Team for Round 1

[Sanctorum]

Now that the preliminaries are over and done with I believe it is appropriate to start building the team for the Round 1 clash against GWS, on Sunday 21 March.

On the basis that the majority of the players selected will be from the 26 that played on Thursday night, excluding the injured James Frawley and suspended Brad Crouch, the following are in contention:

1. Nick Coffield
4. Jade Gresham
6. Seb Ross
8. Bradley Hill
9. Jack Steele
11. Hunter Clark
12. Max King
13. Jack Lonie
15. Jack Billings
16. Dan Butler
20. Dougal Howard
21. Ben Long
22. Jack Higgins
23. Jack Bytel
26. Josh Battle
27. Shaun McKernan
28. Tim Membrey
29. Jimmy Webster
32. Mason Wood
34. Tom Highmore
35. Jack Sinclair
36. Dan McKenzie
41. Paul Hunter
44. Callum Wilkie

To this list add players rested/recovering from injury and predicted to be available that are rated nominally Best 22:

3. Zak Jones
10. Dan Hannebery
18. Paddy Ryder

(Note the omission of Jake Carlisle who is obviously out of favour having missed selection for the 2 preliminary games so far)

That's a total of 27 players, so we have to eliminate 5, which I believe will be Long, Bytel, McKernan, Highmore and MacKenzie, giving us the following line-up for the first game:

FB: Webster - Howard - Wilkie
HB: Clark - Coffield - Sinclair
C: Hill - Ross - Billings
HF: Higgins - Membrey - Butler
FF: Lonie - King - Battle

Ruck: Ryder - Steele - Gresham

Int: Jones - Hunter - Hannebery - Wood

Emergencies: Long, Bytel, McKernan & Highmore

There are obviously a couple of toss-ups, like Paul Hunter ahead of Sean McKernan, wouldn't worry me either way but reckon Hunter will be better in the ruck and can go as extra tall front or back if required. It is also debatable that with James Frawley injured that the selectors may still consider Jake Carlisle, but that would surprise me....

Mason Wood gets the nod as the extra tall as he has shown his potential as a forward and running further up the ground, could even line up CHB.

Hated leaving out Ben Long and Jack Bytel as both are in strong contention - Long IMHO still lacks discipline and appeared to me not to "blend in with the team" as well as others, plus question marks over his disposal skills, and Jack Bytel's lack of experience is the only reason he'll miss out - but if Ross doesn't fire (which is doubtful) Bytel will take his spot in a flash.

[skeptic]

Good effort

Personally, I’d have Carlisle in and move Webster out... think that gives us a much better structure

And I loathe the idea of having all four of Lonie, Butler, Higgins and Gresh in at the same. The Mosquito Fleet approach IMO is a really bad strategy because it’s harder for smaller forward types to contribute against the run of player and is an all round loser strategy IMO. An argument against this dislike however is that Gresh and Higgins. ( and Butler to a lesser degree) are far more capable of playing up the ground so this group has more flexibility then the Butler/Kent/Lonie attempts of last year.

Personally, I’d still prefer not to have all four and Lonie would be my one to go... he’s a preseason champ but IMO the hype doesn’t hasn’t matched the onfield performance and he’s simply to limited a player. Need to do more than 10 possession games with 2-3 goals once a month. I’d prefer a resting midfielder

Hannebery I’m also not sold on as a good choice for rd1.
As far as I can tell, he’s been injured for 2 months and hasn’t played any of the practice matches. Doubt he’s fit enough to push himself without reaggravating a calf or a hammy

Personally I’d have
Carlisle for Webster
Bytel for Hanners
Long for Lonie though push comes to shove I won’t die on this particular him.

[The_Dud]

Carlisle must play, the end of last year showed that.

Long in.

Not sure about Wood and Hunter.

[Zed]

I think most of us would have Carlisle in - but he has clearly got on the wrong side of the coaches.
I think Highmore comes in on the bench as insurance over Wood. McKernan more dangerous up forward and gets the nod over Hunter. Hanners struggle to be ready and Bytel takes his spot. Long unlucky , but would not surprise to see him in instead of Webster or Bytel.

[st.byron]

Ratts said in his presser after the Carlton game that Hannebery is unlikely for Rd 1. He also said that Jake is good to go.

[shanegrambeau]

Perhaps Jake's back is playing up again?

With Chips and Jake both out, and Roberton retiring, I am concerned about the backline.

I realize that Webster had been out of action for so long, and being a practce match, the emphasis was on high risk attacking footy. Pretty easy for him to get a whacking.

[The_Dud]

Didn’t we just sign Carlisle up to a new deal this year? Why would we do that just to not play him?

[The Fireman]

do we have another prac ?

[bangaulegend]

Pretty much what I would go with except Hannnebery wont play so Bytel , Carslisle for Wood & Long for Webster . IMO only

[vacuous space]

Here's what I'm expecting:

Key defence will be Howard and Wilkie with either Carlisle or Highmore. Coffield rolling off to intercept. Webster does Webster things. Long takes most dangerous small. Clark, Ross and Sinclair rotate through defence/mid.

Hill and Billings on the wing. Sinclair probably spends some time there, potentially Battle or Ross if necessary. Gresham and Steele start in the middle with Clark or Ross. Ryder rucks - Hunter if he can't play - McKernan backs up and plays forward.

Battle, King, McKernan and Membrey all play. Butler, Higgins, Lonie as smalls. Steele probably spends some time forward.

Unless I'm forgetting somebody, I think that leaves a spot, with no obvious person to fill it. If Jones is healthy, it's him. If not, I'll pick Bytel, as I feel like it's probably really Crouch's spot. I doubt Hannebery plays, given Ratten's comments.

So,

B: Ben Long, Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie
HB: Jack Sinclair, Nick Coffield, Jimmy Webster
C: Brad Hill, Jack Steele, Jack Billings
HF: Jack Lonie, Tim Membrey, Jack Higgins
F: Josh Battle, Max King, Dan Butler
FOLL: Paddy Ryder, Hunter Clark, Jade Gresham

INTER: Jack Bytel, Tom Highmore, Shaun McKernan, Seb Ross

EMERG: Daniel McKenzie, Jake Carlisle, Paul Hunter, Mason Wood

[The Billings Method]

Here goes.
Sinclair Howard Wilkie
Clark Carlisle Coffield
Hill Ross Billings
Higgins Battle Wood
Butler King Membrey
Ryder Steele Gresham
Jones Bytel Lonie Hunter

[bigcarl]

Frawley hamstring may force us to go with Carlisle for structural reasons. He’d want to make the most of his chance if he gets it.

[Joffa Burns]

Here goes.
Sinclair Howard Wilkie
Clark Carlisle Coffield
Hill Ross Billings
Higgins Battle Wood
Butler King Membrey
Ryder Steele Gresham
Jones Bytel Lonie Hunter

Not bad, I reckon McKernan plays over Hunter and Long is best 22 at the moment.

[Vortex]

I don't think Webster will player round 1. I think he will have to earn his spot from Sandy as he has missed too much senior footy and too many have moved ahead of him since he was last in the best 22.

Unless injured or performing bad in the pre season Carlisle is automatic selection.

[Otiman]

Sometimes you have to look at our opponents and the matchups.

I don't see an obvious matchup for Carlisle. I'd play Battle CHB.

Someone needs to take Greene, I think that should be Seb, I don't think Long makes the cut.

[saintsRrising]

Sometimes you have to look at our opponents and the matchups.

I don't see an obvious matchup for Carlisle. I'd play Battle CHB.

Someone needs to take Greene, I think that should be Seb, I don't think Long makes the cut.

While we have some key injuries, GWS arguably have more.

They may still play 3 big forwards in Finlayson, Himmelberg and Riccadi. None are monsters though and so it does open the door to playing one of not as tall players like Battle or the newbie Highmore at CHB.

While Jake is out of favour, I still remain a fan as long as he is fit.

[Gershwin]

Sometimes you have to look at our opponents and the matchups.

I don't see an obvious matchup for Carlisle. I'd play Battle CHB.

Someone needs to take Greene, I think that should be Seb, I don't think Long makes the cut.

While we have some key injuries, GWS arguably have more.

They may still play 3 big forwards in Finlayson, Himmelberg and Riccadi. None are monsters though and so it does open the door to playing one of not as tall players like Battle or the newbie Highmore at CHB.

While Jake is out of favour, I still remain a fan as long as he is fit.

I'm a firm believer in 2 tall key backs and 2 tall key forwards. Important to compete or control in the air down the spine.
For me, Howard and Carlisle, and McKernan (for Marshall) and KIng.

[saintsRrising]

I'm a firm believer in 2 tall key backs and 2 tall key forwards. Important to compete or control in the air down the spine.
For me, Howard and Carlisle, and McKernan (for Marshall) and KIng.

That is how I would select as well.

Moreso as Highmore is yet to playa game. Battle has at least played almost one season at CHB.

I know that I am on the outside, but the backline to me just seems to work better when Carlisle is part of it.

McKernan has an established record at being able to play as forward/ruck. he is no Marshall, but he is a solid back up option who can certainly mark well.

[Vortex]

Did some fans add one and one and get three with regards to Carlisle being allegedly being "out of favour".

I know he has had attitude problems in the past and then there was the need for him to be at the birth of his child but have I missed something because all of the public comments made by the club and Ratts appeared nothing but supportive.

When Jake plays we win, surely we have management at the club these days that doesn't get sucked into petty crap and cut off its nose to spite its face.

[shanegrambeau]

What odds are they giving us?
v. GWS

(odds are blocked here in Japan)

[saintsRrising]

What odds are they giving us?
v. GWS

(odds are blocked here in Japan)

Well not that I gamble...

GWS $1.65 STK $2.20 on sportsbet

[B.M]

Ross - who has hardly ever played back, at best a ball winning HB and who is a natural ball hunter and not strong overhead

To play on the most dangerous small forward in the game, who is extremely good overhead and plays like a key forward

I don’t reckon Ross will play on Greene

My tip - Webster, If he doesn’t work (Coffield or Long)

[Saintmike65]

Jones will be in unless he has a setback, McKernan a lock given Marshall is out, 4 smalls will be in, reckon Wood misses out due to team balance, Long a certainty given the coach loves him and Highmore may sneak in ahead of Carlisle.
A lot may depend on the final hit out end of this week.

[The Fireman]

Long and Carlisle will play

[B.M]

I think

Wilkie - Howard - Webster
Coffield - Carlisle - Sinclair
Hill - Steele - Battle
Billings - Membrey - Higgins
McKernan - King - Butler

Ryder - Clark - Gresham

Ross - Jones - Long - Lonie

E: Dunstan - Wood - Highmore - Bytel

Inj
Geary, Marshall, Paton, Frawley, Hannebery
Susp
Crouch