Best 22 2021

[The Runner]

We now have the depth to rival a premiership team. The issue is the quality of our top 10. Which is a relatively new problem for us to face. Previously it's been the reverse.

Gould, the 3 new top 20 draftees, Ling, Amartey, Bell and Wicks will need to genuinely force an established AFL quality player out of their spot, or wait for a few injuries. There won't be free games. And there will be pressure for spots.
Then we have a decent size group of tried players who can fill a gap - Thurlow, Taylor, Brand, Gray and potentially McCartin Snr.

[TheBloods]

We now have the depth to rival a premiership team. The issue is the quality of our top 10. Which is a relatively new problem for us to face. Previously it's been the reverse.

Gould, the 3 new top 20 draftees, Ling, Amartey, Bell and Wicks will need to genuinely force an established AFL quality player out of their spot, or wait for a few injuries. There won't be free games. And there will be pressure for spots.
Then we have a decent size group of tried players who can fill a gap - Thurlow, Taylor, Brand, Gray and potentially McCartin Snr.

I find the situation to be the opposite. Our top 10 is quality - Franklin, Kennedy, Rampe, Parker, Lloyd, Mills, Heeney, Papley, Cunningham and Hewett - these names could match it with any side's top 10. All are or near elite at what they do.

It's the rest of the list that is very, very grim. They get very little help; Dawson, Rowbottom, McCartin decent contributors but far from stars at this stage.

[barracuda]

I find the situation to be the opposite. Our top 10 is quality - Franklin, Kennedy, Rampe, Parker, Lloyd, Mills, Heeney, Papley, Cunningham and Hewett - these names could match it with any side's top 10. All are or near elite at what they do.

It's the rest of the list that is very, very grim. They get very little help; Dawson, Rowbottom, McCartin decent contributors but far from stars at this stage.

I think Dawson is elite.

[The Runner]

I find the situation to be the opposite. Our top 10 is quality - Franklin, Kennedy, Rampe, Parker, Lloyd, Mills, Heeney, Papley, Cunningham and Hewett - these names could match it with any side's top 10. All are or near elite at what they do.

It's the rest of the list that is very, very grim. They get very little help; Dawson, Rowbottom, McCartin decent contributors but far from stars at this stage.

Dogs: Bont, MacRae, Treloar, Dunkley, Hunter, Wood, Naughton
Cats: Hawkins, Danger, Selwood, Cameron, Menagola, Guthrie, Parfitt
Port: Dixon, Boak, Powell-Pepper, Dursma, Rozee, Gray, Wines
Richmond: Dusty, Prestia, Lynch, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Lambert, Grimes

I could go on with more teams like West Coast, Brisbane, Collingwood, GWS who all have better starting 5-10 than we do.
Ours is ok. Fortunately it has upside, and in 2 years, players that will be pushed out of your list by younger talent coming through.
I would argue our top 10 in 3-4 years will be in the best 5 in the comp. But it's certainly not now. Not by a long shot.

[Aaron]

I think Dawson is elite.

I like Dawson. He is definitely way bove average but at this stage, I don't think he is truly elite yet. He is still used more as a utility rather than having cemented a definite position that allows him to develop into a true elite.

[Aaron]

Fox Sport has also previewed "Every AFL club’s best 22 for 2021 after the trade period" -see AFL 2021 preview: Best 22s after trade period, trade news, 2020 trades, team analysis, new players, ins and outs, changes | Fox Sports

Comparing to most suggestions here, they have left out Reid and listed Sinclair as full forward. Fox is included as well. Moreover, none of the new recruits has been included (for the obvious reason). While Buddy's return to top form is still uncertain, I think Reid still has an important role to play.

B: Lewis Melican, Dane Rampe, Robbie Fox
HB: Callum Mills, Tom McCartin, Jake Lloyd
C: Nick Blakey, Luke Parker, Jordan Dawson
HF: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Ollie Florent
F: Tom Papley, Callum Sinclair, Will Hayward
FOLL: Tom Hickey, Josh Kennedy, James Rowbottom
I/C: Dylan Stephens, George Hewett, Justin McInerney, Harry Cunningham

[TheBloods]

Dogs: Bont, MacRae, Treloar, Dunkley, Hunter, Wood, Naughton
Cats: Hawkins, Danger, Selwood, Cameron, Menagola, Guthrie, Parfitt
Port: Dixon, Boak, Powell-Pepper, Dursma, Rozee, Gray, Wines
Richmond: Dusty, Prestia, Lynch, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Lambert, Grimes

I could go on with more teams like West Coast, Brisbane, Collingwood, GWS who all have better starting 5-10 than we do.
Ours is ok. Fortunately it has upside, and in 2 years, players that will be pushed out of your list by younger talent coming through.
I would argue our top 10 in 3-4 years will be in the best 5 in the comp. But it's certainly not now. Not by a long shot.

Vehemently disagree. How can you have Wood, Naughton, Menegola, Guthrie, Parfitt, Powell-Pepper, Duursma, Rozee, Riewoldt and Lambert as 'better than' a list that includes Franklin, Kennedy, Rampe and Parker !!

[barracuda]

I like Dawson. He is definitely way bove average but at this stage, I don't think he is truly elite yet. He is still used more as a utility rather than having cemented a definite position that allows him to develop into a true elite.

I think everyone has their own definition of elite. For me Dawson is an elite user of the ball, elite mark, and has elite endurance. He also has that laconic relaxed style that often true talent has. Check out his highlights from last year.

Jordan Dawson 2020 Highlight Reel - YouTube

[Nico]

The fact is we were crueled by injuries to some of our best players. Adding Buddy, Heeney, Rampe, and Hewitt plus a ruck makes it a lot better team. We aren’t contending in 2021 but if we have a Port Adelaide like run of health, we have a good team and we are leaving some good players in our 2s.

B: Melican Rampe Cunningham
HB: Lloyd McCartin Mills
C: Stephens Rowbottom Dawson
Foll: JPK Hickey Parker
HF: Heeney Buddy Blakey
F: Papley Reid Hayward

Int: Hewitt, McInerney, Florent, Fox

It’s a good thing if we can’t automatically find a spot in the Rd 1 team for #3, Campbell, Gulden.

Depth includes:

KPD: Brand, Gould
HBF: Ling, COR, Thurlow
Mids: Clarke, Warner, Bell, Campbell, Gray
Small Fwd: Wicks, Gulden, Taylor, Foot, Ronke
Ruck/Fwd: Sinclair, McLean, Amartey

#3 pick is going to be interesting!

Good post. I think after our 3 draft picks we will have a genuinely good depth of young players.

Hopefully our youth will be able to play a full season in the 2's, in a good quality competition. It would be a pity if a lack of footy for 2 seasons robs young players of the opportunity to develop to the next level.

[The Runner]

I think everyone has their own definition of elite. For me Dawson is an elite user of the ball, elite mark, and has elite endurance. He also has that laconic relaxed style that often true talent has. Check out his highlights from last year.

Jordan Dawson 2020 Highlight Reel - YouTube

He has some elite skills, but he isn't elite in terms of total impact and output. He needs to win more of the footy to get to that. At the moment, he's good.

[Captain]

I find the situation to be the opposite. Our top 10 is quality - Franklin, Kennedy, Rampe, Parker, Lloyd, Mills, Heeney, Papley, Cunningham and Hewett - these names could match it with any side's top 10. All are or near elite at what they do.

It's the rest of the list that is very, very grim. They get very little help; Dawson, Rowbottom, McCartin decent contributors but far from stars at this stage.

Hewett, elite? I have now heard it all.

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I think everyone has their own definition of elite. For me Dawson is an elite user of the ball, elite mark, and has elite endurance. He also has that laconic relaxed style that often true talent has. Check out his highlights from last year.

Jordan Dawson 2020 Highlight Reel - YouTube

Jordon Dawson is on the cusp of being a bloody star. An absolute jet!

[Bexl]

Hewett, elite? I have now heard it all.

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Jordon Dawson is on the cusp of being a bloody star. An absolute jet!

He does look like moving forward.

[Swisha]

My 2021 left field team

B- Mills. Rampe Fox
HB Lloyd Mcartin Dawson
Foll- Sinclair Hewitt Parker Rowbottom
Wings- Blakey Buddy
HF- E Taylor. Reid Heeney
F- Papley. PMcartin Hayward

Bench Florent Kennedy Stephens Cunningham

[chalbilto]

I don't think E.Taylor will be at the club following his court case and to date P.Mcartin hasn't been signed yet.

[Thunder Shaker]

Your club's best 22 in 2021