I needed to kill some time so I have made up a pointless visual comparing what we are missing against other teams 'Best 22.' The squads were named by the Hun earlier this year in which I have just copied and pasted.

Tell me how we would go against the following teams if we were to take out there 3 key forwards, two best ruckman, best young midfielder and second best defender. Hopefully you can all work out who I am referring to there:

The 'Champion' Hawkers outfit would look like:

B: Stratton Lake Burgoyne
H: Suckling ???? Birchall
C: ???? Mitchell Hill
HF: Breust ???? Rioli
F: Puopolo ???? ????
R: ???? Lewis Hodge
Int: Shiels, Whitecross, Schoenmakers, Sewell

Removed: Gibson, Rough, Hale, Gunston, McEvoy, Smith + another ruckman needs to removed.

How would we fair with our best 22?

I always think we should be at a similar place to the tiges as we were bottoming out around the same stage and both known at one stage as a couple teams with young promising lists.

The Tiges:

B: Morris Rance Grimes
HB: Newman ???? Houli
C: Deledio Dusty ????
HF: ???? ???? Conca
FF: Lennon ???? King
R: ???? Cotchin Vlastuin
INT: Jackson, Foley, Grigg & Thomas

Removed: Ellis, Chaplin, Vickery, Riewoldt, Edwards, Hampson & Maric

We would pump this outfit.

Finally, the Eagles:

B: Glass Brown Yeo
HB: ???? Mackenzie Schofield
C: ???? Priddis Hurn
HF: Masten ???? Wellingham
FF: ???? ???? ????
R: ???? Selwood Shuey
INT: Rosa, Sheed, Hill, Hutchings
Removed: Gaff (Viney), LeCras, Kennedy, Darling (our 3), Cox and NicNat.

Anyway, it's just a visual to see how weak these teams would be without there quality that we are missing and why some people here should please restrain themselves from throwing in the towel.

So don't give up yet and keep the faith!

Interesting way of putting it deeko. Like it. Still think the better clubs generally have greater depth. As Clarko said "one guy falls and another takes his place", or something to that effect. IMO even our best 22 without injuries would have players that would struggle to make some of those teams with the gaps. Certainly the Hawks would still tear us a new one.

Edited April 1, 201411 yr by Moonshadow

Interesting way of putting it deeko. Like it. Still think the better clubs generally have greater depth. As Clarko said "one guy falls and another takes his place", or something to that effect. IMO even our best 22 without injuries would have players that would struggle to make some of those teams with the gaps. Certainly the Hawks would still tear us a new one.

Even Hawthorn would struggle greatly with no Roughead, Gunston, Hale, Gibson, Mc Evoy and which ever midfielder you care to remove against any other full strength side including ours.

We currently have at least 6 players essential to our structure not playing and given a similar situation at Hawthorn I have my doubts they would tear us a new one, certainly they are in a much better situation depth wise than us, but given these all seem to be longer term injuries no one could expect to cover these and suffer no detrimental effects on results.

Even Hawthorn would struggle greatly with no Roughead, Gunston, Hale, Gibson, Mc Evoy and which ever midfielder you care to remove against any other full strength side including ours.

We currently have at least 6 players essential to our structure not playing and given a similar situation at Hawthorn I have my doubts they would tear us a new one, certainly they are in a much better situation depth wise than us, but given these all seem to be longer term injuries no one could expect to cover these and suffer no detrimental effects on results.

That Hawks team is still very good even with the omissions. IMO, with most of our list fit (except Clark) they'd beat us by 10 goals, rather than 15+ with their full list. In some situations, our equivalent 'gaps' are where we simply have no one of any ability to play, eg, ruck, fwd pocket and several midfield spots. Do you think McKenzie, Bail, Blease, Byrnes, Tappy or Strauss would get a game at the Hawks? Doubtful.

Still, they are playing Cheney at CHB, so at least someone knows how to develop players.

if i was in charge our team next year would be

????? Mcdonald Garland

Grimes ??????? ???????

Vince N.Jones Watts

?????? Hogan Kennedy-harris

?????? ?????? ???????

?????? Viney Tyson

Toumpas ????? ???????

??????

massive cleanout coming on.

The only thing I am really worried about while we have these injured players is the draining of confidence from the group in the interim.

They have to stay bubbly and upbeat and ready for the challenge of the season - in that respect I think that Roos miscalculated with his mention of a 'dossier' being compiled on the players.

That will work to get players to focus on areas he wants them to improve on, but it may have an impact on their confidence to know they are being evaluated in that way. It really is pathetic that I would handle the players with such 'kid gloves' but the have the resilience of paper mache. Their confidence off field is juxtaposed by a withering stare of fear and mistrust in themselves and teammates onfield.

It's all just a conspiracy theory.

The Big Talls are just being rested. Remember Roos Statement, you will know where we are heading by round 5.

He always said that he didn't expect players to play 22 games. It was more likely 15 - 16.

I don't think he was thinking we would be competitive in these early weeks.

But Round 6 or 7 we should see some improvement especially when the talls come back from their holidays.

It's all just a conspiracy theory.

The Big Talls are just being rested. Remember Roos Statement, you will know where we are heading by round 5.

He always said that he didn't expect players to play 22 games. It was more likely 15 - 16.

I don't think he was thinking we would be competitive in these early weeks.

But Round 6 or 7 we should see some improvement especially when the talls come back from their holidays.

Big Talls being rested...? What is he saving them for finals?! 6 month rest since round 22 last year not long enough?