This is our best 22......... IMO

[Kirk Hinrich #12]

With over half the season gone and time to start getting the best 22 on the park each week I have our best 22. Injuries aside this is the team I want to see walk out on the MCG on that last Saturday in September.

B: Goldsack - Presti - Maxwell

HB: Shaw - O'Brien - Reid

C: Thomas - Swan - Wellingham

HF: Didak - Cloke - Medhurst

F: Sidebutt - Dawes - Anthony

Foll: Jolly - Pendles - Ball

INT: L.Brown - Beams - Davis - Johnson

EMG: Lockyer - Fraser - Dick

My selection of Anthony ahead of Dick was a close one but if Goldsack, Shaw or Reid get injured in the game Anthony has the versatility to go back and the mid field can rotate resting forward.
A big omission is Toovey, I have Goldsack in front of him. Goldy uses the ball much better and provides the same amount of run. His defensive side is maybe not quiet as good but I have him in front of Toovs.
Leigh Brown is just so versatile you cant leave him out or put Fraser in front of him. Certainly pinch hit in the ruck to give DJ a chop out, and he is a great set shot for goal (yes he is, last year was freaky bad but over his career he is a good set shot). Also can fill in down back if needed.
I have Medhurst in the team and I would just about say thats the only position im taking a punt on, I just think given the chance he is one of the most dangerous forwards we have, form in the VFL recently has been good and I think he is our X factor coming in.

Im happy to change this provided a good argument.

 

[Kirk Hinrich #12]

Good points but as I said Dick just misses out because of Jacks flexibility. Jack certainly needs to lift in some areas but I think he will. I would not mind seeing Dick in the side for Anthony at all.
Toovey I disagree (and I have been a Toovey fan), I just think that Goldsack is a overall better player than he is. Yes Toovey does some great stuff and is workman like, he has gone from being hated to being loved by Pies fans. But I gotta pick head not heart and Goldy has it for me. You did say that Toovey was a small defender but he does not play on the good small forwards, Harry does. Harry takes Milne, LeCras, Green, S Johnson, Betts and L Thomas, while Toovey usually take a mid sized player, he even got carved up by Brett Ebert last week.
So can see your point on Jack and Dick but im convinced Goldy is the man.

 

[iGNITER]

IMO this is our best 22 and the team I would like us to take into the finals.


B - Maxwell Presti Toovey
HB - Shaw Reid O'Brien
C - Thomas Swan Beams
HF - Didak Cloke Davis
F - Dick Dawes Medhurst
R - Jolly Ball Pendlebury
INT - Sidebottom Wellingham Johnson Fraser/Wood/Brown
EMG - Lockyer Anthony Goldsack

**Who ever out of Fraser/Wood/Brown is in the best form at the time
**Really like the look of the dangerous forward setup
**Lockyer unlucky

 

[Dundalis]

IMO this is our best 22 and the team I would like us to take into the finals.


B - Maxwell Presti Toovey
HB - Shaw Reid O'Brien
C - Thomas Swan Beams
HF - Didak Cloke Davis
F - Dick Dawes Medhurst
R - Jolly Ball Pendlebury
INT - Sidebottom Wellingham Johnson Fraser/Wood/Brown
EMG - Lockyer Anthony Goldsack

**Who ever out of Fraser/Wood/Brown is in the best form at the time
**Really like the look of the dangerous forward setup
**Lockyer unlucky

Sorry but I pick Lockyer over dick or Anthony. Experience counts come finals time and neither dick or Anthony have done anything this year to warrant being picked. Lockyer even before being dropped I thought has been very solid and deseving of his spot.

 

[Pies_10]

I like the OP team but Toovey is definitely in our best 22.

 

[iGNITER]

Sorry but I pick Lockyer over dick or Anthony. Experience counts come finals time and neither dick or Anthony have done anything this year to warrant being picked. Lockyer even before being dropped I thought has been very solid and deseving of his spot.

Fair Call.

 

[Kirby]

Come finals time and presuming everyone is fit and available I would hope that Lockyer is not getting a game.

At the moment he is playing "okay" and surviving on his smarts, however, he is just far too slow these days and will get found out (once again) in the finals. He has been an excellent player for the Pies but I hope he's pushed out of the side.

Might make me unpopular with some around here but I firmly believe that once again he will get exposed in the heat of finals, just like the last couple of years. I'm not even knocking the guy because i appreciate he always gives 100% and gets the most out of himself but he just doesn't have any weapons.

 

[shawthing09]

Agree with the above on Tarks

B: Toovey - Presti - Maxwell

HB: Shaw - O'Brien - Reid

C: Thomas - Swan - Wellingham

HF: Didak - Cloke - Medhurst

F: Sidebutt - Dawes - Dick

Foll: Jolly - Pendles - Ball

INT: L.Brown - Beams - Davis - Johnson

EMG: Lockyer - Fraser - Sack

They are the two obvious changes I would make to the O.P. Toovs is needed in that backline on balance. Goldsack is really competiting for a spot with the likes of Maxwell, Harry O, Heater and Reid not Toovs. Goldsack has shown no ability to defend smalls and therefore our backline structures up to tall with him and without Toovs.

I have no faith in having both Anthony and Medhurst in the same fowardline. It means we effectively have 2 leading FF's and 2 CHF's. Too many leading players not enough space in the foward line. Medhurst gets the nod over Anthony due to defensive pressure and X factor and the ability to get mismatches. Dick into the side allows Davis the freedom to go up the ground in bursts.

 

[Quicky]

Yep ST's got it about right although the pedant in me would re-arrange the defense:

----Tooves-----Presti-----O'Brien----
----Shaw-------Reid------Maxwell----

Leigh Brown and Ben Johnson dicey for their positions but probably safe. Medhurst and Davis need to lift their games but are definitely 22 if in form.

I think LeCafe is closer to the 22 than he is credited with.

 

[shawthing09]

Yep ST's got it about right although the pedant in me would re-arrange the defense:

----Tooves-----Presti-----O'Brien----
----Shaw-------Reid------Maxwell----

Leigh Brown and Ben Johnson dicey for their positions but probably safe. Medhurst and Davis need to lift their games but are definitely 22 if in form.

I think LeCafe is closer to the 22 than he is credited with.

All things equal I'd probably have him as an emergancy before Sack or Fraser. I probably just moved him from the side to the emeregency list.

 

[Chartreuse]

Still can't understand why so many people have a dim view of Locky. Other than a couple sub par games early in the season, he has been rock solid imho. Davis on the other hand...several VERY BAD games, only a couple good ones. Yeh, yeh I know, 'fwd pressure'...sorry that doesnt justify getting a gig on its own for mine, especially as Locky himself gets heaps of good tackles in.

And J Anthony has just lost the plot imho.

Locky in the 22, Davis or Anthony out.

Not sure about Goldsack either...good player, but Toovey has proven himself and is a shade better imo and dont underestimate that the crowd perks up everytime he gets the ball which is good for the team in general.

 

[shawthing09]

For mine the Tarks V Davis is a good issue to have and one that could go either way.

Personally I think foward pressure in terms of his of structure is very important. Our foward line was very slow on Friday night and against a better team with better ball movement from defence we need more foot speed to pressure the guys bringing the ball out of defence. On top of that Davis has greater upside and hurt factor so in finals that wins out for mine. Also as I mentioned earlier I think Dick in allowing Davis to get higher at times will help Davis be more consistant in his contributions.

 

[ralu]

FB Toovey Presti Maxwell
CHB Shaw Reid O'Brien
C Thomas Ball Johnson
CHF Didak Cloke Beams
FF Medhurst Dawes Davis


Rucks Jolly Pendlebury Swan

Int: L. Brown Wellingham Sidebottom Lockyer

Emg: Macaffer Fraser O'Bree


As much as I rate Dick, I think its too much of a risk to take his fragile shoulder into a big final when it could bust at any second. Our rotations are a major asset and has the possibility of throwing us out strategically.

 

[Thommo 42]

Dick has to be in the side imo, absolute must for mine.

Have no idea what to do with others like Lockyer and Goldy as they have every right to be playing AFL footy and are playing well, but I can't see them holding out Medhurst and Maxwell.

 

[rose jam]

sucks for Blair, he looks really comfortable at AFL level. I haven't been able to check his defensive side yet if his man is getting too much easy ball, but he is AFL standard but going to get swamped in our depth

 

[JLC]

Like shaw things team the best......although i would find room for Blair - the boy can play. Worst case scenario he would be an emergency ahead of Lockyer and fraser.

 

[Gone Critical]

For mine one other discussion point is Fraser. Has been terrible this year but can believe he has lost it all. If he can play to his previous ability in the latter part of the year he has the ability to do far more for us than L Brown.

He has a history of playing well in bigger games/finals when he gets on the park. He is one that potentially could improve what we have been able to put on the park in 2010.

This senario does require another chance in the seniors and a form reversal of course

 

[Ketchup]

Why is Davis getting a game in everyones team? Pretty sure 90% of you guys would of called for him to be dropped. he is in the worst form of his life, that and he has never performed in a finals game so why would that change?

 

[doppleganger]

The backline is settled and

Toovey - Presti - Harry O
Maxwell - Reid - H.Shaw

And if we want to free up Maxwell and play a sweeper Benny Johnson comes down to the flank.

Goldsack stiff to miss out, but he is competing with Harry, H.Shaw and Maxwell 3 AA quality HBs.

Think the midfield pretty much picks itself....Jolly, Swan, Pendles, Thomas, Wellingham, Didak, Ball, Beams and Sidebottom will all get a game if fit.

That leaves the forwards

Cloke and Dawes are locks.

So that leaves us with 4 more spots up for grab.

1. Fraser or L.Brown....IMO if Fraser can play some good games the spot is his....but L.Brown making it tough for him which is great.

2. Anthony or Medhurst....similar to Shawthing, I would only want to play one of them....and Medhurst offers much more versatility.

3&4. Two out of Leon, Dick and Davis.......Lockyer the more conservative choice.....you know you will get a solid game from him....the other two are more high risk high reward....id hope we go for Dick and Davis.

 

[Quicky]

Why is Davis getting a game in everyones team? Pretty sure 90% of you guys would of called for him to be dropped. he is in the worst form of his life, that and he has never performed in a finals game so why would that change?

Because people are crystal balling the team come finals time. I think most people hope Davis is in good form come finals and most would have him in the 22 when he's in form.

 

[Ketchup]

Because people are crystal balling the team come finals time. I think most people hope Davis is in good form come finals and most would have him in the 22 when he's in form.

But he was in AA form last year going into the finals and failed 3 weeks in a row. How is it going to change? Its a yearly thing the guy just can't cope under pressure.

 

[Quicky]

But he was in AA form last year going into the finals and failed 3 weeks in a row. How is it going to change? Its a yearly thing the guy just can't cope under pressure.

He was actually in pretty poor form for a month leading up to the finals. It wasn't like he rocked into the finals in bullocking form and then completely capitulated. I think his finals performance was a reflection of poor form more generally as opposed to some inability to play well in finals. I think a fit and in form Davis has a lot to offer the team and I don't subscribe to this "he can't play finals" myth. I think we need to manage him right and make sure he peaks when it matters.

 

[Paddywhackers]

Because people are crystal balling the team come finals time. I think most people hope Davis is in good form come finals and most would have him in the 22 when he's in form.

Not most. Everyone would. He'd be first picked.

 

[Ketchup]

He was actually in pretty poor form for a month leading up to the finals. It wasn't like he rocked into the finals in bullocking form and then completely capitulated. I think his finals performance was a reflection of poor form more generally as opposed to some inability to play well in finals. I think a fit and in form Davis has a lot to offer the team and I don't subscribe to this "he can't play finals" myth. I think we need to manage him right and make sure he peaks when it matters.

But it's not just finals its big games in general, he never performs. I'm willing to bet that IF he plays against StK he won't get anymore than 11 possessions and id be willing to put money on that. History has shown on countless times that he doesn't step up, and you gotta ask yourself if you play him in first final doesn't perform, play him in second doesn't perform and we get through. And your in the pre lim/GF depending on how we go in the first match (based on top 4 finish) should he be including in the side because hes experienced? No.

 

[Michael_knoth]

ill take that bet. what are my odds?