Best XX11 for 2012

[Doctor]

I think Nico is very close with his observations. I tend to think Pyke will play as the 2nd ruckman, as long as he continues the development he was showing last year before his untimely injury. Other than that I think the top 22 is about right.

[wolftone57]

I pretty well agree with the Good Doctor but we will see and maybe someone will surprise in the NAB cup so much that they have to pick them.

[Nico]

Hey Nico just a couple of questions on your top 22,
who in your top 22 would play at FF?? my thoughts are it would have to be either White, Pyke or Seaby and none of these are in your 22.
How would you play LRT Richards Grundy and Johnson at the same time, Richards or LRT on the bench?
Was your intention just to name a top 22 without regard to positions?
I think Walsh would have to be considered in the starting 22 but I understand if he isnt in your top 22.
I liked your post which started me thinking how they would actually line up.

Cheers

waz

Waz,

That was my best 22.

On a full forward: did we have one last year. I suspect they are going to put Walsh there in the NAB Cup with a plan to make him a permanent FF if there is such a thing.

The back 6 is interesting because if you leave out LRT we lack height, and a lot of clubs have jumped on the big bodied, power forwards bandwagon which seems to be the latest theory. I seem to think this also had its day a while ago and went by the board. Johnson starts everytime as he proved last year that he is the running link man who finds space. He showed an uncanny ability to be on his own to take a pass on the HBF. Richards plays in a confined area. That leaves Grundy who is by far the worst disposal in our backline. Hopefully they play him CHB so he doesnt get caught on the last line as happened too often last year. I guess Mattner stays in the mix and Shaw and Smith are always going to be down there although Shaw could be used further up the ground if Armstrong works out.

It appears to me that we have more depth (the dreaded word) and even better, more versatility than in the past couple of seasons.

[Captain]

We have massive depth which is a good sign.

Would love to see Walsh become that permanent full forward.

My best 22:

Smith Grundy Richards
Malceski LRT McVeigh
Shaw Goodes Jack
O'Keefe Reid Rohan
McGlynn Walsh/Morton Bolton
Mummy Kennedy Hannebery
Parker Johnson Jetta Spangher

[Wazza]

We have massive depth which is a good sign.

Would love to see Walsh become that permanent full forward.

My best 22:

Smith Grundy Richards
Malceski LRT McVeigh
Shaw Goodes Jack
O'Keefe Reid Rohan
McGlynn Walsh/Morton Bolton
Mummy Kennedy Hannebery
Parker Johnson Jetta Spangher

Its so hard to name a top 22/23 who is your 2nd Ruck?

Cheers

wazza

[Wazza]

Waz,

That was my best 22.

On a full forward: did we have one last year. I suspect they are going to put Walsh there in the NAB Cup with a plan to make him a permanent FF if there is such a thing.

The back 6 is interesting because if you leave out LRT we lack height, and a lot of clubs have jumped on the big bodied, power forwards bandwagon which seems to be the latest theory. I seem to think this also had its day a while ago and went by the board. Johnson starts everytime as he proved last year that he is the running link man who finds space. He showed an uncanny ability to be on his own to take a pass on the HBF. Richards plays in a confined area. That leaves Grundy who is by far the worst disposal in our backline. Hopefully they play him CHB so he doesnt get caught on the last line as happened too often last year. I guess Mattner stays in the mix and Shaw and Smith are always going to be down there although Shaw could be used further up the ground if Armstrong works out.

It appears to me that we have more depth (the dreaded word) and even better, more versatility than in the past couple of seasons.

Agree on the depth and versatillity best I can remember, the back six will be interesting, midfield is probably the most settled line and our forward line could turn out 3 -4 differrent combinations
I too agree LJ has to start maybe it will all come down to NAB form. Could we have LRT Richards on the pine??

Cheers

Waz

[Wazza]

Ok time to name my 22

Smith LRT Richards
Armstrong Grundy Johnson
Mattner Kennedy Shaw
O'keefe Reid Hannebery
McGlynn Pyke Mcveigh

Mumford Jack Goodes

Bolton Rohan Bird Walsh

Cheers

Waz

[wolftone57]

No place for Parker or Spang Waz

[Ruck'n'Roll]

While the backline seems pretty straitforward to me with:
3 tall backs: Out of LRT, SuperTed, AJ and Reg. &
3 small backs: Out of Smith, Rhys, Marty, Mal, Armstrong,

The forward line remains just as much of a riddle to me as it did a month ago, and with all due respect to those who have posted here since, it looks no clearer.
I have no idea what sort of structure we will adopt (please Horse can we have 3 talls up forward and 2 ruckmen this year?). And the various attempts to look beyond structure to the personel seem unconvincing. I certainly can't bring myself to insert an unblooded player into a best 22 (and I watch the ressies).

[707]

Depth cetainly is impressive for this season so agree that it is difficult to put an unblooded player into the 22.

That said, Mitchell is an underage gun with the type of play and numbers that would have him starting in many teams first round side. If he is fit, it will be interesting to see how he goes in the NAB Cup.

We always trade in players for specific needs so Armstrong, Walsh and Morton must be strongly considered as starters if they perform well in preseason.

Our forward structure this year looks intruiging with Reid at CHF the only lock at this stage. I'like to see Pyke as the FF/ruck, Walsh must play for mine as the third tall, Morton has real class and may get a midfield run as well, other forward smalls/mids there are many options.

Just a potentially exciting season :-)

When are we playing any internal trial games and will any RWO?rs be there to provide some insight?

[wolftone57]

Yes I think our depth is very good this year. If everything goes right we will have a large range of players pushing for posies. i think we can't just say our finals side last year was this and the only player to come back is Reg. If there are better options we have to use them. This puts pressure on the senior players to perform and if they don't well they get a chance to perform in the 2's. If a player is not performing this year I would like to see him replaced no matter who he is. This is what depth gives a club, the options that other clubs don't have and we have to have the will and guts to use those options.

[wolftone57]

Intra Club highlights are on the Swans TV now. Really nice to see Gary Rohan running away for a couple of goals. Big Mike just shrugged off two players for a lay off bloody top stuff, that is the dort of strength the big fells needs to exhibit. Mummy and Pykie make two monsters not one. A good work out by the looks of it. Keiran looked super fit and really sharp.

[S120]

Haha, Pyke @@@@@@ McVeigh right up. Harkened back to his rugby days there. Lovely palm.

[Bloody Hell]

White playing in defense.

AJ and Rohan seemed to be playing on each other in quite a few exerts - with the Rooster coming out on top.

[wolftone57]

Haha, Pyke @@@@@@ McVeigh right up. Harkened back to his rugby days there. Lovely palm.

The thing about Pykie that most of us forget is that he is very quick for a big guy as is Mummy. We are going to have two mobile monsters to monster the opposition. I would hate to get tackled by either of these guys they are awesome! They are both good kicks and take big pack marks and I am looking forward to seeing a lot of that in the forward line and around the ground this year. I think there will be a new saying 'If Mummy doesn't get ya, Pykie will'