2025 Starting Line-Up

[jeemak]

Poulter's a bit of depth who can do a bit at the level. You need a player or two like him at low cost.

If Scott was right/ dependable I reckon Poulter's probably off the list.

[GVGjr]

Poulter should've been trashed at the end of the season.

Space cadet

I don't see it in him at all just doesn't have the footy IQ.

There is something missing in his game maybe it is his footy IQ.
He's not quick but moves okay and he's a good kick and is tall enough to play a few roles but just doesn't seem to be good enough to be a regular AFL footballer.
He's going to need to make the most of any opportunities he gets next season.

[GVGjr]

I suspect by the end of January of he stays injury free then Jason Johannisen comes into the mix for our best 23 for our Round One side.
With some opposition teams loading up on smaller forwards, our round one opponent Collingwood being one of them, then Bramble and Duryea might need an additional running defender to help them out.
There is a chance we move Freijah to the wing and that could open up a spot for JJ in our 7 man back line set-up.

[mjp]

He’s 22 I feel he has a fair bit of upside and at his height offers abit both ways.
The only negative I see people say is him playing too wide I don’t see it and even if that is a big issue surely that’s something that’s easily fixed.
And if you go back to the end of the year when he was in the side for that period that was probably the most balanced i feel we looked.
Don’t think he should have been dropped after that Adelaide loss it seemed like after that anyone was just thrown out there.

Well...I think he was dropped after Adelaide because of the 5x clangers out of 20 touches. If you're giving it directly back to the oppo every 4th time you get the footy then you need to go out of the side. I do remember there was a bit of comment on here post game about him being hard done by - at the time I thought it was fair enough (stupid turnovers kills trust between players and coaches...and if the coach doesn't trust you, he will NOT select you no matter what).

I guess to your point about playing wide being easliy fixed...I don't agree with that. Players learn how to run and play early in their careers and will 'fall back' to that as a default when they are under pressure...as you say, he does have size....

[Cmac1297]

Well...I think he was dropped after Adelaide because of the 5x clangers out of 20 touches. If you're giving it directly back to the oppo every 4th time you get the footy then you need to go out of the side. I do remember there was a bit of comment on here post game about him being hard done by - at the time I thought it was fair enough (stupid turnovers kills trust between players and coaches...and if the coach doesn't trust you, he will NOT select you no matter what).

I guess to your point about playing wide being easliy fixed...I don't agree with that. Players learn how to run and play early in their careers and will 'fall back' to that as a default when they are under pressure...as you say, he does have size....

I can agree with the 5 clangers not being ideal but it wasn’t a great day overall for a lot of players that day.

[Rusty12]

Re: 2025 Starting Line-Up

Big question for everyone if you have to choose one of McNiel or Vanders in your stating line up in 2025 who do you choose?

I must say one of the things that stood out to me at the ground in the final was the work rate of McNiel, I'd love to know distance covered but his high speed running that night was phenomenal. I think we can keep one of the two but need some more hurt factor from the other role hence I'm going McNiel and maybe Arty/Garcia/West/Davidson lets see how the preseason unfolds.

I genuinely think, if VDM or McNeil are in your best 25 players, your are not a preliminary final team. Same goes for Poulter, Baker and Arty Jones, all good depth pieces, and can play a role at some stage, but that is it.

[Rusty12]

BACKS:
Bramble - Jones - JOD
Dale - Lobb - Duryea

On Ball:
English - Bont - Trelor - Sanders

Wing: Truck - Feijah

Forward:
Libba - Naughton - Richards
West - Darcy - Weightman

Int:
Marra - JJ - Gallagher - Harmes - Garcia

Emergency:
M Kennedy - Scott - VDM - Buss

[azabob]

BACKS:
Bramble - Jones - JOD
Dale - Lobb - Duryea

On Ball:
English - Bont - Trelor - Sanders

Wing: Truck - Feijah

Forward:
Libba - Naughton - Richards
West - Darcy - Weightman

Int:
Marra - JJ - Gallagher - Harmes - Garcia

Emergency:
M Kennedy - Scott - VDM - Buss

Interesting line up position wise. Great to see some different thinking.

Is your decision to start JUH on the bench to do with form or off field?

I really hope JJ body can stand up to the rigors of AFL life but I highly doubt it. Honestly I would have cut him the end of this year.

The Harmes / Kennedy position is definitely up for grabs and whoever has a better pre-season will claim it first.

Do we lose too much run and carry from the back half with Freijah moving to a wing? Hopefully McNeil or Arty Jones can step up and take the wing opposite Williams which will give Freijah more time develop at HB.

I do wonder if Freijah has the running capacity yet to play wing.

[SquirrelGrip]

I'm hoping for continued development from McNeill this year, maybe even a Bramble-style breakout as a key role player. I also reserve my right to see how everyone gets through pre-season!

BACKS:
Bramble - Jones - Buss
Dale - Lobb - JJ/VDM

On Ball:
English - Bont - Treloar - Libba

Wing: Truck - Freijah

Forward:
Richards - Naughton - West
Darcy - Jamarra - Weightman

Int:
Sanders - M Kennedy -McNeil - JOD

Sub: VDM/JJ

Emergencies (from):
Duryea - Scott - Garcia - Arty - Harmes - Gallagher - Buku

With an eye on new draftees
Davidson - L Kennedy - Jaques - Hynes

[Mofra]

Poulter's a bit of depth who can do a bit at the level. You need a player or two like him at low cost.

If Scott was right/ dependable I reckon Poulter's probably off the list.

I think Scott plays a few games this year but at 30ish and with a concussion history we still have that second wing spot to sew up. Poulter/Baker would want good years as Freijah may end up making that transition sooner rather than later and I still think McNeill has upside too.

[Rusty12]

Interesting line up position wise. Great to see some different thinking.

Is your decision to start JUH on the bench to do with form or off field?

I really hope JJ body can stand up to the rigors of AFL life but I highly doubt it. Honestly I would have cut him the end of this year.

The Harmes / Kennedy position is definitely up for grabs and whoever has a better pre-season will claim it first.

Do we lose too much run and carry from the back half with Freijah moving to a wing? Hopefully McNeil or Arty Jones can step up and take the wing opposite Williams which will give Freijah more time develop at HB.

I do wonder if Freijah has the running capacity yet to play wing.

Yep, completely agree on Harmes/Kennedy, and probably players 16-25 in some ways, is very close and up for grabs. Won't be surprised if M Kennedy is in the best 18 also.
Can see Freijah staying at HB to, and have no issue with that at all, and yep, hope JJ stays healthy, but not confident.
In terms of Marra, purely based on, on-field performance, I don't care too much for rumour, 20 plus years working with professional athletes taught me to ignore it.
I am not convinced Marra works hard enough, often enough to justify an automatic selection, especially when extra run is so important and Weightman is a unique option anyway.
Bevo himself says the 3 talls don't play that much together anyway, and I would have Naughton and Darcy as better players than Marra.

[Scott2016]

I think you are missing Gallagher from that squad. He better than a few listed there and still has upside

[Scott2016]

I genuinely think, if VDM or McNeil are in your best 25 players, your are not a preliminary final team. Same goes for Poulter, Baker and Arty Jones, all good depth pieces, and can play a role at some stage, but that is it.

they have enough chances and fail to have any positive impact on games. Rather see new draftees given same opportunity and see if they can hit the scoreboard.

[ArsenalFC]

Having a stab at my round one line up. Whilst the team will get pick based on opponent, I like the fact we have a few swing players who can move between the lines. I think our achilles heel will be who gets the third tall place between Buko/JOD / Coff and don’t forget Gardiner who was playing tall few years back.

Bramble - Jones - Buku
Dale - Lobb - Frej
Williams - Treloar - Richards
West - Naughton - Kennedy
Cody - Darcy - Garcia
English - Bont - Libba

Marra, JOD, Scott, Gallagher, VDM

[jeemak]

I think Scott plays a few games this year but at 30ish and with a concussion history we still have that second wing spot to sew up. Poulter/Baker would want good years as Freijah may end up making that transition sooner rather than later and I still think McNeill has upside too.

Personally I don't think we even worry about it. The position is set on one side of the ground with Williams and the rest of the time it will be cobbled together and we'll make do.

Agree re Scott. I was just saying that if he was able to be play more we'd not need a Poulter, and maybe even a Baker on the list.

When it comes to the four to six players we have who could play through the one wing we don't have covered on paper we just need to make sure some of them are healthy and in form. We're not going to be a Brisbane who have absolute quality there.