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Re: 2006 best 22
Pretty close. A lot of people will say 'don't mess with a winning formula', but my view is that other teams will be evolving (and looking closely at our 2005 game tapes), so we need to evolve a little, too. Leaving out the emergencies (any one of 10 or more players could qualify, and I suspect that they rotate them just to encourage players in the 2nds), I'd try as follows:
B: C Bolton, T Richards, J Crouch
HB: T Kennelly, L Roberts-Thomson, L Barry
C: A Goodes, J Bolton, N Fosdike
HF: R O'Keefe, B Hall, P Williams
F: N Davis, M O'Loughlin, L Ablett
R: D Jolly, B Kirk, A Buchanan
INT: A Schneider, B Mathews, S Dempster, P Chambers.
Notes:
1. At this stage, I don't know whether T Richards will have what it takes to play on big opposition full-forwards immediately in 2006. That will depend on what he shows in the off-season and the pre-season. But I agree with NMW that allowing Leo to play away from the opposition's gorilla will not just improve our run out of defence-- it will elongate the career of this chronic overachiever. The fact that he hasn't missed more games through injury is testament both to his extraordinary resilience, and the fact that the football gods have kept smiling on him. Which may not happen forever.
2. The defence is tailored to an average-sized attack. Against a monster attack Dempster would be swung into action (with maybe Crouch on the wing and Fossie starting on the pine), and against a smaller one Mathews would start on the park.
3. I would love to see J McVeigh (among others) in this team, as I think he's the natural successor to Paul Williams that we will need so badly in 2007. But who do you boot? I couldn't find anyone.
4. As a reserve defensive midfielder/defender, I would prefer to see P Bevan on the pine and B Mathews out of the side (tough, I know, but getting into this team is tough). But given the selectors' proven attitude over the years, dumping Mathews would lie in the realm of fantasy rather than realistic selecting.
5. I'm aware that having 3 inside midfielders at centre bounces may not be ideal, but centre bounces are more about getting the pill (and if necessary jamming it on your boot at random) than doing it prettily. These are our 3 best ball-winners. The players with more finesse will come in from the wings, rotate through the middle during the course of the game, and at least one of them will follow the stoppages.
6. Despite their selected locations, Williams would rotate with N Fosdike in the 'outside midfielder' role. Ablett would play more of a HFF role in a team where O'Loughlin, Davis and (when he drops back) BBBH will usually have dibs on the final line of attack. (Ablett surprised everyone in 2005 by showing he has the potential to be a very good footballer-- but he ain't a midfielder, is unlikely to ever be one, and we don't need more midfielders at the moment anyway.)
7. Where Goodes plays in the selected team can almost be plucked at random (as long as it isn't defence). He continues to play the '20 tonne elephant' role that he played successfully in 2005 (i.e. Where does he go? Wherever he wants to).
8. Absolutely line-ball as to whether Chambers or Doyle gets the 2nd ruck spot at the moment. Don't have a clue. We'll see how the 2 of them go over the next 5 months.
The number of small(ish) young midfielders knocking on the door means that unless we're struck down by utterly chronic injuries, I'm sorry to say that if Fixter and Sundqvist make it to 2006, it's very hard to see them making it to 2007.
Originally posted by swans05
what does everyone think our team will look like next year i reckon
B: C.Bolton L.Barry B.Mathews
HB: T.Kennelly L.Roberts-Thomson J.Crouch
C: P.Williams J.Bolton N.Fosdike
HF: R.O'Keefe B.Hall A.Goodes
F: N.Davis M.O'Loughlin A.Buchanan
R: D.Jolly B.Kirk L.Ablett
INT: N.Malceski S.Dempster A.Schneider P.Chambers
EMG: P.Bevan L.Vogels J.McVeigh
any thoughts?
what does everyone think our team will look like next year i reckon
B: C.Bolton L.Barry B.Mathews
HB: T.Kennelly L.Roberts-Thomson J.Crouch
C: P.Williams J.Bolton N.Fosdike
HF: R.O'Keefe B.Hall A.Goodes
F: N.Davis M.O'Loughlin A.Buchanan
R: D.Jolly B.Kirk L.Ablett
INT: N.Malceski S.Dempster A.Schneider P.Chambers
EMG: P.Bevan L.Vogels J.McVeigh
any thoughts?
B: C Bolton, T Richards, J Crouch
HB: T Kennelly, L Roberts-Thomson, L Barry
C: A Goodes, J Bolton, N Fosdike
HF: R O'Keefe, B Hall, P Williams
F: N Davis, M O'Loughlin, L Ablett
R: D Jolly, B Kirk, A Buchanan
INT: A Schneider, B Mathews, S Dempster, P Chambers.
Notes:
1. At this stage, I don't know whether T Richards will have what it takes to play on big opposition full-forwards immediately in 2006. That will depend on what he shows in the off-season and the pre-season. But I agree with NMW that allowing Leo to play away from the opposition's gorilla will not just improve our run out of defence-- it will elongate the career of this chronic overachiever. The fact that he hasn't missed more games through injury is testament both to his extraordinary resilience, and the fact that the football gods have kept smiling on him. Which may not happen forever.
2. The defence is tailored to an average-sized attack. Against a monster attack Dempster would be swung into action (with maybe Crouch on the wing and Fossie starting on the pine), and against a smaller one Mathews would start on the park.
3. I would love to see J McVeigh (among others) in this team, as I think he's the natural successor to Paul Williams that we will need so badly in 2007. But who do you boot? I couldn't find anyone.
4. As a reserve defensive midfielder/defender, I would prefer to see P Bevan on the pine and B Mathews out of the side (tough, I know, but getting into this team is tough). But given the selectors' proven attitude over the years, dumping Mathews would lie in the realm of fantasy rather than realistic selecting.
5. I'm aware that having 3 inside midfielders at centre bounces may not be ideal, but centre bounces are more about getting the pill (and if necessary jamming it on your boot at random) than doing it prettily. These are our 3 best ball-winners. The players with more finesse will come in from the wings, rotate through the middle during the course of the game, and at least one of them will follow the stoppages.
6. Despite their selected locations, Williams would rotate with N Fosdike in the 'outside midfielder' role. Ablett would play more of a HFF role in a team where O'Loughlin, Davis and (when he drops back) BBBH will usually have dibs on the final line of attack. (Ablett surprised everyone in 2005 by showing he has the potential to be a very good footballer-- but he ain't a midfielder, is unlikely to ever be one, and we don't need more midfielders at the moment anyway.)
7. Where Goodes plays in the selected team can almost be plucked at random (as long as it isn't defence). He continues to play the '20 tonne elephant' role that he played successfully in 2005 (i.e. Where does he go? Wherever he wants to).
8. Absolutely line-ball as to whether Chambers or Doyle gets the 2nd ruck spot at the moment. Don't have a clue. We'll see how the 2 of them go over the next 5 months.
The number of small(ish) young midfielders knocking on the door means that unless we're struck down by utterly chronic injuries, I'm sorry to say that if Fixter and Sundqvist make it to 2006, it's very hard to see them making it to 2007.
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