Team Selection Round 1 - 2010

[MTG08]

B: Adcock, Merret, X. Clarke
HB: Patfull, Clark, Mcgrath
C: Sherman, Polkinghorne, Drummond
HF: Rischitelli, Brown, Buchanan
FF: Brennan, Fevola, Power
RR: Leuenberer, Black, Rich
I/C: Charman, Redden, Staker, Stiller

Fringe Players: Banfield, Rockliff, Selwood, Raines, Cornelius, Hawksley, Sheldon


I think another pre-season for the group of players such as Rich, Redden, Polkinghorne etc. would give take them all to another level. This 2010 team IMO looks more complete due to vossy's trades and creates a much more competitive list, which is a IMO what vossy was trying to do in the first place with the tradings.

X.Clarke in back pocket would have enough height to create cover for oppositions 2nd tall deep forward, or if they play a quick small he would have the speed to stay with them aswell. Drummond on the wing would release him even more and use his boot. I was tempted to put Rich on the other wing, which is scary, but i chose to put him in the middle. This was because a combination of Black/Rich handballing to eachother in stoppages and then delivering the ball to Brown/Fev is a little too good to pass up. (or they could switch it to Drummond on the wing and do the same thing)

Every other selection is self explanatory i think.

 

[lionshine]

B McGrath Merret Adcock
HB Patful Clark Clarke(X)
C Sherman Buchannan Drummond
HF Polkinghorne Brown Redden
F Power Fevola Brennan
R Leuenberger Black Rich
Inter Hawksley Raines/Selwood Rischitelli Staker/Proud

Now guys im sure I have missed someone so if I have please don't go crazy just let me know and I will put them in.

Now, Buchhanan to help with the clarances in the middle with Black. Him and Polkinghorne to rotate through the midfield and Half Forward line. Redden and Drummond to swap with them also rotating off the bench with Hawksley. Xaxvier Clarke to spend time on the wing when needed. Rischitelli to rotate with Black when Blacky gets tired. Brown to push up ground with Fevola leading from goal square. Rich, Black and Drummond to deliver into forward 50 the majority of times.

When Leauenberger gest tired, he goes to bench, Staker goes to CHB Clark to ruck! If Proud is in the team we might have Charmo in the team or we might not and just rotate Leauey and Clark. Raines or Selwood whichever is in the side does the tagging job.

Brennan to crumb but also spend time in the middle and Power main crumber until Banfield or Rockliff gets in the side. Sherman and Clarke and McGrath to provide lots of run from wing and backline. Merrret and Patful and Staker/Clark to spoil the footy and take the 3 tallest frowards. If there is a small forward line, Clark moves to bench to be back-up ruck and Patful to centre half back.

So that is my team and once gain if I have forgot anyone let me know!

P.S. I am just wondering out of the guys we have traded for. Who do you rekon will be in the side week in week out? Fevola, Buchannan, Clarke with Staker and Raines to push for spots?

Cheers, Lionshine

 

[Lions4flag]

B: McGrath, Merrett, Drummond
HB: X.Clarke, Clark, Patfull
C: Redden, Rischitelli, Brennan
HF: Sherman, Brown, Buchanan
FF: Adcock, Fevola, Power
RR: Leuenberger, Black, Rich
I/C: Charman, Polkinghorne, Staker, Stiller

 

[GoTheLions]

RD1-2010

B: McGrath, Merret, Drummond
HB: Patful, Clark, Adcock
C: Sherman, Brennan, Johnstone
HF: Polkinghorne, Brown, Cornelius
F: Buchanan, Fevola, Power
R: Leuenberger, Black, Rich

Inter: Redden, X-Clarke, Rischitelli, Selwood,

Fringe: Charman, Stiller, Sheldon, Staker, Proud, Hawksley, Raines, Rockliff, Hanley (not in any order)

Basically just want to see Voss back some of the younger guys, especially up forward, as if we are going to get close in the next few yars, as great as the Brown/Fev combination will be, we need some of these young guys to step up and support them to add that extra dimension.

I can see Polkinhorne spending some time in the middle though and Redden taking his game ot the next level. Players I see making it into the team over the year depending on who we play I have added as Fringe, however I am sure a few of the first year guys will be agiven a go too.

 

[MTG08]

I hope Banfield comes on and proves to be gun. He has some real pace that would suit the lions needs.

 

[BigCat2]

I'm happy to name my 2010 side now.

B Drummond Merrett McGrath
HB Adcock Patfull Collier
C Brennan Rich X Clarke
HF Johnstone Brown Sherman
F Polkinghorne Fevola Buchanan

R Clark Black Power

IC Leuenberger Stiller Redden Hawksley

EM Staker Rischitelli Selwood

I'm happy to sit on this until pre-season cup, unless we pick up Luke Ball or a small forward who is readymade.


Backline
5 of the 6 pick themselves. The big bolter here is Tom Collier, who I believe is an upgrade on Joel Macdonald. He's tall but isn't a natural key defender - instead his attribute is his run and carry, with better speed, power and disposal than JMac. I think defence is the strongest part of our team, and I'm confident we can handle any forwardline, and provide plenty of drive. Hawksley on the bench is another who can play here.

Midfield
I'm leaving Clark in the ruck where he's played his best football. Depends on how Leuenberger goes they might be on the ground at the same time, splitting time in the ruck and provide mobile marking targets. Black, Power, Rich and Brennan are our best midfielders and are named accordingly. Xavier Clarke is one who I think, if fit, can fit straight into our 22 as that outside mid with good skills. He's said that Voss told him he'll be played on the wing or half forward. On the bench are Stiller and Redden. The former has established himself as the best tagger in our team, while Redden is our most promising inside mid prospect and has already put in good performances as opposed to youngsters who mainly show glimpses.

Forward
Out with Guns and in with Fev. Still the 2 power forwards with Brown and Fevola. Sherman provides good dash and his kicking form has returned. Johnstone again will be interesting to follow - if he produces more often then we'll be a very dangerous side, but if he flops he'll be quickly headed for the scrapheap. Polkinghorne will continue to split time between a smaller marking target and on-ball. Buchanan is similar in that his best position is probably an inside mid, but knows where the big sticks are as well. We still lack that crumber and someone who provides speed and frontal pressure in the forward half. Our lack of forward options continues to be my biggest worry along with our over-reliance on Black.

So how does that team compare to the one we put out for 2009? Going by the most number of games played, our 2009 team:

B Drummond Merrett McGrath
HB Adcock Patfull Macdonald
C Brennan Rich Stiller
HF Johnstone Brown Sherman
F Polkinghorne Bradshaw Sheldon

R Clark Black Power

IC Notting Rischitelli Harding Proud

The players who made the next most appearances: Redden (10), Selwood (10) and Hooper (9).

So the difference between the 2 teams -
OUT: Bradshaw, Notting, Macdonald, Rischitelli, Harding Proud, Sheldon
IN: Fevola, Buchanan, Clarke, Leuenberger, Collier, Hawksley, Redden

On paper, I'd have to say I prefer the 'IN's compared to the 'OUT's. The INs are based on 3 of our mature inclusions and development of 4 of our most promising youngsters. Of course there's the intangible and unpredictable nature of team chemistry, and it's Voss's job to mould them into a strong unit.

 

[Gibbo_88]

CEO 2010 is the biggest problem for us for round 1 atm
Out: Michael Bowers
In: Anyone that wants to keep the gold lion.

 

[Haggis McHaggis]

LoL as I said earlier there's a case in the constitution to get rid of Bowers..

10. DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF BOARD

10.1 The office of a Director shall be vacated if the Director:

d) is found lunatic or becomes of unsound mind

 

[bloody brilliant]

i would have M. Clarke as a ruck rover alloying power to go to the forward pocket. X Clarke to be the EX factor and drummo to be on a wing then Staker back pocket to take 2nd or 3rd tall

 

[Zacisonfire]

I'm happy to name my 2010 side now.

B Drummond Merrett McGrath
HB Adcock Patfull Collier
C Brennan Rich X Clarke
HF Johnstone Brown Sherman
F Polkinghorne Fevola Buchanan

R Clark Black Power

IC Leuenberger Stiller Redden Hawksley

EM Staker Rischitelli Selwood

Pretty happy with that side Bigcat agree with your explanations also!

 

[Prem87]

Play Staker in the middle/wing and he will carve teams up. He will be a very very good pickup for you if he gains some consistency.

My Best 22:

FB: McGrath Merrett Adcock
CHB: Clarke Patful Drummond
C: Staker Rich Brennan
CHF: Johnstone Brown X.Clarke
FF: Sherman Fevola Buchanan
Foll: Leunberger Black Power

INT: Raines Rischitelli Charman Selwood

 

[Fatcat08]

Play Staker in the middle/wing and he will carve teams up. He will be a very very good pickup for you if he gains some consistency.

My Best 22:

FB: McGrath Merrett Adcock
CHB: Clarke Patful Drummond
C: Staker Rich Brennan
CHF: Johnstone Brown X.Clarke
FF: Sherman Fevola Buchanan
Foll: Leunberger Black Power

INT: Raines Rischitelli Charman Selwood

Would very much doubt that Polkinghorne isn't in the starting side let alone not even on the bench.

 

[Axel.]

My Best 22:

FB: McGrath Merrett Patful
CHB: X. Clarke Drummond Collier
C: Rich Black Brennan
CHF: Polkinghorne Brown Adcock
FF: Buchanan Fevola Cornelius
Foll: Clark Power Sherman

INT: Selwood Leunberger Hawksley Redden

(Sheldon Austin Hanely Proud Rockliff Johnstone Rischitelli)

 

[Gabbatoir]

Where do people think we get the most value out of Drummond's kicking?
In the defensive 50 on the rebound, or on a wing?

 

[Axel.]

Where do people think we get the most value out of Drummond's kicking?
In the defensive 50 on the rebound, or on a wing?

Half back, so he can kick it 70 meters into the 50.

 

[Gabbatoir]

Half back, so he can kick it 70 meters into the 50.

That's one option, but do we use him in bursts on the wing as a change up for the long shots at goal more often as teams increase the flooding to clog up our F50.

 

[POBT]

Half back, so he can kick it 70 meters into the 50.

Although if it is that simple, then surely wing would be the better position where he can launch 70m at goal.

Personally, I like him as a wingman. We have an abundance of half back flankers and Drummo was started to be tagged down back - a move might free him up a little more.

However, I have serious concerns about his durability in that role, where he'd be expected to cover enormous amounts of ground on a weekly basis. Not sure his body is up to it.

 

[chopperduck]

agree with POBT there. I think we could cover him down back, and have more to gain having him on a wing, however, not sure if he could do this role. So he is probably best staying down back for now, and just trying to sneak up the ground to have a few pings at goals every game when we move the ball slow and cant get a free target in the 50. This is where we look for targets 60m out and get drummo to trot down for a hand off and shot.

 

[weevil]

If he stays back or only plays cameos on the wing then Ash has to move into the middle. We need to be able to inflict serious damage by foot from the middle.

 

[Axel.]

Who thinks Staker and Rains will actually get a game? imo they're just trade bait for the GC for decent picks.

 

[Gabbatoir]

Who thinks Staker and Rains will actually get a game? imo they're just trade bait for the GC for decent picks.

I think that trading them to GC is a plan B if they don't go well. If they have a good year and earn their spots, they wouldn't be traded.

 

[Axel.]

I think that trading them to GC is a plan B if they don't go well. If they have a good year and earn their spots, they wouldn't be traded.

Good call.
But i would prefer Sheldon/Collier or X.Clarke over Rains at HB.
And there's about 7 other MIDS i prefer over Staker and if he plays HF i'd prefer Cornelius or Rockliff.

 

[lionshine]

Good call.
But i would prefer Sheldon/Collier or X.Clarke over Rains at HB.
And there's about 7 other MIDS i prefer over Staker and if he plays HF i'd prefer Cornelius or Rockliff.

Staker at his best ia a 34 possesion 4 goal player. He is just so inconsitent. Maybe the move for him will be good. New game plan, new life, new coach, new teamates and a new ground to train and play on. He might become consistent and star for us week in week out. A consistent Staker would be a gun for any team.

 

[Gabbatoir]

Good call.
But i would prefer Sheldon/Collier or X.Clarke over Rains at HB.
And there's about 7 other MIDS i prefer over Staker and if he plays HF i'd prefer Cornelius or Rockliff.

Personally I'd prefer whichever was playing the best footy, but that's just me.

 

[Lions1024]

Good call.
But i would prefer Sheldon/Collier or X.Clarke over Rains at HB.
And there's about 7 other MIDS i prefer over Staker and if he plays HF i'd prefer Cornelius or Rockliff.

Raines at his best is easily in our best 22. I think quite a lot of people haev been fairly harsh on him escpecially Richmond supporters. Raines has been injury plagued ever since his rising star year and has had only one injury free year, in that year his kicking was put to question but he still had a solid year. Raines is 22 and like Sherman has had a shocking period in which he's gone from future superstar to a dud ( Let me add that his formed slumped once he went on the ireland tour?!?!?! Coincidence or not). i've got a feeling he'll have a Shermanesque type of year and really solidfy his position.

I agree with Staker though, I would rather let a young player like Collier play,or i would rather a players player play (Selwood,Charmo). Team Moral is often underrated and the players would rather play with soemone they love to play with rather then a laconic, incosnsitent, soft but talented player.