2025 Starting Line-Up

[NAUGHTY100]

My view on all of this is that we need a small forward who can read the ball off the pack and snap goals. With all the talls down there, we need a goal sneak. Mcniel and Vandermeer have shown over many years they dont have that skill and West is not that flash either. So I would go with someone new, give any of the new recruits or sanders or gallagher a chance in a much needed role. VDM and McNeil can train as well as they like in the pre-season, they are not reliable goal kickers. We need that over pace. So pick the person who is the best goal sneak at reading the balls off the hands of the pack. This way Weightman can fly for the ball and not have to stay down.

Give someone new a go is great in general , but how do you not reward pre season form if guys like McNeil and Vandermeer are tearing up the track how can you not reward them and pick someone you think might be able to crumb off the big guys , it sends the wrong message to the playing group , in that you can train as hard as you like we are not picking on form .

[Scott2016]

Unfortunately they did that last year and still didnt do it on the big stage. If they played VFL they would both struggle to kick 40 goals combined. The role they played last year added very little value to the team as opposition teams could leave them free and double team others as the opposition knew they dont hurt them.

[Rusty12]

Bont is the best mid in the competition and should remain as an inside mid.

Hahaha, check my original response. We are having a laugh.

[Rusty12]

Updated from track reports.
Trelor out of the team until he trains in full, or replaces Garcia as sub.
Sanders and Richards move inside. From what I am reading, Sanders is looking like more than just a Libba replacement, and it's Garcia who is backing up Libba.
3rd Tall Back: In reality, if not picking a 3rd, you only need to replace a player who has 2-3 intercept marks, 5 intercept possessions, and looses their 1v1s at a miserable 35%, and in doing so, gaining a lot more run and ball movement.
Freijah is the 3rd tall, Williams is the last resort in case of injury and the Opps have more than 2 tall targets.
McNeil and Harmes to help outside as needed/ if Williams is needed back.
2 extra inside mids to help at HF if Mcneil/Harmes are required outside.
Davidson seems a lock, based on form and flexibility considering no Marra.

As long as Naughton and Darcy are fit and firing, I don't think we will miss Marra too much (if Marra is fit and firing, and working both ways then what a luxury to have 3), and am excited about what Darcy can do, with Naughton and Weightman pushing up the ground, giving him a lot of space. Might lead the AFL in inside 50 targets.

Backs:
Bramble - Jones - Duyrea
Dale - Lobb - Freijah

Outside: Williams - Davidson

Inside: English - Bont - Sanders - Richards

Forward:
McNeil - Naughton - M Kennedy
Weightman - Darcy - West

Int: VDM - JJ - Libba - Harmes

Sub: Garcia


In the Mix: Karmis - JOD - Gallagher - Buss -Jaques - Arty - L Kennedy - Gardener -

Relevant Injury: Marra - Trelor

[GVGjr]

I looked at some of the training reports from 12 months ago and while technically Treloar was still in rehab training and then backed it up with an AA standard season he was also doing a lot more running back then when compared to now.
There is a need to be a bit cautious with his early season availability but if he gets a 4 week uninterrupted block of work behind him he will be good to go.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

We need to get creative but here are some of the options as I see it

1) We still just keep using Darcy to provide Tim the chop out.
Pro - He's perfectly suited for the role
Con - We need up forward as much as we can if Ugle Hagan is to miss much of the season

2) We play Lobb as the 3rd tall forward and he provides the chop out for Tim keeping Sam forward as much as possible
Pro - He's the 2nd best ruck man on our list and one of the best 2nd ruck man in the competition plus he is a proven goal kicker
Con - He really stabilized our back line and moving him would be a mistake.

3) We play Gardner forward and he provides the chip out for Tim
Pro - He is a versatile player and would make a contribution where he could
Con - Hasn't really been a ruck man during his career and has always had some limitations when played forward.

4) We play O'Donnell as a forward and Darcy helps English as in previous seasons
Pro - He's added some size and potentially could be a decent option
Con - He should be better suited to defensive roles.

5) We play Khamis as a 3rd tall forward and he can even help out in the ruck
Pro - He's done it before and is energetic
Con - He not a good forward and at best just provides a break for Tim

6) We play Davidson as the 3rd tall and keep Darcy supporting Tim

Davidson if he's ready.

[GVGjr]

We still have midfield logjam don't we?
Basically we are trying to fit Garcia, M.Kennedy and Sanders ideally into just 2 spots.
Someone is going to have to either wait for their chances or adapt to a new role.

[Mofra]

We still have midfield logjam don't we?
Basically we are trying to fit Garcia, M.Kennedy and Sanders ideally into just 2 spots.
Someone is going to have to either wait for their chances or adapt to a new role.

Matt Kennedy did play a fair bit across HF at Carlton. He's tall, good overhead and a good kick inside 50 - and a big reason why I don't think we necessarily have to replace Marra with another tall. Libba/Sanders can take extra mid time and Matt can be in a later rotation.

[Grantysghost]

We still have midfield logjam don't we?
Basically we are trying to fit Garcia, M.Kennedy and Sanders ideally into just 2 spots.
Someone is going to have to either wait for their chances or adapt to a new role.

Watching the match sim, Garcia might be the unlucky one.

[soupman]

With the above in mind I'm gonna run with this 22, in the scenario where Libba isn't a clear best 4 mid guy at that point of pre season.

Backs. Basically the standard set. Except I'm not picking the third tall unless they really earn it. I'd rather go in undersized with more pace and quality than pick JOD because he is better suited to playing on North's third tall.

Jones, Lobb, Duryea, Freijah, Bramble, Dale, JJ

Mids. No Libba means a big slice of CBA gametime to share around.

Bont 70, Treloar 70, Richards 70, Garcia 50, Kennedy 20, Weightman 20

Gets more pace in there through Garcia and Weightman, Sanders next in line to replace Riley.

Wings Williams and Scott are my preferred choices. Both versatile, hold their space well, good mix of attributes and cover ground well. I like the idea of Davidson but think he is next in line. Would push Freijah up here if we wanted an extra tall back (and Scott out).

Forwards Jamarra, Darcy, Naughton, Weightman, Kennedy with McNeil and Vandermeer clearly our best two pacy options at this stage, despite their actions with ball in hand. They get those spots until pushed out. West also in there as the best crumbing option, with the smaller guys helping out on the wings (and as already stated mid rotations.

English ruck. Looks like this

29, 19, 15
31, 7, 27
34, 4, 28
30, 33, 23
3, 10, 2
44, 20, 1


39, 38, 8, 14

Sub the best performed of Davidson, Jones, Harmes (lol), Gallagher.

if we wanted the extra tall Scott to sub, and probably Khamis but very form dependant. Khamis at least is good at something, JOD is a bit meh all round at this stage, Buss unproven but happy to try.

I'm not unhappy with this, small backline seems in line with what the training reports indicate, Libba out is still harsh but I don't know if it's a bad call if it means Kennedy, Richards and an inform Sanders get more time there, JUH out obviously changes the forwardline, and Scott isn't gonna get the game on the wing.

Would amend it to the following:

Backs. The same. I am very much a believer in not picking a third tall who's only pod is being taller than better options. Until we are convinced Buss or Khamis or JOD can intercept or free up Jones or Lobb to intercept in a meaningful way then no thanks.

Jones, Lobb, Duryea, Freijah, Bramble, Dale, JJ

Mids. No Libba means a big slice of CBA gametime to share around.

Bont 70, Treloar 70, Richards 70 remain the same, I'm now giving Sanders the 50, Kennedy 40. I like Kennedy being in there more than the minimum amount, and while I want Weightman in there I don't think we are going to see it.

Wings: Davidson is clearly what we are going with, and has enough about him to be worth a crack. Williams obviously holds the other.

Forwards Darcy, Naughton, Weightman all auto picks, no Jamarra but I'm not convinced that we need to pick a tall to replace him. Kennedy will be here a lot, and West has been good and offers something different. Vandermeer and McNeil continue to hold onto those pressure spots.

Last spot kind of seems like between Garcia and Harmes, seeing as they will have to make do with no inside mid time, but play on the wing and across the flanks I think Harmes is more likely to be effective. SO he gets the nod, and Garcia becomes the sub.

English ruck. Looks like this

29, 19, 15
31, 7, 27
34, 4, 42
30, 33, 23
3, 10, 8
44, 20, 1

39, 9, 22, 14
38

[GVGjr]

Matt Kennedy did play a fair bit across HF at Carlton. He's tall, good overhead and a good kick inside 50 - and a big reason why I don't think we necessarily have to replace Marra with another tall. Libba/Sanders can take extra mid time and Matt can be in a later rotation.

During the trade period the focus initially seemed to be getting Peatling, who's best suited as a mid, to nominate us. Then the focus seemed to be on O'Halloran who's a bit more of a versatile mid or HFF.
Later in the trade period we were linked with Kennedy and we got that deal done late in proceedings who's best position has always been as a mid but adapted well last year to significant time as a forward flanker.
I didn't see enough of him as a forward for Carlton last year but I'll try and see if he can pinch hit as a marking 3rd tall for us.

[Garbs_7]

I'll feel so much more at ease once Naughty is back in full training and getting a few match sims under his belt before the start of the season. Weightman too but he sounds closer to being back 100% by reports. Naughton and Darcy is still an extremely dangerous key fwd duo and gives us the flexibility to play a mid sized or small fwd as the third tall (like Cody), but without Naughty if we are looking at a Buku or Gardner here it starts looking a bit dicey.

[Go_Dogs]

Ok, I’m having another crack at it.

B: Doc, Jones, Bramble
HB: Dale, Lobb, Fridge
C: Williams, Richards, Davidson
HF: McNeil, Naughton, Kennedy
F: Weightman, Darcy, West
R: English, Bont, Libba
IC: Treloar, VDM, JJ, Sanders
Sub: Harmes

I’m selecting Treloar on the bench on the basis we’ll manage his minutes a bit more to start the season and therefore, Ed gets the first bounce ahead of him. If Treloar doesn’t get up, I’m swapping him for Garcia.

If Naughton doesn’t get up, then I’d move Bont to CHF for naming purposes, swing Sanders into the square and bring in JOD to the interchange.

[GVGjr]

Ok, I’m having another crack at it.

B: Doc, Jones, Bramble
HB: Dale, Lobb, Fridge
C: Williams, Richards, Davidson
HF: McNeil, Naughton, Kennedy
F: Weightman, Darcy, West
R: English, Bont, Libba
IC: Treloar, VDM, JJ, Sanders
Sub: Harmes

I’m selecting Treloar on the bench on the basis we’ll manage his minutes a bit more to start the season and therefore, Ed gets the first bounce ahead of him. If Treloar doesn’t get up, I’m swapping him for Garcia.

If Naughton doesn’t get up, then I’d move Bont to CHF for naming purposes, swing Sanders into the square and bring in JOD to the interchange.

There was always a need to make a hard call or two to get the balance right and this best 23 addresses that.
Garcia and to a lesser extent O'Donnell are getting the short straw but if not Garcia it will be Sanders that gets left out.
The MC will have some sleepless nights if we have a full list to choose from.

[Warrnambulldog]

If I’m going by track watchers, for a balanced side;


B; Duryea Jones Dale

HB; Freijah Lobb Bramble

C; Williams Bont S.Davidson

HF; Harmes Naughton M.Kennedy

F; Weightman Darcy West

R; English Sanders Richards

I; Gardner Treloar McNeil Jacques

S; JJ

E- Libertore (competing with Treloar and Sanders)

VDM (competing with Harmes and McNeil)

Garcia (M.Kennedy and Harmes)



VFL side

B; Cleary O’Donnell Coffield

HB; Khamis Busslinger …..

C; Poulter Gallagher Baker

HF; A.Jones Croft Dolan

F; Scott. JUH* C.Hynes

R; L.Smith Brew L.Kennedy


Shooting Bambi with Libba, but it’s a balance thing. Treloar is AA and Sanders needs a crack. I’m probably jumping the gun with Jacques, but I like the type of player he could be to balance the side.
Gardner giving English a breather and being a key position cover is right up Bevos alley. I’m keen to see if it’ll work, it probably saves us going a genuine 3rd tall defender.
I like the balance M.Kennedy gives. I’m not a big fan of Harmes, but at his best (which track watchers are saying) he kicks goals and can play different roles for the team.

[JackCJohnston2000]

I didn't know which thread this should go into but I thought you WOOFers would enjoy what I looked into: