My best 22 & squad of 30 for round 1 2013

[spot on]

Gwilt Stanley dempster
Simpkin fisher Schneider
Geary hayes dal santo
Monty reiwoltd sippos
Milne Wilkes saad
Mc evoy armitage Steven
Bench hickey lee ray dunnel
Em jones Ross milera newnes ferguson

I think kosi and Blake should only be used as back up , no point playing them, need to get games into the other key positions.
I'd like to see Stanley given a try as a backmen. I think he could be like a Ben Reid type player. Think with Wilkes doing ok and now having lee and white on board, might not need him forward. Especially as I think Scotty will be keen to play both mac and hickey in the same team, given they both can rest forward and take contested marks

[spot on]

Forgot Gilbert , prob name him on the bench, and think roberton will be given a game time too. A lot more depth this year , I haven't even mention any of the national draft players. I can't see us sliding down the ladder too much. Defaintly missing some young A graders though. Not sure who would be our next all Australian player, maybe saad as forward pocket

[sax]

Squad of 30.

B: Simpkin, Blake, Gwilt
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Gilbert
C: Dal Santo, Hayes, Geary
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Saad
F: Milne, Stanley, Lee
R: McEvoy, Armitage, Steven
Int (from): Hickey, Ray, Dunnell, Siposs, Wilkes, Newnes, Dennis-Lane, Roberton, Milera, Ledger, Ross, Jones

Not Considered: Montagna (susp), Markworth (inj), all rookies (atm)

[bergholt]

Defaintly missing some young A graders though. Not sure who would be our next all Australian player, maybe saad as forward pocket

Yeah, good question, who is our next AA?

It'd be great if Armo or Steven got there, but there are at least twenty guys ahead of them at this point. Big Ben isn't too far from it if he has a good season, unlike last year. Apart from that there are no obvious ones.

[mightysainters]

You know what i really find interesting is how we underrate Milera, in most teams he's emergency but IMO after a season of a hard gruelling pre season he can put on a little bit of size and still have that incredible speed!

We have missed that 'X' Factor for quite some time, and this guy has it in abundance... im looking forward to watch him ripping it up on the HFF and stints on the wing... he oozes class

[bergholt]

We have missed that 'X' Factor for quite some time, and this guy has it in abundance... im looking forward to watch him ripping it up on the HFF and stints on the wing... he oozes class

To me he oozes no more than about 15 touches a game, unfortunately, but let's hope he can get up to more like 20. Work rate the only question as far as I can see.

[borderbarry]

Well lets hope Terry is given more time on the ground. He did not seem to get a lot of game time last year. Now that Raph and Winmar were given the shove, he is our sole indigenous player. Let's hope he gets a fair go, which I am sure he will.

[lefty]

I can't believe how many want Stanley down back? Sure, maybe when we struggle against Tippett, or leaping Jack from the Tiges, but certainly not all the time.

Stanley's speed would be truely wasted if he was stuck at full back, I'd rather have McEvoy down there, he doesn't really win many of the hit outs anyway.

Stanley kicked a few goals using his speed in '12, him linking up with Saad etc was fantastic to watch, I'd be disappointed if he were stuck in the backline/goal square. He also took some pressure off Roo when he was in the forward line.

Might be a balancing act, what we really need is someone who can match up on Jack from the tiges, I'm sick of him kicking 6 goals a game against us, Fisher nor Blake can do it, and Simpkin struggled, although was his first crack, I reckon he'll work him out soon enough.

[plugger66]

I can't believe how many want Stanley down back? Sure, maybe when we struggle against Tippett, or leaping Jack from the Tiges, but certainly not all the time.

Stanley's speed would be truely wasted if he was stuck at full back, I'd rather have McEvoy down there, he doesn't really win many of the hit outs anyway.

Stanley kicked a few goals using his speed in '12, him linking up with Saad etc was fantastic to watch, I'd be disappointed if he were stuck in the backline/goal square. He also took some pressure off Roo when he was in the forward line.

Might be a balancing act, what we really need is someone who can match up on Jack from the tiges, I'm sick of him kicking 6 goals a game against us, Fisher nor Blake can do it, and Simpkin struggled, although was his first crack, I reckon he'll work him out soon enough.

Not sure if Stanley is the answer down back but are we going to miss his one goal a game up forward? And speed is vital as a FB as Max showed us for years. As for Ben, surely you are joking. Our slowest player at FB. Surely not. I still say Simpkin is the man especially if he improves to the same standard as last year.

[The Redeemer]

Well lets hope Terry is given more time on the ground. He did not seem to get a lot of game time last year. Now that Raph and Winmar were given the shove, he is our sole indigenous player. Let's hope he gets a fair go, which I am sure he will.

Who cares of he is Indigenous? Just play well, shut up and get the ball

[saintbob]

Simpkin Fisher Dempster
Milera Gilbert Siposs
Newnes Hayes NDS
Schneider Stanley Saad
Milne Roo Lee

McEvoy Geary Steven

Armo, Gwilt, Hickey sub Ledger
Em: Ross, Dunell

Depth: Blake, Kosi,

Montagna - Susp

[lloyd21]

Like the odds Roberton will play before Milera ever does in the back line

[Con Gorozidis]

Simpkin Fisher Dempster
Milera Gilbert Siposs
Newnes Hayes NDS
Schneider Stanley Saad
Milne Roo Lee

McEvoy Geary Steven

Armo, Gwilt, Hickey sub Ledger
Em: Ross, Dunell

Depth: Blake, Kosi,

Montagna - Susp

I like this side. A bit funky but nice and attacking.
If back drops back to add height we have lots of run and a tall fwd line that can kick plenty of goals.





I like this team.

[spot on]

Not many teams with Wilkes in it surprises me a bit. I thought when he was given a decent opportunity he looks pretty good and good set shot. He came a long way back last year when drafted and was over weight, after a year back in the system and a good full pre season I think he will be right to go

[Gershwin]

Simpkin Fisher Dempster
Milera Gilbert Siposs
Newnes Hayes NDS
Schneider Stanley Saad
Milne Roo Lee

McEvoy Geary Steven

Armo, Gwilt, Hickey sub Ledger
Em: Ross, Dunell

Depth: Blake, Kosi,

Montagna - Susp

I like this side. A bit funky but nice and attacking.
If back drops back to add height we have lots of run and a tall fwd line that can kick plenty of goals.






I like this team.

Interesting to think about how our defenders would match up on our forwards. I know they play a lot of zone defense these days but there are times when they have to 'man-up'.
Would it be:
Simpkin takes Lee
Fisher takes Roo
Dempster takes Milne
Milera takes Saad
Gilbert takes Stanley
Siposs takes Schneider
I think our Forwards kick about 20 goals.

[bergholt]

Simpkin Fisher Dempster
Milera Gilbert Siposs
Newnes Hayes NDS
Schneider Stanley Saad
Milne Roo Lee

McEvoy Geary Steven

Armo, Gwilt, Hickey sub Ledger

Hickey and Gwilt on the bench? What about midfield rotations?

[PJ]

Gwilt Simpkin Geary
Gilbert Fisher Dempster
Milera Lenny Sipposs
Schneider Stanley Wilkes
Milne Roo Saad

Ben Armo Dal

Steven Ray Monty sub - Newnes

Just pointing out there is still a really strong nucleus of a team without using any of the new guys - this team stacks up pretty well - and yes I know Monty is out.

[saintbob]

Simpkin Fisher Dempster
Milera Gilbert Siposs
Newnes Hayes NDS
Schneider Stanley Saad
Milne Roo Lee

McEvoy Geary Steven

Armo, Gwilt, Hickey sub Ledger

Hickey and Gwilt on the bench? What about midfield rotations?

With the cap on rotations, I think you'll find that the mids will be rested on the ground like the good old days.

[plugger66]

Simpkin Fisher Dempster
Milera Gilbert Siposs
Newnes Hayes NDS
Schneider Stanley Saad
Milne Roo Lee

McEvoy Geary Steven

Armo, Gwilt, Hickey sub Ledger

Hickey and Gwilt on the bench? What about midfield rotations?

With the cap on rotations, I think you'll find that the mids will be rested on the ground like the good old days.

I think you will find there are no limit on rotations and when there finally is they will never have a tall on the bench. We may have talls on the bench in the paper but if a tall cant find his way onto the ground as the game starts then he cant play. The days of ruckmen starting on the bench are over.

[Gershwin]

My 2 bobs worth:

Geary Wilkes Simpkin
Dempster Fisher Roberton
Milera Hayes Dal Santo
Schneider Riewoldt Siposs
Milne Lee Hickey

McEvoy Armitage Montagna

Steven Ledger Saad Newnes (sub)

Rationale:
Geary: Looked comfortable last year and should get better in an important position
Wilkes: Just have a feeling that he will be fitter and better prepared this year Otherwise Gwilt.
Simpkin: Another young player getting better and better
Dempster: Reliable and versatile
Fisher: top class
Roberton: Freo liked him and obviously so did we.
Milera: silky skills and could wander forward and kick goals
Hayes: just want more of the same please
Dal Santo: top class
Schneider: smart and experienced
Riewoldt: always gives 110%
Siposs: high hopes for him and could be thrown around the ground a bit
Milne: always dangerous
Lee: looks like the genuine lead-up forward that we have been looking for
Hickey: keep the pressure on the opposition ruckmen by playing him and hope he can grab marks and goals
McEvoy: could be a better player with Hickey to help
Armitage: real break-out year coming up
Montagna: Mr reliable (Ray probably comes into the 22 for round 1)

Steven: will keep improving
Ledger: thought he had something - need to see
Saad: throw into the mix by rotating in the forward line
Newnes: high hopes

Depth: Ray, Gilbert, Stanley, Gwilt etc.

[SainterK]

Interesting depth Gershwin, some big calls...but hey, that's what the threads about.

You don't see Gwilt getting back to his best now he has had another preseason to put his knee behind him?

[Gershwin]

Interesting depth Gershwin, some big calls...but hey, that's what the threads about.

You don't see Gwilt getting back to his best now he has had another preseason to put his knee behind him?

I can't quite work out Gwilt's best position.
He is not a key defender but has done his best playing there. Does he have the pace and tank for a flank or wing?
What do you think?

[SainterK]

Interesting depth Gershwin, some big calls...but hey, that's what the threads about.

You don't see Gwilt getting back to his best now he has had another preseason to put his knee behind him?

I can't quite work out Gwilt's best position.
He is not a key defender but has done his best playing there. Does he have the pace and tank for a flank or wing?
What do you think?

I think he is right taking the third best forward or so...

We need his kicking there, especially with BJ now gone...as good as Dempster and Geary have been playing, we need some accurate kicks.

Last year he found himself on some ridiculous opponents when Fisher and/or Blake were absent, but he should be right playing on a lesser opponent.

[Kickit]

Interesting depth Gershwin, some big calls...but hey, that's what the threads about.

You don't see Gwilt getting back to his best now he has had another preseason to put his knee behind him?

I can't quite work out Gwilt's best position.
He is not a key defender but has done his best playing there. Does he have the pace and tank for a flank or wing?
What do you think?

Gwilt isn't that fast, but as a receiver he backs himself to break tackles and run through opponents, so he can be pretty effective at getting it out past the forward press. He'll often get a good kick off with an opponent half hanging off him.
One strong unit.

[SuperDuper]

Things will obviously be clearer after the NAB cup and as the season gets closer..... so this is my optimistic team... in the sence that I have selected some guys who I hope step up bigtime this year.... i.e. Lee, Stanley, Siposs and Ferguson are 4 talls that could turn the club around quick if they are all good.... but it is yet to be seen!

Gwilt Simpkin Fergusson (taking the resting rucks)
Gilbert Fisher Dempster
Geary hayes Monty
Saad reiwoltd sippos
Stanley Lee Milne
Mc evoy Dal Steven

armo ray newnes SUB scheider
Em Hickey Roberton Ross milera curren ledger wilkes

If Stanley Siposs and Lee were all to have breakout years (it IS possible looking at their ages and previous form) and Reiwoldt can keep last years form.. then we would have an *extremely* difficult forward line to contain....

I think Ferguson may have a better chance as a KPD than converting a forward.... but again, this is my optimistic side