Opinion The Evolution of Your Best 23 for 2026

[MrChow]

The game against the Bulldogs at Ballarat; yeah I know we got smashed but sheesh, I was reminded that SPP could have easily have been a mid in an alternate timeline.

Yeah unfortunately with Wines and Drew unable to play any other positions (and being thin on forwards for years) SPP did the team thing and played half forward.

This is where say the Northern teams who have had discounted academy selections for years, are able to cover positions across the ground more easily, and have way more depth.

If we had these options. SPP could have pushed Drew out of the midfield.

 

[RangaInTeal]

It will be interesting to see if the Leauge lean toward 5 runners on the bench or if they play a second ruck/swingman as the extra.

I think they’ll run the extra mid for better workload management, leading to more impact injuries.

 

[strath39]

It will be interesting to see if the Leauge lean toward 5 runners on the bench or if they play a second ruck/swingman as the extra.

I think they’ll run the extra mid for better workload management, leading to more impact injuries.

Think a player like JHF really benefits from the extra rest. I can see us trialling a two‑ruck setup for a while, and it’ll be interesting to see how other teams adapt their strategies. Of course, running with two rucks carries risk, if one team suffers injuries, they could be left exposed and end up losing, which really highlights the downside of the approach.

 

[MrChow]

Think a player like JHF really benefits from the extra rest. I can see us trialling a two‑ruck setup for a while, and it’ll be interesting to see how other teams adapt their strategies. Of course, running with two rucks carries risk, if one team suffers injuries, they could be left exposed and end up losing, which really highlights the downside of the approach.

I think you can only play the two-ruck in the modern game, if the second one can be a dangerous forward, and mobile enough to defend.

Otherwise the defender just runs of them all day and it turns into a circle work game.

 

[shewho]

There is a lot of competition for spots:

Forwards:
Certainties if fit: Lukosius, Georgiades, Richards, Powell-Pepper*
Competing Tall Forwards (0-1 spot available): Marshall, Lord, Whitlock
Competing Small/Mid Forwards (2-3): Durdin, Berry, T.Cochrane, Watkins, Stephenson^
Developing: Anastasopolous, Zadow^, Barrett

Inside Mids:
Certainties if fit: Butters, Horne-Francis, Wines*
Competing (1): Drew, Brodie, Mead
* Rozee and Bergman listed elsewhere but will rotate here*

Outside Mids/Defenders:
Certainties: Rozee, Bergman, Farrell, Jones, Sinn
Competing (2-3): Burgoyne, Byrne-Jones,Wehr, Moraes, Liddy, Mackinlay, Lorenz, Evans, Lai
Developing: O’Brien^

Tall Defenders:
Certainties: Aliir, Ratugolea
Competing: Zerk-Thatcher, Ramm, Walsh
Developing: Moss

Ruck:
Certainties: Sweet
Competing (1): Visentini, Whitlock, Soldo

So I have only 5 players whose main aim will be to develop rather than compete for a spot and 2 of them aren’t even on the list yet.

While Marshall is training in defence, apparently, I don’t see him playing there. I think this is more for his education and protection and when the real games start, he’ll be on our forwards depth chart- as a defender I’d have him behind Ramm and BZT.

Most teams will have 2 rucks under the new 5 on the bench system. Whitlock needs to develop his ruck craft because competing with Visentini for R2 is easier than with Marshall and Lord for TF3 (and we may only play 2 tall forwards).

So with 40 players (including Stephenson) a realistic chance of seeing AFL action, it ought to be very competitive at training over the summer.

 

[MrChow]

There is a lot of competition for spots:

Forwards:
Certainties if fit: Lukosius, Georgiades, Richards, Powell-Pepper*
Competing Tall Forwards (0-1 spot available): Marshall, Lord, Whitlock
Competing Small/Mid Forwards (2-3): Durdin, Berry, T.Cochrane, Watkins, Stephenson^
Developing: Anastasopolous, Zadow^, Barrett

Inside Mids:
Certainties if fit: Butters, Horne-Francis, Wines*
Competing (1): Drew, Brodie, Mead
* Rozee and Bergman listed elsewhere but will rotate here*

Outside Mids/Defenders:
Certainties: Rozee, Bergman, Farrell, Jones, Sinn
Competing (2-3): Burgoyne, Byrne-Jones,Wehr, Moraes, Liddy, Mackinlay, Lorenz, Evans, Lai
Developing: O’Brien^

Tall Defenders:
Certainties: Aliir, Ratugolea
Competing: Zerk-Thatcher, Ramm, Walsh
Developing: Moss

Ruck:
Certainties: Sweet
Competing (1): Visentini, Whitlock, Soldo

So I have only 5 players whose main aim will be to develop rather than compete for a spot and 2 of them aren’t even on the list yet.

While Marshall is training in defence, apparently, I don’t see him playing there. I think this is more for his education and protection and when the real games start, he’ll be on our forwards depth chart- as a defender I’d have him behind Ramm and BZT.

Most teams will have 2 rucks under the new 5 on the bench system. Whitlock needs to develop his ruck craft because competing with Visentini for R2 is easier than with Marshall and Lord for TF3 (and we may only play 2 tall forwards).

So with 40 players (including Stephenson) a realistic chance of seeing AFL action, it ought to be very competitive at training over the summer.

Will be interesting if we select a side to win, or a side to develop to ultimately win?

I reckon we fell into a trap with Hinkley of gold passes, week to week win at all costs, and a game plan designed to not improve - rather it suited the current established players on the list.

So although we made Top 4, we got their cooked, and weren’t able to develop players to ultimately get a greater improvement over a few years.

So, it will be interesting who we play and why?

Sweet and Visentini together might be the better way to get greater improvement in our ruck division, with Vis ultimately taking over?

Marshall or Whitlock or both?

Ramm vs BZT?

Perhaps Drew vs SPP in the middle?

Add to this, should Rozee just be in the middle and going forward? Same as Bergman? So that they can develop someone else for a running half back roll.

In many ways, I’d prefer to develop for 2-3 years from now, rather than just keep prioritising the experienced player. And I hope Carr can develop a game plan that fits with where we want to go, as opposed to just designing it for the older boys.

 

[Butters and Pepper]

Trying to picture the team placings for next year, and I'm wondering whether it's suitable for both Farrell and Rozee to play across half back as their main role.

If Lai steps up and/or Evans regains his 2024 form, will be interesting to see whether Rozee is used in other roles, maybe across half forward or as a wingman.

Farrell was drafted as a half forward/wing type, so will be interesting to see whether Carr plans to use him in those roles again ,moving forward.

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

If Lai steps up and/or Evans regains his 2024 form, will be interesting to see whether Rozee is used in other roles, maybe across half forward or as a wingman.

If that happens, I would prefer Rozee to be back in the middle as a goal kicking mid or play as a general forward.

 

[Scodges]

There is a lot of competition for spots:

Forwards:
Certainties if fit: Lukosius, Georgiades, Richards, Powell-Pepper*
Competing Tall Forwards (0-1 spot available): Marshall, Lord, Whitlock
Competing Small/Mid Forwards (2-3): Durdin, Berry, T.Cochrane, Watkins, Stephenson^
Developing: Anastasopolous, Zadow^, Barrett

Inside Mids:
Certainties if fit: Butters, Horne-Francis, Wines*
Competing (1): Drew, Brodie, Mead
* Rozee and Bergman listed elsewhere but will rotate here*

Outside Mids/Defenders:
Certainties: Rozee, Bergman, Farrell, Jones, Sinn
Competing (2-3): Burgoyne, Byrne-Jones,Wehr, Moraes, Liddy, Mackinlay, Lorenz, Evans, Lai
Developing: O’Brien^

Tall Defenders:
Certainties: Aliir, Ratugolea
Competing: Zerk-Thatcher, Ramm, Walsh
Developing: Moss

Ruck:
Certainties: Sweet
Competing (1): Visentini, Whitlock, Soldo

So I have only 5 players whose main aim will be to develop rather than compete for a spot and 2 of them aren’t even on the list yet.

While Marshall is training in defence, apparently, I don’t see him playing there. I think this is more for his education and protection and when the real games start, he’ll be on our forwards depth chart- as a defender I’d have him behind Ramm and BZT.

Most teams will have 2 rucks under the new 5 on the bench system. Whitlock needs to develop his ruck craft because competing with Visentini for R2 is easier than with Marshall and Lord for TF3 (and we may only play 2 tall forwards).

So with 40 players (including Stephenson) a realistic chance of seeing AFL action, it ought to be very competitive at training over the summer.

You can take Watkins out of your small forward list, think you’re confusing him with McEnshit

 

[RangaInTeal]

F: Whitlock - Georgiades - Horne-Francis
HF: Stephenson - Lukosius - Richards
C: Wehr - Bergman - J.Burgoyne
HB: Farrell - Aliir - Rozee (C)
B: Ratugolea - Zerk-Thatcher - Jones
R: Visintini - Drew - Butters
INT: Sinn - Mackinlay - Byrne-Jones - 2 of: Durdin/Liddy/Lai/Mead

With Wines to return for one of the Runners.

I think we will flood the Bench with Runners and roll dual Rucks, the last touch rule may make Sweet’s mobility an issue and lean toward the better running Ruckmen. Early season footy is always circle work and the Mossies will get around with ease.

 

[RossFC]

Port Adelaide POWER - Round 1 vs North Melbourne
F: Whitlock - Georgiades - Horne-Francis
HF: Byrne-Jones - Lukosius - Richards
C: Wehr - Bergman - J.Burgoyne
HB: Farrell - Aliir - Rozee (C)
B: Ratugolea - Zerk-Thatcher - Jones
R: Sweet - Drew - Butters
INT: Durdin - Mackinlay - Liddy - Brodie - Lai
EMERG: Marshall - Ramm - T.Cochrane

Port Adelaide MAGPIES - Round 1 vs ?
F: Soldo - D.Cochrane - T.Cochrane
HF: Moraes - Lord - Berry
C: Anastasopoulos - Moore (C) - Lorenz
HB: Evans - Walsh - R.Burgoyne
B: Marshall - Ramm - Sinn
R: Visentini - Mead - Watkins
INT: Moss - Barrett - McLennan - Couroupis
EMERG: Weidemann - Chamberlain - Roberts
OTHER: Carnelly - Linke - Turner - O'Reilly - Harris - Carter - O'Brien - Calvett - Williams - Bowman - Growden - Launer - Ferrari - Byrne - Francou

Unavailable:
AFL: (2 list spots open)
Powell-Pepper (Knee, Returns Round 6)
Wines (Suspended, Returns Round 3)
SANFL: - NONE

 

[Scodges]

Port Adelaide POWER - Round 1 vs North Melbourne
F: Whitlock - Georgiades - Horne-Francis
HF: Byrne-Jones - Lukosius - Richards
C: Wehr - Bergman - J.Burgoyne
HB: Farrell - Aliir - Rozee (C)
B: Ratugolea - Zerk-Thatcher - Jones
R: Sweet - Drew - Butters
INT: Durdin - Mackinlay - Liddy - Brodie - Lai
EMERG: Marshall - Ramm - T.Cochrane

Port Adelaide MAGPIES - Round 1 vs ?
F: Soldo - D.Cochrane - T.Cochrane
HF: Moraes - Lord - Berry
C: Anastasopoulos - Moore (C) - Lorenz
HB: Evans - Walsh - R.Burgoyne
B: Marshall - Ramm - Sinn
R: Visentini - Mead - Watkins
INT: Moss - Barrett - McLennan - Couroupis
EMERG: Weidemann - Chamberlain - Roberts
OTHER: Carnelly - Linke - Turner - O'Reilly - Harris - Carter - O'Brien - Calvett - Williams - Bowman - Growden - Launer - Ferrari - Byrne - Francou

Unavailable:
AFL: (2 list spots open)
Powell-Pepper (Knee, Returns Round 6)
Wines (Suspended, Returns Round 3)
SANFL: - NONE

Strong magpies lineup