Best XX11 for 2012

[Scottee]

Taking a longer view ranging to the end of the 2012 season I think you could also say that by the end of the year there could be some sliders and risers.

Possible Cat 1 Sliders (due to aging bodies/injury): Bolton/Shaw/Mattner

Possible Cat 2 Risers:Lamb, Walsh, Pyke, Spangher, Morton, Armstrong, White (one last chance to find his Mojo).

I also think that AJ, Bird and Nick Malceski should be Cat 1 to start with.

I also think that the Cat 3 list will only consist of this year's lower draftees and the rookies. Every other player on the list will be in contention at some stage of the year IMHO.

I also think that there is the potential that the Mummy will be tried at FF with Pyke in the ruck due to the much improved kicking of the Mummy and his improved pack marking/abilty to bust packs up forward.(I think a side needs 2 real rucks to win the big games).

[Full Forward]

I also think that there is the potential that the Mummy will be tried at FF with Pyke in the ruck due to the much improved kicking of the Mummy and his improved pack marking/abilty to bust packs up forward.(I think a side needs 2 real rucks to win the big games).

I think that was half our problem last year. We stuck a lot of talls up there and kicked it long to a pack situation. Very one dimensional. Easiest thing for defenders to defend.

Whilst it is good to have someone who can take a pack mark or bust it open, the game has moved on and you need to find ways to get more one on one contests.

Mummy will no doubt go forward for a rest, but we must find better option than him first up. He can be your bail out when no one presents then kick it to a contest and get the mummy involved

[JudesaGun]

McGlynn Walsh Morton
O'Keefe Reid Rohan

Hanners Jack McVeigh

Matter Teddy AJ
Shaw Grundy Smith

Mumford Goodes Kennedy

Bolton Malceski Parker Armstrong

Next in line:
White
Mitchell
Lamb
Spangher
LRT
TDL
Jetta
Bird
Pyke

Seriously, that is hard!!

[Full Forward]

McGlynn Walsh Morton
O'Keefe Reid Rohan

Hanners Jack McVeigh

Matter Teddy AJ
Shaw Grundy Smith

Mumford Goodes Kennedy

Bolton Malceski Parker Armstrong

Next in line:
White
Mitchell
Lamb
Spangher
LRT
TDL
Jetta
Bird
Pyke

Seriously, that is hard!!

There is no second ruckman in this team and you have two defenders on the bench.

All of last year we went with one backman and three mid fielders on the bench

[Sandridge]

Yes, this activity shows that we do indeed have a deep and exciting list!

Thought Brett Meredith was a bit stiff, though, to be in the "not in the running" list. Every club has a player who's the first one dumped when things go wrong and I reckon Brett Meredith is our's. I reckon he has a lot of potential but hasn't had the chance to consolidate. (My opinion of him may be influenced by the fact that he played for my local club as a junior!!!!)

[Kirkari]

I think that was half our problem last year. We stuck a lot of talls up there and kicked it long to a pack situation. Very one dimensional. Easiest thing for defenders to defend.

Whilst it is good to have someone who can take a pack mark or bust it open, the game has moved on and you need to find ways to get more one on one contests.

Mummy will no doubt go forward for a rest, but we must find better option than him first up. He can be your bail out when no one presents then kick it to a contest and get the mummy involved

I can't wait to see what Mummy can do this year. Word is he has come back VERY fit, trim and with a good bit of speed. Now, if he can just keep those knees right... Woo hoo!!

[Full Forward]

I can't wait to see what Mummy can do this year. Word is he has come back VERY fit, trim and with a good bit of speed. Now, if he can just keep those knees right... Woo hoo!!

It's not just the knees it's his tackling that is costing him games each year as well. Hopefully he has learnt.

Hope you are right about his fitness, will be a massive boost for the club. He is getting close to being as important for us as Goodsey

[Scottee]

I think that was half our problem last year. We stuck a lot of talls up there and kicked it long to a pack situation. Very one dimensional. Easiest thing for defenders to defend.

Whilst it is good to have someone who can take a pack mark or bust it open, the game has moved on and you need to find ways to get more one on one contests.

Mummy will no doubt go forward for a rest, but we must find better option than him first up. He can be your bail out when no one presents then kick it to a contest and get the mummy involved

I suppose time will tell, but the size, speed and strength of the Mummy along with his goal kicking accuracy of 10 goals 2 behinds for the year is eerily reminiscent one Tony Lockett. I suppose you could say that he will be of some value down forward whether resting or with Pyke taking main ruck duties. I wouldn't be suggesting this if I wasn't a fan of Pykes ruck work. Either way it could be a good combination.

I'm not sure that we are that one dimensional in having two marking targets with the selection of quality crumbers we now have available. I actually think we now have a great list with excellent depth and there could be all sorts of forward combos taking into account the other big forwards as well.

Very happy with the list and the array of options all over the ground.

[Bexl]

Also, PYYYYYKE! I'd have him at least in the second category, and possibly first. He's better than White, and if he hadn't been injured for most of last season he'd have played a lot more games. He's a perfect 2nd ruckman/forward.

Big time agree. I think he will be one of our key players this season if he stays fit.
His ruck work is very good, he can kick a good goal and is very competative.

[Full Forward]

I suppose time will tell, but the size, speed and strength of the Mummy along with his goal kicking accuracy of 10 goals 2 behinds for the year is eerily reminiscent one Tony Lockett. I suppose you could say that he will be of some value down forward whether resting or with Pyke taking main ruck duties. I wouldn't be suggesting this if I wasn't a fan of Pykes ruck work. Either way it could be a good combination.

I'm not sure that we are that one dimensional in having two marking targets with the selection of quality crumbers we now have available. I actually think we now have a great list with excellent depth and there could be all sorts of forward combos taking into account the other big forwards as well.

Very happy with the list and the array of options all over the ground.

I havn't seen anything about mummy that reminds me of plugger.

Happy to have him spend time there but his biggest value is as a ruckman.

I am just saying that I would like to see us come up with forward options that don't just involve us bombing away and hoping the talls can mark the ball.

[wolftone57]

I think you're being a bit tough on Rhycie there, he was wonderful this season as shown by him coming second in the Skilton.

Yes he did have a pretty fair season but he is sometimes inconsistent and was last season having a dip at one period. He put together a string of good games later in the year. What I am trying to point out is inconsistency will not be an option with our depth in 2012. Players will need to be on the ball to keep their spots.

[wolftone57]

Oh get real - the 5 players you've mentioned above are pretty much the backbone of the team and are the reason we are so tough. I agree with a fair bit of what you have to say but this one is waaaaaay off the mark.

Jonno, while these players may be the backbone even they would concede to inconsistency last season. There were periods where they all went missing & my point is that with such good depth we now have the ability to rest a few players if they are looking a bit jaded. It just gives us a few more options and allows us to build beyond these guys for the future as a few of them are getting on.

[wolftone57]

Shaw came 2nd in the BF playing in the back half.

I would think Shaw for Armstrong in the back line and Hanners in the 18 would be stronger.

Rhyce played most of last season in an on ball roll and only went back toward the end of the season. He is pretty versatile but not entirely safe in the back line. Armstrong is solid there and gives very good run as well, a much safer option at half back than Shawie. I like Shawie in a run with role.

[wolftone57]

I think that was half our problem last year. We stuck a lot of talls up there and kicked it long to a pack situation. Very one dimensional. Easiest thing for defenders to defend.

Whilst it is good to have someone who can take a pack mark or bust it open, the game has moved on and you need to find ways to get more one on one contests.

Mummy will no doubt go forward for a rest, but we must find better option than him first up. He can be your bail out when no one presents then kick it to a contest and get the mummy involved

Our forwards didn't split & spread. They all led to the same part of the ground or stayed at home & our onballers just bombed it in. Very hard for even Reid, as good as he is in a pack, to mark the ball with 5, 6 or 7 defenders & 4 or 5 of our own congesting the area. We need to set up with talls giving the onballers a range of options not just one congested area. If Reid is being monstered by oposition players then spread & make them pay by using our free blokes. We didn't do this enough last season.

[aardvark]

Rhyce played most of last season in an on ball roll and only went back toward the end of the season. He is pretty versatile but not entirely safe in the back line. Armstrong is solid there and gives very good run as well, a much safer option at half back than Shawie. I like Shawie in a run with role.

So a kid who's played a dozen games in a crap side is a better option than the runner up in the best and fairest ? You're dreamin wolfie !!