Difficult to choose, especially the last 3 or 4, but I think Stretch will be there. He ran out of steam late in the season (wasn't Robinson Crusoe), but across the middle of the year he was very good, especially given his youth. 

I don't disagree with some of the teams leaving him out, but I'd be surprised if all those players are available every round.

I recall in Goodwin's appearance on 360 he singled out Stretch for his professionalism and someone who requires less hand holding as a result. It was an openly glowing appraisal. I reckon he'll line up in Round 1.

afl.com.au not even listing Stretch as an emergency is a clueless omission. He's certainly ahead of Harmes.

 

Today I made an exception.  Needed a laugh.

Status quo tomorrow. 

That's at least twice today then...

Although I do agree you need to have a laugh more.

 

I'll have a crack.

 

B           Jetta             O Mac          Hibberd

HB        Vince             T Mac            Hunt

C          Lewis             Tyson           Brayshaw

HF        Petracca        Hogan            Kent  

FF        Garlett         Weideman         Watts

R          Gawn             Viney              Jones

 

Int        Oliver            Salem            Melksham     

                                  Pedo*

 

I think that fourth interchange spot should be used for a versatile tall who can give Max a break and who also may be needed as an extra tall defender. 

 

The AFL Top 22 -

Melbourne

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Michael Hibberd
HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Christian Salem
C: Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
HF: Dean Kent, Sam Weideman, Christian Petracca
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts
R: Max Gawn, Jordan Lewis, Jack Viney
INT: Jake Melksham, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Cam Pedersen
EMERG: Tomas Bugg, James Harmes, Sam Frost

The additions of Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham, who sat out 2016 because of a doping suspension, further enhances Melbourne's finals hopes. The trio brings experience and leadership, two qualities that are vital for a young team preparing to take the next step into September. The Demons' line-up is full of talent, although fans will have to be patient as the forward line builds cohesion around the pairing of Jesse Hogan and Sam Weideman. With the squad it has in hand, Melbourne will push for finals next season.

2 hours ago, bing181 said:

Difficult to choose, especially the last 3 or 4, but I think Stretch will be there. He ran out of steam late in the season (wasn't Robinson Crusoe), but across the middle of the year he was very good, especially given his youth. 

I don't disagree with some of the teams leaving him out, but I'd be surprised if all those players are available every round.

My thoughts exactly. I think Billy gives us a little more X factor and is progressing very nicely IMO. Major difference in 2017 will be we will have 3-4 good AFL players (not good VFL players) unable to get in each week. Doesn't it make you tingle ?

Edited October 24, 20168 yr by Crystal Dees
Spelling

Yes it is best 22 for Round 1 but one thing that is not being acknowledged is that players like Garland who is not best 22, may well play 8 or 9 games as we rotate the squad, especially in the aftermath of interstate fixtures and 6 day turn arounds.

 

7 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Brayshaw over Oliver? Laughable.

Well then you are in for a surprise next year.

Strong believer in 2nd year blues  

Obviously a lot can happen, but here's my 50 cents worth.

I have only picked the locks, the rest depend of injuries, form, match-ups and whether a few guys improve majorly.

B: Jetta T.Mac Hibberd

HB: Hunt  O.Mac Jones

C: Stretch Lewis Salem

HF: Kent xxxxxx xxxxxx

F: xxxxxx Hogan Watts

Ru: Gawn Tyson Viney

Int from: Frost, Oliver, Brayshaw, xxxxxx

No Vince because we have to wait and see if he returns injury-free. I really don't see him playing defence, especially now that Nat Jones has to move back. I imagine Bernie could be a very handy forward, capable of snagging quite a few goals. But I see him battling for his spot with Petracca, Harmes and Vanders.

No Melksham, but he'll probably get a game Rd 1. But the Jones to defence means it's a little unclear where he'll play. He might end up lining up on a wing, but I expect Salem and Stretch to be our big improvers next season, so someone has to miss.

No Jeffy. His up and down form means I reckon we'll look closely at JKH and BenKen for this role and we may also think about playing Vanders or Harmes as tackling forwards if all three small forwards aren't measuring up.

No Vanders or Harmes - at least one will get a game Rd 1 as they both are hardnuts who have pace and love to tackle.

No Bugg - sadly he's the big loser out of the Jordy deal. He'll need more than charm to get a gig on a regular basis.

No Weids - not yet anyway. I'll be interested to see which back-up tall we draft or rookie list to replace Dawes. Hoges to CHF is one option if we can't nab anyone with form and another is to send O.Mac forward and play Garland down back. 

No Wags, Smith and McKenna - all three youngsters will probably play at some stage and they are all so versatile. But Jetta, Hibberd, Hunt and Jones are the first cabs off the rank down there, so the trio will need injuries to get a gig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The AFL Top 22 -

Melbourne

B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Michael Hibberd
HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Christian Salem
C: Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
HF: Dean Kent, Sam Weideman, Christian Petracca
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts
R: Max Gawn, Jordan Lewis, Jack Viney
INT: Jake Melksham, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Cam Pedersen
EMERG: Tomas Bugg, James Harmes, Sam Frost

The additions of Lewis, Hibberd and Melksham, who sat out 2016 because of a doping suspension, further enhances Melbourne's finals hopes. The trio brings experience and leadership, two qualities that are vital for a young team preparing to take the next step into September. The Demons' line-up is full of talent, although fans will have to be patient as the forward line builds cohesion around the pairing of Jesse Hogan and Sam Weideman. With the squad it has in hand, Melbourne will push for finals next season.

That is a bloody good midfield. And I too would have Bernie back in the guts. We now have better options off half back.

 

According to the AFL website:

Lynden Dunn is Fullback in Collingwood's best 22;

Chip Frawley is Fullback in Hawthorn's best 22;

Kyle Cheney is in Adelaide's best 22;

Steph Martin is Ruck in Brisbane's best 22;

 

Pity none of them played that well in a team that consistently finished in the bottom 2 of the competition.

 

On 25/10/2016 at 3:59 AM, CBDees said:

According to the AFL website:

Lynden Dunn is Fullback in Collingwood's best 22;  IN 2014 NOT NEXT YEAR

Chip Frawley is Fullback in Hawthorn's best 22;  SURE

Kyle Cheney is in Adelaide's best 22;  WILL NOT PLAY 10 GAMES

Steph Martin is Ruck in Brisbane's best 22;  JUST KEPT OUT BY JAMAR

 

 

B: Pat MacKenna, Tom McDonald, Michael Hibberd
HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
C: Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Christian Petracca
HF: Dean Kent, Sam Weideman, Bernie Vince
F:  Christian Salem, Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts
R: Max Gawn, Jordan Lewis, Jack Viney
INT: Jake Melksham, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Cam Pedersen
EMERG: Tomas Bugg, James Harmes, Sam Frost

modified from the paper

Garlett kicks some goals but provides no help to anyone else to go forward and/or score.  So if he doesn't come good in the VFL which he probably won't, he is all washed up.

It would be nice to get the taller Frost down back but the others provide more run.  MacKenna looked OK in his highlight tape especially his kicking from Half Back and I am expecting him and the Recruiters to turn up trumps again during the preseason.

Hogan needs to stay within 50 metres of goal unlike the Carlton game.

Vince needs to be down forward where the turnover won't hurt as much.

 

 

On 10/25/2016 at 7:21 AM, Ron Burgundy said:

Pity none of them played that well in a team that consistently finished in the bottom 2 of the competition.

 

Bit harsh on Dunn. Was a stalwart for ten seasons, top bloke, works hard, and was a very solid defender in 2014 and 2015. Unfortunately his tenure at Melbourne was up but unsurprising the a team like the Pies took him on.

On 10/21/2016 at 2:43 PM, Fifty-5 said:

b: Jetta OMac Hibberd
hb: Hunt TMac Vince
c: Stretch Lewis Salem
hf: Petracca Hogan Kent
f: Watts Weideman Garlett
r: Gawn Jones Viney
i: Tyson Oliver Brayshaw Harmes

e: Frost Melksham Vandenberg

and then, not including Casey listed players:

b: White Garland Smith
hb: Wagner Frost McKenna
c: Melksham Trengove Lumumba
hf: Kennedy Pedersen Vandenberg
f: Kennedy-Harris Hulett King
r: Spencer Bugg Neal-Bullen
i: Maynard
 

Collingwood have Dunn and Howe back. Neeld-era defenders who regularly partook in the 100 pointers. 

17 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

and then, not including Casey listed players:

b: White Garland Smith
hb: Wagner Frost McKenna
c: Melksham Trengove Lumumba
hf: Kennedy Pedersen Vandenberg
f: Kennedy-Harris Hulett King
r: Spencer Bugg Neal-Bullen
i: Maynard
 

Best 22 that cannot fit in

Milkshake

Pedo

Kennedy

VDB

Bugg

Frost

Handy spare six at Casey. 

Then again,  I thought our best 22 was selected against Essendon.

Now that we know it is saints and docklands, I suspect we might go 'smaller'.

 

B: Jetta - T McDonald - Hibberd

HB: Hunt - Frost - Vince

C: Tyson - Jones - Salem

HF: Petracca - Watts - Brayshaw

F: Kent - Hogan - Garlett

Foll: Gawn - Lewis - Viney

I/c: Oliver - Stretch - Melksham - vandenBerg

Emerg: Pedersen - O McDonald - Harmes

 

We will need a full array of runners at that godawful stadium.

Edited October 26, 20168 yr by DemonAndrew

MELKSHAM OSCAR FROST

HUNT TMAC HIBBERD 

STRETCH JONES VINCE

KENT HOGAN PETRACCA

JEFFY PEDO WATTS

GAWN LEWIS VINEY

TYSON ANGUS OLIVER SALEM

 

14 mids

3 kp defenders

2 kp forwards 

1 ruck/fwd

1 ruck

1 small forward

 

 

Edited October 30, 20168 yr by Bombay Airconditioning

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

MELKSHAM OSCAR FROST

HUNT TMAC HIBBERD 

STRETCH JONES VINCE

KENT HOGAN PETRACCA

JEFFY PEDO WATTS

GAWN LEWIS VINEY

TYSON ANGUS OLIVER SALEM

 

14 mids

3 kp defenders

2 kp forwards 

1 ruck/fwd

1 ruck

1 small forward

 

 

Jetta for Milkshake Bombay and we are pretty well in agreement.

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

MELKSHAM OSCAR FROST

HUNT TMAC HIBBERD 

STRETCH JONES VINCE

KENT HOGAN PETRACCA

JEFFY PEDO WATTS

GAWN LEWIS VINEY

TYSON ANGUS OLIVER SALEM

 

14 mids

3 kp defenders

2 kp forwards 

1 ruck/fwd

1 ruck

1 small forward

 

 

Sounds plausible until you realise the ruck/forward is intended as Watts not Pedo! Let's hope that with another pre-season Weideman can be a the CHF and Frost can be a ruck/backman allowing Watts to continue to develop his game with Hogan.

 B. Jetta    O Mcdonald   Hibberd

HB. hunt   T Mcdonald   Vince

 C. Salem   Brayshaw  Kent 

HF. Jones Hogan Lewis

 F.Garlett Watts Petracca

Fol. Gawn  Viney   Oliver

ic. Stretch , Melksham, Tyson, Pederson

Edited October 30, 20168 yr by jeck wartz

On 31 October 2016 at 6:12 AM, Bitter but optimistic said:

Jetta for Milkshake Bombay and we are pretty well in agreement.

With regards to Jetta, if any player is equally as good defensively but can offer more going the other way he takes Jetta's spot. That's not to say I don't like or rate Jetta, but it's about what is best for the team. Whilst I see the role of small forward as a specialist position I can't say the same for that of small defender. To me  the next best mid/flanker takes that spot after all other midfield roles are filled. Geelong and Hawthorn have been great at doing this giving their teams great flexibility.

7 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

With regards to Jetta, if any player is equally as good defensively but can offer more going the other way he takes Jetta's spot. That's not to say I don't like or rate Jetta, but it's about what is best for the team. Whilst I see the role of small forward as a specialist position I can't say the same for that of small defender. To me  the next best mid/flanker takes that spot after all other midfield roles are filled. Geelong and Hawthorn have been great at doing this giving their teams great flexibility.

I predict Smith and/or Wagner go past Jetta in 2017.

I also have strong doubts over Garlett.

6 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I predict Smith and/or Wagner go past Jetta in 2017.

I also have strong doubts over Garlett.

Living north of the border I haven't had an opportunity to see Smith play. But from what I've read I'm looking to seeing him when he gets his opportunity.