Assuming all our list is available for the first round, who do we think will be in the side: 

FB.          Hunt    May      Lever

HB.         Salem          Petty      Rivers

CC.         Langdon Pettraca  Brayshaw

HF.          Fritsch   McDonald Sparrow

FF.           Kossie     Brown     Harmes

FOLL.     Gawn.   Oliver   Viney                   

INTER.   Jackson   Spargo  Bowey   Neal-Bullen

 

EMERG Hibberd.  Melksham Tomlinson Jordon Dunstan Weideman

CloseCalls:   Weideman for McDonald, Tomlinson for Rivers

 

 I must say all of the Emergencies would be first inclusions in almost all other AFL sides. We have a huge job in keeping them all motivated and ready to go as inevitably they will need to be in this coming COVID ravaged season. It is a wonderful position to be in.

If dogs have all their tails in, our defence could struggle.

Definitely some upside available for the Dogs in returning players and the possible inclusion of Ugle-Hagen.

Hannan will be lucky to keep his spot.

As to our team I'm not completely sold on Harmes but have no idea who would be a better replacement.

Hibberd is the other one who may not make it for the opening game.

Can't see the 2 pre season games influencing selection that much given the squads etc. Will be interesting to see where Weideman is played in those two games. An exception might be the Jordon v Sparrow duel. Could it be that both play and Harmes misses out.

McDonald is safe for at least 3 games.

Suspect that the opening game will be strongly influenced by who kicks straighter

 

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

If dogs have all their tails in

Dogs normally have their tails out.  Let's hope the Bulldogs don't have their tails up.

I’d love to see Hunt picked to start in round one. 

Although no premiership team has ever played all together again (which I find an interesting fact) one would have to say that the GF like up would be the default, into which some aspirant would have to force his way. 
But preseason will undoubtedly bring its usual ups and downs and it is far too early to make any calls. 

B: HIBBERD, MAY, LEVER

HB: SALEM, PETTY, BOWEY

C: LANGDON, PETRACCA, BRAYSHAW

HF: NEAL-BULLEN, MCDONALD, PICKETT

F: FRITSCH, B.BROWN, SPARGO

FOLL: GAWN, OLIVER, VINEY

IC: RIVERS, HARMES, SPARROW, JACKSON

SUB: DUNSTAN

EMERG: JORDON, HUNT, TOMLINSON

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

Although no premiership team has ever played all together again 

Does this mean no premiership team has ever played all together again in round 1 of the following season, or they’ve never played all together again, period?

2 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Does this mean no premiership team has ever played all together again in round 1 of the following season, or they’ve never played all together again, period?

From what I heard it was never at all

13 minutes ago, monoccular said:

From what I heard it was never at all

That’s astounding! Even if it just pertained to round one it’s surprising. 

It's way too early to speculate about a game two months or so away. The only thing I know for sure is that I won't be getting a game.

I have no idea who will play in Round 1, which is far too far way to contemplate (injuries, form etc.).

But I know what I want, which is for the premiership 23 to be the 23 we pick. Just to break that record.

Edit: to be clear, what I actually want is for us to pick the best 23 when Round 1 comes, so if that's not the premiership 23 then such is life. But the romantic in me would love it.

Edited January 22, 20223 yr by titan_uranus

I’m just predicting 3 flags in the next five years - that is all l care about in my football supporting life!

Edited January 22, 20223 yr by DeesFlag2020

The point l was trying to make with this thread is I don’t remember for the last 60 years (yes l have followed the Dees that long and then some) when we have been in such a favourable position re our list and general general strength of our club. There is really no reason why this should not continue for a number of years, so maybe DeesFlag2020 prediction above is not so far off the mark. It is a very different position than rusted on Demon supporters have been used to for most of their adult life and l for one like talking about it, even though it does bring out the inevitable knockers and sceptics on this site. Unfortunately, the web is full of them!. 

Edited January 22, 20223 yr by Dees2014

7 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

I have no idea who will play in Round 1, which is far too far way to contemplate (injuries, form etc.).

But I know what I want, which is for the premiership 23 to be the 23 we pick. Just to break that record.

Edit: to be clear, what I actually want is for us to pick the best 23 when Round 1 comes, so if that's not the premiership 23 then such is life. But the romantic in me would love it.

Agree Titan

My point is that no one of the 23 have done anything ( or not done anything) to deserve being dropped.

If we have no injuries and no genuine form issues all 23 deserve their chance of "immortality"  even being enhanced on the night we unfurl our long awaited and astonishing Flag.

The position of the 23 is that it's their spot to lose and a great effort only will be needed to break in yo the team.

We all know deep down that their will be changes due to injuries and form snd Covid during the season especially as competition for spots appears the most contested ever for our team.

2022 can't come quick enough!

5 hours ago, 58er said:

Agree Titan

My point is that no one of the 23 have done anything ( or not done anything) to deserve being dropped.

If we have no injuries and no genuine form issues all 23 deserve their chance of "immortality"  even being enhanced on the night we unfurl our long awaited and astonishing Flag.

The position of the 23 is that it's their spot to lose and a great effort only will be needed to break in yo the team.

We all know deep down that their will be changes due to injuries and form snd Covid during the season especially as competition for spots appears the most contested ever for our team.

2022 can't come quick enough!

Disagree! We should always pick the best available and that is the clear job of the selectors. As it happens there is one (Hunt) or perhaps two (Tomlinson) who would have been in our best 23 come grand final time last year. If that is so at the start of our new season, then they should be selected. Once we start playing favourites (ie the 2021 GF side) we are on a very slippery slope indeed.  
 

Fortunately l have no doubt our elite management has no intention of going down that path, and the selectors will continue to fulfill their role of choosing on merit and what is best for the short and long run development of the side. Whilst choosing the GF side again has some romantic appeal, we are not in a sentimental business, but in a thoroughly ruthless environment where our superiority has been hard won, and it should not (and won’t be) surrendered without an almighty fight. 

Edited January 22, 20223 yr by Dees2014

21 hours ago, Demonstone said:

Dogs normally have their tails out.  Let's hope the Bulldogs don't have their tails up.

Doh. 😁😁😁

A premiership club that’s got stronger - I think Tigers did that and added Lynch. 
 

4 hours ago, Dees2014 said:

Disagree! We should always pick the best available and that is the clear job of the selectors. As it happens there is one (Hunt) or perhaps two (Tomlinson) who would have been in our best 23 come grand final time last year. If that is so at the start of our new season, then they should be selected. Once we start playing favourites (ie the 2021 GF side) we are on a very slippery slope indeed.  
 

Fortunately l have no doubt our elite management has no intention of going down that path, and the selectors will continue to fulfill their role of choosing on merit and what is best for the short and long run development of the side. Whilst choosing the GF side again has some romantic appeal, we are not in a sentimental business, but in a thoroughly ruthless environment where our superiority has been hard won, and it should not (and won’t be) surrendered without an almighty fight. 

Dees 2014 I suspect you have ruined your own argument by pointing out players you thought could have played in the GF  but the selectors felt that Hunty was not fit enough or had the form and that Bowey's or Hibbo's form did earn  selection. Also Tommo was not able to be considered due to injury. Nor was Joel Smith.

To change the 23 players will have virtually only practice match form  And training to assess any changes to the team. Have either Hibbo or say Bowey  to date done anything wrong to deserve being dropped? What if they are all equal when the team selection for Round1.

Categorically Hunty  was unlucky but form in the end ( or fitness ) was the criteria for GF selection. 

There is  no evidence since GF day that Hunty is a better player than Hibbo or  Bowey and similarly that  Tommo is better than Petty. Really if it ain't broke don't fix it. 

Unless the incumbents are really off form there is no reason to make a change or changes to  74 pt winning team. 

I also happen to think it's also  just a preference for who the selectors believe is best suited to cover the opposition is the best guide but there is no more serious a guide than the GF.

Those players answered every challenge on the big stage including the selection of Jordon and Sparrow who was very good in his career best game I reckon.

Yes we have come a long way and have a great list but the very rules you laud about earning selection are exactly what I am supporting and as you have said will be followed by our selectors. Going on 2021 I don't think there is any real reason  if all players are fit and have form there is no need to make any alteration given the even ability of the players under consideration.

To name the same team ISNOT a message to our list that it's a boys club and we are resting on our laurels . It's exactly the opposite and says that all our 23 are fit and firing and ready to play in our first real test in 2022 to defend our Flag so hard won in 2021 by our total list including the 23 on the day.

We are nit picking for reasons to make change it appears or totally believe one or two players are more really better or have improved dramatically over the proven members of the team who got the job done so magnificently.

As I indicated there will be opportunities for changes during the season and about a dozen will come into that category and they will deserve their elevation and can make it just as hard for any other list member to take their place.

Thats our criteria and long May it be! 

 

 

 

On 1/22/2022 at 11:45 AM, Dees2014 said:

Assuming all our list is available for the first round, who do we think will be in the side: 

FB.          Hunt    May      Lever

HB.         Salem          Petty      Rivers

CC.         Langdon Pettraca  Brayshaw

HF.          Fritsch   McDonald Sparrow

FF.           Kossie     Brown     Harmes

FOLL.     Gawn.   Oliver   Viney                   

INTER.   Jackson   Spargo  Bowey   Neal-Bullen

 

EMERG Hibberd.  Melksham Tomlinson Jordon Dunstan Weideman

CloseCalls:   Weideman for McDonald, Tomlinson for Rivers

 

 I must say all of the Emergencies would be first inclusions in almost all other AFL sides. We have a huge job in keeping them all motivated and ready to go as inevitably they will need to be in this coming COVID ravaged season. It is a wonderful position to be in.

In what way?

Firstly thanks Dees2014 for srarting this thread. Yes, it's speculative and a long way ahead of the season, and we all know that there's a whole lot of factors yet to influence the make-up of the team, but why do people need to point out the obvious? If they're not interested in this type of post, just ignore it rather than use it as an excuse to denigrate the post/poster.

I must admit I don't understand the argument that it's somehow romantic to have the same 23 being picked for the First Round as the GF just because it's never happened before. I'm amazed anyone really cares whether the GF 23 ever play in the same team again. The next time we win a GF, assuming it's not too far away, I hope the team picked on merit is  quite changed as it means more players will have experienced at least one Premiership and we have some player depth.

The team picked for Round 1 should of course be picked on form and fitness but I can't see how picking the same 23 sends a positive message. If they deserve to be there that's fine, but picking a changed team on balance I think sends a more positive message as it's harder to argue in such a situation that the team wasn't picked on merit. Also, what's this argument that the team should be unchanged because no-one deserves to be dropped? For a start, players don't hold their spot from one season to the next. Otherwise James Jordon wouldn't have been selected in R1 2021 (or maybe antil we lost to Adelaide) since Melbourne won their last 2 games of 2020 and he wasn't in the starting team pre-2021. Pre-season/practice matches will help decide who should be in the team. In any case, I'd argue pretty strongly that Tom McDonald shouldn't be in the team on form. He wasn't quite right after his back injury and kicked 3 goals in 4 matches after he came back, including 2 in the GF when the match was over. He benefitted from the fact his form earlier in the season was undeniable, the selectors didn't want to change a winning team and the players out of the team had no chance to show their form and keep match fitness because the VFL Season had been abandoned. 

And what is the possible argument against James Harmes being in the team? I'd say the players in the starting 22 most under pressure are Hibberd, Spargo and McDonald.

Here here Sydney Demon. This is a meritocracy at any point in time, and  and the players picked at any one time should be based on the best available which I’m sure it will be.

I agree with your comments re McDonald - he is one most at risk of being dropped. I suspect the Weid would be a much better medium term prospect, but as always it will depend on current form, as well as development potential of the team. 
 

The way the club is currently run, l have no doubt this meritocracy will continue as will the success of the team. 

Edited January 23, 20223 yr by Dees2014

Rivers.        Petty.         Tomlinson.

Bowey.        May.           Lever.

Bradshaw.   Salam.      Langdon.

Sparrow.      Jackson.   Pickett

Spargo.        Brown.       Frisch

Gawn.            Oliver.        Petracca

Harmes, Viney, ANB, Hunt

Jordon

 

 

 

 

 

24 minutes ago, Panamapapers said:

Rivers.        Petty.         Tomlinson.

Bowey.        May.           Lever.

Bradshaw.   Salam.      Langdon.

Sparrow.      Jackson.   Pickett

Spargo.        Brown.       Frisch

Gawn.            Oliver.        Petracca

Harmes, Viney, ANB, Hunt

Jordon

 

 

 

 

 

I like it! A better and younger side than the premiership combo. Interesting idea have Jackson/Gawn resting at CHF, but let’s see where we are come March/April when the season begins. Exciting times…

Edited January 23, 20223 yr by Dees2014

A starting 22 thread not authored by @WERRIDEE just feels so wrong to me …