There are a few tough calls to make in this team, chiefly around the kpd posts. Is franga going to establish himself? Is hooker cooked? Can ambrose back up a big year? Will zerk come on? I reckon I can squeeze Cutler in though as the only proven genuine wingman on the list.
Saad Ambrose Hurley
Redman hooker McKenna
Hepp parish zerret
Draper Shiel McGrath
Smith JD Fanta
Tippa smack stringer
Gleeson Langford Cutler Zaha
Emerg: franga guelfi Clarke Snelling
Clarke’s position will be interesting. In that 22 you would think he’s competing with Langford and zaha though obviously he brings something different.
I’ve always preferred hepp as a defensive wingman to be honest, lets him roam around the ground being smart, zoning well and winning one on ones. I think he tends to get lost a bit under the ruck man’s feet and he isn’t agile enough.
We need to get zerret more outside the contest too where he can set us up and use his closing speed to apply pressure.
Please injury Gods, please let our forward line get some clear air next year, please
The best 22 is getting harder with the emergence of young players and some newer recruits like Snelling and now Cutler
Rutten will be placing a big focus on fwd half pressure, so Snelling will force his way into the side. He was very impressive this year.
The role players who do what’s needed for the team as per Richmond way will get precedence. Zaka given he doesn’t run both ways, nor spread properly when on the wing might find himself out of the team. Especially with McGrath’s transition to a more inside role.
Francis could push Hurls or Ambrose out but in the short term he doesn’t have runs on board to do so IMO which will be contentious in here I know
Yeah not a bad retort. It will be interesting to see whether we are capable of implementing that type of system well enough to get away with a backline similar to theirs.
FB Saad Hurley Francis
HB Gleeson Ambrose McKenna
C Smith Heppell Merrett
HF Walla Daniher Fantasia
FF Stringer Hooker Mosquito
R Draper Parish Clarke
I McGrath Shiel Snelling Redman
That would be my side. My apologies to young Ham, who I think I might regret not fitting in, but I stuck with the intensity of Snelling.
Saad - Best small backman in the league
Hurley - Our best KP defender
Francis - The perfect skillset for 3rd tall excluding endurance. Simply must play.
Gleeson - Very smart footballer and doesn’t let you down unless lifted off his feet
Ambrose - One of the best lock down players in the game
McKenna - Superstar
Smith - On the wing because he can actually hit a target, and brings epic intensity
Heppell - Has to be in the guts somewhere in my opinion. Our big bodied mid.
Merrett - Get him out of the middle and on a wing where he can concentrate on hitting targets and doesn’t have to worry quite so much about getting concussed.
Walla - Superstar and all around great guy
Daniher - Coleman medallist 2020, fingers crossed.
Fantasia - In my opinion our best player.
Stringer - Our best 3rd tall
Hooker - My kingdom for a full forward. Hooker is by far our best option, and our backline needs to transition away from the ageing Hooker/Hurley combo. One of the best ways is to split them. Only Daniher has kicked more goals for us in a season then Hooker since Lloyd.
Mosquito - I’m channeling my inner Sheedy. Every side needs natural talent in their forward half. It comes to the fore in finals football when the heat is on. We have sweet fark all small forward options beyond Fantasia and Walla. This guy needs to play and play from round 1 in my opinion. I am a big fan of the 3 smalls in the forward 6.
Draper - I so hope he comes back ok from the injury. This guy will change the way we play the game. An aggressive and agile ruckman… oh my.
Parish - Our best inside midfielder in my opinion. A natural. Stop ■■■■■■■ about and let him run things.
Clarke - I love a tagger. I consider it a very important role. This guy makes my starting 18 as he is our best option in that role.
McGrath - Gets pushed to the bench as an inside mid rotation. Heppell with the big body, Parish with the best inside skills, and Clarke the tagger shuffle him out.
Shiel - Learn to hit a target son.
Snelling - Can play forward when we run Walla and Fanta through the mid, and can bring some Smith like intensity to the midfield if required.
Redman - Obvious inclusion. Angry, with skill. Like.