Opinion The Evolution of Your Best 22 for 2019

[S.Patrol.G]

F: R. Gray, T. Marshall, Z. Butters
HF: B. Ebert, J. Westhoff, S. Mayes
C: S. Motlop, T. Rockliff, K. Amon
HB: R. Burton, T. Clurey, J.Watts
B: D. Houston, T. Jonas, R. Bonner

Ruck: P. Ryder, T.Boak, S. Powell-Pepper
INT: S. Lycett, W. Drew, C. Rozee, D. Byrne-Jones
EMG: D. Howard, M. Broadbent, X. Duursma

Considering current injuries, the only position I'm unsure of is between Mayes, Rozee and Duursma. All have strengths and weaknesses and at this stage, it's 2 of the 3 for me.

 

[GremioPower]

My Best-XXII for Round 1 (I believe that Paddy plays):

Offense
Todd Marshall - Paddy Ryder - Robbie Gray
Justin Westhoff - Jack Watts - Brad Ebert

Midfield
Scott Lycett (R) - Tom Rockliff - Sam Powell-Pepper
Steven Motlop (W) - Travis Boak - Sam Mayes (W)

Defense
Dan Houston - Darcy Byrne-Jones - Ryan Burton
Riley Bonner - Tom Jonas - Tom Clurey

Interchange: Connor Rozee (F), William Drew (W), Zac Butters (M), and Karl Amon (D).

---
From my previous selection:

Ins: Dan Houston, Connor Rozee, William Drew, Zac Butters, and Karl Amon.

Outs:
Injured: Jarrod Lienert, Hamish Hartlett, Ollie Wines, and Charlie Dixon.
Form: Dougal Howard.

---
From our lineup in JLT 2:
In: Mayes
Out: Lienert, and Duursma.

 

[Doctor Feel]

My Best-XXII for Round 1 (I believe that Paddy plays):

Offense
Todd Marshall - Paddy Ryder - Robbie Gray
Justin Westhoff - Jack Watts - Brad Ebert


Midfield
Scott Lycett (R) - Tom Rockliff - Sam Powell-Pepper
Steven Motlop (W) - Travis Boak - Sam Mayes (W)

Defense
Dan Houston - Darcy Byrne-Jones - Ryan Burton
Riley Bonner - Tom Jonas - Tom Clurey

Interchange: Connor Rozee (F), William Drew (W), Zac Butters (M), and Karl Amon (D).

---
From my previous selection:

Ins: Dan Houston, Connor Rozee, William Drew, Zac Butters, and Karl Amon.

Outs:
Injured: Jarrod Lienert, Hamish Hartlett, Ollie Wines, and Charlie Dixon.
Form: Dougal Howard.

---
From our lineup in JLT 2:
In: Mayes
Out: Lienert, and Duursma.

Listing the Forwards as "offense" looks so weird.

I'd be switching the roles of Butters and Drew. Drew is an inside mid, not a winger. Karl Amon isn't a defender either. He's a winger. On that, the side looks a bit unbalanced. We need a defender rotation - broadbent may come in. Hard to say at the expense of who. Possibly Mayes in your side.

R1 selection is going to be tough.

 

[GremioPower]

Listing the Forwards as "offense" looks so weird.

I'd be switching the roles of Butters and Drew. Drew is an inside mid, not a winger. Karl Amon isn't a defender either. He's a winger. On that, the side looks a bit unbalanced. We need a defender rotation - broadbent may come in. Hard to say at the expense of who. Possibly Mayes in your side.

R1 selection is going to be tough.

My main issue is that I advocate adjusting the lineup according the opposition, but I have no clue about Melbourne. I can't name any of their players. So, I went for a generic side.

Moreover, I am still learning about our new guys. That's why I probably put some of them in the wrong position. On Amon, I thought having seen him playing at HB, but I may be mistaken.

"Offense" is my Americanism, I suppose. Brazilianly, I would have said "Attack." Forwards play in the offense; while backs play in the defense. I could have used "forwards," "midfielders," and "backs," indeed.

 

[JUSTWORK]

AFL.COM.AU MOCK 22 FOR ROUND 1


B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Ryan Burton
HB: Dan Houston, Tom Clurey, Riley Bonner
C: Xavier Duursma, Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts
HF: Steven Motlop, Justin Westhoff, Zak Butters
F: Paddy Ryder, Todd Marshall, Brad Ebert
Foll: Scott Lycett, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray
I/C: Matthew Broadbent, Willem Drew, Sam Powell-Pepper, Connor Rozee

EMERG: Karl Amon, Sam Gray, Dougal Howard, Sam Mayes

NEW: Ryan Burton, Zak Butters, Willem Drew, Xavier Duursma, Scott Lycett, Connor Rozee

UNAVAILABLE: Charlie Dixon (leg), Jarrod Lienert (knee), Hamish Hartlett (knee), Ollie Wines (shoulder)

NOTES: There's quite a few line-ball decisions for this new-look Port Adelaide side. I've gone with four debutants – Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma and Willem Drew. Duursma is prone to making a few errors, but he has pace and takes the game on, traits the Power are searching for this year. Jack Watts has done enough to secure a spot on the wing, while he can also spend time in defence. Matthew Broadbent proved his fitness in a SANFL trial last Friday night and adds experience in his return from a long-term ankle injury. With Jarrod Lienert sidelined with a medial knee injury, I've gone with the playmaking of Broadbent as his replacement ahead of the defensive-minded Dougal Howard. Paddy Ryder has been named assuming he recovers in time from a fractured cheekbone. - Lee Gaskin

 

[GremioPower]

AFL.COM.AU MOCK 22 FOR ROUND 1


B: Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas, Ryan Burton
HB: Dan Houston, Tom Clurey, Riley Bonner
C: Xavier Duursma, Tom Rockliff, Jack Watts
HF: Steven Motlop, Justin Westhoff, Zak Butters
F: Paddy Ryder, Todd Marshall, Brad Ebert
Foll: Scott Lycett, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray
I/C: Matthew Broadbent, Willem Drew, Sam Powell-Pepper, Connor Rozee

EMERG: Karl Amon, Sam Gray, Dougal Howard, Sam Mayes

NEW: Ryan Burton, Zak Butters, Willem Drew, Xavier Duursma, Scott Lycett, Connor Rozee

UNAVAILABLE: Charlie Dixon (leg), Jarrod Lienert (knee), Hamish Hartlett (knee), Ollie Wines (shoulder)

NOTES: There's quite a few line-ball decisions for this new-look Port Adelaide side. I've gone with four debutants – Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma and Willem Drew. Duursma is prone to making a few errors, but he has pace and takes the game on, traits the Power are searching for this year. Jack Watts has done enough to secure a spot on the wing, while he can also spend time in defence. Matthew Broadbent proved his fitness in a SANFL trial last Friday night and adds experience in his return from a long-term ankle injury. With Jarrod Lienert sidelined with a medial knee injury, I've gone with the playmaking of Broadbent as his replacement ahead of the defensive-minded Dougal Howard. Paddy Ryder has been named assuming he recovers in time from a fractured cheekbone. - Lee Gaskin

So, Gaskin suggests (in) Broadbent for (out) Lienert, cutting Amon from the 23-man team that played against North.

There is a consensus around 19 names, at least, at this point. That's fine, I suppose.

 

[Port85]

My stab at a fully fit 22

B: DBJ, Clurey, Lienert
HB: Houston, Jonas, Hartlett
C: Westhoff, Wines, Watts
HF: Butters, Ryder, R.Gray
FF: Ebert, Dixon, Rozee
R: Lycett, SPP, Boak

I: Marshall, Howard, Rockliff, Motlop

Unlucky: Duursma - I think he's done well but I feel like we've got enough depth across half back and if he's competing for a wing spot I've got Watts and Motlop ahead of him (just!).

Broadbent - he's coming from a long way back and is too much of an unknown at this stage. Drew is probably first cab off the rank to get in the side if there is an injury.

Controversially non-selected: Bonner - just don't really rate his form last year despite playing 19 games. Burton - did not have a great year last year and was only ok in JLT...if it was my team I'd make him earn it. Having said that, one of Burton or Bonner could probably come in for Howard or Lienert depending on match ups.

Rationale:

Mids
Bit of a mix of dynamic (SPP), inside/outside combo (Boak) and clearance specialist (Wines). Throw in Fantasy Pig, Motlop, maybe Butters and you've got an interesting mix, but they all definitely need to lift on their 2018 output, it's probably the area of the field with the greatest question marks over it.

Rucks
Interchangeable in the forward line but when Dixon is back I'm not sure of the value of Lycett resting up forward at the same time, so would probably be off for Marshall.

Backs
2 key talls for neutralising the contest + Hartlett and DBJ to mop up the resulting ground balls down back.

I picked Houston, Hartlett and Lienert as more reliable intercept marking, rebound and ball moving options than Bonner, Burton or Duursma, but really the guys in this side would have the others breathing down their necks. Howard is also on the bench for his ability to neutralise the contest but could be in or out depending on match ups, I think its clear Clurey has gone ahead of him this pre-season.

Wings
Watts to drop back for intercept marks and ball movement, which he did quite well in JLT. Hoff to push forward as a tall option and his fantastic chasing and tackling in the forward half.

Forwards
Dixon the contested beast and Ryder as the resting ruck.

Butters, R.Gray, Rozee (and Dixon) all provide excellent pressure and a bit of forward line x-factor. Butters especially showed excellent scoreboard impact in JLT as well.

I'm not massively convinced about Ebert yet, but he can tackle well and take a good overhead mark so probably a worthy experiment to start the season.

Marshall gets a bench spot because of his pressure and tackling inside 50 and the fact we want to accelerate his development into a key forward as quickly as possible.

 

[Visenfest]

FB: Clurey - Jonas - Houston
HB: Hartlett - Howard - DBJ
C: Motlop - Wines - Burton
R: Ryder - SPP - R Gray
HF: Boak - Dixon - Westhoff
FF: Farrell - Marshall - Rozee

INT: Rockliff - Butters - Patmore - Lycett

EMERGENCY: Ebert, Watts, Bonner

Got to admit, I'm not sure how Watts fits in the side. I think we'd be going too tall if I included him.

New round 1 team. To be updated again after JLT2:

FB: Lienert - Jonas - Houston
HB: Hartlett - Howard - Bonner
C: Motlop - Drew - Duursma
R: Ryder - SPP - R Gray
HF: Ebert - Watts - Westhoff
FF: Butters - Marshall - Rozee

INT: Rockliff - Boak - Amon - Lycett

EMERGENCY: Burton, DBJ, Patmore

Wines in for the worst performed of Rockliff and Drew once fit, and Dixon in for the worst performed of Marshall and Watts once fit.

If Sam Gray is in our side in round 1, we're taking the piss.

Last edit:

FB: DBJ - Jonas - Houston
HB: Burton - Clurey - Bonner
C: Motlop - Wines - Duursma
R: Ryder - Rockliff - R Gray
HF: Drew - Watts - Westhoff
FF: Butters - Marshall - Rozee

INT: Boak - SPP - Amon - Lycett

EMERGENCY: Mayes, Ebert, Broadbent

Hartlett in for Burton if fit. If Wines doesn't play, then Drew plays pure inside mid, and Ebert comes in on the half forward flank. Obviously, it's highly unlikely Ebert gets left out, however I think others are performing better than him.

 

[VineValerian]

I see one C McDermott in today's Mail has Howard and DBJ up forward in his best team, with Ebert in defence.

That may in fact be the team v Melbourne - not quite sure as he talked about the season in general in the article, but has Dixon, Wines, Hartlett, etc missing from his selection.

Mentions Mayes is out for a while with a knee injury too? Must have missed that somewhere along the line.

 

[philthy05]

I see one C McDermott in today's Mail has Howard and DBJ up forward in his best team, with Ebert in defence.

That may in fact be the team v Melbourne - not quite sure as he talked about the season in general in the article, but has Dixon, Wines, Hartlett, etc missing from his selection.

Mentions Mayes is out for a while with a knee injury too? Must have missed that somewhere along the line.

Sam Hayes is out with a knee injury.

Hopefully to be back mid year-ish

 

[VineValerian]

Sam Hayes is out with a knee injury.

Hopefully to be back mid year-ish

Yes it did strike me that it was a typo and they meant Hayes, though Bone seemed to suggest that it was Mayes with the way he talked about his unavailability and what it meant to the team. Hayes yet to debut, so his loss means nothing as yet. Think he read 'H' but registered with his brain cell as 'M'.

 

[Power Raid]

That injury list is pretty long for round 2

 

[Ports1870]

FB: D.Houston | T.Clurey | T.Jonas
HB: H.Hartlett | J.Watts | R.Burton
C: K.Amon | T.Boak | S.Motlop
R: S.Lycett | O.Wines | T.Rockliff
HF: C.Rozee | J.Westhoff | Z.Butters
FF: R.Gray | T.Marshall | P.Ryder
I: R.Bonner | B.Ebert | X.Duursma | S.Powell-Pepper
E: W.Drew | D.Howard | K.Farrell | D.Byrne-Jones
Unlucky: J.Lienert | S.Mayes | S.Gray
Injured: C.Dixon

My short term team with Dixon still injured. Our depth looks really strong, midway through last year Sam Gray would probably be best 22 lock, now he’s probably my 30th player selected.
Drew very unlucky

 

[Sleezy]

What would our 22 with Dixon/Hartlett back look like?

FB: Jonas Clurey Hartlett
HB: Houston Howard Burton
Int: DBJ

C: Westhoff Rockliff S Gray
R: Lycett Boak Wines
Int: SPP Duursma

HF: Rozee Dixon Ebert
FF: Butters Marshall R Gray
Int: Ryder

Emergency: Mayes, Drew, Farrel, Motlop and Amon unlucky. Bonner and Lienert next in line for defence, sweating on DBJ's spot in the team.

 

[Jack Grange]

What would our 22 with Dixon/Hartlett back look like?

FB: Jonas Clurey Hartlett
HB: Houston Howard Burton
Int: DBJ

C: Westhoff Rockliff S Gray
R: Lycett Boak Wines
Int: SPP Duursma

HF: Rozee Dixon Ebert
FF: Butters Marshall R Gray
Int: Ryder

Emergency: Mayes, Drew, Farrel, Motlop and Amon unlucky. Bonner and Lienert next in line for defence, sweating on DBJ's spot in the team.

Not bad however IMHO Sam Gray does not play on the wing in front of Duursma ...doesn't have any where near the speed and gut running of Xavier

 

[Sleezy]

Not bad however IMHO Sam Gray does not play on the wing in front of Duursma ...doesn't have any where near the speed and gut running of Xavier

In the last two weeks where both Duursma & S Gray has played on the wing:

Goals: 7 S Gray/3 Duursma
Disposals: 54 S Gray/36 Duursma
Marks: 11 S Gray/11 Duursma
Tackles: 10 S Gray/0 Duursma

Duursma has been great, don't get me wrong. S Gray has been better. I'd also argue that Amon would likely have outperformed Duursma based on form if not injured. So he's unlucky.

Motlop/Butters is also touch and go for me.

 

[Schulzenfest]

What would our 22 with Dixon/Hartlett back look like?

FB: Jonas Clurey Hartlett
HB: Houston Howard Burton
Int: DBJ

C: Westhoff Rockliff S Gray
R: Lycett Boak Wines
Int: SPP Duursma

HF: Rozee Dixon Ebert
FF: Butters Marshall R Gray
Int: Ryder

Emergency: Mayes, Drew, Farrel, Motlop and Amon unlucky. Bonner and Lienert next in line for defence, sweating on DBJ's spot in the team.

Given that we're adding Dixon and Hartlett into this 22 on the assumption that they're fit and in form, are we also making the assumption that the rest of our players are fit and in form? Because an in form Motlop is a walk up start to our 22, just as he was a walk-up start at a much more successful club than ours for 6 straight years before we recruited him.

 

[Sleezy]

Given that we're adding Dixon and Hartlett into this 22 on the assumption that they're fit and in form, are we also making the assumption that the rest of our players are fit and in form? Because an in form Motlop is a walk up start to our 22, just as he was a walk-up start at a much more successful club than ours for 6 straight years before we recruited him.

I was thinking adding Dixon/Hartlett to the current side. But I also included Robbie, who is currently injured. Motlop probably deserves to be in there over Butters.

 

[Long live PAFC]

Our absolute best 22, assuming everyone is fit and firing, would look slightly different but this 22 is based players currently available for selection with brackets for ‘best’ option.

Hartlett is going to struggle to come back but if fit and in form he is best 22. Burton should be tried up front. Sam Gray misses as he goes missing against good sides and I have chosen the potential of Butters over him.


FB: Jonas Clurey DBJ
HB: Houston Howard Lienert
Int: Bonner (Hartlett)

C: Motlop Rockliff Amon
R: Lycett Boak Wines
Int: SPP, Duursma

HF: Burton Marshall (Dixon) Ebert
FF: Butters (R.Gray) Ryder Rozee
Int: Westhoff

Next in line: S.Gray, Mayes, Drew, Farrel, Atley, Garner, Frampton and Ladhams. Legitimately, any of these guys could come in and play a role, great depth.


A final thought. Westhoff really throws us out. We need another tall forward, which is the role he is in the side at the expense of. He is best 22, but I’m not quite sure where. He is the kind of player who I would like to know how other coaches, say a Clarkson, would use him.

 

[Long live PAFC]

Best 22 - assuming fit and form
F: Marshall - Ryder* - R.Gray
HF: Rozee - Dixon - Butters
C: Burton - Boak - Duursma
HB: Hartlett - Howard - Byrne-Jones
B: Jonas - Clurey - Houston
R: Lycett - Powell-Pepper - Wines
INT: Rockliff, Ebert, Amon, Watts
Emerg: Lienert, Garner, Atley, Drew

*Ryder comes out next year for Ladhams or Hayes.

List changes: Westhoff, Broadbent, AJ, McKenzie, Trengove, Motlop (trade). Would happily move on S.Gray and Bonner also.
Ryder stays but on a reduced contract with the aim of him playing ~10-15 games

Structural changes: I would like to see Burton moved up the field - his speed and kicking is a weapon and we desperately need it further up the field. Imagine him as our Isaac Smith. Lienert likewise could play a similar role with his booming boot delivering inside 50.

If Bonner stays on the list, he needs something to spark him, so I would play him on the ball at the magpies with a view to him playing in a HFF at AFL.

Atley and Drew can look to replicate the Ebert role, HFF and rotating through the middle.

 

[Long live PAFC]

Intrigued to see how we fit Wines, Rocky and Ebert in.

 

[GremioPower]

Our First-XXII by games played:

Forwards
Paddy Ryder, 11
Robbie Gray, 8
Brad Ebert, 7

Connor Rozee, 11
Justin Westhoff, 11
Sam Gray, 9

Mids
Scott Lycett, 10
Sam Powell-Pepper, 11
Tom Rockliff, 10

Karl Amon, 7
Travis Boak, 11
Steven Motlop, 8

Backs
Dan Houston, 11
Darcy Byrne-Jones, 11
Ryan Burton, 9

Tom Clurey, 11
Dougal Howard, 9
Tom Jonas, 7

I/C
Xavier Duursma, 11
Zac Butters, 10
Willem Drew, 8
Riley Bonner, 8

 

[MALTSY]

Port Adelaide POWER Round 13 vs Fremantle
F: Ryder - Dixon - R.Gray
HF: Rozee - Howard - Butters
C: Amon - Boak - Duursma
HB:Burton - Clurey - Byrne-Jones
B: Garner - Jonas - Houston
R: Lycett - Powell-Pepper - Wines
INT: Farell - Bonner - Westhoff - Broadbent

no: Motlop, S.Gray, Rockliff

Garner just needs to play AFL. Excellent dispoal, hard at it, decisive and leadership qualities
Dixon and Wines straight back.
S.Gray and Lienert unlucky.
Agree with others who believe that we shouldn't play Rocky, Wines, SPP and Boak in the same team.

Any updates on Ebert?

 

[Dav]

Agree with others who believe that we shouldn't play Rocky, Wines, SPP and Boak in the same team.

Rockliff wouldn't be the player we drop out of those 4 though.

 

[MrChow]

Port Adelaide POWER Team

F: Ladhams (Ryder) - Dixon - Farrell (Ebert)
HF: Rozee - Howard - Butters
C: Amon - Boak - Duursma
HB: Burton - Clurey - Byrne-Jones
B: Lienert - Jonas - Bonner
R: Lycett - Powell-Pepper - R Gray
INT: Wines (Rocky/Drew) - Outside Motlop (Westy) - Garner (Hartlett) - Houston (mid)

Every year for the past few, I’ve generally thought we should play the young fellas. And again this year.

This is the team I’d go for in the next couple of weeks. There are a few borderline calls in brackets. Loved Houston or someone that can kick in the midfield.

As I don’t think we have the midfield to go deep into September. I think the older players should have to force their way into our side through the magoos.