Team for 1st Match

[John Gent]

Hargreaves Harris Bassett

----------------Smith------------

Murphy Grant Koops

Gilbee West Cooney


Rawlings Johnson


Bandy Walsh Faulkiner


Darcy Hahn Giansiracusa


McMahon Bowden Street Birss

Smith plays loose across half-back. This allows Rawlings and Johnson to play between centre and half-forward. Walsh shares F/F with Bowden.

This is a top six team given a fair run with injuries

 

[pavezj]

I'm sure Rhoda will find a spot somewhere for Crofty, even if it is just on th bench.

 

[SCRAY72]

I look at next year's team from a different perspective. Who is a certainty to play round 1 and who will play depending on their performances during the pre-season on the training track and in the Wizard Cup.
My certs for round 1 are :

Hargeave
Harris
Smith
Grant
Koops
West
Cooney
Rawlings
Johnson
Bandy
Faulkner
Darcy
Hahn
Street
Giansiracusa
Robbins

That leaves Birss, Power, Gilbee, K-Mac, Bowden, Croft, Walsh,
McMahon,Cross, Morgan and Bassett to fight it out for the remaining six spots.

 

[Gilbo_Fan]

I dont know how anyone can consider Faulkner a certainty. He has not played senior firsts football in the AFL or the SANFL. He played under 10 VFL games in 2003 and in the past two years he has broken a foot and a leg.

Faulkner looks like he could be good, but at this stage he hasn't done anything and I think the expectations of him are way too high. If he played 10-14 games and kicked 10-20 goals that would be a brilliant season.

I suspect Harris and Hargraves will be under a lot of pressure to get a game next season with Morgan and Koops ready to take their spots.

Eagleton, McMahon, Giansiracusa and Gilbee are ready to shine in 2004, they will prove their class and silence their doubters.

 

[stefoid]

I reckon Bowdo and Croft are walkup starts, if fit.

 

[SonOfScray]

Good call Scray, I'd be happy to see those mentioned in the team for R1. Faulkner would have to impress in the Wizzer to get a walk up start IMO, he most likley will!

Of the outside chances I'd suggest that Birss, Gilbbe, Kmac, Bowden, Croft and Jordy will make it into the squad.

 

[John Gent]

Originally posted by Gilbo_Fan
I dont know how anyone can consider Faulkner a certainty. He has not played senior firsts football in the AFL or the SANFL. He played under 10 VFL games in 2003 and in the past two years he has broken a foot and a leg.

Faulkner looks like he could be good, but at this stage he hasn't done anything and I think the expectations of him are way too high. If he played 10-14 games and kicked 10-20 goals that would be a brilliant season.

I suspect Harris and Hargraves will be under a lot of pressure to get a game next season with Morgan and Koops ready to take their spots.

Eagleton, McMahon, Giansiracusa and Gilbee are ready to shine in 2004, they will prove their class and silence their doubters.

Hargreaves is in the first 10 picked. If Morgan is to get a game it will be in the back pocket, not full back - too slow. Koops will play half back, not back pocket.
Anybody who saw the job that Harris did on Lynch will see him as a shoe-in at F/B

 

[SonOfScray]

Exactly right! Even though he had 4 goals kicked on him, that was the game where he showed us that he would be able to hold down FB. Considering the amount of supply Lynch had, Harris was superb. Particularly early in the game.

With more quality and experience around him in 2004 I can see him being a big improver and really giving opposition forwrds a big headache. The preseason period has obviously been a good one for him, he is massive at the moment! Can't wait to see him throwing a bit of weight around next year.

 

[dogman22]

I wouldn't have a loose man across half back from the first bounce - too negative a move for my liking. You win matches by kicking goals, unless you're a Mick Malthouse side.

From John Gent's team, I'd put Bubba on a HBF, Gia in a FP, and Murph on the ball to allow this to happen.

I'm going to refrain from posting my Round 1 side until after the Wizzer Cup - too many question marks at this stage.

 

[The Doctor]

B: Croft, Harris, Hargrave
HB: Smith, Grant, Power
C: McMahon, West, Eagleton
HF: Johnson, Bandy, Koops
F: McGuinness, Rawlings, Robbins
R: Darcy, Hahn, Murphy

Int: Street, Giansiracusa, Faulkner, Cooney

EMG: Morgan, Bowden, Gilbee

I was tempted to find a spot for Walsh but would like to see him put in a few big games for the Bees before coming in.

 

[OldSchool]

B :Robbins, Croft, Hargrave
HB :Smith, Grant, Koops
C :Murphy, West, Eagleton
HF :McMahon, Rawlings, Johnson
FF :Bowden, Bandy, Cooney
R : Darcy, Hahn, Giansiracusa
Int :Street, Power, Harris, Gilbee, Birss, Faulkner, Harrison, Ray

 

[Bloody-Redhead]

Message to Gilbofan and Anyone else questioning Faulkner:

GO AND WATCH THE WAY HE IS TRAINING

He has hit a new level and the way he is running his feet and legs aren't a problem. We don't need every single person we get to play 20 VFL games before representing us! We choose representatives (through match committee) over who will BEST represent!!!!.....Faulkner (thumbs up, lad)!

 

[SCRAY72]

If the thread is about who will play round 1 then Croft might not be considered. He is scheduled to miss a fair part of the pre-season so Morgan or Bassett will take his spot.

 

[X_box_X]

We have a lot of depth players that could easily crack into the side. These players include the players already mentioned by Scray.

My side would differentiate between the sides that we play. Obviously for a team like West Coast, our round one opponent, who has a weaker forward line than Port Adelaide, our back line would be different.

My squad against West Coast for round one:

B: Robbins, Harris, Hargrave

Robbins has the pace and the smaller height to run with Matera. I'd expect Harris to have the role on the up and coming McDougall. I look forward to seeing how these two tyros go at it. Hargrave will be the one who takes most of the marks in the back line. I have said it before and I'll say it again. He will have a similar role to the one McPharlin has at Fremantle.

HB: Koops, Grant, Smith

I'd expect Dean Cox to start at CHF, leaving Grant to stay with the big fellow. Koops will have the important role on Andrew Embley. Smith is there to give us a lot of drive from the half back line. I don't know if he's the right man for the job to go with Rowan Jones. Perhaps Robbins could run with Jones, leaving Hargrave the role on Matera.

C: Giansiracusa, West, Murphy

A good center line without it being brilliant. We definitely need to match West Coast's midfield with the likes of Cousins, Fletcher, Judd and Kerr. Some match ups would probably be: Giansiracusa running with Morrison. West and Fletcher running with each other. Murphy and Kerr running with each other.

HF: Eagleton, Bandy, Cooney

With a fit Bandy in the side, I can see the West Coast defenders being in trouble, especially if Darcy and Rawlings are also creating havoc up forward. Eagleton and Cooney can provide run and kick the long goals from outside 50 if needed.

F: Darcy, Rawlings, Garlick

I still like Garlick. I would say he is one of our most accurate kickers from 35-45 meters. We also need a small forward to crumb goals, and I think Garlick is the man. I wouldn't be surprised if Rohde rotates Giansiracusa and Garlick. Perhaps Garlick can also rotate with Power. So we'd have Power on the wing, Giansiracusa up forward and Garlick on the bench.

RU: Street, Hahn, Johnson

I would expect Hahn to have the job on Cousins. Street really needs to counteract Gardiner in the ruck. I think this may be a problem. Gardiner has the wood over Darcy in the ruck, so it might be worth a try to play Street up against the big, number one drafted ruckman. Johnson's blistering pace should allow him to have a run-with role with the number three drafted youngster in Chris Judd.

Int: Power, Croft, McMahon, Faulkner

Looking forward to seeing Faulkner's debut game. I think McMahon will be needed for his pace and good goal kicking ability. Croft will obviously be there to throw down back if we are having troubles in that defensive department, and Power will spend a lot of time in the midfield.

Do we lack height? Is height that big of an issue against West Coast? I think we need more running players to be honest, especially at a ground like Telstra Dome.

 

[Gilbo_Fan]

I've seen Faulkner train and yes he looks good but he has played 3/4 of a practise match against Essendon and is coming off some major injuries.

Training well and playing well are completely different.

If we were picking the side on the way a player looks at training then McMahon would be amongst the top 20 players in the AFL. Nobody moves better than him, swoops on the loose ball or hits targets. I hope that this year he puts that package to work in games.

Faulkner has great potential but much work to do. The fact that he is doing that hard yards at training is terrific. I hope he is one of the most determined players we have ever had.

 

[Bloody-Redhead]

Faulkner has been doing competitive work at training today and hasn't disappointed. Jordee is a good player and will be in our future plans BUT I think Faukner has bypassed him on the scale at the moment, nothing wrong with Jordee, or others, its just he has hit the accelerator in development. Jordee has edge in senior experience, no doubt, but Faulkner can gain that by being in seniors (and has earnt the chance more then when Jordee has gotten in) Ther is No reasonable way you can say F won't play game 1 cause he has done all that is asked plus a hellova-lot more.
Cooney will play round 1 is is doing fine. Faulkner in performance would come into seniors before him. Cooments on that..?

 

[John Gent]

Couldn't agree more. Everyone has to start somewhere. If we do not pick him because he hasn't played a game, then he never will.

Jordan will be a good player when he learns there is a defensive side to the game.

 

[stefoid]

Originally posted by Bloody-Redhead
Faulkner has been doing competitive work at training today and hasn't disappointed. Jordee is a good player and will be in our future plans BUT I think Faukner has bypassed him on the scale at the moment, nothing wrong with Jordee, or others, its just he has hit the accelerator in development. Jordee has edge in senior experience, no doubt, but Faulkner can gain that by being in seniors (and has earnt the chance more then when Jordee has gotten in) Ther is No reasonable way you can say F won't play game 1 cause he has done all that is asked plus a hellova-lot more.
Cooney will play round 1 is is doing fine. Faulkner in performance would come into seniors before him. Cooments on that..?

Where do you reckon he'll play? How is his disposal? Robbo has a problem dealing with the slippery customers, could Faulkner play BP on these types?

 

[Number 2 1961]

Changes to X Boxes side.

Would have Faulkner in the FP instead of Garlick.

Would have Mcguiness in the 22 instead of Garlick.

Would prefer to start Power instead of Gia on the wing.

If Croft cannot be considered for RD 1 then I hope that a guy like Walsh is ready to have a go. Second choice Bowden. Third Morgan.

Geez Gilbee and Cross are stiff. Could probadly add a few more players to the stiff list.

 

[Fossie 32]

How come everyone thinks Street will get a game first up? What has he done so far?

 

[pavezj]

I've never really been a fan of Street and I thought pick 20 was a bit high for him, however they did bring him across to give Darcy a rest so I would imagine that would be hard for him to do at Werribee. He doesn't need to set the world on fire, we just need someone to hold the fort while Darcy pushes forward and can have a rest.

You only need to have seen either the Kangaroos or Adelaide game to realise he is a required player for 2004.

 

[Dogs 13]

47 hit outs in his last game against the Saints and 23 against Brisbane the week before.

However, when I've seen him previously I thought he lacked "urgency" and did seem a bit soft.

Sounds a bit like our No. 21.

 

[Fossie 32]

Sure we need another ruckman but they need to actually do something not like Bruton who did basically nothing - not that he was on for long.

 

[Fossie 32]

Originally posted by Dogs 13
47 hit outs in his last game against the Saints and 23 against Brisbane the week before.

However, when I've seen him previously I thought he lacked "urgency" and did seem a bit soft.

Sounds a bit like our No. 21.

That sounds good - I wasn't aware that he was that good.

 

[Dry Rot]

Originally posted by Fossie 32
That sounds good - I wasn't aware that he was that good.

I can't recall too many questioning Street's tap rucking abilities (or results); it's rather that he seems to forget that the game goes on in between rucks.