What you see is what we have - Best 22

[older saint]

With minimal draft action no one coming in will add to our best 22.

Assuming all fit ( yes even Hannebry ) here''s my go at our bets 22:

B: Paton, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Webster, Highmore, Sinclair
C: Hill, Crouch, Billings
HF: Higgins, Membrey, Gresham
F: Butler, King, Marshall
Foll: Ryder, Steele, Jones

Int: Clark, Coffield, Hannebry, Brynes

Emerg: Ross, Charman, Geary, Bytel

Others: Battle, Connolly, Allison,Heath, Long, McKenzie, Wood

To resign/ delist: Kent, Hunter, Joyce,

[Banger9798]

Sharman will demand a spot if he picks up where he left off.
Natural forward and good kick....preseason to get fit and he is in the starting 18

[Banger9798]

B: Paton, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Webster, Highmore, Sinclair
C: Hill, Crouch, Billings
HF: Higgins, Membrey, Gresham
F: Butler, King, Sharman
Foll: Ryder, Steele, Jones

Int: Marshall, Clark, Bytel, Brynes

Emerg: Coffield, D-Mac, Hannaberry, Ross

Others: Battle, Connolly, Allison,Heath, Long, McKenzie, Wood, Geary

All being equal - we should be trying to develop Byrnes and Bytel in 2022, rather than just play Hannaberry and Ross. If our window is 2023 - they need another year to hit their straps.
Hopefully Coffield demands his spot back, he needs to displace Webster or Paton for it, which is no easy feat. Or possibly develop into a winger.
DMac will be encouraged by his year and train the house down to retain that spot on the wing, so I would expect Hill and Billings to have to push hard to retain their first picked status this year (no more free passes for reputation).
Battle to CHB? Apparently Gallagher alluded to it. Might force a selection battle with Highmore for third tall..
Clark and Gresham have to get super fit, there is so much competition for spots now and we will hopefully add 3 more young midfielders this draft

[cwrcyn]

Pretty close to how I see it. The only optional changes would-be Bytel out for Ross or Connolly, and Highmore out for Battle.

I have big hopes for Connolly and Byrnes. I think by mid next season they'll be really starting to influence games.

Bytel is the enigma. Can he develop the tank required to be an inside mid? He'll need to improve his fitness by about 80%

[Banger9798]

Big raps on Connolly too. Very exciting.
Confident Bytel will benefit from another, hopefully tougher, pre season.

[saynta]

Big raps on Connolly too. Very exciting.
Confident Bytel will benefit from another, hopefully tougher, pre season.

Bytel's last game wasn't too bad.

[cwrcyn]

Among his peers in U18s he was ranked top 5 before his back injury and was a clearance machine. He's taken the long road because of it and the club has been conservative in managing him. Now is the time to really put the foot in the accelerator and demand a position in the midfield

[Gershwin]

Couple of tweaks from me.

Webster to keep his spot in back-pocket. Paton out of the side.
Coffield to HBF.
McKenzie to wing for hardness. Billings to HFF. Gresham to rover - he appears to be Ryder’s preferred target. Jones to the bench to change with Gresham.
Marshall to CHF.

[st.byron]

OP Looks pretty close to best 22. Sharman for Higgins or Butler for me. Would rather have two small forwards plus Sharman instead of 3 small forwards (Gresham will hopefully be fully recovered from consecutive years of injury and also spend some time as a clearance mid)

[bangaulegend]

Ross will be in our starting 22 like it or not

[Banger9798]

Ross will be in our starting 22 like it or not

Probably, but should he be?

Under what circumstances does Geary get selected?

I think we need to really be clear on what we are trying to achieve in 2022.

We are preparing for a tilt 2023/24

We will try to get Bing next year and make it a formidable forward line.

Do we spend 2022 getting games into Bytle Byrnes and Connolly even if Riss may actually have a slight advantage now?

Cue BM to say never gift games...but I reckon there is a case for fast tracking the young blokes who will turn into better players when the window I open.

Injuries will probably end up giving them all a chance at some point.

[bangaulegend]

Ross will be in our starting 22 like it or not

Probably, but should he be?

Under what circumstances does Geary get selected?

I think we need to really be clear on what we are trying to achieve in 2022.

We are preparing for a tilt 2023/24

We will try to get Bing next year and make it a formidable forward line.

Do we spend 2022 getting games into Bytle Byrnes and Connolly even if Riss may actually have a slight advantage now?

Cue BM to say never gift games...but I reckon there is a case for fast tracking the young blokes who will turn into better players when the window I open.

Injuries will probably end up giving them all a chance at some point.

Geary is a conundrum if fully fit does he get a gig or does he just play a mentoring role at Sandy ? Co-captain ATM although things might change in the new season . IMO play players on merit not on past glory . If Seb & Jarryn are genuinely owning their spot I don't have an issue but don't gift games on reputation

[st.byron]

Ross will be in our starting 22 like it or not

Probably, but should he be?

Under what circumstances does Geary get selected?

I think we need to really be clear on what we are trying to achieve in 2022.

We are preparing for a tilt 2023/24

We will try to get Bing next year and make it a formidable forward line.

Do we spend 2022 getting games into Bytle Byrnes and Connolly even if Riss may actually have a slight advantage now?

Cue BM to say never gift games...but I reckon there is a case for fast tracking the young blokes who will turn into better players when the window I open.

Injuries will probably end up giving them all a chance at some point.

There's a lot of mouth frothing about Bing, but IMO it's more important we build a winning midfield. Please don't sell the farm to get Bing at the expense of top quality mids. Bing and Ming would be lovely, but not at the expense of guys who can get the footy and deliver it to them.

[cwrcyn]

This draft will be interesting. We should pick up a talented mid with our first pick. Byrnes will be a fine player. Bytel has the opportunity to flourish now that he can have a proper pre-season. It's not as dire as some think. Connolly could become a very effective wingman, using his superb foot skills to deliver to our forwards.

This draft and next will be the key to our chances of challenging from 2023 through 2025. I'm not expecting us to c**k it up with the people we have running our program now

[B.M]

Ross finished 7th in the B&F and isn’t best 22

Yeah… nah

Don’t think so…

[CQ SAINT]

Yeah. We didn't give Ross a decent contract to have him step aside.
If anything I'd free him up now to attack the play as aggressively as he did at his peak with a view to breakaway and carrying it longer. He has much better running support around him now and an improving forward line to aim at..
Injuries permitting, Bytel, Byrnes, and Connelly should be sent to dominate the VFL for the first 5 weeks.
And hopefully let Steele, Gresham, Crouch, Ross, Jones, Hill and Billings impose themselves on the stoppages and clearances.

[CQ SAINT]

Byrnes is next in line though for mine, I'm not expecting a miracle from Hanners.
But if Dan could replace Loonie and relieve Gresh, then look out.

[CQ SAINT]

Paton Howard Wilkie
Sinclair Battle Webster
Billings Crouch Hill
Gresham Marshall Higgins
Hannerbery King Membrey

Ryder Steele Jones

Ross Butler Coffield Clark

Highmore (sub) Byrnes Bytel Sharman

I'd push Steele forward when Ryder rests.
Seb the rotates off the bench with Steele but; gets appointed to defensive mid role when needed. Crouch also plays defensive and the contested in and under stuff.

Steele just keeps being Steele really.

Jones and Gresham are extractors/breakaways.

Ryder to the backline after the bounce as the 7th and Marshall covers the attacking half stoppages with Paddy foiling oppo entry to CHF and chops out Battle.
Billings and Hill rotate a kick apart around the centre square supporting clearance and breaking lines from stoppages. Clark and Coffield rotates with these 2.

Paton and Webster lock down on best small and small/medium forwards and Sinclair and Wilkie run off their opponents. Wilkie taking the third tall mobile forwards. Sinclair is the quarter back.

Howard plays his natural game while working on his strength in the contest for the teams with 2 mega forwards.

Coffield and Clark begin to play outside/wing roles similar to Hill and Billings, Clark attacking and Coffield roaming a kick behind the play as a stoppage release and rebounding.

Highmore is a little unlucky but let's see what happens. He and Battle are interchangeable IMO but it would be good if he could play a bit of the role set for Coffield as well. I've only played Coffield because I believe his development ceiling and skill set is the best of these three, although you'd wouldn't use him as at KPD.

Byrnes probably needs to develop some forward craft. I hope Bytel surprises me but I think he is still a way off in terms of attacking and his engine.

I keep thinking I've forgotten someone but currently its Geary, Kent, Wood, Joyce, Long, Mackenzie as experienced depth and Heath and Allison as the projects. And then Hunter.

Thankfully our injury woes have shown us we have Bytel, Byrnes, Sharman and Connelly emerging and we can add some 18-19 year olds from the draft.

Desperately need another CHB, a 196+cm, 90+kg one and some skilful pace.

Im guessing we have our eyes on a state league/delisted rookie. Wouldn’t like to guess who though.

The Magoos

##### Joyce Long
##### Highmore #####
##### McKenzie Connolly
Wood Allison Geary
Kent Heath Sharman

Hunter Bytel Byrnes

[B.M]

I keep saying it

Gresham is seen by Ratten as an onballer more so than forward

[CQ SAINT]

I keep saying it

Gresham is seen by Ratten as an onballer more so than forward

Absolutely, unfortunately there is very little exposed form heading into 22. Jones has a little more and has produced some stunning output in-between breakdowns.

Jones won't start forward and Gresham will need match play and fitness. Ratten sees an end point, I think this is focussed on the current situation.

[Vortex]

Sharman being an automatic selection after 3 games is a big responsibility to shoulder. It would be a massive leg up if he turns out to be one of those players who is plucked from obscurity to become a bona fide star. However it's a rare happening so let's hope the Sharms can turn dreams into reality.

I'm still not convinced DMac is going to be a long term player, just a little bit short on natural talent for mine but gee I love his commitment, if only you could swap some of that out and give it to players who lack commitment but have all the natual talent in the world.

Bytel needs to cement a spot in the midfield next year and even announce himself as a star on the rise otherwise he risks becoming a poor man's Dunsstal.

[saynta]

Sharman being an automatic selection after 3 games is a big responsibility to shoulder. It would be a massive leg up if he turns out to be one of those players who is plucked from obscurity to become a bona fide star. However it's a rare happening so let's hope the Sharms can turn dreams into reality.

I'm still not convinced DMac is going to be a long term player, just a little bit short on natural talent for mine but gee I love his commitment, if only you could swap some of that out and give it to players who lack commitment but have all the natual talent in the world.

Bytel needs to cement a spot in the midfield next year and even announce himself as a star on the rise otherwise he risks becoming a poor man's Dunsstal.

Dunsstal.? Didn't someone with a very similar name play for the Hawks and now heads up a footy show?

[Banger9798]

Our best team from AFL website for what it's worth

FB: Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie, Ben Paton
HB: Jack Sinclair, Tom Highmore, Jimmy Webster
C: Brad Hill, Brad Crouch, Jack Billings
HF: Jade Gresham, Rowan Marshall, Tim Membrey
FF: Dan Butler, Max King, Jack Higgins
Foll: Paddy Ryder, Jack Steele, Zak Jones
I/C: Seb Ross, Hunter Clark, Dan Hannebery, Daniel McKenzie

Emerg: Cooper Sharman, Ryan Byrnes, Jarryn Geary, Jack Bytel

[saynta]

Our best team from AFL website for what it's worth

FB: Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie, Ben Paton
HB: Jack Sinclair, Tom Highmore, Jimmy Webster
C: Brad Hill, Brad Crouch, Jack Billings
HF: Jade Gresham, Rowan Marshall, Tim Membrey
FF: Dan Butler, Max King, Jack Higgins
Foll: Paddy Ryder, Jack Steele, Zak Jones
I/C: Seb Ross, Hunter Clark, Dan Hannebery, Daniel McKenzie

Emerg: Cooper Sharman, Ryan Byrnes, Jarryn Geary, Jack Bytel

http://saintsational.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=103418

[shanegrambeau]

Our best team from AFL website for what it's worth

FB: Dougal Howard, Callum Wilkie, Ben Paton
HB: Jack Sinclair, Tom Highmore, Jimmy Webster
C: Brad Hill, Brad Crouch, Jack Billings
HF: Jade Gresham, Rowan Marshall, Tim Membrey
FF: Dan Butler, Max King, Jack Higgins
Foll: Paddy Ryder, Jack Steele, Zak Jones
I/C: Seb Ross, Hunter Clark, Dan Hannebery, Daniel McKenzie

Emerg: Cooper Sharman, Ryan Byrnes, Jarryn Geary, Jack Bytel

http://saintsational.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=103418

1) Has Geary given up the co-captiancy thing? If not, he'll start.
2) Coffield will start
3) One of Byrnes or Bytel

So..

OUT: Hannebury, Webster, McKenzie
IN: B1 or B2, Coffield, Geary