I believe if we're to become a guaranteed top 4 team (and therefore a genuine contender) we're going to need 7 or 8 players to jump out of the ruck and become integral members of the team.  i.e. Make the jump and stay there. 

Gawn,  Viney,  Jones,  Lewis,  Oliver,  Brayshaw,  Harmes,  Melksham,  Jetta,  Hibberd,  May,  Lever,  Salem,  Petracca & T-Mac are automatics but injuries will happen and loss of form has to be factored in as well. 

I understand we've got 'Best 22' threads but this idea is more specific and therefore focuses on who you believe can establish themselves outside of the obvious choices.  Total-Team possibly being the theme with the team therefore not having any real weak links (if possible)

Role players like AVB,  Weideman,  Preuss,  Fritsch/Stretch,  Oscar/Frost,  ANB/Hunt & Spargo/Garlett will get game time by default but can any of them become absolute integral members of the team? 

There are others of course including those who I've not mentioned,  the new acquisitions and rookies.  Unfortunately Nietschke is out of the picture for now but could any of Bedford,  Jordan,  Sparrow or Hore make the jump straight off? 

So,  from the 25 senior players (plus 6 rookies) not included in the above list,  which players can become bona-fide first choice picks?

Here's our Senior List & Rookie List

Fritsch is a gun, hes automatic selection for mine.  Never seems to play a bad game and can play all over the ground.

I'm not quite sure why a player who played every game last year,  was 36th in goal kicking, equal 24th in score involvements (equal with Brayshaw) and equal 10th in goal assists for the whole competition isn't considered to be one of the "automatics"...at least until someone better comes along (which you'd say for everyone selected as an "automatic"). Alex Neal-Bullen clearly needs a new PR agent. 

Edited March 18, 20196 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia

3 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Fritsch is a gun, hes automatic selection for mine.  Never seems to play a bad game and can play all over the ground.

Yet he didn't play in the prelim final. 

I'd have him in as well but I also have an eye on how the FD views things

Guy Walker is a standout.  He will stand out most of the season, apparently (poor kid).

3 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'm not quite sure why a player who played every game last year,  was 36th in goal kicking, equal 24th in score involvements (equal with Brayshaw) and equal 10th in goal assists for the whole competition isn't considered to be one of the "automatics"...at least until someone better comes along (which you'd say for everyone selected as an "automatic"). Alex Neal-Bullen clearly needs a new PR agent. 

ANB is an integral member of the side, but I can see why people on here get frustrated by him.  He fumbles too much, turns the ball over at times and can look a little bit like a deer in headlights.

On the flip side, his running capacity allows him to play a good link up role, and he knows how to kick a goal, as evidenced by the 27 goals he jagged last year.  When he's on, he can do some really good things.  He just needs to clean up his game a little.

1 minute ago, Macca said:

Yet he didn't play in the prelim final. 

I'd have him in as well but I also have an eye on how the FD views things

Would suggest he was completely fatigued.  The rest of the team were, too, but perhaps his ‘indicators’ showed that he was cooked for that game??

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

Yet he didn't play in the prelim final. 

I'd have him in as well but I also have an eye on how the FD views things

I reckon, on reflection, they would change that decision if they could.  It wouldn't have made a real difference to the result, but we missed him that day.

3 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

ANB is an integral member of the side, but I can see why people on here get frustrated by him.  He fumbles too much, turns the ball over at times and can look a little bit like a deer in headlights.

On the flip side, his running capacity allows him to play a good link up role, and he knows how to kick a goal, as evidenced by the 27 goals he jagged last year.  When he's on, he can do some really good things.  He just needs to clean up his game a little.

I agree with everything you've said. But I still think he should be in the "automatics" group.

2 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'm not quite sure why a player who played every game last year,  was 36th in goal kicking, 25th in score involvements and 13th in goal assist for the whole competition isn't considered to be one of the "automatics"...at least until someone better comes along (which you'd say for everyone selected as an "automatic"). Alex Neal-Bullen clearly needs a new PR agent. 

In a stronger team he may not always play ...  we're projecting forward of course and there is a chance we might even regress slightly.  ANB can become a very good player but his decision making and disposal needs to improve. 

Lewis is another who may not last the distance this season.  At times he's a real standout but he does get found out otherwise. 

Anyway,  I did state that not all would agree with the 15 that I nominated - the thread is about who you believe can step up. 

Care to have a go?

Vanders is an automatic selection, he just needs his body to jump out of the ruck as you put it and stay fit for a whole season.

Was instrumental in our late season surge.  Some were suggesting before he played "what if he makes it back, he could be our finals X factor" and beyond expectations - he did.

1 minute ago, Macca said:

In a stronger team he may not always play ...  we're projecting forward of course and there is a chance we might even regress slightly.  ANB can become a very good player but his decision making and disposal needs to improve. 

Lewis is another who may not last the distance this season.  At times he's a real standout but he does get found out otherwise. 

Anyway,  I did state that not all would agree with the 15 that I nominated - the thread is about who you believe can step up. 

Care to have a go?

ANB.?

I think VandenBerg might be next. Injuries have prevented us from knowing what his true capabilities are. I'd like to say Weideman, but I'm not yet convinced. I hope by this time next year I will be.

I recon Nathan Jones impact on games has been on the wane in the last few seasons, but I'm wondering if he can defy the doubters and put in a few more big seasons to take us to the next level.

10 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

ANB is an integral member of the side, but I can see why people on here get frustrated by him.  He fumbles too much, turns the ball over at times and can look a little bit like a deer in headlights.

On the flip side, his running capacity allows him to play a good link up role, and he knows how to kick a goal, as evidenced by the 27 goals he jagged last year.  When he's on, he can do some really good things.  He just needs to clean up his game a little.

You would think that this had been drilled into him. Clean hands, clear direction, good disposal on each occasion. He'd most probably be in the elite company across the AFL in terms of running all game, every game. So often, the passed ball just flies over his head and well out of reach. 

 

6 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Vanders is an automatic selection, he just needs his body to jump out of the ruck as you put it and stay fit for a whole season.

Was instrumental in our late season surge.  Some were suggesting before he played "what if he makes it back, he could be our finals X factor" and beyond expectations - he did.

One must admit that Vanders goes quietly about his business and has special talents nullifying opponents, creating screens for teammates and 'bobbing up' in the rougher stuff to effect a clearance or provide a clearance opportunity. It would be wonderful to see him go up another level.

Just now, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

ANB.?

I think VandenBerg might be next. Injuries have prevented us from knowing what his true capabilities are. I'd like to say Weideman, but I'm not yet convinced. I hope by this time next year I will be.

My wish list is

Weideman,  Fritsch,  Hunt,  ANB,  AVB,  Pruess,  Frost/Oscar and because we need a small forward,  Spargo. 

I'm more confident with Fritsch,  AVB & possibly Weideman.  ANB if he corrects a few faults - the good news is that he gets to a lot of contests and gets the ball a lot. 

Ideally,  2 or 3 of those we've drafted in the last seasons can step it up.

Just give us your best  that you've shown some time in the last few years: Gawn,  Viney,  Harmes,  Melksham,  Jetta,  Hibberd,  T-Mac
Don't drop off: Lewis, Jones
Is there another gear?: Oliver, Brayshaw
Definitely still have more: Salem, Petracca
Yet to see it at MFC: May, Lever

If not injured: Vanders

In terms of big improvers:
Prove me wrong: ANB, Oscar, Frost - all 3 have played a lot of AFL footy but can they really stand up under pressure?
Can improve: Fritsch, Weideman - both set the bar high with some of their games the last couple of years, consistency will be important
Hoping he's good: KK

Watch and see: J Smith, C Wagner, Hore, Lockhart, T Smith, Preuss, Stretch, Hunt, Keilty
Not a lot of confidence: J Wagner, JKH, Maynard, Garlett

Everyone else is pretty young and might have some up and downs. Spargo should play a bit but I'd expect a standard 2nd season where he's a bit up and down. Petty and Baker both have a chance to play based on their VFL form last year. Chandler maybe the most likely of the 18 year olds this year.

The watch and see group are really our depth players. Every week some in that group will probably have to play. I think the club were hoping J Smith and Hunt had great preseasons and that Hore was a ready made AFL player. I'm not so convinced of any of that. 

If I had to pick 2 guys to make a difference out of that group I'd probably go Lockhart and T Smith.

A couple of deep on the list finds would be wonderful, although maybe the best thing might be Oliver and Brayshaw going up another level and Salem and Petracca showing their full range of talents. Throw in Fritsch and KK settling in to positions and demonstrating their skills because I'm greedy!

 

 

The 26 minus Pruess are our best players 

Yes some are not A Graders but most are B or above.

ANB AVB Oscar Frosty Spargs Weed Hunty Garlett Fritsch  KK are fine yes with some faults but all are hard nuts who give their all.

What is needed is all of them to improve as you said but I don't believe we can't win a flag with any of them in the team.

Most in form are automatic selections and Fritta is in the other group I reckon.

All players listed are capable of improving so let's see the results.

I'm expecting to see a bit out of Keilty and Hore as intros to our line-up.

3 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Fritsch is a gun, hes automatic selection for mine.  Never seems to play a bad game and can play all over the ground.

He does some good things, particularly his disposal, but his decision making and lack of genuine physicality leave a question mark over him for mine. Certainly as a defender, he made multiple errors in the back half of 2018, but he was playing his first AFL season and had to cover Lever, so we should give him some leeway.

2019 should be the season that he locks down a wing position. Let's hope his tank is up to it.

For me, Petracca and Salem need to become two of our better players, week in week out.

Weid needs to play a solid role, doesn’t need to star.

 

but for me, more importantly Brayshaw, Oliver, Tmac and co need to maintain their high level and especially Harmes, if Harmes can maintain his ball winning and negating that will be huge.

I’d like to see a new role for Lewis once May is able to take over the “general” role in our backline. We don’t have a general in our forward line and I believe he could well play that role. Just a thought. 

14 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

I’d like to see a new role for Lewis once May is able to take over the “general” role in our backline. We don’t have a general in our forward line and I believe he could well play that role. Just a thought. 

General Molasses.

He sometimes does well at half back because that's the position where his footy brain is most likely to out smart faster opponents, the half forward line is the opposite where you need speed, physicality and/or relentless run to separate from or close down and pressure opponents.

Some of the players I'd like to see make a major leap forward this year are Hunt, Garlett (notwithstanding his age), Frost and OMac.

But I have a suspicion that the player who is going to surprise me most is Stretch. I don't know why, I just have a feeling.

1 hour ago, A F said:

He does some good things, particularly his disposal, but his decision making and lack of genuine physicality leave a question mark over him for mine. Certainly as a defender, he made multiple errors in the back half of 2018, but he was playing his first AFL season and had to cover Lever, so we should give him some leeway.

2019 should be the season that he locks down a wing position. Let's hope his tank is up to it.

I reckon that's a rubbish take on Fritsch.

He was underdeveloped physically but he rarely did anything other than give 100% at every contest all season.

Another way of looking at this thread is “who are our worst 6 in our best 22, and can they lift to be the best worst 6 in the comp”

If so, we’ll win a flag