Best 22 2021

[Mark26]

What I expect to be the Rd1 team..

B - Campbell, Rampe, Melican
HB - Lloyd, McCartin, Dawson
C - Florent, Kennedy, Blakey
HF - Heeney, Reid, Rowbottom
F - Papley, Sinclair, Hayward
Foll - Hickey, Parker, Mills
Int: Ling, Hewitt, Wicks, Cunningham

What I hope the Rd22 team to be:
B - Campbell, Rampe, Melican
HB - Ling, McCartin, Dawson
C - Florent, Mills, Blakey
HF - Heeney, McDonald, Wicks
F - Papley, Hayward, Gulden
Foll - Hickey, Parker, Rowbottom
Int: Kennedy, Hewitt, Warner, Stephens

I hope that Buddy will be in our Rd 22 team, but who knows?

[The Runner]

Completely forgot about Bud!

Stephens should be in there for Rd1 but not playing today seems to suggest he's perhaps coming off a longer run up

[Captain]

What I expect to be the Rd1 team..

B - Campbell, Rampe, Melican
HB - Lloyd, McCartin, Dawson
C - Florent, Kennedy, Blakey
HF - Heeney, Reid, Rowbottom
F - Papley, Sinclair, Hayward
Foll - Hickey, Parker, Mills
Int: Ling, Hewitt, Wicks, Cunningham

What I hope the Rd22 team to be:
B - Campbell, Rampe, Melican
HB - Ling, McCartin, Dawson
C - Florent, Mills, Blakey
HF - Heeney, McDonald, Wicks
F - Papley, Hayward, Gulden
Foll - Hickey, Parker, Rowbottom
Int: Kennedy, Hewitt, Warner, Stephens

You realise Lloyd is the reigning Bob Skilton medal winner (and also won 2 of the last 3)? How he would not be in our best 22 at the end of the year is absolutely beyond me.

[Bexl]

You realise Lloyd is the reigning Bob Skilton medal winner (and also won 2 of the last 3)? How he would not be in our best 22 at the end of the year is absolutely beyond me.

+1

[Ludwig]

I figure we have 8 non-KP players with 10 or less games to date who will be vying for development time this year: Ling, Bell, Wicks, Mcinerney, Warner, Stephens, Campbell and Gulden. They will be competing against each other, best 22 from past years as well as somewhat more experienced players who might be able to contribute more at the present time, like COR, Ronke, Clarke and Taylor.

There's probably only 2 spots open in the senior side to accommodate these players at this stage. Much will depend on injuries and form across the board.

Long-term development considerations will find that we won't choose the best 22 every week. In fact, there should be a couple of players each week who are not in our best 22 (yet close enough), but rather need the development time at AFL level.

I would be looking for selection surprises, especially early in the year.

[Bexl]

I figure we have 8 non-KP players with 10 or less games to date who will be vying for development time this year: Ling, Bell, Wicks, Mcinerney, Warner, Stephens, Campbell and Gulden. They will be competing against each other, best 22 from past years as well as somewhat more experienced players who might be able to contribute more at the present time, like COR, Ronke, Clarke and Taylor.

There's probably only 2 spots open in the senior side to accommodate these players at this stage. Much will depend on injuries and form across the board.

Long-term development considerations will find that we won't choose the best 22 every week. In fact, there should be a couple of players each week who are not in our best 22 (yet close enough), but rather need the development time at AFL level.

I would be looking for selection surprises, especially early in the year.

Yes I think that is a fair comment.

[The Runner]

You realise Lloyd is the reigning Bob Skilton medal winner (and also won 2 of the last 3)? How he would not be in our best 22 at the end of the year is absolutely beyond me.

Of course, and our most recent AA too.

However, we have two players in Ling and Campbell that I genuinely believe are about to take our back 6 by storm. Ling will become a better lock down defender, and the new Nick Smith. Campbell will be an incredible attacking asset from the back half with the new rules.
I just can't see both of them in the same team with Lloyd due to similarities. And I value the upside of both of them as much higher than Lloyds.
It's not intended to be a swipe at Lloyd. He's been a great contributor through a poor few years for us.

[Nico]

Gulden straight into the round 1 side

For Will Hayward.

[stevoswan]

What I expect to be the Rd1 team..

B - Campbell, Rampe, Melican
HB - Lloyd, McCartin, Dawson
C - Florent, Kennedy, Blakey
HF - Heeney, Reid, Rowbottom
F - Papley, Sinclair, Hayward
Foll - Hickey, Parker, Mills
Int: Ling, Hewitt, Wicks, Cunningham

What I hope the Rd22 team to be:
B - Campbell, Rampe, Melican
HB - Ling, McCartin, Dawson
C - Florent, Mills, Blakey
HF - Heeney, McDonald, Wicks
F - Papley, Hayward, Gulden
Foll - Hickey, Parker, Rowbottom
Int: Kennedy, Hewitt, Warner, Stephens

So you hope Buddy is not in our round 22 side?

PS: Just saw your follow up post.

[Ludwig]

Of course, and our most recent AA too.

However, we have two players in Ling and Campbell that I genuinely believe are about to take our back 6 by storm. Ling will become a better lock down defender, and the new Nick Smith. Campbell will be an incredible attacking asset from the back half with the new rules.
I just can't see both of them in the same team with Lloyd due to similarities. And I value the upside of both of them as much higher than Lloyds.
It's not intended to be a swipe at Lloyd. He's been a great contributor through a poor few years for us.

I figure we have 6 players vying for 3 medium/small defender spots: Lloyd, Cunningham, Fox, COR, Ling and Campbell.

Of these, Lloyd is the fixture that won't be moving. He's spent the past 5 years developing his craft as the leader of the counterattack. He consistently ranks in the top AFL players in possessions and metres gained. Not the best defender early on, but now he's very competent playing the zone and getting to right spots. He's only 27, so I wouldn't even be thinking about a replacement at this time.

Cunningham and Fox have been doing a pretty good job covering the small forwards, but Ling looks to be the one we're training up to take the opposition best small forward in the coming years.

It's hard to say how the backline will unfold over the course of the year. There are so many possible combinations. Melican, McCartin, Rampe and Lloyd are the mainstays. Gould and O'Connor will look to play as key defenders. Gould could transform into a big bodied midfielder in due course, if the need exists. We are also likely to take a key defender with one of our 1st 2 draft picks this year.

[The Runner]

For Will Hayward.

Hayward is a really good tall target to kick to alongside Heeney and will be incredibly difficult to match up on

[Captain]

I figure we have 6 players vying for 3 medium/small defender spots: Lloyd, Cunningham, Fox, COR, Ling and Campbell.

Of these, Lloyd is the fixture that won't be moving. He's spent the past 5 years developing his craft as the leader of the counterattack. He consistently ranks in the top AFL players in possessions and metres gained. Not the best defender early on, but now he's very competent playing the zone and getting to right spots. He's only 27, so I wouldn't even be thinking about a replacement at this time.

Cunningham and Fox have been doing a pretty good job covering the small forwards, but Ling looks to be the one we're training up to take the opposition best small forward in the coming years.

It's hard to say how the backline will unfold over the course of the year. There are so many possible combinations. Melican, McCartin, Rampe and Lloyd are the mainstays. Gould and O'Connor will look to play as key defenders. Gould could transform into a big bodied midfielder in due course, if the need exists. We are also likely to take a key defender with one of our 1st 2 draft picks this year.

Lloyd is not a lock down defender!!! He also is definitely not competing with any that you mentioned. It’s Lloyd and then daylight. To suggest Lloyd will be playing reserves by the end of the year is one of the more laughable things I have read of RWO...

Cunningham is also an absolute lock. He is the new Nick Smith.

The third small defender is definitely up for grabs. I think it will come down to a decision between Campbell if we want run from half back or Fox if we are playing more defensively.

[Ludwig]

Lloyd is not a lock down defender!!! He also is definitely not competing with any that you mentioned. It’s Lloyd and then daylight. To suggest Lloyd will be playing reserves by the end of the year is one of the more laughable things I have read of RWO...

Cunningham is also an absolute lock. He is the new Nick Smith.

The third small defender is definitely up for grabs. I think it will come down to a decision between Campbell if we want run from half back or Fox if we are playing more defensively.

I think you quoted the wrong person. I said pretty much the same thing you have.

[The Runner]

Lloyd is not a lock down defender!!! He also is definitely not competing with any that you mentioned. It’s Lloyd and then daylight. To suggest Lloyd will be playing reserves by the end of the year is one of the more laughable things I have read of RWO...

Cunningham is also an absolute lock. He is the new Nick Smith.

The third small defender is definitely up for grabs. I think it will come down to a decision between Campbell if we want run from half back or Fox if we are playing more defensively.

You're kind of making my point. Lloyd isn't a defender by nature, more of a winger. And he's not damaging with his disposals - why do you think he doesn't get tagged often?
Campbell will hurt an opposition with his speed and elite kicking. I'm not sure he and Lloyd can be in the same team with also Cunningham and Ling. It's probably 2/3 of them at a stretch.

I'd also assume Fox is now at the bank end of the queue, given the club let him go in the off season.

[mcs]

You're kind of making my point. Lloyd isn't a defender by nature, more of a winger. And he's not damaging with his disposals - why do you think he doesn't get tagged often?
Campbell will hurt an opposition with his speed and elite kicking. I'm not sure he and Lloyd can be in the same team with also Cunningham and Ling. It's probably 2/3 of them at a stretch.

I'd also assume Fox is now at the bank end of the queue, given the club let him go in the off season.

Its going to be an interesting conundrum. I thought Harry C had an outstanding season last year, and I think he has taken well to the small lock down role. He has significant versatility however, and will always be in and around the team even if others take him over for that role (until such time that he can no longer compete in any position). I can't see any world where Lloyd is going to be dislodged any time soon, and certainly not in the short term.

But there is a limit on how many can fit into those sorts of roles. I can certainly see why they are giving Campbell a first calling in that part of the ground however, with his speed and kicking. Give him some time to build up strength etc to meet the needs of AFL footy in a position he will be less exposed.