Is this our best lineup:

B: Whelan Carroll Holland

HB: Bartram Rivers Ward

C: Jones McLean McDonald

HF: Robertson Dunn Pickett

F: Jamar Neitz Davey

Foll: White Johnstone Bruce

Bench: Moloney, Sylvia, Bate, Green

Subs: Yze, C.Johnson, Bell

Thoughts?

Thoughts?

I'd have any of the three subs plus Wheatley ahead of Ward, we need Miller at CHF and on certain days I'm not sure if Holland is going to be the best bet for match ups in the back pocket.

Yze must be in.

Miller must be in

Perhaps Dunn misses out.

Perhaps Bell/Ward/Sylvia (hurts me to say it) misses out.

Very hard to do a 22. Some unlucky players

I don't want to see Chris Johnson anywhere near that best 22.

I don't want to see Chris Johnson anywhere near that best 22.

Why not?

Both Yze and Miller will need to prove they can sustain the necessary form to hold down important positions this year. Miller has been freed of pre mature leadership roles and needs to deliver. Yze must be running out of chances in the side as a downhill skier.

IMO if Ward is not challenged and overtaken on the HBF by either Bell/ Johnson I will be very disappointed.

IMO if Ward is not challenged and overtaken on the HBF by either Bell/ Johnson I will be very disappointed.

Exactly right!

CJ will hopefully replace Ward, with Bell on the other flank, or in the midfield (yes, I'm still flogging the "Bell to the Middle" line ).

Ward is in his last year(s), if he plays 22 games, we're in trouble.

Same goes for Yze. He should only play if he proves that he's changed. There are a long list of kids who deserve a game based on their efforts, and not like Yze, based on reputation.

Our best 22 will change 100 times before the season starts, and throughout it. Some will surprise, some will disappoint, that's the beauty of footy. But as long as we can keep our spine healthy, we should be ok.

Why not?

Have a look at some of the replays of last years games, particularly the second Sydney game where CJ got 5 possessions in a game where we were injury depleted and needed our depth to step up.

The guy just doesn't excite me, and I feel expectations around here grossly exceed what he's produced on the field todate. I don't think he has what it takes to become an AFL player. I hope I'm wrong....

However it wouldn't surprise me if this is Chris Johnson's last year for the red & blue. Bate, Jones, Dunn, Bartram, McLean, Bell and Sylvia appear far more likely candidates for the future.

FB: Whelan Carroll Warnock

HB: Bartram Rivers Ward

C: Davey McLean Bate

HF: Green Dunn Bruce

FF: Yze Neitz Robertson

Foll: White, Johnstone, McDonald

Int: Jamar, Sylvia, Pickett, Jones

I think that both Green and Bruce should be used up forward to be the most effective. Dunn has shown more than Miller has and deserves to be named in round 1. Yze is too good not to be named in our starting 18. He kicks too many goals to be left out.

Thoughts?

This is a funny time to be working out the "best 22". Ask again closer to the season, probably after the NAB cup and the practice games. Every year a new player excites and a few others improve to the point of overtaking old hands.

I think the most vulnerable in your line-up are Ward and Holland. Players like Bell, CJ, Warnock and even Frawley provide more potential than these two. And Dunn hasn't shown he is a better CHF option than Miller yet.

2007 is going to be Bate's year ... if he is only good enough for the bench I'll be very surprised.

Dunn has shown more than Miller has and deserves to be named in round 1.

No surprises there

I hope CJ realises his potential and has a good year.

I dont particularly think it may happen. He needs to fire and hasnt as yet.

For his faults, Ward has many more pluses.

People forget how good he became last year because when he stuffs up it stands out like a sprinkler on an oval.

:D

But he does have pace. He does have skills that are equal to CJ and Wheatley.

He is much more determined to win the footy than either of these two, IMO.

So he gets in my 22.

Although hope spings eternal,

If Im going to carry someone whom Im only hoping to fire this year it is Sylvia.

Then 1) CJ, 2)Wheatley, 3)Yze and lastly Bell.

Mine simply cause I'm bored ATM

B: Whelan, Carroll, Warnock

HB: Green, Rivers, Bartram

C: Moloney, Bruce, McDonald

HF: Davey, Dunn, Bate

F: Yze, Neitz, Robertson

R: White, McLean, Johnstone

I: Pickett, Jones, Sylvia, Jamar

Emerg: Miller, Ward, C Johnson, Bell, Wheatley

This is my pre-xmas side, with St Kilda in Round 1 in mind.

Bartram will definately not be ready by round one and Sylvia is very unlikely. Petterd is closer than you might think.

B: Whelan, Carroll, Holland

HB: Bell, Rivers, Ward

C: Travis, Bruce, Green

HF: Pickett, Miller, Bate

F: Davey, Neitz, Robertson

R: White, McLean, Macca

I: CJ, Jones, Moloney, Jamar

Sylvia will be up and running for round 1. If he is good enough he will get chosen. Round 1 is still ages away and Sylvia is starting to train after christmas..just like every other year.

FB: Whelan Carroll Warnock

HB: Bartram Rivers Ward

C: Davey McLean Bate

HF: Green Dunn Bruce

FF: Yze Neitz Robertson

Foll: White, Johnstone, McDonald

Int: Jamar, Sylvia, Pickett, Jones

I think that both Green and Bruce should be used up forward to be the most effective. Dunn has shown more than Miller has and deserves to be named in round 1. Yze is too good not to be named in our starting 18. He kicks too many goals to be left out.

Excellent Thread this.

I can't agree with Yze. If we are to make top 4 when the going is tough, he must be out.

I agree with Bate on the wing: I would love to see him given a few weeks of kicking those 55m drop punts into the forward line, and maybe getting 1 a week out from the 50m line.

Miller in for Yze.

Have a look at some of the replays of last years games, particularly the second Sydney game where CJ got 5 possessions in a game where we were injury depleted and needed our depth to step up.

CJ was quite sick that day with the flu.

This is my pre-xmas side, with St Kilda in Round 1 in mind.

Bartram will definately not be ready by round one and Sylvia is very unlikely. Petterd is closer than you might think.

B: Whelan, Carroll, Holland

HB: Bell, Rivers, Ward

C: Travis, Bruce, Green

HF: Pickett, Miller, Bate

F: Davey, Neitz, Robertson

R: White, McLean, Macca

I: CJ, Jones, Moloney, Jamar

Not bad Finks. How about Warnock in for Holland though? Don't see a match-up for Ben against the Saints.

How about Warnock in for Holland though? Don't see a match-up for Ben against the Saints.

I hear what you're saying. I can't recall exactly who he played on in round 10 this year, but i remember being impressed with Holland's game that day. Taking a crap load of marks and finding his targets by foot. That's not to say Warnock couldn't play a similar role. I guess i'm backing Holland's year in 2006.

Absolutely nothing to do with anything, but my sister was taught by Laurie Mithen at Lloyd St. State School, Malvern, in primary school in 1959 (Grade 1, I think).

The family's still very proud, and she now has 4 hardened Dees supporters as kids.

B Whelan Carroll Ferguson

HB Green Rivers Bell

C Johnstone Mclean Bruce

HF Robertson Miller Davey

FF Dunn Neitz Yze

R White Mcdonald Jones

Int Jamar Bate Sylvia Pickett

Yze must be in.

Miller must be in

Perhaps Dunn misses out.

Perhaps Bell/Ward/Sylvia (hurts me to say it) misses out.

Very hard to do a 22. Some unlucky players

I don't want to see Chris Johnson anywhere near that best 22.

Are you serious re Yze?? Do you remeber him against freo, shirked that many contests.

Should be dropped to the sandy 3rds for that effort.

Disgraced himself in fact....

B: WHELAN, CARROLL, HOLLAND

HB: WARD, RIVERS, BARTRAM

C: JOHNSTONE, MCLEAN, GREEN

HF: DAVEY, MILLER, PICKETT

F: ROBERTSON, NEITZ, YZE

FOLL: WHITE, BRUCE, MCDONALD

IC: BATE, SYLVIA, BELL, JAMAR

EMERG: JONES, MOLONEY, BROWN

I don't think the team will change too much from the last time we played the Saints.

Bartram to come back from injury and Jones to be the unlucky one to miss.

Holland should play on Kositchke.

Anyone who thinks that Bizzell, Ferguson, Wheatley and Godfrey can play have got to be joking they have had a million chances and continue to fail they should be the last ones to be given a chance at senior level give the youngsters a go because if these 4 ever get a game we will never be taken seriously as a premiership threat.

miller at CHF for sure.. he played well in the finals.. dunn seemed a bit slow last year IMO

Bartram to come back from injury and Jones to be the unlucky one to miss.

On form, Jones has got it over Sylvia, and with a full pre-season under his belt (especially with the work he's doing at the moment with Williams and Brock), Jones will be adding a lot more value to the side vs St Kilda come round one.

As for Barts, i've been advised that it is EXTREMELY unlikely he'll be up for round 1. It's best to lower expectations, coz the word is that it might take a few weeks into the H&A season before we see him again. The injury has been far more complicated than first understood.

Foolish stuff this team prediction business so far out from the season proper. Let me have a crack!

FF: Green Neitz Robbo

CHF: C Johnson Miller Dunn

C: Bate McLean Davey

CHB: Bell Holland Bruce

FB: Rivers Carroll Whelan

Foll: White McDonald Johnstone

Int: Jamar Jones Sylvia Pickett

Emerg: Warnock Ward Moloney

Are you serious re Yze?? Do you remeber him against freo, shirked that many contests.

Should be dropped to the sandy 3rds for that effort.

Disgraced himself in fact....

I AGREE SOME OF YOU BLOKES VERY FORGIVING RE YZE NEED TO GET HARDER

It's never easy choosing a "best" team during the season let alone just before Christmas, but I'll have a go.

FB: Whelan Carroll Holland

HB: Ward Rivers Bell

C: Johnstone McDonald Green

HF: Pickett Miller Davey

FF: Robertson Neitz Yze (I wouldn't mind seeing him dropped for Round One so that he can forget about his record straight away and get back to playing good football)

Foll: White Bruce McLean

Int: Bate P. Johnson Jones Moloney

Apologies: Sylvia Jamar Dunn Ferguson Warnock C. Johnson Bartram Bizzell