2025 Starting Line-Up

[Rusty12]

Replacing Jones as the deepest defender is very simple. It is Gardner, when you look at the primary role of the deepest.
I can't find a single reason why Buku, Buss or JOD would be better as the deepest tall.
Moving Lobb again, making him deeper, takes away what is working for him, and the intercept/launch game we get from that.
Lobb is always talking about having Jones directing orders behind him, too, so whoever that is, needs a voice.

[Rusty12]

We all know he hasn't played a game yet right?

I get that he's a great story but what we're asking him to do - come in and be a better than average contributor in a key role (roles plural if everything is to be believed!) in his first season has rarely been done. Getting a 'Luke Ryan' type player (impact, not style) out of the VFL is best case...and even he only managed 11-games in his first year.

Like I said - I love the story...but ANYTHING we get from him this year will be a bonus...best 22? C'mon now. I just think we actually need to see him play a real game before we do that.

Back to the Richmond piece - that had literally a billion picks and had ample chance to take him. Maybe they know something we don't?? I mean, I doubt that's the case - but suspect they just thought the others they selected either had more talent/brighter futures or provided better balance to their squad...

Does our excitement/over reaction to Davidson say as much about how little production we have had/seen over the last few years in that spot opposite Williams?
He only has to be better than that, for a chance to play 20 games, the bar is low.

[Mofra]

Would you consider Gardner on Darling?

Maybe - but I consider JOD and Buss more 'pure' KPDs while Gardner was a pure stopper prior to his transition to a ruck/forward type of player.

Buks is in contention if we opt for a 3 tall backline and it sounds like North may go for 3 talls in the front half. Then again, we may just back our rebound to kill them on transition as how often does a 'third tall' move the needle in a game of football?

[Mofra]

Does our excitement/over reaction to Davidson say as much about how little production we have had/seen over the last few years in that spot opposite Williams?
He only has to be better than that, for a chance to play 20 games, the bar is low.

I still think a Anthony Scott played some good for there in 2023. Apart from that it has been a long-standing problem.

I expect we end up rotating Davidson and McNeill on the second wing.

[BontlowSzn]

I agree with those suggesting Gardner replaces Jones.

I'm a big believer in Buss. I really want to get him in the team. But in terms of the best fit with the other back 6, it's an easy decision.

Gardner compliments Lobb really well.

Jones is a freak and can both spoil and intercept as well as anyone. Lobb is tracking to be an elite interceptor. Gardner has his faults, but he's really good at getting a fist to the footy.

[GVGjr]

I agree with those suggesting Gardner replaces Jones.

I'm a big believer in Buss. I really want to get him in the team. But in terms of the best fit with the other back 6, it's an easy decision.

Gardner compliments Lobb really well.

Jones is a freak and can both spoil and intercept as well as anyone. Lobb is tracking to be an elite interceptor. Gardner has his faults, but he's really good at getting a fist to the footy.

I listened to Brendan Lade's interview on 3AW and he didn't call out Gardner when they talked about defenders.
Not sure if he didn't want to share too much but we also need to acknowledge that over the preseason so far Gards hasn't really played as a defender

[Rusty12]

Interesting GVG
It won't surprise me if that is the case, and I don't see why Laid would mislead on radio, they know everyone will see what they do in match sim and the pre-season games anyway.
If we do go with one of the other 3, Larky kicks 8, and then post-game they talk about filling Jones role, I will do a Terry Wallis and spew.

[Axe Man]

Interesting GVG
It won't surprise me if that is the case, and I don't see why Laid would mislead on radio, they know everyone will see what they do in match sim and the pre-season games anyway.
If we do go with one of the other 3, Larky kicks 8, and then post-game they talk about filling Jones role, I will do a Terry Wallis and spew.

If Larkey kicks 8 it will be more to do with the midfield than whoever is matched up on him.

[GVGjr]

Interesting GVG
It won't surprise me if that is the case, and I don't see why Laid would mislead on radio, they know everyone will see what they do in match sim and the pre-season games anyway.
If we do go with one of the other 3, Larky kicks 8, and then post-game they talk about filling Jones role, I will do a Terry Wallis and spew.

What Lade said was factual. He listed a few other players like JOD, Buss and Khamis and never mentioned Gardner as options to replace Jones.
I know a few of us, myself included, have speculated on Gardner filling in as a ley defender so next weeks training might confirm one way or the other is he is getting a move to back line or not.

[mjp]

What Lade said was factual. He listed a few other players like JOD, Buss and Khamis and never mentioned Gardner as options to replace Jones.

If you're in the middle of it - players training in other lines would generally not be considered as replacements for injuries...or if they were being considered they would be moved between lines at training in advance of any potential playing move.

If Gardner is spending zero times with the backs then my take is he wont be considered as a Jones replacement...right now because it's his first full pre-season as a ruck AND the concerns over Tim they're probably reluctant to move him away from the mids. The priority would be developing relationships and connections with the rest of the midfield group.

I'm not saying it wont happen - just that moving players between groups really doesn't happen. Sure - in the heat of a game sometimes you have to throw magnets around to try and change something, but generally when you're doing that you're pretty much accepting that all the stuff you've been trying to implement is 'out' - you're just chasing the game.

[JackCJohnston2000]

Just remember guys. We beat the Blues who had Curnow, McKay and De Koning with Lobb/Buku/Coffield as our three "talls".

If we can play as well in the midfield and up forward as we did in that game, I feel like I'd actually rate Lobb/JOD/Buss as an even better KPD setup.

I think beating the Kangas has a lot more to do with English v Xerri than it does with any one of those matchups in the back half. Whoever goes there will do a good job, I trust.

[Mantis]

Just remember guys. We beat the Blues who had Curnow, McKay and De Koning with Lobb/Buku/Coffield as our three "talls".

If we can play as well in the midfield and up forward as we did in that game, I feel like I'd actually rate Lobb/JOD/Buss as an even better KPD setup.

I think beating the Kangas has a lot more to do with English v Xerri than it does with any one of those matchups in the back half. Whoever goes there will do a good job, I trust.

I don't feel that match-up will have much effect on the end result either.

In our Rd 23 clash at the end of the '24 season Xerri won the HO clash with Lobb (English was out injured) 44-13, yet we won the I50 count 69-34 and the game by 96 points.

Our mids completely smoked theirs with the main difference being this time (based on what we know now) is that Treloar (who received 2 brownlow votes) will miss for us and Sheezel will play for them.

[GVGjr]

If you're in the middle of it - players training in other lines would generally not be considered as replacements for injuries...or if they were being considered they would be moved between lines at training in advance of any potential playing move.

If Gardner is spending zero times with the backs then my take is he wont be considered as a Jones replacement...right now because it's his first full pre-season as a ruck AND the concerns over Tim they're probably reluctant to move him away from the mids. The priority would be developing relationships and connections with the rest of the midfield group.

I'm not saying it wont happen - just that moving players between groups really doesn't happen. Sure - in the heat of a game sometimes you have to throw magnets around to try and change something, but generally when you're doing that you're pretty much accepting that all the stuff you've been trying to implement is 'out' - you're just chasing the game.

I agree that if a player isn't training as a defender then it's very unlikely he will play there. Williams might be the one exception on our list. Gardner hasn't trained as a defender.

With the injury to Jones things might change and at least we have a few options

[Rocco Jones]

B: Doc, Lobb, Buss
HB: Dale, JOD, Freijah
C: Truck, Libba, Davidson
HF: McNeil, Naughts, M Kennedy
F: Cody, Darcy, English
R: Crossley, Bont, Ed
IC: Sanders, Bramble, Garcia, Gags
Sub: Harmes

[dukedog]

B: Doc, Lobb, Buss
HB: Dale, JOD, Freijah
C: Truck, Libba, Davidson
HF: McNeil, Naughts, M Kennedy
F: Cody, Darcy, English
R: Crossley, Bont, Ed
IC: Sanders, Bramble, Garcia, Gags
Sub: Harmes

Really Like this setup.

I'd have West in there somewhere. Is he injured or he not had a good pre season?