That would be due to the number swap with Dean Dean is 35.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Thryleon on November 28, 2025, 04:14:38 pm
Ive gone with Mcgovern, but its a coin toss for team balance between him, Wilson, O.Hollands, Lewis Young and Ollie Florent as my last spot. Rest of the spots to the usual suspects:
Weiters, Haynes, Newman, Cowan, Dean.
For team balance, you might play Lewis Young as an alternative if we are skimping on rucks elsewhere.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 28, 2025, 04:15:54 pm
I'm not sure there is anymore competition than there was last year. There's a lot of new faces who are 'unknown' that is causing some grief.
Not sure it's causing any grief :D And players like Hayward, Florent and Ainsworth are hardly unknowns.
Unknowns to us. They are all perfect currently. Its only until they hit the field in a navy blue jumper that we realise they are just like everyone else, flaws and all.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: DJC on November 28, 2025, 08:40:50 pm
I think the big difference between 2025 and 2026 is that we will have serious depth and fair dinkum competition for almost every spot in the 23.
I'm not sure there is anymore competition than there was last year. There's a lot of new faces who are 'unknown' that is causing some grief.
Nic Newman, Brodie Kemp and Jagga Smith coming back from injury adds to competition.
Established players like Florent, Hayward and Ainsworth add to competition.
An outstanding draftee in Harry Dean demands a spot in the 23.
Newbies like Chesser, Reidy, Ison and Byrne add to the competition for spots.
We’ve basically lost five first 23 players, three of whom were injury prone or unavailable, and replaced them with seven first 23 players and four players with the potential to demand a first 23 spot.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: LP on November 29, 2025, 08:23:03 am
The reshuffle is inevitable, the workload looks more evenly distributed.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: madbluboy on November 29, 2025, 08:24:24 am
We have had good depth for a few years now. No one would have done better with our injury list.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 09:21:50 am
I'm not sure there is anymore competition than there was last year. There's a lot of new faces who are 'unknown' that is causing some grief.
Nic Newman, Brodie Kemp and Jagga Smith coming back from injury adds to competition.
Established players like Florent, Hayward and Ainsworth add to competition.
An outstanding draftee in Harry Dean demands a spot in the 23.
Newbies like Chesser, Reidy, Ison and Byrne add to the competition for spots.
We’ve basically lost five first 23 players, three of whom were injury prone or unavailable, and replaced them with seven first 23 players and four players with the potential to demand a first 23 spot.
@Lods....see above, perfect. Everyone's an upgrade at this stage of the season.
@DJC... No way have we gained 7 best 23 players. Even if you include players who missed last year through injury, i don't think you get 4 more via trades/draft.
Re harry dean, Weitering is a lock. Haynes should be as well. Did Dean demand a spot of those 2 are there? Did it makes us too tall? Some would have McGovern as the 3rd, did Dean take his spot? Gov can play smaller, can Dean? Long term replacement for Haynes, sure, not sure it happens yet. .... and don't tell me Haynes is playing on a wing
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: crashlander on November 29, 2025, 09:59:09 am
We have had good depth for a few years now. No one would have done better with our injury list.
That is surprisingly accurate. We've had just so many injuries over the last couple of years that would cripple most teams. Look how the Drug Cheats fell off the cliff when they had an injury sequence like ours! That said, missing our better players still hurt us. And I do think our depth appears stronger now, even if we have lost some points of difference.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 10:08:34 am
@Lods....see above, perfect. Everyone's an upgrade at this stage of the season.
I'm not sure what you mean Kruddler We're well aware that the players we've brought in aren't perfect. They have their strengths and limitations. Exactly the same as those we lost...who also weren't perfect, and had their strengths and limitations, some of which were especially on show in 2025. Overall you and others don't think the list is in better shape for 2026 than it was in 2025. I think it is...with more depth and a variety of options to structure up. The problem is that some folks are making the same mistake they're accusing others of... They're looking at what we've lost in terms of their absolute best shape. And we didn't see that much this last year.
As usual luck and injury will play a part but I think we may be in better shape to cover those variables If our injury situation is as bad again as it was in 2024, and the off field shenanigans of 2025 repeat themselves we won't need a good list manager....we'll need an exorcist.
Refreshed and injury free, apart from a few recovering from operations, this time of the year always sees a bit of positivity around the playing group....but no-one, with any idea, really believes that "returning in best shape ever" crap
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 10:18:13 am
Re harry dean, Weitering is a lock. Haynes should be as well. Did Dean demand a spot of those 2 are there? Did it makes us too tall? Some would have McGovern as the 3rd, did Dean take his spot? Gov can play smaller, can Dean? Long term replacement for Haynes, sure, not sure it happens yet. .... and don't tell me Haynes is playing on a wing
How they handle Dean will be interesting. I didn't have him in my backline when I did the 'starting line-up' exercise. But I've read elsewhere he's expecting to play round 1. It wouldn't surprise to see him starting off the bench.
While I don't expect him to start the year, I have little doubt he'll get an opportunity sooner or later and by the end of the year he may be a premanent fixture.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 10:22:30 am
@Lods....see above, perfect. Everyone's an upgrade at this stage of the season.
I'm not sure what you mean Kruddler We're well aware that the players we've brought in aren't perfect. They have their strengths and limitations.
DJC saying we brought in 7 best 23 players is what i mean. All the players we brought in are still shiny and don't have scratches on them yet. Haven't done anything wrong, can't be criticised like other players on our list so 'automatically' are an upgrade on what we have.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 10:24:02 am
Re harry dean, Weitering is a lock. Haynes should be as well. Did Dean demand a spot of those 2 are there? Did it makes us too tall? Some would have McGovern as the 3rd, did Dean take his spot? Gov can play smaller, can Dean? Long term replacement for Haynes, sure, not sure it happens yet. .... and don't tell me Haynes is playing on a wing
How they handle Dean will be interesting. I didn't have him in my backline when I did the 'starting line-up' exercise. But I've read elsewhere he's expecting to play round 1. It wouldn't surprise to see him starting off the bench.
While I don't expect him to start the year, I have little doubt he'll get an opportunity sooner or later and by the end of the year he may be a premanent fixture.
I expect him to play too, but i'm not convinced it is the best option for winning each week. Long term, its fine to give him games now, we will need him. Lineup wise, it may make us too tall down back.
I didn't pick him in my starting 6 and based on what i've done so far, i don't think i can fit him in on the bench either.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 10:44:13 am
I'm not sure what you mean Kruddler We're well aware that the players we've brought in aren't perfect. They have their strengths and limitations.
DJC saying we brought in 7 best 23 players is what i mean. All the players we brought in are still shiny and don't have scratches on them yet. Haven't done anything wrong, can't be criticised like other players on our list so 'automatically' are an upgrade on what we have.
I'm not sure that's the case. The strengths and weaknesses of any new players to a club are pretty well scuitinised by supporters. Sometimes to the detriment of the player. "His disposals not great"....so every miskick is then exaggerated and becomes a bit of a cross to bear. The players we've brought in may not necessarily be an upgrade on a 'one to one' basis, but they are definitely a point of difference, and it's the total effect on performance that is important.
e.g. Hayward isn't Charlie Curnow...but he provided his team with almost as many goals this year
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 10:46:51 am
Nic Newman, Brodie Kemp and Jagga Smith coming back from injury adds to competition.
Established players like Florent, Hayward and Ainsworth add to competition.
An outstanding draftee in Harry Dean demands a spot in the 23.
Newbies like Chesser, Reidy, Ison and Byrne add to the competition for spots.
We’ve basically lost five first 23 players, three of whom were injury prone or unavailable, and replaced them with seven first 23 players and four players with the potential to demand a first 23 spot.
@Lods....see above, perfect. Everyone's an upgrade at this stage of the season.
@DJC... No way have we gained 7 best 23 players. Even if you include players who missed last year through injury, i don't think you get 4 more via trades/draft.
Re harry dean, Weitering is a lock. Haynes should be as well. Did Dean demand a spot of those 2 are there? Did it makes us too tall? Some would have McGovern as the 3rd, did Dean take his spot? Gov can play smaller, can Dean? Long term replacement for Haynes, sure, not sure it happens yet. .... and don't tell me Haynes is playing on a wing
Newman, Kemp, Smith, Hayward, Florent, Ainsworth and Dean is seven best 23 players.
Experienced observers like Shifter have Dean playing in opening round. He may not play exclusively on the opposition’s second KPF but he will have the measure of many.
We played Weitering, O’Farrell and Haynes (and Young) together in defence last season so why not substitute Dean for O’Farrell? Far from making us too tall, it means we can match up well with most forward lines.
Haynes played on the wing in our last two games but I have him in defence in my team.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 12:03:35 pm
@Lods....see above, perfect. Everyone's an upgrade at this stage of the season.
@DJC... No way have we gained 7 best 23 players. Even if you include players who missed last year through injury, i don't think you get 4 more via trades/draft.
Re harry dean, Weitering is a lock. Haynes should be as well. Did Dean demand a spot of those 2 are there? Did it makes us too tall? Some would have McGovern as the 3rd, did Dean take his spot? Gov can play smaller, can Dean? Long term replacement for Haynes, sure, not sure it happens yet. .... and don't tell me Haynes is playing on a wing
Newman, Kemp, Smith, Hayward, Florent, Ainsworth and Dean is seven best 23 players.
Experienced observers like Shifter have Dean playing in opening round. He may not play exclusively on the opposition’s second KPF but he will have the measure of many.
We played Weitering, O’Farrell and Haynes (and Young) together in defence last season so why not substitute Dean for O’Farrell? Far from making us too tall, it means we can match up well with most forward lines.
Haynes played on the wing in our last two games but I have him in defence in my team.
Kemp by default, but i see this as a weak link. Newman will start there, but i don't expect him to end there, similar to docherty last year. Hayward...maybe, with so many options, its personal preference. Ainsworth, not in mine Florent, not in mine...not sure who you are playing him instead of. Dean, not in mine.....but concede he will play because we need to train him up for post-Haynes. Jagga.....don't know yet, maybe
If Ainsworth makes it, it will be at the expense of someone like Motlop who is younger, and has more x-factor, but will probably end up walking.
So yeah, not even close to 7 IMO. Half that basically, and that is 2.5 out of blokes already on our list.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 12:41:35 pm
But all that's just personal preference, and a guess, isn't it. The determining factor won't be what we think. It will be determined by how they perform on the training track and in practice games and the style and structure we go with.
With an extended bench we're not restircted to 6, 6, 6 As a result Ainsworth doesn't have to replace Motlop...they can both play. Fact is though, there are players that will have to miss out. But that's a much preferable situation than not having enough players to fill spots. So much depth :D :D
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 12:49:40 pm
How's this going....
Newman, Weitering, Cowan Haynes
Perhaps the surprise of the lot is Saad. There's probably been a general feeling he's definitely in the twilight. But a few still have faith, and I'll admit to having picked him.
I'm not sure that will still be the case at the end of the year, but for the start the spot is his to lose.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: cookie2 on November 29, 2025, 01:46:39 pm
Perhaps the surprise of the lot is Saad. There's probably been a general feeling he's definitely in the twilight. But a few still have faith, and I'll admit to having picked him.
I'm not sure that will still be the case at the end of the year, but for the start the spot is his to lose.
Those four are the obvious ones imo, beyond them I’m struggling. Agree re Saad but hopefully he comes back refreshed.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: DJC on November 29, 2025, 02:46:18 pm
Those four are the obvious ones imo, beyond them I’m struggling. Agree re Saad but hopefully he comes back refreshed.
Well, he is sporting a new do :)
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 03:53:33 pm
Some interesting numbers so far.
Weitering and Haynes Cowan, Newman and Saad ...... Dean and HOF. ..... A lot of different smalls......Matt Carroll without a vote thus far despite playing 17 games last year.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Baggers on November 29, 2025, 04:27:53 pm
Carroll, Cowan, Dean, Haynes, Saad & Weiters.
I left out HOF as he won't be available til later in the 2026 season.,
Coaches often talk of the 'back seven' so rotation is important. A backman on the bench for rotation? If so, for me it'd be Florent. And the wingman who sags back would be Acres.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 04:38:45 pm
I left out HOF as he won't be available til later in the 2026 season.,
Coaches often talk of the 'back seven' so rotation is important. A backman on the bench for rotation? If so, for me it'd be Florent. And the wingman who sags back would be Acres.
Did you vote Baggers? Carroll still showing as 0 votes.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on November 29, 2025, 05:18:40 pm
B Saad Weitering Cowan HB Dean OFarrell Newman Like to see Charleson get some games as I think he has potential for the back pocket, but Saad gets in due to experience and lack of other younger options. Im looking to build the backline for the future with youth as I think we wont be competitive until a few years time when some of our younger players become good senior players. Chose Newman over Haynes as he uses the ball better and is a leader but dont see either in our next premiership team. Id have Haynes on the bench as injury backup so he will probably get to play a lot of games anyway.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: Lods on November 29, 2025, 05:42:36 pm
The love for Saad highlights one of the features that often occur when we're picking sides in a format like this. We more often than not judge them as the best version of themselves. When the side is up and running well Saad can look a million dollars running off half-back. When were struggling and the backline is under pressure we see the other side of Saad-the lack of a defensive presence and little time to dispose.
It's a bit the same when we look at the players we've lost. Many of us don't see us losing the 32 goal key forward in Curnow. It's the 80 goal plus Coleman medallist we've lost.
Kruddler mentioned before that we won't get the criticism of some of our newer players until we get a bit more familiar with them...and if you haven't had a good look at them, and done a bit of a read-up on them in the past, that's probably true. Many casual supporters probably don't have a good appreciation of some of the weaknesses of the newbies But it's also true of their strengths and how they will contribute to the overall strength of the side.
As a result in activities like the one we're engaged in at the moment folks will go for the 'known'...and the best version of that 'known'. That will change, and if we were to do this task after a couple of practice games, and more importantly after a half a dozen season proper games, this will probably change considerably.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 05:48:18 pm
Just on Saad, he was playing injured about as much as charlie was.
There was plenty of times he got hit, stayed down, limped off, looked 'dead', but was back out their later, or the next week....only for it to happen again the next week.
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: cookie2 on November 29, 2025, 05:55:51 pm
Just on Saad, he was playing injured about as much as charlie was.
There was plenty of times he got hit, stayed down, limped off, looked 'dead', but was back out their later, or the next week....only for it to happen again the next week.
Yep There was that too.
@EB I'd also like to see Charleson get a few senior games this year. Started to win a fair bit of ball towards the end of the season
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: DJC on November 29, 2025, 07:58:50 pm
I understand that shaving one's head can be an act of faith for Muslims but it's not obligatory (as opposed to not shaving beards). Perhaps Adam has decided to revert to his natural appearance :-\
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: kruddler on November 29, 2025, 08:18:50 pm
Well, we've got a clear top 5. I'll lock voting. We'll come back for the 6th later.
I'll start Part 3 - Forwards
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: cookie2 on November 29, 2025, 09:29:40 pm
I understand that shaving one's head can be an act of faith for Muslims but it's not obligatory (as opposed to not shaving beards). Perhaps Adam has decided to revert to his natural appearance :-\
Hope it won’t affect his aerodynamics 🤓
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: madbluboy on November 29, 2025, 09:39:16 pm
B Haynes Weitering Newman HB Saad O'Farrell Cowan
Title: Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)
Post by: ElwoodBlues1 on December 03, 2025, 09:41:59 pm
Ash Hansen on a 3AW interview suggested Ollie Florent will be playing on the half back flank and also be used as a midfielder when required so for the two forum members who selected him in the back six you were on the money. Hansen likened his role to that of Josh Daicos.