Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

[hujsh]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

If O'Driscoll plays more than 5 games in his 1st season I think that would be a huge result so to think he'll be entrenched in the team is a stretch given he's coming from a long way back.

Mentioned at the start this is not a round 1 best 23. Just because he's in the 23 at the end of the year does not mean he's entrenched by any means. This is a somewhat hopeful projection. Given his raw athletic attributes I envision a specific role for him in the team by the end of the year assuming he doesn't have any setbacks in preseason or during the year. That said I'm not as across his weaknesses so maybe there is something significant holding him back.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Round 1 verdict: Draftees most likely to debut immediately at every AFL club in 2024

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Pick 6 Ryley Sanders would be a massive Round 1 chance. The Bulldogs did of course trade up for that selection during the trade period, so they clearly value the midfielder, who was a ball magnet at every level he played at in 2023. It’d be wise for the Dogs to start developing their next wave of on-ballers too (even if it’s in a mix of other roles) to start preparing for life after the likes of Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar. Next year shapes as an important year for the club, so if Sanders can help it on-field, he’ll play. Their other four draftees are likely to start the season in the VFL, with Joel Freijah perhaps the first of the quartet to put his hand up, but he’d need to find consistency at lower level. Father-son draftee Jordan Croft remains a raw prospect despite his bright future. And it’d have to take a Tim English injury for Lachlan Smith to be any chance of getting a senior gig.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/draft/afl-draft-2023-round-1-teams-2024-recruits-most-likely-to-debut-straight-away-at-every-club-analysis-latest-news/news-story/6b8626222158a60d1c96a0e57aeb3df3

[Bigdog]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

FB: Coffield Darcy JOD
HB: Richards Jones Dale
C: Treloar Smith Gallagher
HF: Daniel Lobb VDM
FF: Weightman Naughton JUH

C: English Bont Libba

Inter: Macrae Sanders JJ Clarke

Sub: Williams

A couple of things:

- Darcy at fullback to fit Lobb in the side. We can’t play 4 talls again. I’m playing Darcy on the opposition gorillas rather than the quicker CHF. We just have to set up so his rarely one on one. I’d rather see Darcy burnt for strength than pace. Playing on the gorillas or resting ruck will draw him to more contest allowing him to intercept.
- Rotate one of our mids at half back. I think both Macrae, Sanders or b.smith can spend time at half back similar to what Collingwood do with pendles and Daicos.
- Treloar played full time as a wingman.
- Gallagher the other wingman. I love what I’ve seen of him.
- I’ve got Clarke on the bench as we are desperate for a small forward and by reports his come back in good shape. I hope his good enough. I’d say this is more hopeful than anything at this stage.
- I’m in the minority but I’d play VDM an every week due to his pace and his competitive edge. I think we are a better team when he plays.
- Really big year for a few on the fringe to step up. Garcia, West, Cleary, Poulter and Bendendo have promising traits (Lesser extent A.Jones), to be a real competitor we need 2 of them to come on and become at least solid B Graders.
- I still think we are short some pace across the field. Half forward also lacks some creativity.

[GVGjr]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Bigdog, Richards is missing which has to be an oversight.

[westbulldog]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

imo Vandermeer is only value in the GF sprint and , like McNeil, is not best 23 at all.

[CarnTheScray]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Sanders will play Round 1.

Freijah a possibility too.

Smith HAS to play centre.

Play Harmes and Coffield for sure. Cement Lobb as forward ruck.

If it were up to me i'd play Naughton back but he will likely go forward. If he DID play back, i'd put Darcy up forward with JUH and Lobb.

We have enough talent worthy of playing in the best 22 now, there is no justification for Gardner, Keath, VDM, McNeil to be in the selected Round 1 side IMHO.

[hujsh]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Sanders will play Round 1.

Freijah a possibility too.

Smith HAS to play centre.

Play Harmes and Coffield for sure. Cement Lobb as forward ruck.

If it were up to me i'd play Naughton back but he will likely go forward. If he DID play back, i'd put Darcy up forward with JUH and Lobb.

We have enough talent worthy of playing in the best 22 now, there is no justification for Gardner, Keath, VDM, McNeil to be in the selected Round 1 side IMHO.

Out of curiosity (and not necessarily disagreeing) where does Sanders play? Who are our in the guts mids and who is rotating where?

[Grantysghost]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Sanders will play Round 1.

Freijah a possibility too.

Smith HAS to play centre.

Play Harmes and Coffield for sure. Cement Lobb as forward ruck.

If it were up to me i'd play Naughton back but he will likely go forward. If he DID play back, i'd put Darcy up forward with JUH and Lobb.

We have enough talent worthy of playing in the best 22 now, there is no justification for Gardner, Keath, VDM, McNeil to be in the selected Round 1 side IMHO.

Going to be interesting trying to fit all these guys in the CBA's. Smith has pretty much said he wants to play there, then you've got Macrae also who wasn't a part of it last year to his and the team's detriment, now chuck Sanders into the mix and I wonder how we structure up.

I guess lots of rotations! Be interesting to see some of our match sims.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Bevo has outline what it is going to take to be in the team Round #1. Running machines. https://x.com/westernbulldogs/status...481291800?s=20

[JanLorMill]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Bevo has outline what it is going to take to be in the team Round #1. Running machines. https://x.com/westernbulldogs/status...481291800?s=20

It’s a big statement. Can’t lose by 50 points again.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

Bevo has outline what it is going to take to be in the team Round #1. Running machines. https://x.com/westernbulldogs/status...481291800?s=20

That's basically saying if you want to play round 1 you have to train hard.

[Dazza]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

I'm kind of hoping Darcy can take Lobbs spot in the side this year.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

That's basically saying if you want to play round 1 you have to train hard.

So we've previously been selecting players just coasting? It's a great message but I would've thought it'd be the norm.

[Bornadog]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

So we've previously been selecting players just coasting? It's a great message but I would've thought it'd be the norm.

More like, there is now lots of competition for spots, and it all starts on the training track

[Guest]

Re: Best/Starting 23, Round 1 2024

I think Busslinger will be ready to step into the side sooner rather than later.

overall whoever is in the top 22 will do a much better job due next year simply because we should have several players in the Vfl putting pressure on the 22..