Our best 22 post draft

[DemonWA 3,936]

Jetta Frawley Garland

Terlich McDonald Watts

Blease Grimes Trengove

Sylvia Clark Howe

Davey Dawes Byrnes

Rucks: Jamar Jones Viney

Interchange: Toumpas, McKenzie, Dunn

Sub: Rodan

Emerg: Magner, Pederson, Tapscott

[Hannibal 5,814]

What don't you like about McKenzie? I know you know he will be selected but why wouldn't you select him? If we were playing a final would you really select Barry ahead of him today?

To not even have him as an emergency seems tough.

Forgot about him.

[13thFlagIsComing 542]

After putting down $10 @ 50/1 to win the NAB Cup, i'm confident we'll give it a fair crack this time around.

We have a decent draw as well....

Friday,
Feb 22

Etihad Stadium

North Melbourne v Melbourne
6:45pm EDT

Melbourne v Richmond
7:50pm EDT

Richmond v North Melbourne
8:55pm EDT

FOX FOOTY

Sunday, Mar 3

Renmark

Port Adelaide v Melbourne

4:00pm CDT

Saturday, Mar 9

Casey Fields

Melbourne v St Kilda

2:30pm EDT

Edited January 14, 2013 by 13thFlagIsComing

[Guest José Mourinho]

Forgot about him.

A good sign, I think.

[FNQ Demon 180]

Hi FNQ,

I don't post much but I always enjoy your training reports. Given you have had an opportunity to see a bit of training I'd like to know why you have Rodan as an emergency?

Most reports have him as a standout especially in the clearance area, What makes the other options better?

dworship, good question mate. Don't get me wrong, it was tough putting together this team because IMO (1) we are training well; and (2) there are so many new players. In answer to your question; I placed Rodan as an emergency because I felt that we had more pace, endurance and flexibility around the ground than we did with Rodan. In saying that the sessions I have watched Rodan has trained very well, however so have the others. It was tough picking a best 22 and I do like the comments from all the other posters, because there are some seriously good points. I personally believe we are in a much better place than year’s gone bye. I believe we have flexibility throughout the whole ground now, with multiple payers capable of playing multiple positions and roles. IMO this is a good sign and from what I have seen at training and speaking with the players, I think we are in a much better position. Col Garland said to me last week Quote: “It will be hard to get a game in the backline this year”. I hope this answered your question.

FNQ Demon

[dworship 3,342]

dworship, good question mate. Don't get me wrong, it was tough putting together this team because IMO (1) we are training well; and (2) there are so many new players. In answer to your question; I placed Rodan as an emergency because I felt that we had more pace, endurance and flexibility around the ground than we did with Rodan. In saying that the sessions I have watched Rodan has trained very well, however so have the others. It was tough picking a best 22 and I do like the comments from all the other posters, because there are some seriously good points. I personally believe we are in a much better place than year’s gone bye. I believe we have flexibility throughout the whole ground now, with multiple payers capable of playing multiple positions and roles. IMO this is a good sign and from what I have seen at training and speaking with the players, I think we are in a much better position. Col Garland said to me last week Quote: “It will be hard to get a game in the backline this year”. I hope this answered your question.

FNQ Demon

Thanks FNQ, It does answer my question, it will be interesting seeing where positioning, experience and grunt fit into Neeld's team.

[Mallee Bull 97]

Nicholson Frawley Garland

Grimes McDonald Watts

Blease Trengove Toumpas

Sylvia Clarke Howe

Pederson Dawes Byrnes

Ruck: Jamar Jones McKenzie

Bench: Viney Dunn Tapscott Rodan

Emg: Spencer Strauss Davey Magner

[Grimes Times 1,278]

Nicholson Frawley Garland

Watts McDonald Dunn

Grimes Jones Howe

Blease Clark Sylvia

Byrnes Dawes Pedersen

Fol: Jamar Trengove Viney

Int: McKenzie, Toumpas, Tapscott

Sub: Rodan

Fringe: Bail, Taggert, Tynan, Evans, Strauss, etc.

*Neeld has stated that Dawes will be FF and that Clark will be released further up the ground.

**I'm not a fan of Bail, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him in the 22.

Agree although I'd have Bail in as you say as I think Neeld likes him. However Im not much of a fan of Dunn and would prefer grimes head back to half back but I know we prob need him more in the midfeild. I've also not given up on Davey if he can get fit but we loose nothing with Byrnes in the FP instead.

[Slartibartfast 17,518]

Forgot about him.

One of the things that strikes me this year is there are so few "certainties" compared to previous years - at least for me anyway.

I'm conservative in my evaluation of young players so Viney and Toumpas don't fit the "certainty" category but it appears to me that we may only have 12 certainties at this stage.- Frawley, Garland, McDonald, Watts, Trengove, Howe, Clark, Sylvia, Dawes, Jamar, Jones and Grimes. There are clearly others who are very likely but even guys like Blease and McKenzie could be displaced by others unless they play close to their best. Even the Russian is under pressure from Spencer I reckon.

Our improvement this year will come, hopefully, from the fact that Grimes, Watts, Blease, Strauss, Jetta, Bail, McKenzie, Trengove and Tapscott are reaching an age where they can become fair dinkum AFL footballers who consistently impact matches. I don't see that yet for our first and second year recruits. In addition of course we have picked up some mature age recruits and FA who will add depth.

It's one of the more interesting PS we've had.

[Hannibal 5,814]

would prefer grimes head back to half back but I know we prob need him more in the midfeild.

I reckon that as a midfielder Grimes makes a great half back. But he's training with the mids and I don't see him being played where you and I would both like.

[CatFishPig 462]

I feel the 22 is very hard to pick, with all the new players at the club, both experienced and kids.. We have alot more depth and blokes capable of playing senior football.

I think it will be alot more competitive for a game this season, lifting the level across the team..

A lot of my friends think our club has gone backwards, I have no leg to stand on until we start winning games..

[DeeZee 7,445]

I think with key players recovering from injuries and new players in the team we need to get a look at, the team will be different than many expect.

Dawes,Clarke,Trengove wont play, maybe even Jamar.

So this is my NAB cup team.

Nicholson Frawley Jetta

Watts T. Mcdonald Garland

Toumpas. Jones. Blease

Barry. Pederson. Sylvia

Howe. Fitzpatrick. Byrnes

Ruck Spencer. Viney Grimes

Inter Rodan Mckenzie Kent Terlich

Edited January 15, 2013 by DeeZee

[Grimes Times 1,278]

Another way to look at it is to try and match the 2012 premiership line up with players from MFC.

Shaw, Richards, Mattner

Johnstone, Grundy, Smith

Jetta, Jack, Hannebery,

Bird, Reid, O’keefe,

McVeigh, Goodes, LRT

Mumford, kennedy, Bolton.

Malceski, Pyke, Lorton, Parker

Broken down Syd was roughly made up of the following

3 tall defenders - Richards, Johnstone, Grundy - Frawley, Mc Donald, Garland

1 taller-medium def - Mattner - Watts

1 medium Defender – Shaw - Grimes

1 outside mid turner defender – Smith - Nicholson

4 outside mids -Jetta, Malceski, Hannebery, Parker - Blease, Toupmas, Bail, Tappscott

2 Tall fwds – Reid, LRT - Clark, Dawes

1 Tall utility – Goodes - Pederson

1 medium inside mid turn fwd – McVeigh - Byrnes

2 mobile medium fwds – O’Keefe , Morton - Sylvia, Howe

2 Rucks – Mumford, Pyke - Jamar

1 taller medium inside mid – Kennedy - McKenzie

3 medium inside mids – Bolton, Bird, Jack (& McGlynn) - Jones, Trengove, Viney, Rodan

A mfc Team from the above list could look like this

Nicholson, Frawley, Garland

Grimes, McDonald, Watts

Bail, Jones, Howe

Blease, Clark, Sylvia

Byrnes,Dawes,Pederson

Jamar, Trengove, McKenzie

Viney, Rodan, Toumpas, Tappscott

Many positions/players could move/alternate and Ive gone with the extra mid instead of the 2nd Ruck

Edited January 15, 2013 by Grimes Times

[Josh 1,420]

One of the things that strikes me this year is there are so few "certainties" compared to previous years - at least for me anyway.

I'm conservative in my evaluation of young players so Viney and Toumpas don't fit the "certainty" category but it appears to me that we may only have 12 certainties at this stage.- Frawley, Garland, McDonald, Watts, Trengove, Howe, Clark, Sylvia, Dawes, Jamar, Jones and Grimes. There are clearly others who are very likely but even guys like Blease and McKenzie could be displaced by others unless they play close to their best. Even the Russian is under pressure from Spencer I reckon.

Our improvement this year will come, hopefully, from the fact that Grimes, Watts, Blease, Strauss, Jetta, Bail, McKenzie, Trengove and Tapscott are reaching an age where they can become fair dinkum AFL footballers who consistently impact matches. I don't see that yet for our first and second year recruits. In addition of course we have picked up some mature age recruits and FA who will add depth.

It's one of the more interesting PS we've had.

Couldnt agree more and I think to elaborate further Frawkey McDonald Clark Dawes is the makeings of a good spine and these are the players demanding selection. The other incouraging thing is the amount of players we can sprinkle around them depending on form/injury/opposition. If blokes like Blease McKenzie Bail Jetta even Watts are made to earn games the team will be better.

Heading in the right direction IMO. If we can have a ruckman stand up and force Russian out of the seniors, have another midfielder or 2 stand up with Jones and maybe a dashing HBF the next few years sould be exciting

[Damo 3,373]

I am coming around to Dunn going by training reports.He is our best goal kicker from outside 50 plus can play down back. I'm still bent out of shape by Garlands last year and think/hope Dunn will have less brain fades. If there is a player that would most benefit from the Neeld Way, it would be Dunny. Conversely I hope there are other players pushing for this spot.

I don't think Trengove and Grimes will be playing in the same team before Queens birthday. Grimes is too slow to be in the square already and his back is being managed at this early stage. Trengove is a major worry even before his present injury..

Jamar is on my [censored]-list as well. I would play Spencer in NAB. Apart from the kicking he shows promise for this year.

[Guest Deemand]

I really hope Colin Sylvia plays through the midfield again this year, another bigger body and he doesn't have anywhere to hide in the centre and he will be testing it with the best each week. I hate seeing him in the forward line when we're getting pumped by 10 goals

[Grimes Times 1,278]

Anybody give Tom Gilles a chance to replace either Garland, Dunn or Watts as that 3rd tall. Seems to be forgotten in any discussion of best 22. Could he do similar to Laidler at Carlton and go from a fringe Geelong backman to a solid starting member of a back 6 of there new clubs??

[DeeSpencer 26,070]

For mine Gillies doesn't have the class with his ball use to be a 3rd tall. I think we will prefer Garland, Watts, Dunn and Joel Macdonald is those roles. Where Gillies and Sellar come in are back ups for Frawley and McDonald.

Now ideally I'd only want to play Frawley and McDonald and have someone like Garland or Watts occupy the 3rd tall role but when we come up against teams with 3 big fellas up forward we might need either Sellar or Gillies in the team as well. Consider North with Petrie (Frawley), Hansen (McDonald) and Tarrant. Who do you want on Tarrant do you want to expose him to a smaller Dunn, Watts or Garland or do you want another big body back there.

Considering Garland usually plays tall and McDonald and Frawley offer versatility to play smaller I think unless Watts can actually play as a big defender (more so than a flanker) that we will see Gillies and Sellar having big opportunities.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

What don't you like about McKenzie? I know you know he will be selected but why wouldn't you select him? If we were playing a final would you really select Barry ahead of him today?

To not even have him as an emergency seems tough.

I am not sold on McKenzie either. Aside from his ability as a tagger which is great against some but limited against certain player types and his tackling I dont see much else. He is poor by foot, cant spread and offers nothing at all offensively. There are not many pure taggers these days and unless he can bring other strings to his bow he will be pushed out by better players who have a balance of offensive and defensive capabilities.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

Jetta, Frawley, Dunn

Terlich, Tmac, Watts

Sylvia, Grimes, Trengove

Howe, Clark, Pederson

Byrnes, Dawes, Blease

Jamar, Jones, Viney

Rodan, Toumpas, Nicholson

Davey

Garland, Spencer, Taggert

Edited January 18, 2013 by big_red_fire_engine

[Deecisive 1,709]

God its good to have choice and lots of options going forward!

[Guest José Mourinho]

McKenzie's other attributes outside his tackling appear to be underrated, and there's a perpetual myth that his kicking is poor, when he's actually had a hard time getting the ball to his boot in recent years, by virtue of the places he normally gets his possessions (i.e. in heavy traffic).

He's a better kick than most are willing to accept.

[rjay 25,063]

McKenzie's other attributes outside his tackling appear to be underrated, and there's a perpetual myth that his kicking is poor, when he's actually had a hard time getting the ball to his boot in recent years, by virtue of the places he normally gets his possessions (i.e. in heavy traffic).

He's a better kick than most are willing to accept.

I think he is to 'Jose', I also think part of the issue is the injuries (I think osteitis) he has been carrying because when he does get clear he has not been confident to kick at all over the last 2 seasons preferring to give off by hand.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

He's a better kick than most are willing to accept.

His kicking is a bit better than say Nicholson and Fitzpatrick, the problem is he often refuses to kick the ball and too often looks to use the ball by hand instead.

[Damo 3,373]

Comparing "Class" and skill to another nuffie who cant get a game in a bottom side is not really a compliment.

Those that rate joel Macdonald should consider he is only in his element when a ball is bouncing toward the boundary. Because he has no hope of picking the bounce he taps it, until an opposition player gets close enough to harrass. He is happy then to scrag and knock the ball over to await a throw in. If its a perfect day he will then attack the player who had called him out for the klutz he is.

Thats what I pay my money to see. And I get to see a lot of it.