Best 22 Round 1 2022

[TheBloods]

Who I would like to see as the best 22 for 2022 based on their current ability + considering their potential and talent:

B: Cunningham T McCartin Rampe
HB: Lloyd Reid Blakey
C: Stephens JPK T McInerney
HF: Gulden MacDonald Heeney
F: Wicks Franklin Papley

R: Hickey Parker Mills

INT: Ladhams Warner Rowbottom Campbell

People I wanted to include at the start, but their isn't enough spots: Gould, Hayward, O'Riordan, P McCartin.

Stephens just wasn't big enough to have a physical presence last year, but seems to have bulked up. Hopefully he can stick some tackles, otherwise he's first gone.

The interesting thing is if Naismith is fit (same as every year). Sinclair has gone from No.1 Ruck 2 years ago to 4th in line. Who goes in from Hickey, Naismith or Ladhams. Was Ladhams promised anything to get him here?

Cant leave Hayward out , 28 goals last year

And Florent , neither are stars but both in our best side easy

[Mark26]

Cant leave Hayward out , 28 goals last year

And Florent , neither are stars but both in our best side easy

+1

Hayward was a good presence up forward and converted a lot of goals. Florent seemed to have more of a defensive midfield position. He's good in traffic, but needs to work on his kicking when delivering it to our forwards.

[Aprilbr]

Who I would like to see as the best 22 for 2022 based on their current ability + considering their potential and talent:

B: Cunningham T McCartin Rampe
HB: Lloyd Reid Blakey
C: Stephens JPK T McInerney
HF: Gulden MacDonald Heeney
F: Wicks Franklin Papley

R: Hickey Parker Mills

INT: Ladhams Warner Rowbottom Campbell

People I wanted to include at the start, but their isn't enough spots: Gould, Hayward, O'Riordan, P McCartin.

Stephens just wasn't big enough to have a physical presence last year, but seems to have bulked up. Hopefully he can stick some tackles, otherwise he's first gone.

The interesting thing is if Naismith is fit (same as every year). Sinclair has gone from No.1 Ruck 2 years ago to 4th in line. Who goes in from Hickey, Naismith or Ladhams. Was Ladhams promised anything to get him here?

I think you can forget Naismith for the foreseeable future. He is way off playing seniors at present as he recovers from his knee surgery. Hayward, as others say, had a good season last year so deserves to start.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Who I would like to see as the best 22 for 2022 based on their current ability + considering their potential and talent:

B: Cunningham T McCartin Rampe
HB: Lloyd Reid Blakey
C: Stephens JPK T McInerney
HF: Gulden MacDonald Heeney
F: Wicks Franklin Papley

R: Hickey Parker Mills

INT: Ladhams Warner Rowbottom Campbell

People I wanted to include at the start, but their isn't enough spots: Gould, Hayward, O'Riordan, P McCartin.

Stephens just wasn't big enough to have a physical presence last year, but seems to have bulked up. Hopefully he can stick some tackles, otherwise he's first gone.

The interesting thing is if Naismith is fit (same as every year). Sinclair has gone from No.1 Ruck 2 years ago to 4th in line. Who goes in from Hickey, Naismith or Ladhams. Was Ladhams promised anything to get him here?

I hadn't heard we'd recruited JMac's brother as well young Tommy's.

[i'm-uninformed2]

We already have a good rotation of players between half forward and midfield, and only expect this to increase this year.

It may get to the point where it hardly pays to differentiate between half forward and midfield wingers.

Papley, Hayward, Wicks, Heeney, Stephens, Gulden and Campbell might be part of this broad rotation. JMac and Florent might also join the group,depending on whether they get more defensive roles to play.

I like the idea of increasing rotations in order to strip away man on man coverage on some of these players, promoting the possibilities of players finding themselves open without opposition players contesting the ball and space.

Implementing a mobile and flexible offense will be more important than the specific players we might assign to traditional roles. Our ability to successfully execute the game plan will be key to our performance this season. I'm less focused on individual players this year. I think the list as a whole is pretty good and should take us far if we work well as a team.

There is an interesting article in the Age today (won't share as their links seem to stuff up threads) about how Collingwood's new coach is trying to build a better midfield mix, with a focus on four areas:

* the decision makers (ie: Pendles, Maynard, Crisp) who can use the ball well in the middle and play off halfback too
* the dynamic types (ie: DeGoey, Elliott) who can rotate through whilst also playing forward
* the bulls (ie Adams, Grundy, Macrae) who can use their bigger bodies to win the contested ball, and
* the runners (Ie; Sidebottom, Lapinksi, Hoskin-Elliott) who can play wings and cover the ground.

It's not a particular revelation, as any side worth their salt has the right spread of players. And to your point above, I think we have a far more skilled, deeper and diverse mix - and that's before a Campbell or Stephens hit their stride.

Gulden can play forward, high half forward, wing and in time, midfield. JMac can play wing, back and as we saw against Essendon in that thriller, centre square. Heeney can go wing, inside and forward. Some of our bulls like Parker are extremely effective forward. I love seeing Paps spend 20 percent of his time in the centre square. And so on. Part of their adaptability is they all have good kicking and marking skills, an ability to cover the ground well and good decision-making.

[wolftone57]

There is an interesting article in the Age today (won't share as their links seem to stuff up threads) about how Collingwood's new coach is trying to build a better midfield mix, with a focus on four areas:

* the decision makers (ie: Pendles, Maynard, Crisp) who can use the ball well in the middle and play off halfback too
* the dynamic types (ie: DeGoey, Elliott) who can rotate through whilst also playing forward
* the bulls (ie Adams, Grundy, Macrae) who can use their bigger bodies to win the contested ball, and
* the runners (Ie; Sidebottom, Lapinksi, Hoskin-Elliott) who can play wings and cover the ground.

It's not a particular revelation, as any side worth their salt has the right spread of players. And to your point above, I think we have a far more skilled, deeper and diverse mix - and that's before a Campbell or Stephens hit their stride.

Gulden can play forward, high half forward, wing and in time, midfield. JMac can play wing, back and as we saw against Essendon in that thriller, centre square. Heeney can go wing, inside and forward. Some of our bulls like Parker are extremely effective forward. I love seeing Paps spend 20 percent of his time in the centre square. And so on. Part of their adaptability is they all have good kicking and marking skills, an ability to cover the ground well and good decision-making.

This is very amusing. But there is not one developing player in that mix. All either almost finished or experienced players. Sidebottom, Elliot and Pendles are nearing the end. They will need to switch over to blood new players for those positions.

[Nico]

Cunningham, T.McCartin, Rampe
Lloyd, P.McCartin, Blakey
McInerney, Warner, Campbell
Gulden, Franklin, Papley
Heeney, McDonald, Hayward

Hickey, Parker, Mills

Interchange: Ladhams, Kennedy, Florent, Stephens

If Mills doesn't come up then Wicks probably comes in. There has been sufficient hype about Stephens to suspect if he plays well in pre-season hit outs then he will play.

[TheBloods]

Cunningham, T.McCartin, Rampe
Lloyd, P.McCartin, Blakey
McInerney, Warner, Campbell
Gulden, Franklin, Papley
Heeney, McDonald, Hayward

Hickey, Parker, Mills

Interchange: Ladhams, Kennedy, Florent, Stephens

If Mills doesn't come up then Wicks probably comes in. There has been sufficient hype about Stephens to suspect if he plays well in pre-season hit outs then he will play.

Thats a great team

[i'm-uninformed2]

I'll have a crack, with a few caveats. One: I've assumed full fitness (ie Mills). Two: I'm not watching pre-season training, so relying on reports. Three: most unknown call is CHB, so I've plopped the incumbent in for now - given I've seen neither McCartin or Reid play/train there. If someone better than Melican emerges and I'm wrong, happy days. Four: I think having a mid that can go defensive when needed is part of any team, so I've plumped for Rowbottom and I'm confident with injuries behind him, he'll be back to his 2020 form anyway. Likewise, I think Wicks' role is integral to our structure. Five: I'm a massive believer in Stephens and hope the hype about his pre-season is true. This leads to my most controversial omission - Florent. I know the coaches rate him and he does a lot of unheralded work, but peak Stephens will be better than peak Florent. Six: I am certain there will a time in the next 12-18 months where Campbell explodes, and can't wait to see it, but couldn't get him in for now. (And yes, I know this is completely inconsistent with picking Stephens on potential).

Not that any of this really matters, as injuries, player management, structure, game plan evolves over the season and personnel will change.

Cunningham, T.McCartin, Rampe
Lloyd, Melican, Blakey
McInerney, Warner, Heeney
Gulden, Franklin, Papley
Wicks, McDonald, Hayward

Hickey, Parker, Mills

Interchange: Ladhams, Kennedy, Rowbottom, Stephens

[stevoswan]

If anyone needs a boost to their optimism about season 2022, you'll find it from a relatively unlikely source - Foxsports has a great article about our prospects, that also recognises (finally) how we've been purring along on the rebuild for a little while now, and fingers crossed that last year is just the end of the beginning for this group.

AFL news 2022: Sydney Swans, season preview, fixture, best team, analysis, Buddy Franklin 1000 goals, John Longmire

As most will do, we look at things through red and white tinted glasses, and take the best parts and amplify them, and will playdown the challenges etc. But I do honestly think that if our upwards trajectory continues this season (i.e. we don't have a blip), then nothing is necessarily out of the question as achievable.

All that needs to be said from here however is bring it on - strap in, and lets enjoy the ride!

From that article is Foxsports predicted Round One team.....most here would expect Warner in the team, some would have him in at Rowbottom's expense.....or maybe Stephen's....but the way he's been reportedly tearing up pre-season and the fact that Rowie's recovering from an injury, maybe James misses out. CHB may also be different but I hope Melican has an injury free run at this season. McDonald starting in Round One would also be good but that's another position that may differ.....and of course, Callum has issues at the moment. The rest of the team seems about right.

PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAM from Foxsports:

B: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Jake Lloyd

HB: Nick Blakey, Lewis Melican, Harry Cunningham

C: Oliver Florent, Josh Kennedy, Justin McInerney

HF: Sam Wicks, Logan McDonald, Errol Gulden

F: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Tom Papley

FOLL: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, Callum Mills

I/C: Peter Ladhams, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell, Dylan Stephens

[TheBloods]

From that article is Foxsports predicted Round One team.....most here would expect Warner in the team, some would have him in at Rowbottom's expense.....or maybe Stephen's....but the way he's been reportedly tearing up pre-season and the fact that Rowie's recovering from an injury, maybe James misses out. CHB may also be different but I hope Melican has an injury free run at this season. McDonald starting in Round One would also be good but that's another position that may differ.....and of course, Callum has issues at the moment. The rest of the team seems about right.

PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAM from Foxsports:

B: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Jake Lloyd

HB: Nick Blakey, Lewis Melican, Harry Cunningham

C: Oliver Florent, Josh Kennedy, Justin McInerney

HF: Sam Wicks, Logan McDonald, Errol Gulden

F: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Tom Papley

FOLL: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, Callum Mills

I/C: Peter Ladhams, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell, Dylan Stephens

It is rubbish , no chance RB makes it in over Chad . And campbel too for that matter

[Blood Relative]

I wonder who will play George Hewett's lock-down role? Cunningham? The Chad?

[bloodspirit]

Subject to injuries, I reckon two of these players have to miss out: Stephens, Campbell, Rowbottom, Warner, Wicks.

I'm giving Gulden and McInerney a free pass. I don't think Florent or probably Hayward are in danger either. I'll be slightly surprised if Wicks misses. Whoever misses will be stiff! If injuries keep Mills and RB out, the job will be easier. I expect we'll still have to choose between Melican and P. McCartin but I think the rest of the team pretty much picks itself. I'm expecting McDonald and Ladhams ahead of Reid and McLean or Amartey. However, if Buddy is rested over the season those others will get opportunities.

[TheBloods]

Subject to injuries, I reckon two of these players have to miss out: Stephens, Campbell, Rowbottom, Warner, Wicks.

No brainer its Campbell and Rowbottom .

Chad is fantastic , Wicks our only defensive fwd , Stephens best performer on the track . They all have to be in . Campbell next in line if a mid or HB spot opens up , good pace and kick but needs to add size

[O'Reilly Boy]

From that article is Foxsports predicted Round One team.....most here would expect Warner in the team, some would have him in at Rowbottom's expense.....or maybe Stephen's....but the way he's been reportedly tearing up pre-season and the fact that Rowie's recovering from an injury, maybe James misses out. CHB may also be different but I hope Melican has an injury free run at this season. McDonald starting in Round One would also be good but that's another position that may differ.....and of course, Callum has issues at the moment. The rest of the team seems about right.

PREDICTED ROUND 1 TEAM from Foxsports:

B: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Jake Lloyd

HB: Nick Blakey, Lewis Melican, Harry Cunningham

C: Oliver Florent, Josh Kennedy, Justin McInerney

HF: Sam Wicks, Logan McDonald, Errol Gulden

F: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Tom Papley

FOLL: Tom Hickey, Luke Parker, Callum Mills

I/C: Peter Ladhams, James Rowbottom, Braeden Campbell, Dylan Stephens

This team lacks a seventh defender—I don't think Campbell is the trick there and would prefer to see perhaps CO'R or even Reid as another tall option behind the ball. And I think that many of us want to see Gould at least given a chance to show what he's about.
It's also tall up front. Do we play McDonald, Bud, Ladhams and Hickey?