Looking forward to 2024

[O'Reilly Boy]

The starting 23 will be fascinating!

Mills is the only guaranteed out from our Elimination Final’s team vs Carlton.

Fox was our sub instead of the usual Clarke.

Sooo….

Patch in for Mills (not in for Wicks, as Patch left the Pies partly as he didn’t like being shunted forward from the midfield).

Grundy for Almartey or McLean

2022 Reid would be an instant selection as well but who does he replace? The player Grundy didn’t replace out of Almartey and McClean I guess.

Ladhams is also hoping for a recall and I saw a YouTube comment saying he was really sharp at a practice match.

Then Jordon and Sheldrick competing for a midfield spot. Let’s put one of them in the 23 for Fox for now.

Cleary may get a debut based on how we have introduced other players in recent years. Roberts may push for a spot too.

So barring injury, we have three too many midfielders before Mills returns, and two talks to many (Almartey and McLean, if Reid is in top form again) with Fox out of the side!

Maybe McInerney is under pressure now.

This is all without considering if Konstanty, Vickery or Corey Warner improve substantially.

What a difference it makes, not having so many injuries!

The worries for us I think are:
1) who replaces Parker as the midfielder/forward if his form drops off or if he is injured (given Patch doesn’t want to go forward that much)?
2) who replaces Rampe/Melican if there is injury etc? This could be ok with possibly, as Reid could come in, plus we have the unconvincing Frances and untested (for injury recovery) Hamling.
3) who comes out for Mills when he returns?
4) who replaces TheBloods as our RWO demagogue/agitator (though I didn’t mind him at all)?

Can’t wait for the season to start!

Grundy in for Hickey.

My questions are around the third tall(er) defender and sub


Ramps TMac Hambling/Melican/Fox/Francis
Lloyd Blakey Florent


McInernery Patch Errol
Grundie Rowie Chad


Hayward McDonald Heeney
Papley McLean Wicks

Int: Campbell, Sheldrick, Jordon, Parker

[Roadrunner]

The starting 23 will be fascinating!

Mills is the only guaranteed out from our Elimination Final’s team vs Carlton.

Fox was our sub instead of the usual Clarke.

Sooo….

Patch in for Mills (not in for Wicks, as Patch left the Pies partly as he didn’t like being shunted forward from the midfield).

Grundy for Almartey or McLean

2022 Reid would be an instant selection as well but who does he replace? The player Grundy didn’t replace out of Almartey and McClean I guess.

Ladhams is also hoping for a recall and I saw a YouTube comment saying he was really sharp at a practice match.

Then Jordon and Sheldrick competing for a midfield spot. Let’s put one of them in the 23 for Fox for now.

Cleary may get a debut based on how we have introduced other players in recent years. Roberts may push for a spot too.

So barring injury, we have three too many midfielders before Mills returns, and two talks to many (Almartey and McLean, if Reid is in top form again) with Fox out of the side!

Maybe McInerney is under pressure now.

This is all without considering if Konstanty, Vickery or Corey Warner improve substantially.

What a difference it makes, not having so many injuries!

The worries for us I think are:
1) who replaces Parker as the midfielder/forward if his form drops off or if he is injured (given Patch doesn’t want to go forward that much)?
2) who replaces Rampe/Melican if there is injury etc? This could be ok with possibly, as Reid could come in, plus we have the unconvincing Frances and untested (for injury recovery) Hamling.
3) who comes out for Mills when he returns?
4) who replaces TheBloods as our RWO demagogue/agitator (though I didn’t mind him at all)?

Can’t wait for the season to start!

Great post Mal- love your point 4! I really miss the old fella- who is going to predict future stars and write off some player like he could? No one can fill his shoes, it seems????

[Maltopia]

Grundy in for Hickey.

Oh yeah, forgot about Hickey!

[Nico]

So Hayward is a lock? Is he immune to being omitted?

[Captain]

I’m hearing J Mac might be the one on the outer.

Don’t agree with this though.

[Nico]

I’m hearing J Mac might be the one on the outer.

Don’t agree with this though.

I can't see it. He was very good late in the season. Both he and Gulden are a formidable wing combination. Time and time again Jmac found space on his own.

[Dow]

Campbell played every game bar one last year - which he was suspended for. Not sure what constitutes a 'regular' if that doe snot. While there is no shortage of competition for spots - I'd be astounded if he is not comfortably in the 22, and if he builds on a good end to last season, he won't be going anywhere soon. His stats were vastly up across most key categories in 2023 compared to 2021/22 (on average), and his best games of the season were all towards the end - Bombers/Freo/St Kilda were very good games, and he was very good in the Elimination Final as well. Granted some quiet games mixed in there as well.

I can't see what he is going to learn playing an extended period in 2nds (unless his form genuinely doesn't warrant a spot in the seniors) that will outweigh the benefits of ongoing exposure at the senior level.

There are some parallels to Mills at the same point in his career - Mills clearly had a bigger impact in early years (but was more physically ready), but like Campbell was asked to learn in the big league playing in a role he played very little of in junior footy. While that is not that unusual in itself that players will begin at the Senior Level in other places in the teams (especially in modern footy where so many players play in many positions across a career), you don't persevere with playing someone in a role like Campbell that in many ways he is not suited too (excellent left foot kick aside), including putting up with the 'quiet' games in between, if you aren't doing it for a very good reason, and with the long term in mind. Like with Mills (who it took 6 seasons to really 'explode' when he finally got moved into midfield), the thinking with Campbell I suspect is being driven by being a useful 'peg' in a hole for the moment, but with longer term thoughts front at mind.

You may be right of course, and fair do if you are. But I think you underplay how far overall he came last season, and I don't think he will be judged solely on only the 'now' in terms of performances.

We are blessed to have seen beasts like Gulden who burst onto the scene so quickly and dominate. But that doesn't with all, and some take much longer. It may involve a stint in the 2nds on the basis of form, but if he is builds on a solid end to the season (in terms of his best performances) and has had a good summer in the gym/on the track, I'd be absolutely astounded if it he doesn't again play close to every game. I

I still hold a view that, over his career, he has more than enough potential to be every bit as influential as Gulden will be, and we will look back on two absolute superstars (hopefully playing their whole careers in Red and White).

To be honest I agree a lot with what you are saying and pray you are right, just think he needs time in the 2s to really build a consistent game, like you said he played virtually every game last yeah and showed climpses of what he could be without really cementing a spot.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think we have a serious list in 2024

The best 22 will depend so much on your form because so many of the players are replaceable

For me BJ Campbell is in the 22 but the competition for spots will be incredibly challenging.

[i'm-uninformed2]

As much as I like what both individually bring, I could see either McInerney or Hayward being omitted depending on how we want to structure and play. Without much thought going into it, and allowing for Mills injury, consider this as a first 23:

Paps Logan Amarty
Wicks McLean Heeney
Gulden Adams Campbell
Parker Grundy Warner
Lloyd Melican Blakey
Rampe McCartin Cunningham
Int: Sheldrick, McInerney, Jordon, Florent, Rowbottom.

Now, I get people will have views on players like Amarty v Reid v Ladhams, or leaving Fox out, or they want Cunningham out. As I said, I gave this two minutes of thought.

But under that mix, Horse likes a pure defensive small forward in Wicks, Heeney plays the half forward role either drifting up onto ball or back to the goal square, and then McInerney is asked to be the seventh forward linking to the wing and offering defensive cover akin to the role he was playing well prior to being injured last year. It also depends on the role they see for both Errol and Jordon. Will Errol stay wing, or move more inside as he did in the latter half of last year, for example. That opens up a wing spot. And is Jordon seen as a pure onballer.

Equally, he may get shoved out if Horse wants to use Heeney more on ball, Hayward is kept for his marking prowess and defensive work rate, and Jordon can play the seventh forward role.

I have no idea, and definitely think McInerney in form is best 22. But, it also presents a nice insight into our emerging depth when I couldn’t find a spot for Roberts, Fox, Hayward, Reid, Ladhams, and Mills is missing - let alone need to worry about depth players like Hamling or Corey Warner.

[Nico]

B: Rampe, McCartin, Lloyd
HB: Florent, Blakey, Fox
C: Gulden, Warner, McInerney
HF: Jordan, McLean, Papley
F: Parker, McDonald, Heeney
R: Grundy, Adams, Rowbottom
Int: Sheldrick, Campbell, Buller, Roberts, Cunningham

It doesn't really matter which mids start on the bench. At some stage they will all rotate through the midfield.
If the midfield is firing when Mills comes back, then he will play defence.

[Captain]

I can't see it. He was very good late in the season. Both he and Gulden are a formidable wing combination. Time and time again Jmac found space on his own.

Couldn't agree more, he makes my best 22. Just what I heard.

[707]

A firing midfield pushes Mills into the backline - that's a luxury I hope we have.

Hawthorn getting serious injuries leading into the season, unfortunately we don't play them early.

Just noticed this is the List Management thread, probably not the right thread for some of these posts

[liz]

Errol was on SEN today with Kane Cornes. This link will take you through to the right show - you'll need to scroll to find the specific segment.

Sportsday

It's definitely worth a listen, even if he's already a mature 21 yo who knows how to bat away questions he doesn't want to answer (like when he's going to re-sign and - particularly - what he's worth).

I was happy to hear him unequivocally state that he does aspire to be captain one day. I think we all know it's a matter of when, not if, but it was refreshing to hear him embrace the possibility.

I sniggered a little when he talked about the areas he needs to improve on - his running ability, his kicking. (Though decision making is probably fair enough - when to hold off the risky kicks and when to go for them.)

His comments on Grundy and Adams lend weight to my guess that one or both of them could be absorbed into the leadership group as early as this season.

[dejavoodoo44]

Errol was on SEN today with Kane Cornes. This link will take you through to the right show - you'll need to scroll to find the specific segment.

Sportsday

It's definitely worth a listen, even if he's already a mature 21 yo who knows how to bat away questions he doesn't want to answer (like when he's going to re-sign and - particularly - what he's worth).

I was happy to hear him unequivocally state that he does aspire to be captain one day. I think we all know it's a matter of when, not if, but it was refreshing to hear him embrace the possibility.

I sniggered a little when he talked about the areas he needs to improve on - his running ability, his kicking. (Though decision making is probably fair enough - when to hold off the risky kicks and when to go for them.)

His comments on Grundy and Adams lend weight to my guess that one or both of them could be absorbed into the leadership group as early as this season.

Instead of sniggering, it was more of a warm inner glow for me, as I think he said that he's already improved his running this pre-season. Also that he's bulked up a bit, to hopefully spend a little more time as an inside mid.

There were also some other positives that I enjoyed. That he not only thinks that McDonald is likely to step up, but he's also keen to see what Amartey and McLean can do this year. That the new facilities are making a bit of a difference in regards to fitness. And that Adams is one of the most intense trainers that he's seen and is leading by example.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Every single thing about Errol is elite, including how he thinks and talks about footy.

And yes, I laughed my arse off at the running power one - but it’s a great insight into what Horse says about him, which he works as hard as anyone. For him to then say Taylor Adams is as intense a trainer as he’s seen is something else.

As an aside, I’m as confident about Logan as Errol is. Watch him go. He’s special.