2025 Starting Line-Up

[Hot Dogs]

I think I'd go with Clearly over Gags to start the season, if that's what it comes down to. Gags still worries me with ball in hand and I think Cleary gives us a bit more flexibility.

[GVGjr]

I think I'd go with Clearly over Gags to start the season, if that's what it comes down to. Gags still worries me with ball in hand and I think Cleary gives us a bit more flexibility.

I wouldn't rule out Cleary but he trained on the rehab area on Wednesday and did more today but only joined for the non-contact drills.

[doggies ftw]

I’d probably prefer Gags in the 2s right now but I think he’ll play. You can tell the club just loves his speed and with Richards & JJ out of defence we don’t exactly have a lot of run back there right now just Bramble really with Dale and Freijah more distributor than line breaker (although they’re both pretty quick)

I think the club wants that line breaking speed, and he looks so good when he’s streaming out of defence taking on tackles but **** me his disposal is starting to worry me. He needs to play the percentages he’s such a long raking kick if he just breaks lines and pumps it down the line I’m probably fine with that, it’s when he tries to bite off the short corridor kicks he struggles, leave that to Dale & Freijah who are some of the best in the business at this

I would love to have JJ there right now and give Gags some time in the 2s to develop in the role. I do think it’s his best position though been saying it since day 1, never really liked throwing him in the middle

[Cmac1297]

Thought I’d have one more go at it before round 1

B Duryea O’Donnell Khamis
HB Bramble Lobb Dale
C Davidson Libba Williams
HF Kennedy Naughton Vandermeer
F McNeil Darcy West
R English Sanders Richards
I Freijah Harmes Garcia Gallagher
S A.Jones

[meenies]

Bramble JOD Cleary
Dale Lobb Freijah
Davidson Sanders Williams
West Naughton Kennedy
Jones Darcy Harmes
English Richard Liberatore

Garcia McNeil VDM Duryea
Croft

[GVGjr]

Code sports has listed this side. Freijah into the middle.

FB: Luke Cleary, Rory Lobb, Taylor Duryea

HB: Bailey Dale, James O’Donnell, Harvey Gallagher

C: Sam Davidson, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Williams

HF: James Harmes, Aaron Naughton, Lachlan McNeil

FF: Rhylee West, Sam Darcy, Matt Kennedy

FOLL: Tim English, Joel Freijah, Ed Richards

INT: Lachie Bramble, Ryley Sanders, Laitham Vandermeer, Buku Khamis, Riley Garcia

Unavailable: Marcus Bontempelli (calf), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal), Adam Treloar (calf), Liam Jones (hamstring), Cody Weightman (knee), Jason Johannisen (hamstring)

[Go_Dogs]

It would be a big risk moving him into the midfield. Both from the fact our defensive group chemistry and pre-season has been built around him, while others (eg Sanders, Garcia, Kennedy) have all spent a lot of time in midfield minutes and should be ready to roll.

I totally get the midfielder Fridge projects as (called him the next Bont early doors in 24) but it just seems like a haphazard, desperado move.

Now that I’ve made my position clear, watch him play mid on the weekend, snag 3 Brownlow votes and stay there all season.

[Go_Dogs]

I actually like the side they’ve picked (I’d not play those roles, and would swap Buku for Croft if he’s fit) but it’s the right group for sure.

[JackCJohnston2000]

My last prediction before we start hearing word of team selection on Thursday.

FB: Duryea O'Donnell Bramble
HB: Dale Lobb Frejiah
C: Williams Liberatore Davidson
HF: Kennedy Naughton Harmes
FF: McNeil Darcy West
Foll: English Richards Sanders
INT: Garcia Gallagher Vandermeer Jones
Sub: Cleary

[JackCJohnston2000]

Just as an aside. I completely forgot that this time last year, we opted to go with Rory Lobb over Sam Darcy in the forward line and the only key position defender of note was Liam Jones.

Funny how quickly things change!

[GVGjr]

My last prediction before we start hearing word of team selection on Thursday.

FB: Duryea O'Donnell Bramble
HB: Dale Lobb Frejiah
C: Williams Liberatore Davidson
HF: Kennedy Naughton Harmes
FF: McNeil Darcy West
Foll: English Richards Sanders
INT: Garcia Gallagher Vandermeer Jones
Sub: Cleary

Good effort, that's a very balanced side. I think it's one taller player light on but it could be close to the R1 selected side.

[JackCJohnston2000]

Good effort, that's a very balanced side. I think it's one taller player light on but it could be close to the R1 selected side.

I just reckon the match committee is going to lean towards speed so adding someone like Buku in for a guy like Gallagher could get in the way of that plan.

But that being said, adding an extra tall would come with its own strengths so I'm not against it entirely!

[jeemak]

How is West tracking at the moment? Given after a solid season last year and him missing out on an instant recall for the elimination final once fit and then not considered against the Hawks last week, I'm concerned he might be out of calculations for this week (which is what it is).

With that in mind is JackCJohnston2000's (great effort) side up for an adjustment to account for it?

My update further to JCJ2000's side:

FB: Duryea O'Donnell Bramble
HB: Dale Lobb Frejiah
C: Williams Liberatore Davidson
HF: Kennedy Naughton Harmes
FF: McNeil Darcy Vandermeer (in for West who is out)
Foll: English Richards Sanders
INT: Garcia Gallagher Cleary (gives us flexibility behind the ball, on the bench for Vandermeer who replaces West) Khamis (for intercepting cover if Freijah goes into the midfield rotation)
Sub: Jones (replaced by Khamis)

[Rusty12]

I guess with all the injuries, all the teams are getting pretty close.

My last go. Still can't get Cleary in, off one good practice match; however, with his height, he is a good sub, and signs are Freijah could then help on-ball if we lost a mid.

I am picking Dolan, we are screaming for good ball users forward of center, and that's what he is.

West, VDM and McNeil are picking themselves right now.

The back 6 have picked themselves.

Backs:
Bramble - JOD - Duyrea

Dale - Lobb - Freijah

Outside: Williams - Davidson

Inside: English - Mennedy - Libba - Richards

Forward:

McNeil - Naughton - Harmes

VDM - Darcy - West

Int: - Dolan - Sanders - Gallagher - Garcia

Sub: Cleary


In the Mix: Arty - Karmis - L Kennedy - Buss - Hynes - Gardner



Relevant Injury: Marra - Trelor - JJ - Weightman - L Jones - Bont - Jaques

[my plums]

I like the code sports team. Pretty close.

B: Bramble - JOD - Doc
HB: Dale - Lobb - Freijah
C: Williams - Libba - Davidson
HF: MKennedy - Naughty - VDM
F: West - Darcy - McNeil
R: English - Sanders - Richards
I: Cleary - Garcia - Gags - Harmes
S: Arthur

Pretty sure my only difference is Arthur for Buku. Midfield seems thin - probably suggests the Fridge talk has legs. Gonna be an interesting start to the year!