Best 22

[To the top]

Given my inclusion of Freeman and White as crucial to our improvement, the Training Report including references to both is very pleasing.

Fingers crossed they both make 2017 theirs.

[barneyboyz]

I think our best 22 will vary a fair bit from the start of the season and the end. We've got a multitude of players competing for spots and I'm sure some players will surprise us and some will disappoint. With that said, I think this would be the best team to field in round 1

B: Geary, Brown, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: McKenzie, Montagna, Newnes, Steele

Assuming Brown gets a regular gig this year, Dempster will have to take on more of an intercept/attacking role to stay relevant and keep his spot ahead of Webster and White. The defence I listed is very experienced and dependable but lacks run and flair so Sean will need to reinvent himself.

Reserves (assuming everyone is fit)

B: White, Coughlan, Rice
HB: Long, Goddard, Gilbert
C: Freeman, Dunstan, Stevens
HF: Wright, Battle, O'Kearney
F: Pierce, Marshall, Lonie

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Minchington
Int: Holmes, Phillips

I don't mind that side. Obviously could be much different come Rnd 1

what is interesting is that forward pocket and how we would manage to get say a Benny Long in there as I reckon he'll be a 'bolter' next year...interesting times ahead

Stevens too, how's he getting into that side and I assume he will as soon as fit?

[Spinner]

I think our best 22 will vary a fair bit from the start of the season and the end. We've got a multitude of players competing for spots and I'm sure some players will surprise us and some will disappoint. With that said, I think this would be the best team to field in round 1

B: Geary, Brown, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: McKenzie, Montagna, Newnes, Steele

Assuming Brown gets a regular gig this year, Dempster will have to take on more of an intercept/attacking role to stay relevant and keep his spot ahead of Webster and White. The defence I listed is very experienced and dependable but lacks run and flair so Sean will need to reinvent himself.

Reserves (assuming everyone is fit)

B: White, Coughlan, Rice
HB: Long, Goddard, Gilbert
C: Freeman, Dunstan, Stevens
HF: Wright, Battle, O'Kearney
F: Pierce, Marshall, Lonie

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Minchington
Int: Holmes, Phillips

Superb effort.

I'd have Webster in seniors and drop Brown. I don't see how he fits into our best side - trends going smaller agile and damaging backs and he doesn't do any.

I'm also predicting Stevens overtakes Armo. Unpopular opinion.

Would also have Dunstan def in, Savage out and McKenzie to develop on the HBF.

[Spinner]

The guts of this team is the remarkable improvement of Bruce, Hickey, Ross and Membrey over the last 2 years. They moved from solid recruits to talented senior players at AFL level.

Haven't been excited this much on our potential and growth for a long long time. They are all coming into primes at the same time...

FB: Geary Dempster Roberton
HB: Webster Carlisle McKenzie
C: Newnes Dunstan Riewoldt
HF: Billings Bruce Weller
FF: Membrey McCartin Gresham
R: Hickey Stevens Ross
INT: Stevens Acres Montagna Steele

[To the top]

I think I read somewhere that the Coach was saying we need to improve our defence, including our rebounding capabilities (hence Montagna being deployed as he was in 2016).

My opinion is that that comes down to a change in personnel and, hopefully, that is where White cementing a spot comes into play.

I would see Brown at full back BUT all others in our defence will have a run and carry capacity able to quickly transition to the advantage of our forwards and one on one contests.

I still stick with the side I nominated earlier on this subject - with fingers crossed!

[remboy]

The guts of this team is the remarkable improvement of Bruce, Hickey, Ross and Membrey over the last 2 years. They moved from solid recruits to talented senior players at AFL level.

Haven't been excited this much on our potential and growth for a long long time. They are all coming into primes at the same time...

FB: Geary Dempster Roberton
HB: Webster Carlisle McKenzie
C: Newnes Dunstan Riewoldt
HF: Billings Bruce Weller
FF: Membrey McCartin Gresham
R: Hickey Stevens Ross
INT: Stevens Acres Montagna Steele

Armitage??

[bigcarl]

I like this for a centreline:

C: Riewoldt, Ross, Acres

Ross, ball magnet, class distributor; Acres, LOT of potential; Riewoldt, enough said.

[shmic_s]

I saw it in the "I'm calling it now..." post and in this post; in every best 22 I see there is one or two left out that I would have in our team. This gives Richo/the coaches options, cover for injuries, competition for spots.

This can only be a positive sign for 2017. Get excited!

[Gershwin]

I wouldn't be unhappy if we went with this side:

B: Dylan Roberton, Nathan Brown, Jarryn Geary
HB: Leigh Montagna, Jake Carlisle, Sean Dempster
C: Nick Riewoldt, David Armitage, Jack Newnes
HF: Jack Billings, Josh Bruce, Maverick Weller
F: Tim Membrey, Paddy McCartin, Jade Gresham
Foll: Tom Hickey, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
I/C: Blake Acres, Luke Dunstan, Sam Gilbert, Shane Savage

[coopergrech]

Jack Steele & Koby Stevens in for Dunstan & Gilbert and you've nailed it.

I wouldn't be unhappy if we went with this side:

B: Dylan Roberton, Nathan Brown, Jarryn Geary
HB: Leigh Montagna, Jake Carlisle, Sean Dempster
C: Nick Riewoldt, David Armitage, Jack Newnes
HF: Jack Billings, Josh Bruce, Maverick Weller
F: Tim Membrey, Paddy McCartin, Jade Gresham
Foll: Tom Hickey, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
I/C: Blake Acres, Luke Dunstan, Sam Gilbert, Shane Savage

[skeptic]

Jack Steele & Koby Stevens in for Dunstan & Gilbert and you've nailed it.

I wouldn't be unhappy if we went with this side:

B: Dylan Roberton, Nathan Brown, Jarryn Geary
HB: Leigh Montagna, Jake Carlisle, Sean Dempster
C: Nick Riewoldt, David Armitage, Jack Newnes
HF: Jack Billings, Josh Bruce, Maverick Weller
F: Tim Membrey, Paddy McCartin, Jade Gresham
Foll: Tom Hickey, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
I/C: Blake Acres, Luke Dunstan, Sam Gilbert, Shane Savage

The way I look at it... the pressure is really on for Gilbert and Savage. Both in the 22 ATM but in my opinion both with obvious gaps in their game that need to be addressed/overcome otherwise they may well likely get overtaken.

[mightysainters]

B: Geary, Goddard, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Wright (FWD/DEF), Montagna (Utitlity), Newnes (Mid), Steele (Mid)

Wright isn't a prolific kick but i can see him playing a type of Clay Smith role for us

[longtimesaint]

B: Geary, Goddard, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Wright (FWD/DEF), Montagna (Utitlity), Newnes (Mid), Steele (Mid)

Wright isn't a prolific kick but i can see him playing a type of Clay Smith role for us

This team leaves out McKenzie, Sinclair and White -from all accounts three of the best during pre-season!

[mightysainters]

B: Geary, Goddard, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Wright (FWD/DEF), Montagna (Utitlity), Newnes (Mid), Steele (Mid)

Wright isn't a prolific kick but i can see him playing a type of Clay Smith role for us

This team leaves out McKenzie, Sinclair and White -from all accounts three of the best during pre-season!

We're talking about best 22 aren't we? Pre Season can very much be a false dawn..

All of the above have shown their class at the level.

[longtimesaint]

B: Geary, Goddard, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Wright (FWD/DEF), Montagna (Utitlity), Newnes (Mid), Steele (Mid)

Wright isn't a prolific kick but i can see him playing a type of Clay Smith role for us

This team leaves out McKenzie, Sinclair and White -from all accounts three of the best during pre-season!

We're talking about best 22 aren't we? Pre Season can very much be a false dawn..

All of the above have shown their class at the level.

I don't think Goddard has proven himself as a senior player yet and you would think Dunstan and Gilbert would rate ahead of Wright.

[mightysainters]

B: Geary, Goddard, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Wright (FWD/DEF), Montagna (Utitlity), Newnes (Mid), Steele (Mid)

Wright isn't a prolific kick but i can see him playing a type of Clay Smith role for us

This team leaves out McKenzie, Sinclair and White -from all accounts three of the best during pre-season!

We're talking about best 22 aren't we? Pre Season can very much be a false dawn..

All of the above have shown their class at the level.

I don't think Goddard has proven himself as a senior player yet and you would think Dunstan and Gilbert would rate ahead of Wright.

Gilbert gives away a couple of goals a game and if we're to improve hes not in our best 22.

Dunstan unless he has built up some pace and can spread better is an emergency...

Goddard proved in 2015 he's at the level and is the equivalent of Brown so why not get games into him.. I don't think Brown is better

[longtimesaint]

B: Geary, Goddard, Dempster
HB: Savage, Carlisle, Roberton
C: Riewoldt, Armitage, Acres
HF: Billings, Bruce, Weller
F: Gresham, McCartin, Membrey

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Wright (FWD/DEF), Montagna (Utitlity), Newnes (Mid), Steele (Mid)

Wright isn't a prolific kick but i can see him playing a type of Clay Smith role for us

This team leaves out McKenzie, Sinclair and White -from all accounts three of the best during pre-season!

We're talking about best 22 aren't we? Pre Season can very much be a false dawn..

All of the above have shown their class at the level.

I don't think Goddard has proven himself as a senior player yet and you would think Dunstan and Gilbert would rate ahead of Wright.

Gilbert gives away a couple of goals a game and if we're to improve hes not in our best 22.

Dunstan unless he has built up some pace and can spread better is an emergency...

Goddard proved in 2015 he's at the level and is the equivalent of Brown so why not get games into him.. I don't think Brown is better

Dunstan does a power of work as an inside mid and is a certainty for our starting best 22.
Gilbert is still in our 22 and can go forward as he did against Collingwood in round 3.
Brown will be used against the gorillas ( Hogan, Hawkins etc.) and Goddard will need to be more mobile than he showed in the few games he has played.

[mightysainters]

I do like Dunstan so i can entertain him
Gilbert is mediocre as a back and fwd, he doesnt make the cut. He's the player we need to phase out to be a contender in years to come.
Goddard can play on the Gorillas who are becoming less and less relevant. Brown isn't part of the future nor is he best 22, he's depth

[ChrisRyanSaints]

If our 22 Stays fit HOW can we lose?? Perfect balance and great age bracket now. With the inclusions of carlisle brown stevens and freeman, We should be aiming top 4.

[bigcarl]

Gilbert is mediocre as a back and fwd, he doesnt make the cut.

I disagree with you and I suspect the coach does, too. But if his form isn't great his spot will be under pressure like anyone else. Plenty of competition for spots is very healthy.

[mightysainters]

Gilbert is mediocre as a back and fwd, he doesnt make the cut.

I disagree with you and I suspect the coach does, too. But if his form isn't great his spot will be under pressure like anyone else. Plenty of competition for spots is very healthy.

Not sure if you can speak on the coaches behalf unless you have inside knowledge. We have had to play him out of necessity because we were very small down back.

Gilbo is not a smart footballer and will cost us goals a game, much like Raph Clarke.. Sure they can take the game on but the turnovers hurt

[bigcarl]

Gilbert is mediocre as a back and fwd, he doesnt make the cut.

I disagree with you and I suspect the coach does, too. But if his form isn't great his spot will be under pressure like anyone else. Plenty of competition for spots is very healthy.

Not sure if you can speak on the coaches behalf unless you have inside knowledge. We have had to play him out of necessity because we were very small down back.

Gilbo is not a smart footballer and will cost us goals a game, much like Raph Clarke.. Sure they can take the game on but the turnovers hurt

I make no claim to inside knowledge, only what the coach has said publicly about Gilbert. Which has always been favourable.

There's also the fact that if he is fit he is picked to play. You don't need inside knowledge to see that.

[mightysainters]

that was based on the past.. this thread is best 22.. he is not in our best 22 based of improvement and a full and healthy list

[bigcarl]

that was based on the past.. this thread is best 22.. he is not in our best 22 based of improvement and a full and healthy list

We shall see.

[Trev from the Bush]

Do I get a prize for guessi g who our 2017 whipping boy is, mightysainters?