Team Selection Round 1 - 2010

[Mr Ripper]

Just looking in admiration at the competition for spots. I'm still not convinced about the recruiting strategies executed by Voss, Gubby and co. wrt its long-term consequences, but if they pull it off, stand by for every other mid-ranked club going down the same path next October. Should be fun to watch.

 

[BigCat2]

How do you reckon Collier will go next year Quigs?

 

[whatboutbob]

Quigley, I think your team's there-abouts.

Two questions: do you really rate Proud as a decent small forward option, or is it more out of desperation?

I don't get to see him in the ressies, but in the seniors he seems to fumble, have hard hands, and makes bad decisions under pressure. I would've thought these would only be highlighted in that position...?

And on a related tangent, getting the crystal ball out, could you see any new rookies making the grade next year, if we got them? Loved your picks in the phantom rookie draft btw.

 

[chopperduck]

I think Proud is in the mix as well. He was much better in 09 than he was in 08. Whilst he wasn't great with ball in hand, he did have off field distractions. It was the fact that he had improved enough to be able to get to more contests, and get himself into a position where he was able to get the ball. in 08 he could hardly get a touch. Will only continue to improve i think.

Even though we dont have any quick crumbing small forwards, i think we can make do with Brown and Fev with 2 or 3 of the medium smart forwards. the likes of Polks, Buchanon and Rockliff can still conbine for those crumbing goals. Dont need to be speedy to be a great crumber, it just helps.

 

[Lace Out]

I'll be both surprised and elated if Goose plays meaningful senior footy again.

 

[whizkizz]

My team for round 1:

B - Drummond Merrett McGrath
HB - Patfull Maguire Hawksley
C - Brennan Adcock Sherman
HF - Clarke Brown Power
F - Buchanan Fevola Polkinghorne
R - Clark Black Rich
Int - Leuenberger Redden, Hanley, Stiller

100% agree with your starting 18 Quigs. As for the bench, I see Charman over Leuey early on, but if Charmo can't find any form he'll soon be out of favour.

The other is Hanley. I wouldn't read too much into Voss elevating him. He elevated Clouston straight after taking over the list, and the guy never got a game (I know he was injured for a long time, but he obviously didn't show enough to retain his spot on the list). I'd play Johnstone over Hanley, I know we all think of Johnstone's worst games when rating him, but his last 3-4 games of 2009 were actually pretty solid.

 

[Old Den]

I would not move McGrath out of defence - not so much if it ain't broke don't fix it...more when you're on a good thing stick to it.

If Maguire is selected I would go along with Quigley on Clark and Leuenberger.

If Adcock can shine as a mid it will be very good but I see him best suited in defence so far - you would have to think that the loss of Macdonald will hardly cause a ripple.

I expect to see Proud be given every chance to be the player we thought he would be when we took him as a second round pick in the Draft... despite his slow start - but strong competition for Round 1 selection looks to be on.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Fair to say I don't see in Hanley what many here seem to. Sure he's quick, but hasn't shown more than anyone else at this stage.

 

[Del35196]

Fair to say I don't see in Hanley what many here seem to. Sure he's quick, but hasn't shown more than anyone else at this stage.

Yeh im the same, not quite sure what to make of Hanley, or who he could possibly replace to get into the side.

Prouds an interesting one, I think hes either gonna blow our mind and be really really good or be total shite...hes either gonna be Scott Harding or Luke Power I think.

 

[acuguy]

If Proud is fit and firing come rd 1 i think he will form a formidable duo with AXE Buchanon hitting the ball and the power with great force.

 

[JB75]

I know Travis Johnstone's name is mud with many Lions supporters, but his last 6 weeks of 2009 were excellent and to not have him in our best 22 is ridiculous. He was in our top 5 players in this period if not our best player. He was dropped earlier in the year due to not working hard enough defensively, not because he couldn't play. When he came back he had rectified this area of his game to a level the coaching staff were happy with. I see no reason why he would be out of favour and he is every chance to continue on from his strong finish to 2009.

 

[chopperduck]

I know Travis Johnstone's name is mud with many Lions supporters, but his last 6 weeks of 2009 were excellent and to not have him in our best 22 is ridiculous. He was in our top 5 players in this period if not our best player. He was dropped earlier in the year due to not working hard enough defensively, not because he couldn't play. When he came back he had rectified this area of his game to a level the coaching staff were happy with. I see no reason why he would be out of favour and he is every chance to continue on from his strong finish to 2009.

Yeah i agree with this. He wasn't flashy when he came back, but he did the hard stuff. As long as he keeps that and builds from there he will improve. Id rather see a TJ get 15 possessions and be good defensively around the ground with 6 tackles and 7 or 8 contested possession than having 28 touches with little else.

Also must agree with acuguy, a Proud / Buchanon duo up forward would be pretty solid and intimidating for defenders i think. Neither are super fast, but Proud especially is faster than one would think. Could seriously stick in some pressure up forward with these two.

 

[chopperduck]

Some food for thought would be the possibility of us playing a 3 tall forward line. Many say it is too top heavy or wouldn't work, but until Bradshaw left Voss seemed pretty keen on having all 3 playing, as well as making many posters here druel just thinking about it.

So, just because Braddles is gone, could we still go down this track ? Bradshaw is a genuine FF and didn't offer us much around the ground. Surely playing Brennan or a Clark as a 3rd tall (in theory) would give us a bit around the ground as well as that 3rd tall in the forward line. Braddles also gave us the option on swinging him to defence if needed, again, both Brennan and Clark would be able to do this as well.

Whilst im undecided myself on this idea, i just found it interesting that when it looked like we would have Fev, Brown and Braddles i didn't think twice about playing 3 forwards, but now i do, even though Brennan and Clark are very able bodies up forward, Brennan especially as he is a match up nightmare as a 3rd tall. Any thoughts ?

 

[chopperduck]

Extra bit on my post above, Round 1 2009 v Eagles we played with Brown, Bradshaw, Charmo, Bergs and Clark all in the team. Clark was playing down back, with Charmo and Bergs in the middle. Several times both Charmo and Bergs were on the field at the same time with Charmo resting forward.

Even before Clark broke out, we were willing to play all these players in the same team, and on teh ground at the same time.

 

[Tassie4ever]

I know Travis Johnstone's name is mud with many Lions supporters, but his last 6 weeks of 2009 were excellent and to not have him in our best 22 is ridiculous. He was in our top 5 players in this period if not our best player. He was dropped earlier in the year due to not working hard enough defensively, not because he couldn't play. When he came back he had rectified this area of his game to a level the coaching staff were happy with. I see no reason why he would be out of favour and he is every chance to continue on from his strong finish to 2009.

I guess you've blanked out his finals game against the Dogs.

 

[Lace Out]

I guess you've blanked out his finals game against the Dogs.

Yeah I see TJ as a fringe player in his last year due to chronic inconsistency.Too much mustard gas in between cigars.

I applauded the trade but it hasn't worked and but for the contract I think it would be outski.

 

[whizkizz]

I guess you've blanked out his finals game against the Dogs.

Did anyone play well that game?

 

[T Rick]

TJ is quite comfortably in our best 10 players when he is firing. We wouldn't have beaten the swans in round 22 or most likely the blues in the elim final without him. Not to mention the 3 or 4 games throughout the year he absolutely dominated. If Travis is willing to work it's a crime not to play him.

 

[Axel.]

TJ needs his 08 form.

 

[lionshine]

My new team:

B Andrew Raines Daniel Merret Ashley McGrath
HB Joel Patful Matt Maguire Tom Collier
C Josh Drummond James Polkinghorne Jed Adcock
HF Justin Sherman Jonathan Brown Xavier Clarke
F Amon Buchanan Brendan Fevola LukePower
R Mitch Clark Simon Black Jared Brennan
Inter Matthew Leuenberger Daniel Rich Travis Johnstone Albert Proud
Emer Jack Redden James Hawksley Michael Rischitelli
Tagger= Jed Adcock

Would love to have in: Jamie Charman, James Hawksley, Brent Staker, Sam Sheldon, Michael Rischitelli, Matt Austin, Troy Selwood, Cheynee Stiller and Jack Redden.

Could have gone either way:
Proud/Redden
Collier/Hawksley
Johnsotne/Rischitelli

 

[Tassie4ever]

Did anyone play well that game?

Very few played well, it's true, but quite a few went down with all guns blazing. Travis wasn't one of them- senior player, leadership in adversity, setting the example, shedding skin, setting the bar high, earning the very generous pay packet, etc: none of this was remotely on display.

As for "dominating" a number of select games- you are kidding. Maybe doing what is expected of him, and no more.

As stated above, if we weren't locked into a rather expensive salary package, it would already be goodnight nurse for Trav. As for 2010, if he hasn't read the writing on the wall writ large from all the trades, then he's not tuned in to the program.

 

[southfremantle]

Outside Maguire can anybody see any of the other draftees getting a game throughout the year?

 

[lionshine]

Outside Maguire can anybody see any of the other draftees getting a game throughout the year?

I can see Bartlett and Harwood maybe getting 1 or 2 but other than that probally not!

 

[Snuka]

Outside Maguire can anybody see any of the other draftees getting a game throughout the year?

No, but pretty hard to say now. Best chance you'd think would be Bartlett. Obvious thing to say would be that they would nurse him this year because of his injury but I think Voss would have the attitude that if their ok to play reserves and fully train then there ok to play AFL.

 

[pauldrc]

Like to see Bartlett play a few this year, but only once he is 100% right, although that might mean we are having injury problems.....

Rockliff might be ahead of him for now, unless we are purely looking for pace....