Best 22 2021

[The Runner]

I love Rowbottom, the boy will be a star, but seriously outperformed everyone in his draft class except Smith and Walsh??? I love a good pair of rose coloured glasses but you must have some very strong ones!

Walsh, Lukosius, Rankine, Ben King, Rozee, Max King, Smith, Duursma, Butters, Blakey .....

I don't think any of those names listed have performed better than Rowbottom. Rozee maybe an exception. The rest have shown flashes, but not consistency. Not to say the others won't be better players, but he's been a better consistent performer over the first two years.

[bloodspirit]

Speaking of players with high ceilings, this is a player we are beginning to get around, but we are late to the party and others saw him coming long before us: JUSTIN MCINERNEY FOX FOOTY FAN STUDIO - YouTube. Maybe he's the one to provide that bit of cream, or icing.

[dejavoodoo44]

I don't know why everyone thinks Parker is so old. If you heard that Parker is just 7 months older than Tom Mitchell, you might be shocked. But it's true. Yet no one thinks of Tom Mitchell as old.

You're right: I don't think of Mitchell as old. However, I do think of him as a bit of a @@@@.

[TheBloods]

Injury report on Swans site suggests there's no real causes of concern.

[graemed]

I understand. But you have read my tone wrong. I would be rapt if Rowbottom became a top 30/40 player in the comp.

While I am curious about the comparison to Macrea, who I see mainly as an outside "follower" that frequently wins his own ball. The player I believe most resembles RB at the same stage of his career is Joel Selwood. When drafted he wasn't even the most highly rated of the Selwoods. Moreover, Joel is slower, kicks poorer and is not a noted high mark, yet he was and still is one of the most respected and highest rated footballers in the comp. I have no doubt that RB will end his career with a similar watermark.

[Markwebbos]

While I am curious about the comparison to Macrea, who I see mainly as an outside "follower" that frequently wins his own ball. The player I believe most resembles RB at the same stage of his career is Joel Selwood. When drafted he wasn't even the most highly rated of the Selwoods. Moreover, Joel is slower, kicks poorer and is not a noted high mark, yet he was and still is one of the most respected and highest rated footballers in the comp. I have no doubt that RB will end his career with a similar watermark.

That’s a HUGE call

[TheBloods]

While I am curious about the comparison to Macrea, who I see mainly as an outside "follower" that frequently wins his own ball. The player I believe most resembles RB at the same stage of his career is Joel Selwood. When drafted he wasn't even the most highly rated of the Selwoods. Moreover, Joel is slower, kicks poorer and is not a noted high mark, yet he was and still is one of the most respected and highest rated footballers in the comp. I have no doubt that RB will end his career with a similar watermark.

Christ. Now he'll be better than Joel Selwood with his three premierships, 6 All Australians, 4 Most Courageous awards, and 3 best and fairests. This sort of thing is why I get in trouble with RB. Because i rate him quite highly but dont have these astronomical expectations of him, I am labelled a heretic.

The reason I see comparisons with Macrae is not so much in their role but the way they play. He is what one might consider to be a smooth operator. Doesnt look rushed, makes good decisions, uses his strength well.

[graemed]

Christ. Now he'll be better than Joel Selwood .

Once again you need to be corrected in your use of hyperbole. I never intended nor wrote that he would be better than Selwood, on the contrary, I stated that he was a comparable player at this stage in his career and that would be viewed similarly at the end of his career, in as much as he would be universally respected and admired.

[111431]

Once again you need to be corrected in your use of hyperbole. I never intended nor wrote that he would be better than Selwood, on the contrary, I stated that he was a comparable player at this stage in his career and that would be viewed similarly at the end of his career, in as much as he would be universally respected and admired.

I would agree. Not many 2nd year players regularly playing in the midfield and making a positive difference. Time will tell how good he will be but he has started very well. Dan Hanneberry might be a better comparison. If he turns out as good i'm sure we'll all be happy

[stevoswan]

While I am curious about the comparison to Macrea, who I see mainly as an outside "follower" that frequently wins his own ball. The player I believe most resembles RB at the same stage of his career is Joel Selwood. When drafted he wasn't even the most highly rated of the Selwoods. Moreover, Joel is slower, kicks poorer and is not a noted high mark, yet he was and still is one of the most respected and highest rated footballers in the comp. I have no doubt that RB will end his career with a similar watermark.

I remember watching Joel Selwood in his debut game.....he was phenomenal. I thought he looked liked a 100 game player. Big call indeed re: RB but I have no doubt he can reach similar levels as Joel. He looks very comfortable in the top tier of AFL.

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Christ. Now he'll be better than Joel Selwood with his three premierships, 6 All Australians, 4 Most Courageous awards, and 3 best and fairests. This sort of thing is why I get in trouble with RB. Because i rate him quite highly but dont have these astronomical expectations of him, I am labelled a heretic.

The reason I see comparisons with Macrae is not so much in their role but the way they play. He is what one might consider to be a smooth operator. Doesnt look rushed, makes good decisions, uses his strength well.

Did he say 'better'? No, he didn't. Stick to facts......

[TheBloods]

I remember watching Joel Selwood in his debut game.....he was phenomenal. I thought he looked liked a 100 game player. Big call indeed re: RB but I have no doubt he can reach similar levels as Joel. He looks very comfortable in the top tier of AFL.

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Did he say 'better'? No, he didn't. Stick to facts......

He said he most resembled Selwood, but not as slow and a better kick. That heavily implies that RB would be 'better'.

[Ludwig]

A comparison I would make for Rowbottom is Luke Shuey. He has a good burst of speed from the stoppage and can kick a goal on run if he gets inside 50.

[graemed]

He said he most resembled Selwood, but not as slow and a better kick. That heavily implies that RB would be 'better'.

If I may, I would ask that instead of focusing on facts I stated about Joel Selwood as a player, which I included not to imply superiority, we focus on the elements of Selwood’s game that made him a champion.
I mean if being quicker, a better kick and overhead mark made someone a champion then Lewis Jetta gets that nod. Clearly, that is not the case I am making.
Rather, I pose the question, “what made/makes Selwood so good”, and I believe that if we look carefully at those qualities then I see them in RB.

[Mountain Man]

With a month to go, time for me to go out on a limb, and select my Round 1 team.

In my Post 222, I considered criteria of:
Assumes Franklin and Naismith not fit
reduced interchange rotations enhances selection of 'fitness' players such as Stevens and Fox over some others.
better ECVFL competition gives development opportunities for the recent draftees, and hence reduces the need to 'get games into them'. I also note that Longmire has traditionally been reluctant to promote new players early.

I show below my starting 18 and 4 interchange players. The latter are players who may be 'best' 18, but they are so named because they are all flexible players and would slot in as needed.

The next column shows who could be promoted and/or preferred to the starting team, and some proven performers in that list. The last column records the newbies, who IMHO are likely to get their initial grooming through the stronger than usual EC VFL competition, but again great prospects for later in the season.

I have gone with Hickey as the sole ruck, to be assisted by Reid and McClean. This is partly because the reduced rotations makes it harder to calculate rests for other players. I have preferred McClean to Sinclair (just) as his style of play may give more opportunities to the small forwards - with Ronke a marginal selection.


Round 1: Starting 18 Interchange Next/Depth EC Devepoment


Franklin McDonald
Ronke McLean Papley Wicks Guilden
Heeney Reid Haywood Bell
Taylor/Gray

Rowbottom Kennedy Parker Florent Warner Sheather
Mills Hewett Campbell
Dawson Clarke Carruthers
Blakey Stevens McInerney
Hickey Naismith Armarty
Sinclair

Lloyd Melican Fox Brand O'Connor
McCartin Rampe Cunningham Ling Gould
O'Riordan

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Sorry, the columns didn't transfer to the text and it doesn't show as intended

[Mountain Man]

Round 1: Starting 18 Interchange Next/Depth EC Devepoment


Franklin McDonald
Ronke McLean Papley Wicks Guilden
Heeney Reid Haywood Bell
Taylor/Gray

Rowbottom Kennedy Parker Florent Warner Sheather
Mills Hewett Campbell
Dawson Clarke Carruthers
Blakey Stevens McInerney
Hickey Naismith Armarty
Sinclair

Lloyd Melican Fox Brand O'Connor
McCartin Rampe Cunningham Ling Gould
O'Riordan

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no, still not working

I will have to wait until I see the Rd 1 team and commiserate or congratulate myself