The Best 22 thread

[Tyler]

Heaps of people said this last year and they were wrong.

[Ants]

@Heppelltitis

@Ants

@Heppelltitis

Meh, I think you just write them off as mids because you haven’t seen much of them. Lots of kids start in other positions and progressively add midfield time.

I’m certain you wouldn’t say the same of EFC players because you are more familiar with them.

If they have 2 injuries to mids, they will move from an elite midfield, to a slightly less elite midfield. That is not a major problem.

I understand you will now proceed to argue your point to the grave. But I don’t care for a circular argument here. So I will agree to disagree and leave it as that.

Melbourne’s midfield will do the talking for themselves in 2022 and beyond, I have no doubt.

I saw plenty of Melbourne, they’re my second team (Grandpa barracked for them). I’m writing off the kids because they’re totally unproven. I think Bowey and Woods look great. But neither is covering Petracca or Oliver. That gap is huge.

I didn’t say you haven’t seen much of Melbourne. I’m saying you probably haven’t seen much of the kids. As in, VFL, juniors, training. Just because they haven’t shown it at AFL level much yet, doesn’t mean they won’t or can’t.

I’m quite certain you wouldn’t write off the unproven kids on EFC’s list in the same fashion. Countless evidence from you to the contrary there.

Then you haven’t seen my posts saying Cox and Perkins weren’t at a level to be depth in 2021.

Take Heppell. Top midfielder. Always looked promising. Transitioned into the midfield over 3-4 seasons. Perfect trajectory. That doesn’t mean in year 2 he was good enough to cover one if the first five going down. Which is what you need if you’re talking real depth. We’ve got nobody proven for our second wing. But we’ve got guys like McGrath and Shiel as depth for the primary players, and Caldwell if he can keep his body right. The first two are so much better than Harmes it’s not funny.

Melbourne don’t now have good depth. If Woods and Bowey keep progressing they likely will in 18 months. But not now.

[Ants]

@oliver09

Unaccountable half back flanker is the easiest role in the game. Unfortunately he doesn’t have the foot skills of Hodge although he’s a tough nut which gets overlooked a bit. He will always take what’s coming which is very admirable. The 2 injury riddled seasons you mention will come back to bite him, he was never quick to begin with and I just think the game will pass him by sooner rather than later. He missed 4 games last season, 1 was the early loss against Port, the other 3 were wins v St Kilda and Adelaide which we won quite comfortably and the other was v WB, best win of the season. I just don’t think he’s that vital to us anymore. I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong, he’s been terrific over the years.

It is the easiest role, but Heppell still excelled at it in the second half of the season. Given our lack of small defender depth he’s incredibly vital.

[hirc]

I know I’m gonna look like a moron but everyone keeps mentioning Woods. Whose woods? For melbourne?

[MattyKnights]

@oliver09

naccountable half back flanker is the easiest role in the game. Unfortunately he doesn’t have the foot skills of Hodge although he’s a tough nut which gets overlooked a bit. He will always take what’s coming which is very admirable. The 2 injury riddled seasons you mention will come back to bite him, he was never quick to begin with and I just think the game will pass him by sooner rather than later. He missed 4 games last season, 1 was the early loss against Port, the other 3 were wins v St Kilda and Adelaide which we won quite comfortably and the other was v WB, best win of the season. I just don’t think he’s that vital to us anymore. I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong, he’s been terrific over the years.

Some light reading for you.

Dyson Heppell’s (#21) move back to defence where he first started his career is proving a master stroke by Ben Rutten and the Essendon coaching staff. When you watch Heppell, you see his leadership shine immediately. He is constantly pointing at players to move into the right position – navigating not only his back 6 but his midfield further up the ground.

His numbers as a backman are solid, averaging 25.1 disposals a game (7th among AFL defenders), 7.9 marks, 4 rebound 50’s going at 82% DE (career best) and is 4th in the league for total intercepts. Much of the value of having Heppell in the backline for his own play is secondary to the real benefit – it has given opportunities to other teammates to play in the midfield. The young core of Merrett, McGrath and Parish are all now getting reps together in a midfield that is winning games. This is important because Essendon’s next premiership contending team will have those 3 players in the prime of their careers – not Heppell. But Heppell is playing an important role.

He provides the drive forward from Essendon’s defence, many a times linking up with hands or by foot to his midfielders up the ground. Heppell’s not overly quick but he’s a smart player – positioning himself in the right area’s to either get used on the counter attack or set up defensively. He wins one on ones when he needs to.

[Ants]

■■■■. Sorry, getting mixed up. Rivers.

[Gus2315]

I thought his name was Hills?

[WindsockBoy]

And just a quick correction to several posts;
Surely the “LindsayThomas” is the easiest position to play on the ground.

[JJohnson]

There’s a lot of words there but not sure a lot of them mean much. The fact that Heppell getting out of the midfield allows better players to play midfield is not a positive.

A couple of the stats surprised me though eg his intercept numbers.

[Maxx]

Need to try and get Stringer one on one inside 50 similar to Richmond and Dusty and he’ll beat most in a wrestle.
He brings the ball to ground but doesn’t clunk many in the air.

[Houli_Dooli]

Tippa lives

[MattyKnights]

@JJohnson

There’s a lot of words there but not sure a lot of them mean much. The fact that Heppell getting out of the midfield allows better players to play midfield is not a positive.

Perhaps read it the other way, we now have the luxury of playing Heppell across the half back flank where as a bonus he is ranking very high in key defensive stats and at the same time enjoying the depth of players who can take his place in the middle. It’s a two birds with one stone scenario. It’s been a pivotal move.

[oliver09]

I think that what matters most is that we won 3 out of 4 games that he missed. He isn’t irreplaceable, far from it. If Ridley missed a lot of footy we’d be in a lot more trouble. He won a b&f in 2020 probably due to Heppell missing so much footy and getting the opportunity to have a good chunk of games. I think Heppell is still best 22 at this point, not 18 though.

[Le_Archie]

I’ve got a funny feeling Hobbs is going to be in the 22 come round 1 and never leave it again.

[Houli_Dooli]

Dunkley
Treloar
Libba
Smith
Bontempelli
Hunter
Macrae
West
Stef Martin

Parish
Merrett
Stringer
McGrath
Caldwell
Shiel
Langford
Hobbs
Draper

[Ants]

@oliver09

I think that what matters most is that we won 3 out of 4 games that he missed. He isn’t irreplaceable, far from it. If Ridley missed a lot of footy we’d be in a lot more trouble. He won a b&f in 2020 probably due to Heppell missing so much footy and getting the opportunity to have a good chunk of games. I think Heppell is still best 22 at this point, not 18 though.

I’m not sure how Ridley being one of our most important players is relevant when considering how good/bad anyone else. Ridley is less replaceable than most in the team, doesn’t mean all the others aren’t any good.

Parish slotting in for Shiel in 2021 doesn’t mean Shiel isn’t a good player. It just meant we had midfield depth.

[MikeT12]

Has Shiel actually put together a decent season for us yet? Midfield seemed so much more clinical without him.

[MattyKnights]

@MikeT12

Has Shiel actually put together a decent season for us yet? Midfield seemed so much more clinical without him

Like I always say and I’ll say it again, if Dylan Shiel is your 6th best midfielder then you’ve got a lot to be excited about. And yeah, I think he’s been better than average since coming to us.

[Dasher]

Agreed, although fully fit I think he’s number 4 behind Parish, Merrett and Stringer.

[MattyKnights]

He should be. Agree