Opinion The side we will need in the Finals

[varcoetovardy]

If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

what would our ideal line-up be? This is choosing from our whole list and imagine that everyone is fit and firing. Our line-up from the 2011 grand final is as follows:

B: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Tom Lonergan
HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, David Wojcinski
C: Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie
HF: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Travis Varcoe
F: Trent West, James Podsiadly, Paul Chapman
Foll: Brad Ottens, Cameron Ling, Joel Corey
I/C: James Kelly, Mathew Stokes, Mitch Duncan, Allen Christensen

So what changes would you make?

 

[varcoetovardy]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

B: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Tom Lonergan
HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, David Wojcinski
C: Allen Christensen, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie
HF: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Travis Varcoe
F: Nathan Vardy, James Podsiadly, Paul Chapman
Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, Joel Corey
I/C: James Kelly, Daniel Menzel, Mitch Duncan, Steven Motlop

I'm finding it hard to get a spot for Billie Smedts, and obviously Stokes is stiff.

 

[alfy!]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

I'm finding it hard to get a spot for Nathan Vardy and Billie Smedts, and obviously Stokes is stiff.

Maybe take one of your Trent West's out and slot in Vardy or Dawson

 

[varcoetovardy]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

Maybe take one of your Trent West's out and slot in Vardy or Dawson

I just noticed that then! perfect, Vardy slots in.

 

[catswhiskers]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

I would have to put a lobster on that team to win.

 

[winty]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

Taylor Hunt is stiff to miss, but I can't see who we could drop to put him in.

 

[footscore]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

B: Cam Guthrie, Matthew Scarlett, Tom Lonergan
HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Taylor Hunt
HF: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Daniel Menzel
F: Travis Varcoe, James Podsiadly, Paul Chapman
Foll: Dawson Simpson, Allen Christensen, Joel Corey
I/C: James Kelly, Trent West, Mitch Duncan, Steve Motlop

Sub: David Wojcinski

That's my team , I like Guthrie's defensive ability and it will be very crucial in a big game.
Josh Hunt will be very unlucky to miss but we need speed and I think Motlop, Guthrie & Poodle are the future and now in our best 22.

I'd take out either Guthrie or Wojak for Josh Hunt if we were playing a slower team like Sydney, Hawthorn or West Coast in the GF.

 

[CatTricks]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

too hard.

 

[vinum coupe]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

That's my team , I like Guthrie's defensive ability and it will be very crucial in a big game.
Josh Hunt will be very unlucky to miss but we need speed and I think Motlop, Guthrie & Poodle are the future and now in our best 22.

I'd take out either Guthrie or Wojak for Josh Hunt if we were playing a slower team like Sydney, Hawthorn or West Coast in the GF.

We get to have 23 players? Awesome

 

[tenderwarrior]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

We won't have to worry about Vardy or Varcoe, so that makes it not as exciting, but a little easier..

B:Scarlett Lonergan Enright
HB:J.Hunt Taylor Mackie
C:Motlop Selwood Wojcinski
R:West Bartel Kelly
HF:Johnson Podsiadly Christensen
F:Chapman Hawkins Menzel
B:Simpson Corey T.Hunt Duncan (Sub)

E: Guthrie Smedts Gillies

 

[Vdubs]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

We won't have to worry about Vardy or Varcoe, so that makes it not as exciting, but a little easier..

B:Scarlett Lonergan Enright
HB:J.Hunt Taylor Mackie
C:Motlop Selwood Wojcinski
R:West Bartel Kelly
HF:Johnson Podsiadly Christensen
F:Chapman Hawkins Menzel
B:Simpson Corey T.Hunt Duncan (Sub)

E: Guthrie Smedts Gillies

how do you get no Varcoe, but fit in Menzel and Simpson?? They are all 3 pivotal, but all 3 unlikely to feature this year in finals AT THIS STAGE.

I would like to see Simpson, Menzel, Motlop, T Hunt, replace Ottens, Stokes, Duncan and Ling.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

Taylor Hunt is stiff to miss, but I can't see who we could drop to put him in.

THunt will be there, been in outstanding form and has the Ling run with role.

If it was tomorrow I wouldn't be able to pick Varcoe Menz or Wojo

Anyway, assuming all fit, here's my guess.

B: Scarlett Lonners JHunt
HB: Enright Taylor Mackie
C: Varcoe THunt Kelly
HF: SJ JPod Bundy
F: Chapman Hawkins Motlop
R: West Selwood Bartel
Int: Corey Menzel Wojo Duncan (one of the last 2 to be sub)

Emg: Guthrie Stokes Smedts

THunt and Motlop are certain best 22 for me, and the latter pushes an unlucky Stokes out. Menz will be in if he returns to his best.

I want Guthrie in but it'd have to be at the expense of Josh Hunt and at the moment his form is quite good. He'll have to keep it up though or that could happen.

The other problem with that side is it has no second ruckman but I can't see who at this stage I would drop to bring one in.

Anyway, a long way to go, I'm sure my thoughts on it will change over the next 3 months.

 

[Senatorguesty]

Re: If we were in the Grand Final tomorrow...

how do you get no Varcoe, but fit in Menzel and Simpson?? They are all 3 pivotal, but all 3 unlikely to feature this year in finals AT THIS STAGE.

I would like to see Simpson, Menzel, Motlop, T Hunt, replace Ottens, Stokes, Duncan and Ling.

I can almost guarantee that Menz will play this year at some stage. Hes 4-5 weeks away from the VFL and has started proper training already.
The only question mark is can he get to the level of fitness and form in time for say round 18 or so.
If he can, LOOK OUT!

 

[witsend]

J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett
Mackie Taylor Enright
Christenson Selwood Varcoe
SJ Hawkins Chapman
Menzel Podsiadly Bartel

Simpson/Stephenson Corey T. Hunt

Wojinski Kelly West (Stokes/Motlop)

If we are fit and reasonably placed in September, that is a team that could take us all the way.

 

[year of the cat]

No Duncan?

Agreed that we have lost a lot of depth to our team this year and need a team like that to have any chance of winning the flag. Guthrie is another that has claims.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Extremely hard to find a place for Duncan. You can argue that Stokes/Motlop will need to be one of for that small forward type player.

Also as yotc said, Guthrie has claims too.

I think the important thing is to ensure that team is on the park with a good month of football in the lead up to finals. It would suck to only get the team right a week before or even the first week of finals.

 

[Son_Of_God29]

J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett
Mackie Taylor Enright
Christenson Selwood Varcoe
SJ Hawkins Chapman
Menzel Podsiadly Bartel

Simpson/Stephenson Corey T. Hunt

Wojinski Kelly West (Stokes/Motlop)

If we are fit and reasonably placed in September, that is a team that could take us all the way.

Duncan is a must end of discussion

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

T. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett
Mackie Taylor Enright
Bartel Selwood Varcoe
SJ Hawkins Duncan
Menzel Podsiadly Chapman

Stephenson Kelly Christensen

Wojcinski Corey West (Stokes/Motlop)

 

[Poetic Justice]

Bookmark it, J Hunt will not make way for a youngster.

No matter what any of you think, and as much as "good form warrants selection" goes, a highly experienced senior will simply not make way for a junior but for white-hot-form (Hawkins v Mooney last year).

For instance, I couldn't see a Josh Hunt making way for Taylor Hunt nor could I see Joel Corey making way for Mitch Duncan.

 

[witsend]

Duncan is a must end of discussion

Correct!
Had him in...forgot Bartel...then forgot to replace Duncan.

He is borderline Top 12 for mine.

Take 2:

J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett
Mackie Taylor Enright
Christenson Selwood Varcoe
SJ Hawkins Chapman
Menzel Podsiadly Bartel

Simpson/Stephenson Corey T. Hunt

Duncan Kelly West (Wojinski/Stokes/Motlop)

 

[Kent_Kingsley]

Duncan is a must end of discussion

I agree, 2012 is his chance to shine and shine he will. He is an important part of this team and will play more games than most this year.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Bookmark it, J Hunt will not make way for a youngster.

No matter what any of you think, and as much as "good form warrants selection" goes, a highly experienced senior will simply not make way for a junior but for white-hot-form (Hawkins v Mooney last year).

For instance, I couldn't see a Josh Hunt making way for Taylor Hunt nor could I see Joel Corey making way for Mitch Duncan.

Taylor Hunt will be there for every match Geelong contests this year except for injury. If that means Josh makes way, so be it.
We need Poodles run and shut down ability and when Wojo, Varcoe et al come back he'll be a better option than Josh as an option for shutting down a dangerous small forward and giving speed out of the back half. Josh is in trouble with a fully fit side.

 

[Maydok]

Bookmark it, J Hunt will not make way for a youngster.

No matter what any of you think, and as much as "good form warrants selection" goes, a highly experienced senior will simply not make way for a junior but for white-hot-form (Hawkins v Mooney last year).

For instance, I couldn't see a Josh Hunt making way for Taylor Hunt nor could I see Joel Corey making way for Mitch Duncan.

I could.

I could also quite easily see someone like Guthrie (Smedts as a roughy, Stringer will get more chances as well) going from strength to strength during the year and making his way into the best 22 ala Bundy last year.

Who can tell at this stage who may run out of gas - and we all know it's possible some of the older guys like Corey and Chappy may just not be up and running at the level needed in September.

All it takes if for one of these guys to get a soft tissue injury a month before finals, and if someone else comes and takes their place, then that could be it.

Remember, Scott didn't think Hawkins form was white-hot leading to the finals. It was only the Collingwood game where he cemented his spot.

I reckon there's every chance if we're up and about in September we'll have another Milburn or Mooney type scenario.

If the young guys are good enough to push some of the older guys out, it's a good thing for us.

 

[Ikan Bodoh]

Bookmark it, J Hunt will not make way for a youngster.

No matter what any of you think, and as much as "good form warrants selection" goes, a highly experienced senior will simply not make way for a junior but for white-hot-form (Hawkins v Mooney last year).

For instance, I couldn't see a Josh Hunt making way for Taylor Hunt nor could I see Joel Corey making way for Mitch Duncan.

Don't forget what happened last year. Hawkins was in far from white-hot form, it was just that Mooney was in worse form. I can foresee that a senior player would be left out of the side if a junior player was performing better, even if they were not in "white-hot" form.

 

[AM]

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the reigning premiers have set themselves to peak at finals time and are steadily approaching their best.

We are designing our year to play our best footy when it counts.

Geez, I hope he's on the money!

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