Morrison and Gaspar will be injured come rd1)

Reasons:

FB: Collica and Glass are obvious picks, while Taylor looks to be a good small defender. I left out McIntosh as I believe he should be used sparingly.

HB: Roo stated he wants to play in defense, Jako looks to be back to his best, while Williams looks talented but doesn't seem to perform up front so maybe defense is the place for him.

C: No reasons needed, all 3 pick themselves

HF: Gardiner to hold down CHF, Jones always seems to kick goals when he goes forward, and with banfield back it might free him up to play a Lappin type role. Embley is a very good flanker, so he's an automatic there.

FF: Wilson at full-forward with Merenda and Fido to crumb off him. Seems a potent line.

RR: Cox looks ready to lead our ruck, Banfield is still our #1 tagger while Braun should be able to hold his own as a rover.

Bench: A tall defender (McIntosh), a tall forward (Sierakowski), a midfielder (fletcher) and a utility (Judd).

Emergency: A number of players could be named here, and some are unlucky not to be in the team (Haynes and Sampi). Despite a solid 2001, Carroll looks to be our 7th tall defender behind Milli, Jako, Gaspar, Glass, Prior and Collica. I just didn't see a spot for him in our team, and once Gaspar returns from injury it might be very hard for him to get a run. Same applies to Wooden, though with a few injuries he could be an option for a small defender.



Overall, it was very tough to make our starting 22. We have a bit of depth now, hopefully injuries won't effect us as much as in the last 2yrs.

 

[i_luv_westcoast]

Im not sure about Kerr on the wing, I think he is of more benefit to West Coast as an on-baller. I would play Judd on the wing and let him do his own thing. Hopefully he will develop like Kerr did last year.

I'd prefer to see a fit Prior in the back pocket to Taylor. Gardinar worries me at CHF, his kicking really lets him down at times. I would rotate Siera, Embley and McDougall through that position.

I'd also like to see Haynes on the ground more rather than just being used off the bench. He looks to be rerally big and strong this year. I'd play him as a permanant flanker and perhaps have him rotate with Judd at times.

Im not sure about Braun, he has missed so much football and still looks a shadow of his former self. Thoughts?

 

[Visro]

I'm going on the assumption that the following players won't be able to play due to injury:

Banfield
Gaspar
Harding
Phil Matera (I think)
Morrison
Prior
Read
Sierrakowski


FB: Glass McIntosh Taylor
HB: Collica Jakovich Williams
CL: Wirrpunda Fletcher Pe Matera
HF: Haynes Gardiner Embley
FF: Merenda Wilson Kerr
R: Cox Cousins Braun
B: Judd Hunter Tuckey Chambers
E: Jones Wooden

 

[jod23]

This is off the top of my head and assuming Phillip Matera is ready for Round 1.

FB Glass McIntosh Taylor
HB Collica Jakovich Matera
C Wirrpunda Kerr Braun
HF Williams Gardiner Haynes
FF Merenda Wilson Matera
R Cox Cousins Jones

Int Tuckey Judd Fletcher Banfield


Too many midfielders but as they say the game is moving in that direction...win in the middle and you win most games.

 

[iceman]

This lineup isnt really taking into account every injury:

FB: Glass McIntosh Taylor
HB: Collica Jakovich Matera
C: Fletcher Kerr Braun
HF: Wirra Gardiner Merenda
F: Williams Wilson Ph.Matera
C: Cox Cousins Jones

Int: Embley, Sierakowski, Tuckey, Judd


Reasons:
* Williams is in the forward pocket as he can take a good mark and can kick relatively straight
* Wirra on the half forward flank because we've seen what he can do when he goes forward... this is assuming he cant hold down a midfield role

Everyone else is pretty much in their standard position

 

[Theoden]

Taylor, Milli, Collica
Humm, Jako, Glass
Wiirpunda, Fletcher, Roo
Haynes, Sierra, Merenda
Jones, BB, Joey

Gardy, Cuz, Banners

Cox, Kerr, Braun, Gaspar

Em: from Judd, Williams, Chambers

 

[TheRealBuzz]

FF: Ph.Matera.....T.Wilson........M.Merenda
HF: B.Tuckey.......M.Gardiner....D.Haynes
CS: Pe.Matera....D.Kerr............D.Wirrpunda
HB: M.Collica......G.Jakovich......R.Taylor
FB: J.Humm........A.McIntosh.....D.Glass

RR: D.Cox..........C.Fletcher......B.Cousins

IB: A.Williams, R.Jones, M.Braun, C.Judd

EM: A.Embly, T.Carroll, C.Chambers

Forward Line:
- I'm almost 100% certain that Fido will be back. Even if he has no match fitness, he should come straight back into the side.
- Gardiner is a must at CHF. Great marking target, and makes sure that Pavlich has to stay down back.
- Tuckey has earned his spot, and I like his versatility.
- Haynes and Embly are competing for that other HF Flank.

Middle:
- Wirra, Kerr and Matera - Brings a tear to the eye The Feo midfield has NO pace or athleticism, and these blokes will kill them.
- Cousins will be fresh, and Freo have nobody decent to tag him. Mark him down for 35+ possessions.
- Fletch looks like he's set for a big year. Probably our best player through the Wizard Cup.

Backline:
- Not sure they'll line up this way. Collica and Glass will have major roles, because I don't think Milli and Jako can stay with Croad/Waterhouse.
- Either Jak or McIntosh will get J'Lo. Don't expect to see him for the entire day.
- Went with Humm in a back pocket. With Farmer missing, I think we can get away with that. Medhurst is as soft as they come, and a couple of Humm's crushing tackles will shake him up.

Ruck:
- Troy Simmonds hasn't done anything in the Wizard Cup. This allows us the luxury of Gardy up forward, while Cox rucks.
- Gardy and Tuckey can back him up.

Quite an impressive side.
Especially love that midfield - Good mixture of ball winners and pacy blokes who can use it well.
Can't see us losing to the Dorkers.

 

[ONE EYE]

Its been disappointing through the season to still see so many players out injured. In many respects we see the same players taking the field as last year. Apart from the Richmond game there seems to be a big leap in passion and commitment. In conclusion many of the faces are still the same and we are still looking for that middle group to step up. Here is my R1 team. This is based on what I have seen in the Wizard Cup and not on past reputations or potential:

FB : Humm McIntosh Glass
HB : Green Jakovich Collica
C : Pe Matera Cousins Braun
HF : Wirra Gardiner Haynes
FF : Merenda Wilson Tuckey

Ruck : Cox Jones Kerr

Bench : Williams Embley Judd Fletcher

Emergencies : Chambers Wooden Taylor

Just arent sure if Siera, Gaspar and Phil Matera are ready.

Disappointing that McDougall and Gaspar have had interupted pre seasons. Similarly, Hunter might step up in the next few weeks. We need these talls to emerge because we are alright for smalls.We are very light on for key position players.

I dont like having Gardiner at CHF. We need him in the Ruck.

I was concerned against Richmond that we had no fleet footed forwards. Thats why I have put Wirra at HF. Although we will see all the smalls rotated through the middle,

Humm, Green and Haynes have shown enough for me to see them in R1.

Having seen the Dockers on TV over the last three weeks we will have to beat them on the ground to win. They have good crumbers, strong in the air and plenty of muscle. R1 will be a big test for whether the players have improved and are ready to stand up and be counted. There are a lot of careers on the line this year. The Dockers look far more promising

GO EAGLES!