50 minutes ago, boydie said:

If Frost is to play round 1 it should be as a backman with T.Mac up forward.

I like this train of thought and with Pedo in the 22, Gives us some good Talls!

FB: Garland  Dunn Jetta

HB: Salem  McDonald   ?????

C: Tyson  Viney  Brayshaw

HF: Vanders  Pedo  Watts

FF: Garlett  Hogan  Kent

Foll:  Gawn  Vince  Jones

Int: Kennedy Bugg ???  ???

Harmes, Oliver, Stretch, Grimes and a few others fighting for the other spots. Was hoping to see someone else own a HBF but it didn't happen unfortunately. Hunts defensive work was poor and we barely saw any speed or rebound from him. Wagner got better as the game went on but was still nothing to write home about. Would be great to have Melksham or Lumumba available to take that other HBF.

If Brayshaw is fit he plays. Don't risk him if he's not 100% though obviously. Hoping both Oliver and Petracca can debut not far into the season also to add midfield and forward depth.

I've got Pedo at CHF. He's not great, but at least he clunks a mark and kicks a goal every now and then. He can give Gawn a rest from rucking also. Frost is woeful as a forward and should only ever play in the red and blue as a defender.

We are getting closer on this now.

I think everyone can see now why Bugg and Kennedy will be in the 22 for Rd 1. Bugg is a tackling machine and it would be criminal not to have him tagging his most favourite ex-teammate in Rd 1. Kennedy adds spark and pace to our forward set up - for the first time we will actually have a forward press worthy of the better teams.

Pedo was a big winner on Saturday and with so much pace around him, it seems his one major weakness is no longer a major deterrent.

I'm not sure why a few DLs are so dubious about Wagner - he barely played in the first half and looked very handy in the second - so he's one I definitely want to see go around in the next two weeks. But ultimately I suspect Harry O will take that spot for Rd 1 and also probably means Hunt misses.

Oliver now is definitely a chance unless Brayshaw makes an incredibly quick recovery and he appears to have beaten Neal-Bullen to a spot in the middle. But will he edge out Grimes or even Stretch for that last spot? I'm tipping he'll still have to wait, unless he has an absolute blinder against the Dogs or Saints.

To me the big questions now are: Will Frost be given a go down back in the next two practice games. We all know that's where he used to play at GWS and his flexibility probably gets him across the line. Will Hunt be persevered with when the real stuff begins and Goody is no longer in charge. And will Petracca's sheer brilliance force a rethink up forward before Rd 1. 

Still plenty of things to assess but at the moment assuming there are no more injuries I'd go with the following side which assumes Angus is out and CP5 is a week short of playing.

B: Jetta Garland Dunn

HB: Lumumba T-Mac Salem

C: Vandenberg N.Jones Bugg

HF:  Harmes Pederson Kent

F: Garland Hogan Kennedy

Ru: Gawn Vince Viney

Int: Frost (defensive rotation), Tyson (mid rotation), Watts (forward rotation), Stretch (midfield rotation)

Emerg: Oliver, Grimes, Hunt

3 hours ago, Deespicable said:

We are getting closer on this now.

I think everyone can see now why Bugg and Kennedy will be in the 22 for Rd 1. Bugg is a tackling machine and it would be criminal not to have him tagging his most favourite ex-teammate in Rd 1. Kennedy adds spark and pace to our forward set up - for the first time we will actually have a forward press worthy of the better teams.

Pedo was a big winner on Saturday and with so much pace around him, it seems his one major weakness is no longer a major deterrent.

I'm not sure why a few DLs are so dubious about Wagner - he barely played in the first half and looked very handy in the second - so he's one I definitely want to see go around in the next two weeks. But ultimately I suspect Harry O will take that spot for Rd 1 and also probably means Hunt misses.

Oliver now is definitely a chance unless Brayshaw makes an incredibly quick recovery and he appears to have beaten Neal-Bullen to a spot in the middle. But will he edge out Grimes or even Stretch for that last spot? I'm tipping he'll still have to wait, unless he has an absolute blinder against the Dogs or Saints.

To me the big questions now are: Will Frost be given a go down back in the next two practice games. We all know that's where he used to play at GWS and his flexibility probably gets him across the line. Will Hunt be persevered with when the real stuff begins and Goody is no longer in charge. And will Petracca's sheer brilliance force a rethink up forward before Rd 1. 

Still plenty of things to assess but at the moment assuming there are no more injuries I'd go with the following side which assumes Angus is out and CP5 is a week short of playing.

B: Jetta Garland Dunn

HB: Lumumba T-Mac Salem

C: Vandenberg N.Jones Bugg

HF:  Harmes Pederson Kent

F: Garland Hogan Kennedy

Ru: Gawn Vince Viney

Int: Frost (defensive rotation), Tyson (mid rotation), Watts (forward rotation), Stretch (midfield rotation)

Emerg: Oliver, Grimes, Hunt

I think that I'd have Oliver ahead of Stretch but Stretch or NB as emergencies. 

14 hours ago, Deespicable said:

Oliver now is definitely a chance unless Brayshaw makes an incredibly quick recovery and he appears to have beaten Neal-Bullen to a spot in the middle. But will he edge out Grimes or even Stretch for that last spot? I'm tipping he'll still have to wait, unless he has an absolute blinder against the Dogs or Saints.

Oliver's not competing against Grimes or Stretch.  They play an outside role and Oliver does his best work around the stoppages.

If Brayshaw can't play round 1 Oliver is the perfect replacement.  I'd have both in.

EDIT: his tank is the query

I thought Harmes was fantastic. He looks a player. Lock him in.

 

I am gonna do my final 22 after the saints game

On 2/14/2016 at 5:54 PM, picket fence said:

B  JETTA   DUNN  GARLAND

HB  SALEM  MC DONALD  BUGG

C  VINCE  VINEY  VAN DER THING

HF KENT  FROST  PETRACCA

F GARLETT  HOGAN  WATTS

RUCK/ MIDS  GAWN JONES TYSON 

INTER   BRAYSHAW,  OLIVER, KENNEDY , PEDERSON

EMERG. STRETCH , ANB, HARMES

This is definately the 22 I would go with ( from my post of a few weeks ago), as others have suggested I would consider Tommy Mc to CHF and Sam Frost to CHB for a bit of X FACTOR!!

On Saturdays showing this team could win a Grand Final if all played to near capacity!

Sheeit this is a bloody good team even if I do say so myself!!

48 minutes ago, picket fence said:

This is definately the 22 I would go with ( from my post of a few weeks ago), as others have suggested I would consider Tommy Mc to CHF and Sam Frost to CHB for a bit of X FACTOR!!

On Saturdays showing this team could win a Grand Final if all played to near capacity!

Sheeit this is a bloody good team even if I do say so myself!!

Yes, well you did say so yourself picket and nobody else did.

Anyway, I cant\'t ( sorry that looks like deeluded's [censored]) have Pedo and Frost in the same side unless one of the backs is injured and he is down there.

I'm interested to see whether Garland is in the starting 18 by the end of the year.  He still is now but it wouldn't surprise me if someone goes past him this year.

I'm interested to see whether Garland is in the starting 18 by the end of the year.  He still is now but it wouldn't surprise me if someone goes past him this year.

Just now, hells bells said:

I'm interested to see whether Garland is in the starting 18 by the end of the year.  He still is now but it wouldn't surprise me if someone goes past him this year.

Garland cops a bit (from me included), but I reckon he's a very good "defender".  I doubt many opponents find it easy to get a kick on him.

Notwithstanding his shortcomings, I reckon he'd be one of the first picked.  And yes, I've changed my tune, because in a better team I reckon he becomes more valuable.

Based on our last 2 meaningful games Rd 23 v GWS and NAB Cup v P.Adel., I can't see how Harmes isn't a lock for best 22. He should be ahead of Kennedy, Bugg and Oliver.

Starting wingers at this stage are: M.Jones & Grimes. 

They have trained in these positions all summer and are their spots to loose atm. 

Goody has put his faith in them and boosted their confidence. 

Just now, mo64 said:

Based on our last 2 meaningful games Rd 23 v GWS and NAB Cup v P.Adel., I can't see how Harmes isn't a lock for best 22. He should be ahead of Kennedy, Bugg and Oliver.

He isn't though.  Kennedy and Bugg were recruited for a reason and will play before Harmes.

16 minutes ago, Vineytime said:

Starting wingers at this stage are: M.Jones & Grimes. 

They have trained in these positions all summer and are their spots to loose atm. 

Goody has put his faith in them and boosted their confidence. 

I wonder how Frost would go on a wing, he is big and quick, not sure on his tank though and how creative he can be. He is a better option down back but we have the spots covered, he is not a natural forward and Pedo is a better option. Just a thought. 

4 minutes ago, Earl Hood said:

I wonder how Frost would go on a wing, he is big and quick, not sure on his tank though and how creative he can be. He is a better option down back but we have the spots covered, he is not a natural forward and Pedo is a better option. Just a thought. 

Robbie he aint ! Rethink that one Earl.

B:Garland, Dunn, Jetta
HB: Salem, McDonald T, Lumumba
C: Brayshaw, Tyson, Vince
HF: Watts, Pedersen, vandenBerg
F:Garlett, Hogan, Kent
Foll:Gawn, Jones N, Viney
Int: Oliver, Bugg, Kennedy, Harmes (or Stretch for any of the others)

Bolded are the the players I see as the core group (there are 15) - injury/fitness the only thing that might stop those players from playing.  The non-bolded names I see as being hotly contested.

After I named all my players in position, I was left with 5 names that had to go in to 4 (i.e. the interchange).  I'm comfortable with Oliver, but the jury is still out on Bugg and Kennedy, and I'm not sure Harmes is better than Stretch, so I expect I'll flip-flop and change my mind on the last 3 or so players in the leadup to round 1.  Matt Jones is also in the frame based on NAB1 form - I'm not a fan by any means, but am open-minded enough to select him on merit if warranted.

Other notes:

Assumed Petracca not available for round 1.

Assumed Dawes not available for round 1 and behind Pedersen anyway.  Pedersen ahead of Frost, subject to further analysis over the remainder of the PS.

Lumumba on the HBF is more what I think the bosses will do rather than what I like.  The fresher faces such as Hunt and Wagner who might push for this spot didn't on the weekend.  Grimes might play here also.  

5 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Lumumba on the HBF is more what I think the bosses will do rather than what I like.  The fresher faces such as Hunt and Wagner who might push for this spot didn't on the weekend.  Grimes might play here also.  

I think the same will apply with Frost. 

20 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Robbie he aint ! Rethink that one Earl.

No he is no Robbie Uncle, just thinking a la The Cats, Mark Biclavs, the 198 cm running player of last season, who won their B&F and I believe he spent some considerable time on the wing and only took ruck duties when there were no other options. 

6 minutes ago, Nasher said:

B:, (Frost), Dunn, Jetta
HB: Salem, McDonald T, Lumumba
C: Brayshaw, Tyson, Vince
HF: Watts, Pedersen, vandenBerg
F:Garlett, Hogan, Kent
Foll:Gawn, Jones N, Viney
Int: Oliver, Bugg, Kennedy, Harmes (or Stretch for any of the others)

 

Just about bingo on my current 22  – though I have Frost in for Garland at the back. Still rather unproven and not in fantastic form but I’ve seen enough of solid ol’ Col now that I’m ready to push for the future. Aggression and creativity.

On that note, I’m keen for Lumumba to have another shot with new ankles under the new structures after I offered up some serious criticism last year.

Also assuming Petracca is not game ready or still in the naughty-corner. Bugg to come out otherwise as we’ve proven we can cover inexperience and still compete.

Surprised you don't have Kent bolded as I'm not sure who is hotly contesting this position. Or is a matter of a non-position and another midfielder slotting in ahead?

44 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Just about bingo on my current 22  – though I have Frost in for Garland at the back. Still rather unproven and not in fantastic form but I’ve seen enough of solid ol’ Col now that I’m ready to push for the future. Aggression and creativity.

On that note, I’m keen for Lumumba to have another shot with new ankles under the new structures after I offered up some serious criticism last year.

Also assuming Petracca is not game ready or still in the naughty-corner. Bugg to come out otherwise as we’ve proven we can cover inexperience and still compete.

Surprised you don't have Kent bolded as I'm not sure who is hotly contesting this position. Or is a matter of a non-position and another midfielder slotting in ahead?

There's not much science in it at all.: I just worked through the entire list, and Kent wasn't in the team after the first pass, that was all.  He went straight in on the second pass without much consideration of alternatives, so yes, "hotly contested" is probably overstating it in his case.  

Not much science in picking our first-round 22 is probably overstating the case as well.

If Matt Jones plays another two like his game on Saturday, he'll be tough to leave out.

Going wth Nash's starting 18 which looks all but locked in for mine, the Interchange is something of a raffle between Grimes, Harmes, Frost, Stretch, Oliver, Bugg, Kennedy and M Jones. At this stage I'd go with Harmes, Grimes, Bugg and Kennedy.

Oliver looks the goods but a few games to see what he does at VFL level won't hurt him. That said, he may be too enticing to leave out after the next two games. He looks exceedingly composed at stoppages and it makes a difference. 

current way of thinking...

 

B: Jetta - Dunn - Garland 

HB: Salem - T. McDonald - Bugg 

C: Tyson - N. Jones - Brayshaw 

HF: Watts - Pedersen - vandenBerg

F: Kent - Hogan - Garlett

Foll: Gawn - Vince - Viney 

I/C: Oliver - Frost - Kennedy - Harmes 

Emerg: Wagner - Grimes - M. Jones

4 hours ago, ProDee said:

Garland cops a bit (from me included), but I reckon he's a very good "defender".  I doubt many opponents find it easy to get a kick on him.

Notwithstanding his shortcomings, I reckon he'd be one of the first picked.  And yes, I've changed my tune, because in a better team I reckon he becomes more valuable.

Turned it over a bit on the weekend. Cant have that coming out of defence any more....