Round 1 Team, 2017.

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

5 years straight against interstate teams in round 1, disgraceful by AFEL. I think including next year 3 against Melbourne clubs in 10 years. Why not spread the love.

Think we are set to get a generous serving of love for the next few years.

[Eastdog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Think we are set to get a generous serving of love for the next few years.

Surely now they need to give us a better deal with the fixture. Looking at our Round 1 fixture for next year that is a good start compared to previous years although last year was OK in that we got a lot of Saturday night games.

[Topdog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Why is this an away game and why at Etihad? Friday night game, Round 1 and the reigning premiers at home against Collingwood at the G would surely get 70k.

[Eastdog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Why is this an away game and why at Etihad? Friday night game, Round 1 and the reigning premiers at home against Collingwood at the G would surely get 70k.

It would be nice to at least get one home game at the G and surely now we would be in the best position now after winning the flag to draw a big crowd.

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Why is this an away game and why at Etihad? Friday night game, Round 1 and the reigning premiers at home against Collingwood at the G would surely get 70k.

The game is at the MCG.

[Topdog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

The game is at the MCG.

Ah cool, the talk on the previous page got me thinking it was at Etihad (no one actually said that though)

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Is Murphy a lock for Round 1?

ACL = 12 month injury = Return Round 3 2017 if true to schedule.

Given Murphs age maybe add a couple of months and a VFL game?

Murph back mid year for me.

[1eyedog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

I think it is quite the opposite.

He is coming from a team that missed the finals - where he was selected only 13 times to play in the senior team.
And is joining a club that just won the premiership - who ALREADY has players coming back in.

As far as players busting IN to the team go - Crameri is definitely in front of Cloke - he is a much better player at this point in their careers. On what we've seen to date in his career - Cloke can ONLY play forward. Every other player we have (likely) available for round 1's forward line, can play in at least 2 areas of the ground.

I wouldn't be looking to decrease the flexibility of our line up when the list is healthy. I can understand the argument for Cloke strengthening the depth of our list - but I don't agree that he is automatically best 22, or necessarily makes our 22 better.

I think that's fair enough as well. His record for mine speaks for itself, he's best 22. We are super keen on him and I think due to his unstable confidence levels he'll be in the team come start of the year, much of it though will depend on his preseason form. He'll definitely make us a better team, even Redpath did that. I don't buy the just played in a premiership line as 2017 is a blank canvas and as I stated in my previous post form lines are out the window. Cloke will get every chance through the preseason comp to prove himself and my thinking is he grew stale at Collingwood.

Re. Crameri we should remember that he has been out of the game for a year, so may or may not come in rusty. For me it comes down to Cloke replacing Redpath, who was a regular fixture up until he did his knee. That tells me we want his type in the team, and Cloke is a better player than Redpath and should prove that leading into round 1.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

afl.com.au - best 22/ Round 1 Team

B: Shane Biggs, Marcus Adams, Dale Morris
HB: Jason Johannisen, Easton Wood, Robert Murphy
C: Liam Picken, Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae
HF: Jake Stringer, Tom Boyd, Stewart Crameri
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Travis Cloke, Tory Dickson
R: Jordan Roughead, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter
INT: Caleb Daniel, Matthew Boyd, Clay Smith, Matt Suckling
EMERG: Josh Dunkley, Bailey Williams, Toby McLean

Murphy (knee) and Crameri (suspension) are automatic inclusions, while Cloke will help the forward line structurally and can give a chop-out in the ruck. Impressive youngsters Dunkley, McLean and Zaine Cordy are premiership players, but a strong list sees them just miss out. After a promising debut season was cut short by injury, Adams replaces Fletcher Roberts in the key defensive post. Expect rising midfielders Williams, Bailey Dale and Lukas Webb to be vying for spots early in the season.

NOT CONSIDERED: Jack Redpath (knee – won't return until late in the season), Mitch Wallis (broken leg – will battle to return to his best next season) - Ryan Davidson

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

We got flogged by Essendon in round 1, 2011. Year before that, flogged by Collingwood - both games at Etihad.

You know what was good? In 2016, when we flogged Fremantle in round 1 (103 to 38) at Etihad.

[always right]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

With Cloke potentially coming into the team and assuming Crameri picks up where he left off....is there an opportunity to push Stringer more into the midfield with stints up forward? Another pre-season and his tank should improve further. Would be a serious point of difference and it would get him more involved in the game.

[Topdog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

He had a great finals series buy I can see Dickson being pushed out of the forward line. Can be terribly inconsistent at times.

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

You know what was good? In 2016, when we flogged Fremantle in round 1 (103 to 38) at Etihad.

Yep....I was hoping we'd get another ordinary interstate team to flog in round 1 next year!!!!

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

He had a great finals series buy I can see Dickson being pushed out of the forward line. Can be terribly inconsistent at times.

He has kicked 90 goals in his last 45 games (2 seasons) for the club.
I hope his team mates are aspiring to be just as inconsistent!!!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Yep....I was hoping we'd get another ordinary interstate team to flog in round 1 next year!!!!

Even better, we get an ordinary Vic team to flog in front of 70,000-80,000.