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Poll

Who is our best starting 6 backmen?

*** currently vacant
2 - Lachie Cowan
3 - Jesse Motlop
4 - Oliver Hollands
*****Midfield group*****5 - Adam Cerra
6 - Zac Williams
7 - Jagga Smith
8 - Lachie Fogarty
*****Midfield group*****9 - Patrick Cripps
10 - Harry McKay
11 - Mitch McGovern
12 - Ben Ainsworth
13 - Blake Acres
14 - Ollie Florent
15 - Billy Wilson
16 - Ben Camporeale
17 - Brodie Kemp
*****Midfield group*****18 - Sam Walsh
19 - Will Hayward
***20 - Elijah Hollands - currently not on our list
21 - Lucas Camporeale
22 - Harry O'Farrell
23 - Jacob Weitering
24 - Nick Newman
25 - Liam Reidy
26 - Nick Haynes
*****Midfield group*****27 - Marc Pittonet
28 - Harry Charleson
*****Midfield group*****29 - George Hewitt
30 - Jack Ison
31 - Campbell Chesser
32 - Matthew Carroll
33 - Lewis Young
34 - Rob Monahan
35 - Harry Dean
36 - Cooper Lord
37 - Jordan Boyd
***38 - Will White - currently not on our list
39 - Talor Byrne
40 - Hudson O'Keeffe
41 - Matt Duffy
42 - Adam Saad
43 - Ashton Moir
44 - Francis Evans
45 - Flynn Young
46 - Matt Cottrell
Topic: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6) (Read 418 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #15 –
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: kruddler – on


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

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #16 –
Quote from: madbluboy – on
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.
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #17 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
@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

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #18 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
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.
 

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #19 –
Quote from: Lods – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
@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.

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Lods – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
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.

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #21 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: Lods – on

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

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #22 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
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.

We can't fit our prized draft pick in the best 23.
Now that's what I call depth ;)  :D

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #23 –
Quote from: Lods – on
Quote from: kruddler – on
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.

We can't fit our prized draft pick in the best 23.
Now that's what I call depth ;)  :D

Shows we are picking the wrong positions ;)
Will Hayward is now our #1 goal kicking option.  ::)

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #24 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: DJC – on


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.
"Negative waves are not helpful. Try saying something righteous and hopeful instead." Oddball

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #25 –
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: Lods – on


We can't fit our prized draft pick in the best 23.
Now that's what I call depth ;)  :D

Shows we are picking the wrong positions ;)
Will Hayward is now our #1 goal kicking option.  ::)

I think Harry McKay might have Hayward covered...but we'll see. :D

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #26 –
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: kruddler – on


@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.

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #27 –
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

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #28 –
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.

Re: Pick our team in parts - Part 2 - Starting 6 backmen (pick 6)

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Lods – on
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.

Those four are the obvious ones imo, beyond them I’m struggling. Agree re Saad but hopefully he comes back refreshed.
Reality always wins in the end.