2018 Best 22

[O'Reilly Boy]

Can't see Macca playing ressies.

Goodesy did. Rhino did.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Goodesy did. Rhino did.

and maybe Macca will keep his place?the reports of his strong preseason suggest that he may be well up and going.

I was a bit spooked by the loss to Geelong, where we were found out in the back six, playing Cunningham rather than another tall to help Grundy.

Mellican is important to the set-up. Aliir is something of an unknown quantity, so it is all very interesting. What is the right behind the ball set-up? With Macca the trade off is smarts v speed. Does Lloyd bring both? Does playing Aliir give us another attacking option, while also potentially freeing Rampe from having to play on a tall forward?

I'm a big McVeigh fan, and thought that what he brought to the team last year once he got fit was the difference between the chaos and panic of the first six weeks and what ensued. So composed, so clear, such a leader. I am interested to see, however, how both he and the team handle his transition out of that role, and whether the others?in particular Lloyd?have been apprenticed into that organiser/steady rock role.

A great position for the team to be in. I love summer, but am counting the days until footy starts again (not least because my 10 year old daughter is going to rip it up in her second season with the Willoughby Wildcats).

[aardvark]

and maybe Macca will keep his place?the reports of his strong preseason suggest that he may be well up and going.

I was a bit spooked by the loss to Geelong, where we were found out in the back six, playing Cunningham rather than another tall to help Grundy.

Mellican is important to the set-up. Aliir is something of an unknown quantity, so it is all very interesting. What is the right behind the ball set-up? With Macca the trade off is smarts v speed. Does Lloyd bring both? Does playing Aliir give us another attacking option, while also potentially freeing Rampe from having to play on a tall forward?

I'm a big McVeigh fan, and thought that what he brought to the team last year once he got fit was the difference between the chaos and panic of the first six weeks and what ensued. So composed, so clear, such a leader. I am interested to see, however, how both he and the team handle his transition out of that role, and whether the others?in particular Lloyd?have been apprenticed into that organiser/steady rock role.

A great position for the team to be in. I love summer, but am counting the days until footy starts again (not least because my 10 year old daughter is going to rip it up in her second season with the Willoughby Wildcats).

Hopefully by the time she's old enough we'll have an AFWL team.

[liz]

I dropped in and watched a bit of training yesterday. Didn't stay long because it was very hot, even relatively early in the day. But one thing I did notice was that Macca was fully participating in all the drills and he looked very sharp. A large number of our established senior players were watching from the sidelines, so it was especially noticeable that McVeigh (and Jack) were a couple who were fully involved.

[Markwebbos]

I dropped in and watched a bit of training yesterday. Didn't stay long because it was very hot, even relatively early in the day. But one thing I did notice was that Macca was fully participating in all the drills and he looked very sharp. A large number of our established senior players were watching from the sidelines, so it was especially noticeable that McVeigh (and Jack) were a couple who were fully involved.

The big knock on Macca is his running ability. If having a full preseason for the first time in 4 years fixes that then he?ll absolutely retain his spot, surely?

[AB Swannie]

The big knock on Macca is his running ability. If having a full preseason for the first time in 4 years fixes that then he?ll absolutely retain his spot, surely?

Macca has always had a good tank. I don't have access to last year's tracker info but he was often in our top few players for distance covered. The problem is that he now covers that distance more and more slowly.

[Auntie.Gerald]

All comes down matchups vs opposition and how flexible we want to be in our exit transitions

The area we got punished against the Hawks was our exits and same again in the second final

We need more run and carry obviously hence 3 players we went for in the draft styles, Ling and soddart yet the trade off is loosing a player like macca who receives the short pass and then posts up brilliantly for the next play

I?m looking forward to watching Ollie develop and potentially get a spot where jones, lloyd, Ollie and mills rotate thru the HBF

Ollie is so composed and has shown minimal in Snrs in comparison to what he looks like at training

He had a runwithrole in 2017

Let?s see what happens in 2018

[Auntie.Gerald]

Noteable ommiasion also is a player the coaches seem to like to include in our 22 for balance / matchups

Harry Cunningham

What?s everyone?s thoughts re Cunningham?

[RogueSwan]

Noteable ommiasion also is a player the coaches seem to like to include in our 22 for balance / matchups

Harry Cunningham

What?s everyone?s thoughts re Cunningham?

Still young, Can be very quick and last year learnt your to take. As much as I love Rohan being in our team I would put Harry in ahead of him, I think he is better fwd than back.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[liz]

Still young, Can be very quick and last year learnt your to take. As much as I love Rohan being in our team I would put Harry in ahead of him, I think he is better fwd than back.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

I wouldn't have Cunningham anywhere near Rohan. I think Cunningham has the tools to be a decent AFL player but he's stagnated a bit over the last couple of seasons. He has taken a few impressive grabs in his time but with nowhere like the frequency of Rohan - to be expected, given he's a fair bit shorter.

I think he's a good player to be in that 23rd-28th group on the list. You wouldn't particularly worry if he were in the team for a given game. But, unless something suddenly clicks with him, if he is in our best 22 this season, I don't think the team will have progressed as much as we hope it might. Marsh and Robinson are another couple in this category - competent and good depth but not able to really impose themselves on games, or even periods of games.

[707]

Agree Liz, Cunningham isn't best 22, neither is Robbo and definitely not Foote who I thought incorrectly got games ahead of Dawson who was a class above in the NEAFL at that time.

Last years team remember had a fair proportion who didn't complete anywhere near a full preseason and was therefore always behind other teams. That we did so well is a testament to the players. I remember Horse pointing this out and he indicated only two players out of the entire squad did sufficient preseason "units" and significantly one of these was Lloyd who really stepped it up in 2017.

This year, touch wood, most of squad is fully participating in training and has had the longest post season break we've had for some years so fitness levels will be very high heading into the season. But to ensure we are there again at the pointy end we need to have a handful of newer players as best 22.

Champion Data rates our best 22 and list as the best in the league with 17 players rated Elite (top 10% of their position) or Above Average (top 35% of their position). That's a mighty good start, all on deck only five players not Above Average or better! What we need is for younger players with higher skill levels to push out the fringe players. So who are these players?

Hayward had a remarkable season for someone only 18 and slightly built, I think he will cement a place.

Aliir was rated on the cusp of Elite after his 2016 season, if you've got any of his games from that season go and watch how good he actually was, easy to forget.

Dawson, should have been promoted given his constant BOG NEAFL games from mid season. Can find the footy, take a mark and gives it a roost.

Florent was thrown in the deep end due to injuries but looks to have pace, skills and smarts to push claims further.

Nothing drastic needed, just need these players to displace current incumbents for us to rise again.

[barry]

With tippet retiring, towers is an auto selection.

[barry]

Noteable ommiasion also is a player the coaches seem to like to include in our 22 for balance / matchups

Harry Cunningham

What?s everyone?s thoughts re Cunningham?

Seemed to be out of favour last year. Currently is a depth player. Probably getting do or die for his career in the next year or two. Needs to step up.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Actually he was injured most of last season HC

When he got over injury he slotted back in

I think he is still a contender given his versatility as an outside player forward middle or back

[Blood Fever]

Actually he was injured most of last season HC

When he got over injury he slotted back in

I think he is still a contender given his versatility as an outside player forward middle or back

Played brilliantly in a couple of games at Etihad before injured. His speed and role playing still warrants a place on list.