Interesting looking at everyones best 22 makes me think Casey Scorpions will be a fairly strong team next year.

With the added recruits Casey have picked up aswell and hopefully a fairly good injury list throughout the year i could see why Casey can't go deep into finals.

Casey really struggled for key position forwards to reliably kick goals last year, Smith, Moncrieff, King and Fitzpatrick and the resting ruckmen all rotated through there with varying levels of success.

Next year we'll have at various times the first 3 of that lot again (provided Moncrieff doesnt get taken in the rookie draft), Weideman, Hulett, Mitch King and possible Dawes/Pedo depending on their form.

Obviously the loss of Jamar, Fitz, Panozza, McKenzie, Bail, Riley etc lessens the gains..

I'm always skeptical of teams that have Petracca/Oliver etc in them. Don't get me wrong, Brayshaw is a fine example that can come straight into a team. But at this stage, we are basing their skills off hype and a small highlight package.

That's a fair call but listing 'Best 22' teams with the same bunch of guys who've taken you to the lofty heights of 13th on the ladder is a little boring. This time of year a 'Best 22' should have a slightly fresh feeling to it given the excitement of a recently completed draft and trade period.

For the record, my 'Best 22' at the beginning of the 2015/2016 pre-season is as follows:

FB: Jetta Frost Dunn

CHB: Melksham McDonald Salem

C: Stretch Tyson Vince

CHF: Petracca Hogan Watts

FF: Garlett Pedersen Kent

Foll: Gawn Jones Viney

Int: Brayshaw vandenberg Neal-Bullen Oliver

Dawes is out of favour with me. Watts gets one more chance. Pedersen gets the nod until Max King or Weideman emerges. I'm bullish about ANB and think Stretch is required for his outside run. Grimes, Garland and Lumumba fall short of my best 22. I think this is a good thing. Melksham is the only member of our three traded players to get a spot and Trengove will have to prove his fitness. I'm not going to be optimistic enough to place him in a best 22 team just yet but hope to be able to do so in the near future. If Petracca and Kent can prove their fitness and Salem gets through pre-season without a setback I think we're looking pretty good. I've listed Hogan at CHF because, quite simply that's where I envisage him playing in the near future and for team balance I think Pedersen plays his best football deep. I've thrown Oliver onto my bench for the pure excitement of seeing him and Petracca debut together. It's a young team but a tough uncompromising team with a healthy amount of skill and x factor. I'm not even going to try to quell my excitement levels. I think we're in great shape to push for the finals.

Jeremy Howe is quickly forgotten around here, played every game last year and had a top 10 in our B&F. He would still be in our best 22 Round 1 next year.

FWIW I see Oliver competing with VanDemon, ANB and maybe Petraccca, depends how quickly he applies himself, for the 'fringe' hard onballer role.

Agreed.

Howe's intercept marking will be missed. He'd be clearly best 22 but his attitude stunk this year for us.

I'm always skeptical of teams that have Petracca/Oliver etc in them. Don't get me wrong, Brayshaw is a fine example that can come straight into a team. But at this stage, we are basing their skills off hype and a small highlight package.

Petracca, Brayshaw and Oliver are big bodied mids that were in the top 3 best players in Australia.

I also doubt the recruiters were basing the opinion on a 'small highlight package'.

I would be disappointed if they weren't playing round 1.

FB: Jetta Frost Dunn

CHB: Melksham McDonald Salem

C: Stretch Tyson Vince

CHF: Petracca Hogan Watts

FF: Garlett Pedersen Kent

Foll: Gawn Jones Viney

Int: Brayshaw vandenberg Neal-Bullen Oliver

Dawes is out of favour with me. Watts gets one more chance. Pedersen gets the nod until Max King or Weideman emerges. I'm bullish about ANB and think Stretch is required for his outside run. Grimes, Garland and Lumumba fall short of my best 22. I think this is a good thing. Melksham is the only member of our three traded players to get a spot and Trengove will have to prove his fitness. I'm not going to be optimistic enough to place him in a best 22 team just yet but hope to be able to do so in the near future. If Petracca and Kent can prove their fitness and Salem gets through pre-season without a setback I think we're looking pretty good. I've listed Hogan at CHF because, quite simply that's where I envisage him playing in the near future and for team balance I think Pedersen plays his best football deep. I've thrown Oliver onto my bench for the pure excitement of seeing him and Petracca debut together. It's a young team but a tough uncompromising team with a healthy amount of skill and x factor. I'm not even going to try to quell my excitement levels. I think we're in great shape to push for the finals.

The only way Lumumba and Dawes will be dropped is either injury or massive form drop.

Roos brought in Lumumba and values what Dawes brings to the side.

Garland will also be there round 1 and will only get dropped if his form drops significantly.

ANB and Stretch are still too raw and will make way for bigger bodies experienced players

Petracca, Brayshaw and Oliver are big bodied mids that were in the top 3 best players in Australia.

I also doubt the recruiters were basing the opinion on a 'small highlight package'.

I would be disappointed if they weren't playing round 1.

I think people have taken what I said the wrong way. I honestly don't have a problem if all of the new recruits have made the Round 1 team. They would be there because they earned their spot in the team. Thus far, Petracca/Oliver/Weideman haven't done that. Lets hope we see something awesome in the pre-season and NAB challenge for them to do that.

I wouldn't be very confident in Oliver being a regular in 2016 given he has a lot of competition for a spot as an inside mid. He is going against N Jones, Vince, Viney, Tyson, Vandenberg, Brayshaw and Petracca, with others like Michie, Neal-Bullen and Trengove also possibilities.

Patrick Cripps only played 3 games in his first season.

And Petracca should play a good chunk of the season, but he is coming of an ACL, so it is very unlikely he will play 20 given it is his first year.

Patrick Cripps had 34 possessions in his first VFL game in 2014 and the only reason he didn't play regular AFL football was due to a broken leg.

He then went on to win Carlton B&F in 2015.

Should have played AFL more regularly in 2014.

In relation to competition for spots, Oliver can play high half forward as he is a known goal scorer. Big asset that others might not have

FB: Jetta - Dunn - Garland

HB: Melk - McDonald - Salem

C: Vince - N.Jones - Bugg

HF: Kent - Dawes - Petracca

FF: Garlett - Hogan - Frost

R: Gawn - Viney - Tyson

I: Vanders - Brayshaw - Lumumba - Watts

E: Pedersen - Stretch - Kennedy

Patrick Cripps had 34 possessions in his first VFL game in 2014 and the only reason he didn't play regular AFL football was due to a broken leg.

He then went on to win Carlton B&F in 2015.

Should have played AFL more regularly in 2014.

In relation to competition for spots, Oliver can play high half forward as he is a known goal scorer. Big asset that others might not have

Cripps played 10 VFL games in 2014 and probably would have played more AFL games if he didn't get injured early on. But 20 AFL games is rare for a first year player, with only Brayshaw and Touk Miller reaching the mark from last year's draft.

Hopefully Oliver is good enough to play from day one, and I wanted us to select him or Francis, but I wouldn't bet on 20 AFL games.

Don't know how anyone could have Kennedy anywhere near best 22 at the moment, especially as a small forward which he just is not.

Don't know how anyone could have Kennedy anywhere near best 22 at the moment, especially as a small forward which he just is not.

He has speed and is the right age to take a big step up from last year to this year. He has to be in consideration for a half forward spot along with the likes of Kent, JKH and Watts and there isn't all that much between that group.

He has speed and is the right age to take a big step up from last year to this year. He has to be in consideration for a half forward spot along with the likes of Kent, JKH and Watts and there isn't all that much between that group.

hope he has a breakout year

I assume a lot from Petracca and Kent but they are great talents. I also think Melksham will get a long crack at half back and is a decent shot of locking it down. Also that Garland will bounce back and unless we are playing a team with 3 monster forwards I think he and Dunn have the edge on Frost. So:

FB: Jetta Dunn Garland

HB: Salem McDonald Melksham

C: xxx1xxx Jones xxx2xxxx

HF: Kent Hogan Brayshaw

FF: Garlett xxxx3xxx Petracca

Foll: Gawn Vince Viney

Int: Tyson Vanders xxx4xxxx xxx5xxxx

1. Wing: Think we need at least 1 pure wingman. Stretch would be my favourite. He's best suited to fill the role and will make others in the team better by being a natural in the position

2. Wing/fwd rotation: Here is where we need either the next best midfielder or a forward who can spend some time on the wing. Newton, Watts, JKH, ANB, Kennedy under consideration

3. Fwd/ruck: Dawes v Pedersen v Frost v Max King v Weideman (unlikely)

4. 7th defender/wing. Either Grimes, Bugg or Lumumba to provide top level endurance, spend some time defending and up on a wing. Alternatively Mitch White an option with Melksham/Salem taking the wing minutes

5. Forward/best option: Be it another tall forward or 2nd ruck, Watts as a medium forward, getting Oliver in, Harmes, or any of those listed under spot 2. Jayden Hunt an option.

I'd go with Stretch, Watts, Pedersen, Bugg and Harmes. The first two provide run and kicking that we need between the arcs. The next 3 are the best options to play competitive tough footy. But if we do have a fit list I think there will be a lot of debate during the NAB challenge about these spots.

Kennedy , Bugg and Melksham are bog ordinary players. Just because we now have them it doesn't suddenly make them good players. They are here to provide depth. Not in best 22 consideration.

We were shite last year. Adding 3 duds and 2 18 year olds doesn't change that. Lets keep our hats on

The only way Lumumba and Dawes will be dropped is either injury or massive form drop.

Roos brought in Lumumba and values what Dawes brings to the side.

Garland will also be there round 1 and will only get dropped if his form drops significantly.

ANB and Stretch are still too raw and will make way for bigger bodies experienced players

You're probably right about who will be picked. I simply picked my 'best 22'. Although I'm tipping ANB and Stretch will surprise some come round one.

Kennedy , Bugg and Melksham are bog ordinary players. Just because we now have them it doesn't suddenly make them good players. They are here to provide depth. Not in best 22 consideration.

We were shite last year. Adding 3 duds and 2 18 year olds doesn't change that. Lets keep our hats on

If we were shite last year then we must have a lot of ordinary players towards the bottom of our 22, no?

We gave up a decent pick for Melksham and plan to play him at half back. The coaches believe in him and even if it's blind faith in some regards we have to as well. He's probably getting the first month in the side regardless of performance.

Bugg is in competition with the likes of Grimes and Lumumba (2 players who have seen better days) for a spot at half back. His top line endurance and decent speed makes him our best option to shut down a dangerous half forward flanker.

We've lost 2 regular senior players in Howe and Cross and these are the 2 we brought in to replace them.

Kennedy , Bugg and Melksham are bog ordinary players. Just because we now have them it doesn't suddenly make them good players. They are here to provide depth. Not in best 22 consideration.

We were shite last year. Adding 3 duds and 2 18 year olds doesn't change that. Lets keep our hats on

Yeah the thing is Munga, we are currently a bog ordinary team. I reckon Milkshake and Bugg will play round 1. Not sure about Kennedy.

There was some promising talent in the second round and giving up a second rounder for melksham was a mistake in my opinion.

If we were shite last year then we must have a lot of ordinary players towards the bottom of our 22, no?

We gave up a decent pick for Melksham and plan to play him at half back. The coaches believe in him and even if it's blind faith in some regards we have to as well. He's probably getting the first month in the side regardless of performance.

Bugg is in competition with the likes of Grimes and Lumumba (2 players who have seen better days) for a spot at half back. His top line endurance and decent speed makes him our best option to shut down a dangerous half forward flanker.

We've lost 2 regular senior players in Howe and Cross and these are the 2 we brought in to replace them.

Probably also a backup/competition to Jetta who has had some issues with concussion.

There was some promising talent in the second round and giving up a second rounder for melksham was a mistake in my opinion.

There is a good argument that we need to spread the age of the list a bit more 'Munga' and not add too many kids.

Goodwin also must be a fan and we decided to go with a known quality.

There is a good argument that we need to spread the age of the list a bit more 'Munga' and not add too many kids.

Goodwin also must be a fan and we decided to go with a known quality.

Yep I'm not a huge fan but it seems logical after losing Howe and Cross and going for the 2 first round picks now to bring in a mature player.

North have just made consecutive prelims with a team of competitors and Harvey, Dal Santo and Higgins being the only real class players, the last two being picked up via free agency in the last two years.

Our plan is to hopefully bring a core group of competitors through and we can always add class on the fringes later but unless we have enough senior players to lead the way and set standards on field then we won't ever get out of the bottom 10.

imo Petracca is right to go, if we were picking round 1's team tomorrow he's in it.

the interchange cap might hurt Olivers chances slightly, even he admits he's got a long way to go in terms of fitness, i think he's ready in most other aspects but we will see what happens

Having been to training a couple of times this year, it is clear that Petracca is a fair way off being "right to go". He's still doing considerable rehab and no contact work. I'm very excited about his debut season, but to say that he'd be picked for round 1 tomorrow is simply ludicrous.

Edited November 26, 20159 yr by Moonshadow

There is a good argument that we need to spread the age of the list a bit more 'Munga' and not add too many kids.

Goodwin also must be a fan and we decided to go with a known quality.

Yes rjay I'm also hoping theres something there that Goodwin knows can be built on.

Having been to training a couple of times this year, it is clear that Petracca is a fair way off being "right to go". He's still doing considerable rehab and no contact work. I'm very excited about his debut season, but to say that he'd be picked for round 1 tomorrow is simply ludicrous.

Round 1 isn't tomorrow... It's 4 months away.

That will make his recovery from injury 15 months.

He will play 1-2 nab cup games and if there are no issues he will be at the G round 1

Yes rjay I'm also hoping theres something there that Goodwin knows can be built on.

If Not then it is a big fail but as you say Goodwin must have convinced the club of his greater worth

I hope the trust is not misplaced