Opinion Your 2026 R1 team

[marcmurphy3]

The matches against Lions & Cats will determine final 23 but if I was to pick now I would think Jagga Dean Byrne then possibly Ison are in line to make their AFL debuts.

The first two are locks
Byrne is very very close. He brings so much of what we need. Speed, tacking and a great left foot
Ison 50/50 but will happen sooner rather than later. I would play him mid in VFL for a while

My gut feel around Elijah that if given a spot they won’t put him straight in. We also have a number of players that can play the role.

At this stage

B: Newman Weitering Dean
HB: Williams Haynes Florent
C: Acres Cripps Carroll
HF: Evans McKay Ainsworth
F: Hayward O’Keefe Byrne
Foll: Pittonet Hewett Walsh
Int: Reidy Jagga Cerra Ollie Saad Chesser Ison Cowan Lord Wilson

Hedging your bets with the 10 man bench Soapy .

I'd be surprised if Elijah misses. Made him fight for his list spot all preseason. Not sure theres a need to make him prove himself in the reserves on top of that. Clear best 22 for mine. Has several traits we sorely lack.

Good to hear Byrne is doing well. I also hope Ison gets to play mid in the VFL. Its where he really came into his own last year. Gets a bit lost on a flank.

 

[marcmurphy3]

Updated Team

B: Cowan Weitering Haynes
HB: Florent Dean Newman
C: Hollands Cripps Hollands
HF: Williams O'Keefe Ainsworth
F: Hayward McKay Evans
OB: Pitonett Cerra Walsh
IC: Saad Carroll Hewett Jagga Moir

Most Unlucky: Lord Kemp Acres

Most interesting positions for me are our 2nd/3rd tall forwards (HOK/Moir/Kemp) and backline mix.

 

[Soapy V]

Hedging your bets with the 10 man bench Soapy .

I'd be surprised if Elijah misses. Made him fight for his list spot all preseason. Not sure theres a need to make him prove himself in the reserves on top of that. Clear best 22 for mine. Has several traits we sorely lack.

Good to hear Byrne is doing well. I also hope Ison gets to play mid in the VFL. Its where he really came into his own last year. Gets a bit lost on a flank.

As I said the matches against Lions & Cats will decide. Always players that step up and I am basing on what has happened last 2-3 week

As for Elijah I am still cautious. Has done a great job over last two months and if selected will have earned it. BUT, that is just another step for him. To be in seniors is another step and they are a number of players fighting for same spot

I also feel reading and listening to many supporters his "reputation" as a player has gone ahead of what he has produced so far in his career. He is extremely talented and always looks good at training but in games he hasn't yet produced even one dominant game yet. He is about to turn 24 and has played 41 games.

Let's hope he can produce the games to match his talent. If he can he makes us better but given everything I hope (if he gets spot) he starts in VFL as a mid, then dominates and earns a spot in the side. If he can, both he and us will be much better off

 

[Red_man2008]

I have Cowan

As the second emergency. lol

 

[Soapy V]

As the second emergency. lol

What?? Where did I name emergencies

 

[ctwenty1]

Updated Team

B: Cowan Weitering Haynes
HB: Florent Dean Newman
C: Hollands Cripps Hollands
HF: Williams O'Keefe Ainsworth
F: Hayward McKay Evans
OB: Pitonett Cerra Walsh
IC: Saad Carroll Hewett Jagga Moir

Most Unlucky: Lord Kemp Acres

Most interesting positions for me are our 2nd/3rd tall forwards (HOK/Moir/Kemp) and backline mix.

After watuching the match sim, and the fact Newman was not training with the group, I have the following

B: Cowan Weitering Dean
HB: Florent L Young Williams
C: Hollands Cripps Hollands
HF: Hayward O'Keefe Ainsworth
F: Moir McKay Evans
OB: Reidy Smith Walsh
IC: Saad Hewett Cerra Kemp Carrol (Jeff could start and Ollie the Florent goes to the bench)

Most Unlucky: Lord Pittonet

Pending on how he plays this year Saad comes out for Newman when Noodle is ready

 

[Gointocarlton]

I have

No E Hollands for me as he isn't on the list, officially at least.
I have Williams in the BP if Newman doesnt play (Zac clearly been training with the defenbders)
Haynes is lock for mine unless he is injured??
Junior Dean straight in standing in front of Weiters forming the part of the spine, the kid is a man child and is 100% ready to rock.
Current B&F winner aint starting on the bench, in the guts where he belongs.

 

[JuddgementDay]

B: Cowan Weitering Dean
HB: Williams Haynes Florent
C: Acres Cripps Carroll
HF: Jagga McKay Ainsworth
F: Hayward O’Keefe Evans
Foll: Reidy Hewett Walsh
Int: Kemp Elijah Cerra Ollie Saad

Emergencies: Byrne Chesser Lord Wilson

Note: Newman may not be ready for RD1

This is hard, where does Moir fit in?

 

[The Bighouse]

B: Cowan Weitering Dean
HB: Williams Haynes Florent
C: Acres Cripps Carroll
HF: Jagga McKay Ainsworth
F: Hayward O’Keefe Evans
Foll: Reidy Hewett Walsh
Int: Kemp Elijah Cerra Ollie Saad

Emergencies: Byrne Chesser Lord Wilson

Note: Newman may not be ready for RD1

This is hard, where does Moir fit in?

Sure there was a write-up with Newman mentioned as tracking well to be playing games from the outset.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

ROUND 1 ATM
Before practice matches

Saad Weitering Haynes
Cowan Young Florent
Hollands Walsh Carroll
Williams O’Keefe Elijah
Hayward McKay Ainsworth

Pittonet Cripps Jagger

Hewett Cerra Evans McGovern Chesser

Acres Lord Kemp

 

[Opium]

Just on Newman. Wasn't he a chance to return last year and was the reason we didn't take an additional selection in the mid season draft? Yet he still hasn't trained with the main group and we're almost in Feb.
Don't think we should be relying on Newman to play many games.

 

[CJMB]

Just on Newman. Wasn't he a chance to return last year and was the reason we didn't take an additional selection in the mid season draft? Yet he still hasn't trained with the main group and we're almost in Feb.
Don't think we should be relying on Newman to play many games.

supposedly 'hamstring awareness' at the moment. I'd be reasonably cautious with him.

 

[Bagger24]

Updated team based off Match sim today and what the coaches seem to think
Really rate this team and think we are finally trying something different

Haynes weitering Cowan
Saad dean Williams
Ollie Hewett acres
Jagga Cripps Ainsworth
Kemp H Hayward
Pitt Walsh cerra
Carrol, Lij, B campo, florent, fog

Think this team is a great change up and is a lot more up to the modern game.

A lot more speed on the ball with Cripps to play more forward. Think a midfield mix of Walsh cerra Hewett jagga B campo with Cripps Lij and fog rotating through also is much much better. Cripps forward definitely adds to our forward mix and will be nightmare for defenders.

Coaches definitely seem to have realised that the mid mix last year did not work and we need to make significant changes to take a big leap this year.

 

[Love the Drake]

The wing positions intrigue me, because it is such an important role in today’s football and we need players who can kick the ball well.
The incumbents- Acres, Ollie (I know he played back last year) and Lucas, are poor kicks by AFL standards.
I’m leaning towards players who can kick the ball.
Chesser
Cottrell
Carroll
Florent (although looks like starting back)
Walsh (kicking isn’t great, but will improve with more time and space when he rotates on to the wing)
Ison looks the proto-type winger, great size, great kick. Hoping he develops on the wing in the VFL this year.

Plenty of options…

 

[Love the Drake]

Forwards:
Harry
HOK (2nd ruck as well)
Hayward
Ainsworth
Evans
Elijah
Kemp/Moir (bench)

***would love to see Talor Byrne continue his great training form and force his way into the team. Really like the look of him.

 

[JJBagger]

The wing positions intrigue me, because it is such an important role in today’s football and we need players who can kick the ball well.
The incumbents- Acres, Ollie (I know he played back last year) and Lucas, are poor kicks by AFL standards.
I’m leaning towards players who can kick the ball.
Chesser
Cottrell
Carroll
Florent (although looks like starting back)
Walsh (kicking isn’t great, but will improve with more time and space when he rotates on to the wing)
Ison looks the proto-type winger, great size, great kick. Hoping he develops on the wing in the VFL this year.

Plenty of options…

Don’t necessarily agree you need to be a great kick to succeed as a wingman. Ollie Dempsey is generally considered one of the best wingmen in the comp, and he’s not a great kick. He’s in the Acres mould of being the player that runs all day and creates outnumbers in each defense and attack

 

[Love the Drake]

Don’t necessarily agree you need to be a great kick to succeed as a wingman. Ollie Dempsey is generally considered one of the best wingmen in the comp, and he’s not a great kick. He’s in the Acres mould of being the player that runs all day and creates outnumbers in each defense and attack

I would have thought McLuggage, Gulden, Sidebottom were considered the best three wingmen in the AFL. All are two-way runners with elite kicking skills, particularly when kicking to their forwards.

They are the type I believe would improve us, and what we need to find from our list.

 

[Sweet Seventeen]

The wing positions intrigue me, because it is such an important role in today’s football and we need players who can kick the ball well.
The incumbents- Acres, Ollie (I know he played back last year) and Lucas, are poor kicks by AFL standards.
I’m leaning towards players who can kick the ball.
Chesser
Cottrell
Carroll
Florent (although looks like starting back)
Walsh (kicking isn’t great, but will improve with more time and space when he rotates on to the wing)
Ison looks the proto-type winger, great size, great kick. Hoping he develops on the wing in the VFL this year.

Plenty of options…

Agree with just about all of this Drakey. Of the wing options you have here, I would not consider Cottrell. Has had plenty of

opportunities playing on the wing, but just does not get the pill enough. Yes, he does cover the ground. See him more

suited at half forward, this is where he has played his best footy for us imo.

Carroll looks to me like he has filled out a bit and now has total confidence in his body. Is set for a break out year,

hopefully he makes the left wing his own. Such a damaging kick, will be exciting to see what he does this season.

Chesser is an interesting one, been a little underwhelming so far from what I have seen. Has the physical attributes, nice

size and has power and speed. Not sure about his kicking at this stage, just really hoping he can step up from here and

show us all that he belongs at this level. Blake has been great, at his best. However his shoulders seem pretty stuffed and

we may have to look past him now.

 

[JJBagger]

I would have thought McLuggage, Gulden, Sidebottom were considered the best three wingmen in the AFL. All are two-way runners with elite kicking skills, particularly when kicking to their forwards.

They are the type I believe would improve us, and what we need to find from our list.

McCluggage and Gulden are midfielders now through. They aren’t pigeon holed as wingman anymore. McCluggage hasn’t played more than 25% wing time since 2022. Gulden wouldn’t be too dissimilar, as he attends roughly 30% of the Swans centre bounces

 

[Love the Drake]

Agree with just about all of this Drakey. Of the wing options you have here, I would not consider Cottrell. Has had plenty of

opportunities playing on the wing, but just does not get the pill enough. Yes, he does cover the ground. See him more

suited at half forward, this is where he has played his best footy for us imo.

Carroll looks to me like he has filled out a bit and now has total confidence in his body. Is set for a break out year,

hopefully he makes the left wing his own. Such a damaging kick, will be exciting to see what he does this season.

Chesser is an interesting one, been a little underwhelming so far from what I have seen. Has the physical attributes, nice

size and has power and speed. Not sure about his kicking at this stage, just really hoping he can step up from here and

show us all that he belongs at this level. Blake has been great, at his best. However his shoulders seem pretty stuffed and

we may have to look past him now.

Yes SS. Can’t argue with any of what you’ve said.

Would also love to see Carroll on the left wing (good size, great kick) and Chesser upping his training and winning the other wing. Add a little of Jagga and Walsh rotating through and we have improved our wings significantly.

I would think Acres gets first crack, but would love to see Carroll tried on the other wing.

 

[Love the Drake]

McCluggage and Gulden are midfielders now through. They aren’t pigeon holed as wingman anymore. McCluggage hasn’t played more than 25% wing time since 2022. Gulden wouldn’t be too dissimilar, as he attends roughly 30% of the Swans centre bounces

Gulden plays predominantly wing. Yes. McLuggage has now moved to the midfield, but played over five years as a wingman. Sidebottom has made the wing his own. My point was that all are what we need to be aspiring to as a team.

 

[CJMB]

McCluggage and Gulden are midfielders now through. They aren’t pigeon holed as wingman anymore. McCluggage hasn’t played more than 25% wing time since 2022. Gulden wouldn’t be too dissimilar, as he attends roughly 30% of the Swans centre bounces

And Sidebottom moved inside last season because they/he said he’d lost some pace so was less suited to the outside…

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Newman, Weiters, Cowan
Williams, Haynes, Florent
Chesser, Walsh, Ollie
Elijah, McKay, Hayward
Moir, Kemp, Ainsworth
R - Pitto, Cripps, Smith
I- Cerra, Hewett, Carroll, McGovern, OKeefe
E - Ison, Acres, Saad, Dean, Evans

I am fairly happy with this side and besides Motlop, who may have struggled to break into the 23 I think we have full availability (touch wood) It looks balanced, perhaps a key defender short which might allow Weiters more flexibility in his role but we have the ability to push McGovern or Kemp defensively should it be required. Sydney have Curnow or bust as key forward options and should be fairly predictable, Amartey should be easily defended. Mitigating the impact of Papley, Heeney & Warner will be the key to winning the game.

 

[Benaly28]

Not sure what the team will look like but Kemp is definitely best 23 if fit not sure why some don’t have him in their side.

 

[Benaly28]

Newman, Weiters, Cowan
Williams, Haynes, Florent
Chesser, Walsh, Ollie
Elijah, McKay, Hayward
Moir, Kemp, Ainsworth
R - Pitto, Cripps, Smith
I- Cerra, Hewett, Carroll, McGovern, OKeefe
E - Ison, Acres, Saad, Dean, Evans

I am fairly happy with this side and besides Motlop, who may have struggled to break into the 23 I think we have full availability (touch wood) It looks balanced, perhaps a key defender short which might allow Weiters more flexibility in his role but we have the ability to push McGovern or Kemp defensively should it be required. Sydney have Curnow or bust as key forward options and should be fairly predictable, Amartey should be easily defended. Mitigating the impact of Papley, Heeney & Warner will be the key to winning the game.

Weitering will destroy CC,it’s Heeney/Warner who normally destroy us.