Round 1 Team, 2017.

[cinder]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

In an away game too so no flag unfurling.

Good because I have a wedding in NZ :/

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Good because I have a wedding in NZ :/

I thought you were already married.

[cinder]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

I thought you were already married.

Yeah but my husband wouldn't let me buy the $2k framed guernsey thing

[jazzadogs]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Back 6:
Certain starters are Wood, JJ, Morris.
Boyd, Bob, Suckling, Biggs, Williams, Webb to fight it out for the other 2 running spots in that order.
Adams, Roberts, Cordy, Collins to battle for the tall defender (FB/CHB) position.

Ruckman:
On form it has to be Roughead, with Boyd as his backup. They were phenomenal during the finals series. I predict 2017 will be terrible dissatisfying year for Tom Campbell.

Centres:
Bont, Libba, Daniel, Macrae, Hunter, Dahlhaus are non-negotiable.
Dunks, Jong, Honeychurch next in line.

Forwards:
T Boyd, Stringer, Dickson, Picken are locks.
Crameri is 90%, assuming that he comes back in good nick.
Cloke vs Campbell for a CHF spot.
Clay Smith is in the 22 (likely with more midfield time) with a full pre-season.
Maclean, Bailey Dale and Hamilton, plus draftees and rookies, are leftover.

Leaves us with a side of:

B: Morris, TALL DEF (Adams), RUNNING DEF 1 (Boyd)
HB: RUNNING DEF 2 (Bob), Wood, JJ
C: Macrae, Bont, Hunter
HF: Crameri, CLOKE VS CAMPBELL, Dickson
F: Stringer, Boyd, Picken
R: Roughead, Libba, Dahlhaus
Int: Daniel, RUNNING DEF 3 (Suckling), MID/FWD 1 (Clay Smith), MID/FWD 2 (Dunkley)

There will be plenty of hard decisions come round 1!!!

[dukedog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

B: Johannisen - Morris - M Boyd
HB: Murphy - Adams - Wood
C: Macrae - Libba - Hunter
HF: Stringer - Cloke - Picken
F: Dickson - Boyd - Smith
R: Roughy - Bonti - Dahlhaus
INT: Roberts, Crameri, Daniel, Biggs
EME: Dunkley, Suckling, McLean

Cordy is a better player than Roberts, but as a defender I think Roberts has the runs on the board at this stage.

Im liking that......alot.

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Roberts before Cloke? OK.

You do realise they play in different ends of the ground?

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Its been awhile, we seem to play either West Coast, Freo or Brisbane for round 1 every year. Trivia Eatsy, when is the last time we played a Victorian team?

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

[1eyedog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

You do realise they play in different ends of the ground?

Maybe.

[comrade]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

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

That Pies game was one of the most disappointing I've ever had the displeasure of attending.

Big crowd, Bazza rolling out for the first time, flag favourites off the back of the NAB Cup win and we got smoked.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

For what it's worth, there are going to be some very good players miss out early in the season. The selection panel back themselves to get the match-ups right, so I wouldn't be surprised if the line-up changes regularly.

B: Murphy - Adams - M Boyd
HB: Wood - Morris - Johannisen
C: Macrae - Libba - Hunter
HF: Crameri - Boyd - Picken
F: Stringer - Dickson - Smith
R: Rough - Bont - Dahl
INT: Jong, Daniel, Biggs, Cordy

So excited to have Crameri back. His second half of 2015 was fantastic!

[GVGjr]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Giansiraccuser, interesting non selections of Cloke, Roberts, Suckling, McLean and Dunkley. I would have thought a couple of them make the team.

[1eyedog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Cloke will play against the Pies you'd think. He's best 22 until he proves he's not. Has runs in the board. Form line resets to zero in the lead up to the preseason comp.

[Ozza]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Cloke will play against the Pies you'd think. He's best 22 until he proves he's not. Has runs in the board. Form line resets to zero in the lead up to the preseason comp.

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.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

Giansiraccuser, interesting non selections of Cloke, Roberts, Suckling, McLean and Dunkley. I would have thought a couple of them make the team.

It's a tough one, but I think our team looks better balanced without those guys. I'm hoping Dunkley and McLean develop into really consistent performers at AFL level, they're a bit stiff but someone has to miss out. I don't think Cloke and Roberts are in our best 22. Suckling's an interesting one. I think he's a good footballer, but I think Murph is better. And I love the way Biggs goes about it, he's the one keeping him out in my mind.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 1 Team, 2017.

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

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.