Best 22 for year 2018

[whythelongface]

Old man Crameri at 29.

If the list stays together you can see a lot of Hawthorn & Geelong about them. In that they will have played so many years together already by 70-100+ games that they will instinctively know where their team mates are, how they run, where they run, how to link up without thinking and everything will be second nature. It's the real strength of Hawthorn with Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Roughy and then the next batch in Rioli, Burgoyne etc.

Too true BT. Look at the team and how young they still are in two years. We are already a force to be reckoned with. Top this team up with a quality key defender and one or two outside runners and we are seriously good.

[Ozza]

I'm definitely concerned about how the year off will affect Crameri.

It took him quite a while to get some consistency in his game after missing some pre-season last year. I wouldn't be counting on him being a walk up start to be a senior player for much of next year. Particularly being a bigger frame naturally - although he is a good athlete - I suspect it won't be easy for him to get back into the mode of AFL football & fitness. Add to that, the psychological impact of being out of his profession for a year - personally, I am setting no expectations on Stew next year, and any good footy at senior level will be a bonus.

[jeemak]

I'm definitely concerned about how the year off will affect Crameri.

It took him quite a while to get some consistency in his game after missing some pre-season last year. I wouldn't be counting on him being a walk up start to be a senior player for much of next year. Particularly being a bigger frame naturally - although he is a good athlete - I suspect it won't be easy for him to get back into the mode of AFL football & fitness. Add to that, the psychological impact of being out of his profession for a year - personally, I am setting no expectations on Stew next year, and any good footy at senior level will be a bonus.

If it was a long term injury, like the one Dale suffered or a serious knee then I'd probably be more concerned.

My expectation is he'll come back super fit and be raring to go when match practice starts late this year. The concern I have is the sprinting in full match conditions and how his body will cope with it.

[Twodogs]

If it was a long term injury, like the one Dale suffered or a serious knee then I'd probably be more concerned.

My expectation is he'll come back super fit and be raring to go when match practice starts late this year. The concern I have is the sprinting in full match conditions and how his body will cope with it.

I'm more concerned about soft tissue injuries than anything. But they have done a great job with Libba this year. Hasn't missed a beat, just taken up where he left off

[bornadog]

I'm more concerned about soft tissue injuries than anything. But they have done a great job with Libba this year. Hasn't missed a beat, just taken up where he left off

We have been critical of our medicos not keeping us right up to date, but they have been cautious and doing a great job.

[GVGjr]

I'm definitely concerned about how the year off will affect Crameri.

It took him quite a while to get some consistency in his game after missing some pre-season last year. I wouldn't be counting on him being a walk up start to be a senior player for much of next year. Particularly being a bigger frame naturally - although he is a good athlete - I suspect it won't be easy for him to get back into the mode of AFL football & fitness. Add to that, the psychological impact of being out of his profession for a year - personally, I am setting no expectations on Stew next year, and any good footy at senior level will be a bonus.

Its an interesting point. I suspect he will ramp up his own training through August and September and he will be ready to join official training once the ban is lifted. Unlike being injured, he will be able to participate with full training early on and have a long time to prepare for 2017. He might be a bit rusty but if he stays injury I don't think he will be too far behind others come January / February.

[boydogs]

Definitely a big difference between missing training due to injury and training but missing games due to suspension. Crameri should be right to go after a preseason and NAB cup matches

[comrade]

Yep, given his later start in the big leagues, Moz could squeeze a few more years out. Can't imagine our backline without him. Seeing him with a premiership medal would just about be the greatest thing of all time.

With the very welcome return of the great Dale Morris, this post from July last year seems timely.

And seeing him with a premiership medal (despite a broken freaking back no less) WAS the greatest thing of all time.

[bulldogtragic]

With the very welcome return of the great Dale Morris, this post from July last year seems timely.

And seeing him with a premiership medal (despite a broken freaking back no less) WAS the greatest thing of all time.

As I've said before, I heard Bevo & Morris talk at a function. If he doesn't get 'old man' injuries (calf etc) or a series repeated injuries on/in the same area, both men have 2018 in sight to play on. I hope that's still the plan, as the saying goes, 'when the going gets though, the tough gets smashed into oblivion by Dale Morris no matter what the odds or pain'.

[bornadog]

As I've said before, I heard Bevo & Morris talk at a function. If he doesn't get 'old man' injuries (calf etc) or a series repeated injuries on/in the same area, both men have 2018 in sight to play on. I hope that's still the plan, as the saying goes, 'when the going gets though, the tough gets smashed into oblivion by Dale Morris no matter what the odds or pain'.

Personally, I think it could be their last year.