Is this the team for round one?

[skeptic]

B - Wilkie, Brown/Howard, Geary
HB - Long, Carlisle, Clark
C - Hill, Steele, Jones
HF - Billings, Marshall, Butler
F - Lonie, King, Membrey
R - Ryder, Ross, Gresh
Int - Battle, Hannebery, Paton, Dunstan

Emg: Howard/Brown, Marsh, Hind

I kind of like it to be honest

[George27]

In Roberton
Out Paton

[The_Dud]

Looks pretty good to me.

Not sure you can play Wilkie, Howard/Brown, Carlisle, Roberton and Battle all in the same team.

[Bernard Shakey]

No!

[Secret Kiel]

B - Wilkie, Brown/Howard, Geary
HB - Long, Carlisle, Clark
C - Hill, Steele, Jones
HF - Billings, Marshall, Butler
F - Lonie, King, Membrey
R - Ryder, Ross, Gresh
Int - Battle, Hannebery, Paton, Dunstan

Emg: Howard/Brown, Marsh, Hind

I kind of like it to be honest

Has to he close to the right mix.

Interesting you are considering Brown, is he ready for round 1?

I'm guessing King will be the focus of much discussion at selection meetings. Questions that could be thrown up, is he ready, could he be a liability. Opposition and thier line up could influence decision making but I doubt selection will be based on lets put him in the seniors and develop him there. There is massive expectation for this team to play finals and the players will be the first to get cranky if the mentality is still a development one.

[WellardSaint]

I'd like Hind in, but not sure who is dropped...

[saintspremiers]

Phillips looks good.

Be nice to have King and Phillips in the same team. Royalty.

[Otiman]

Pretty close, I'm not sure I can find a spot for Carlisle against North, bring Roberton in and Wilkie or Battle to CHB.

Also some consideration for Paton vs Coffield for that spot.

[cwrcyn]

Is Carlisle quick enough to go with Ben Brown on the lead? Hmmm....not sure

[cwrcyn]

Is Carlisle quick enough to go with Ben Brown on the lead? Hmmm....not sure

[Joffa Burns]

Is Carlisle quick enough to go with Ben Brown on the lead? Hmmm....not sure

Howard to play on Brown IMO.

[skeptic]

B - Wilkie, Brown/Howard, Geary
HB - Long, Carlisle, Clark
C - Hill, Steele, Jones
HF - Billings, Marshall, Butler
F - Lonie, King, Membrey
R - Ryder, Ross, Gresh
Int - Battle, Hannebery, Paton, Dunstan

Emg: Howard/Brown, Marsh, Hind

I kind of like it to be honest

Has to he close to the right mix.

Interesting you are considering Brown, is he ready for round 1?

I'm guessing King will be the focus of much discussion at selection meetings. Questions that could be thrown up, is he ready, could he be a liability. Opposition and thier line up could influence decision making but I doubt selection will be based on lets put him in the seniors and develop him there. There is massive expectation for this team to play finals and the players will be the first to get cranky if the mentality is still a development one.

It’s a tricky one...
I quite like Brown and seem to recall that he played a game or 2 in the pre-season and looked good.
Personally, I’d like to give the nod to Howard given Carlisle and Battle would be in the team too as they provide experience and flexibility. Either way I wouldn’t be unhappy.

A few notes that have been discussed.

Roberton is not in this team only because he needs some match fitness/game time. Otherwise he’s a clear top22.

The Battle debate is an interesting and my take is that he’ll start the season forward more often then back barring injury.
I wonder if rather than Paddy Ryder going forward, he plays ruck and bench with Marshall doing more rucking and Battle picking up the slack forward. Truly one of the more intriguing questions heading in to round one.

I too am a bigger fan of Hind then most but whose spot does he take.
Would have to be Paton if they play him at HBF or Dunstan if he rotated forward. With Hannebery building fitness, I reckon ultimately Dunstan gets the nod but now that I think about it... Ross, Steele, Hannebery, Dunstan - only room for three with Luke the most vulnerable.

If Paton, who i rate, really steps up then perhaps he takes Clarke’s spot at HBF, Hunter goes into the middle and Dunstan is out for Hind.
That seems to be a better balance

[To the top]

In my view Carlisle with his skill set in not played at full back.

The skill Carlisle has are his smarts, accordingly intercept and pack marking and his disposal

You use those skills - from the outer defensive position

You don’t want Carlisle tracking a leading forward, you want him chopping out space and intercepting because that is his skill

We have recruited Howard as a full back with closing speed and elite spoiling

Plus we have Austin and Claravino who will seek opportunity

[fugazi]

B: Wilkie Howard Coffield
HB: Long Battle Clark
C: Hill Steele Jones
HF: Billings Membrey Butler
F: King Marshall Lonie
R: Ryder, Ross, Gresham
I/C : Roberton, Dunstan , Hannaberry, Geary/Paton/Parker/Hind

[Saintmatt]

Is Carlisle quick enough to go with Ben Brown on the lead? Hmmm....not sure

Ben Brown has had a calf for the past 10 days. I’d be pretty surprised if he plays R1

[Secret Kiel]

B - Wilkie, Brown/Howard, Geary
HB - Long, Carlisle, Clark
C - Hill, Steele, Jones
HF - Billings, Marshall, Butler
F - Lonie, King, Membrey
R - Ryder, Ross, Gresh
Int - Battle, Hannebery, Paton, Dunstan

Emg: Howard/Brown, Marsh, Hind

I kind of like it to be honest

Has to he close to the right mix.

Interesting you are considering Brown, is he ready for round 1?

I'm guessing King will be the focus of much discussion at selection meetings. Questions that could be thrown up, is he ready, could he be a liability. Opposition and thier line up could influence decision making but I doubt selection will be based on lets put him in the seniors and develop him there. There is massive expectation for this team to play finals and the players will be the first to get cranky if the mentality is still a development one.

It’s a tricky one...
I quite like Brown and seem to recall that he played a game or 2 in the pre-season and looked good.
Personally, I’d like to give the nod to Howard given Carlisle and Battle would be in the team too as they provide experience and flexibility. Either way I wouldn’t be unhappy.

A few notes that have been discussed.

Roberton is not in this team only because he needs some match fitness/game time. Otherwise he’s a clear top22.

The Battle debate is an interesting and my take is that he’ll start the season forward more often then back barring injury.
I wonder if rather than Paddy Ryder going forward, he plays ruck and bench with Marshall doing more rucking and Battle picking up the slack forward. Truly one of the more intriguing questions heading in to round one.

I too am a bigger fan of Hind then most but whose spot does he take.
Would have to be Paton if they play him at HBF or Dunstan if he rotated forward. With Hannebery building fitness, I reckon ultimately Dunstan gets the nod but now that I think about it... Ross, Steele, Hannebery, Dunstan - only room for three with Luke the most vulnerable.

If Paton, who i rate, really steps up then perhaps he takes Clarke’s spot at HBF, Hunter goes into the middle and Dunstan is out for Hind.
That seems to be a better balance

Totally a tricky one and hasn't it been a while since we've been able to say that.

Not sure about Luke being vulnerable though after yesterday's game and his pre season to-date he's looking sharp. I'm starting to think he's one to watch in terms of going up a level, we so badly need that to happen if we are going to become a finals side. The challenge for Luke is consistency so it will count for naught if his first game is poor. I hope the group of players who have teased us in the past realise the fab 5 recruits aren't going to get us to the promised land unless some of our home grown go to the next level.

Speaking of being teased, I hope Sinclair had the Corona virus yesterday, it is make or break for him this year.

On a side note, Steele, he puts it on the record in a media article this week about how he's going to get off the chain and then goes and racks up 11 tackles as a negative player. Old habits die hard I suppose or did I miss some of his creative attacking play?

[oldie60]

I'd like Hind in, but not sure who is dropped...

Maybe Sinclair ?

[samuraisaint]

B - Wilkie, Brown/Howard, Geary
HB - Long, Carlisle, Clark
C - Hill, Steele, Jones
HF - Billings, Marshall, Butler
F - Lonie, King, Membrey
R - Ryder, Ross, Gresh
Int - Battle, Hannebery, Paton, Dunstan

Emg: Howard/Brown, Marsh, Hind

I kind of like it to be honest

North are a good, honest, eighth ranked side who could finish top six if they are coached to their strengths and have a bit of luck with injuries. We've only beaten them twice since the end of the Lyon-era in 2011 and in that time their side is largely unchanged structurally while ours has undergone a major rebuild and a major top up at the end of last season. They are big, fast and aren't scared.

Ziebell, Polec and Brown are all doubtful at this stage.
Marley Williams out suspended.

Their midfield beats our midfield going on exposed form. Cunnington has been a problem for us for a decade. They are a hard-nosed, physical, and experienced unit who have been playing together for nearly a full decade and will be very hard for a team like ours to beat.

If Ziebell plays, you need a competitive beast on him at half back - Long is the best option there because he can hurt him going the other way.
Polec can be dangerous too - but he would have his hands full with either Hill or Jones.
If Ben Brown plays you definitely need a huge man on him, but one who is mobile - Howard would fit the bill. Ben Brown has absolutely destroyed us for years.

If Brown, or all three, don't play we'll win and win well.

I think we'll really struggle if all three play. To be honest I can't see us beating them if that occurs. Ziebell has killed us for years too.

So long as we are competitive and remain up to our necks in the match until the final siren I will be satisfied.

[Joffa Burns]

B - Wilkie, Brown/Howard, Geary
HB - Long, Carlisle, Clark
C - Hill, Steele, Jones
HF - Billings, Marshall, Butler
F - Lonie, King, Membrey
R - Ryder, Ross, Gresh
Int - Battle, Hannebery, Paton, Dunstan

Emg: Howard/Brown, Marsh, Hind

I kind of like it to be honest

I reckon you are very close.
I think Howard plays and the backline is how you have selected it with Robbo having a couple of weeks at Sandy to blow out the cobwebs.

Paton & Dunstan are interesting.
Options are Sinlclair, Coffield, Savage, Kent, Marsh, Hind in no particular order.

Does Hannebery play or do they give him a couple at Sandy?

[Gershwin]

I’m going off Carlisle to be honest. If Roberton and/or Wilkie can hold down CHB and Howard can get to most of the big-man contests with his pace and spoiling then it gives us an advantage in pace and attack from defence. Battle can help King in attack and go back to CHB if necessary.
Four midfielders on the bench helps the emphasis on speed and carry.

Geary, Howard, Wilkie
Clark, Roberton, Long
Hill, Ross, Billings
Battle, King, Butler
Lonie, Membrey, Ryder

Marshall, Steele, Gresham

Dunstan, Hannebery, Jones, Hind

[Secret Kiel]

I’m going off Carlisle to be honest. If Roberton and/or Wilkie can hold down CHB and Howard can get to most of the big-man contests with his pace and spoiling then it gives us an advantage in pace and attack from defence. Battle can help King in attack and go back to CHB if necessary.
Four midfielders on the bench helps the emphasis on speed and carry.

Geary, Howard, Wilkie
Clark, Roberton, Long
Hill, Ross, Billings
Battle, King, Butler
Lonie, Membrey, Ryder

Marshall, Steele, Gresham

Dunstan, Hannebery, Jones, Hind

Why are you off Carslile?

[To the top]

Coffield Howard Roberton
Long Carlisle Clark
Jones Steele Hill
Billings Marshall Battle
Membrey King Gresham
Ryder Ross Hannebery
Dunstan Lonie Wilkie Butler

[SaintPav]

Noice...rule noice...

[Sanctorum]

I don't know that Dylan Roberton needs to prove his fitness by playing in the seconds for a couple of games. The way he played yesterday he looked extremely good to me, and his experience across half-back will be quite important.

I also believe it crucial they get some early games into Max King, he has shown enough in the pre-season games to indicate that he is ready to go from Round 1 - sending him to gain further experience in the seconds is pointless as he need to compete against the best defenders in the comp to develop his skills - i have heard Nick Riewoldt express the same views, I can't recall if Roo was put on ice in the seconds in his first year, and bear in mind too that Max King is effectively in his 2nd year.

I'm tipping the Round 1 team to be as follows:

FB: Geary - Howard - Roberton
HB: Clark - Carlisle - Long
C: Hill - Ross - Jones
HF: Membrey - Marshall - Billings
FF: Lonie - King - Butler

Ruck: Ryder - Steele - Gresham

Int: Dunstan - Hannebery - Battle - Webster

Emerg: Wilkie - Coffield - Paton

Feel a bit sorry that there's no room for Shane Savage, his disposal skills re elite. Likewise Callum Wilkie is hard done by following his great form last year and he played quite well against Collingwood yesterday.

[saintbob]

Webster Carlisle Long
Roberton Howard Clark
Hill Steele Billings
Butler Membrey Gresham
Ryder King Lonie

Marshall Ross Jones

Geary, Dunstan, Coffield and Wilkie or Battle