Your best 22?

[james rose]

Who do you have in your best 22.

http://www.afl.com.au/?tabid=15690&newsid=88915

mine:

Best 22
FB: Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson, Steven Baker
HB: Sam Fisher, Jason Blake, Jason Gram
C: Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes, Clinton Jones
HF: Brett Peake, Nick Riewoldt, Andrew McQualter
FF: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Adam Schneider
Fol: Michael Gardiner, Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard
Int: Steven King, David Armitage, Raphael Clarke, Farren Ray

Apologies: Dempster, Geary, Eddy, Steven and McEvoy

[saintlee]

Looks about right to me

[Hurricane]

Cant fault that side at all. My only change might be Steven in for Clarke depending on the oposition and the weather

BANG BANG

[meher baba]

Yep, pretty much spot on IMO.

Basically the first 19 pick themselves on the basis of what they delivered last season.

20 is Armitage, who one would have thought would have done enough in his few appearances last season to snare Ball's spot (or McQualter's, if he goes into the midfield).

21 is Raph, and I reckon he ought to be all right for the first few rounds at least, but will quickly come under pressure if he stuffs up.

22 is going to be one of Peake, Steven, Geary, Dempster, Eddy or (longer shot) Gwilt. None of them are perfect choices.

I know everyone will hate this (me included), but you can't rule out Dempster or Eddy getting the gig: playing as a defensive forward. Ross clearly just loves what these two guys deliver for him. I don't quite get it myself, but he's the coach and he won a lot of games with one or both of Sean and Robert playing last year.

The great news is that we have 27-28 guys genuinely competing for 22 spots, plus a high quality backup ruckman in McEvoy.

[Thinline]

Interested to see a few of you think Peake is a walk up starter.

I would have had Steven and Geary and possibly even Eddy ahead of him.

McEvoy with an off season under his belt must all but nudge Kingy out?

And my completely unscientific gut feeling is that Gwilt will be twice the player of last year so suspect he'll be a 15-18 gamer this year.

Good side on paper, huh.

[ThePunter]

Baker Dawson Gilbert
S Fisher Blake Gram
Dal Santo Goddard Montagna
McQualter Riewoldt Gwilt
Milne Koschitzke Schneider
Gardiner Hayes Jones
McEvoy Ray Armitage Geary

[borderbarry]

Raph Clarke will be there. Just now sure on position. Had a much better final series than half the players in the teams above.

[ben_fff]

B: Baker - Dawson - Gilbert
HB: Gram - Blake - Fisher
C: Ray - Hayes - Dal Santo
HF: Schneider - Riewoldt - McQualter
F: Milne - Koschitzke - Goddard
R: Gardiner - Hayes - Montagna
I/C: Jones, McEvoy, Steven/Geary/Armitage, Clarke/Dempster

Interested to see how the new blood settle in, hopefully Pattison improves and pushes for selection with the big Mac, that'd leave us in good condition for the future.

Not much change in my side, I like the idea of Goddard and Dal Santo rotating, the benefit of Geary in the side is the option to pinch hit Gram in the centre and move Geary back, Armitage can add that in and under in the centre and Steven can addd a bit of everything, hopefully one or two will step up and take a position for the year.

The Clarke and Dempster spot probably bothers me the most, Raph played some solid games and showed some discipline at times this season but on the downside also showed he still can be too slow with decision making and even get a little lost in the play. Dempster was solid a couple of years ago when we were a different unit and I can see him slotting in a doing the job that Ross gives to him every week.

We'll see come round 1, I don't think their is much of a need for change, the guys that struggled in the GF still had there moments and I thought generally the team played pretty evenly.

GO SAINTERS!

[plugger66]

Hayes is good but is that good.

[ben_fff]

Hayes is good but is that good.

? yes?

[StNoodles]

Hayes is good but is that good.

? yes?

you have him follower and centre

[cowboy18]

Hayes is good but is that good.

? yes?

you have him follower and centre

If he plays 2 Luke Ball roles he'll get 100% game time.

[Con Gorozidis]

Fair 22 JR - I suspect Kingy may be on his last legs with those old warhorse knees.

Geary will definitely keep Raph honest depending on match-ups/height of opposition forward line etc.

[older saint]

B: Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson, Steven Baker
HB: Sam Fisher, Jason Blake, Jason Gram
C: Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes, Clinton Jones
HF: Goddard, Nick Riewoldt, Andrew McQualter
F: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Adam Schneider
Fol: Michael Gardiner, Nick Dal Santo, Armitage
Int: McEvoy, Geary, Raphael Clarke, Farren Ray

Emergencies: Dempster, Peake, Eddy, Steven and King

[vacuous space]

B: Baker - Dawson - Clarke
HB: Blake - Fisher - Gilbert
C: Goddard - Hayes - Gram
HF: Montagna - Riewoldt - McQualter
F: Schneider - Koschitzke - Milne
OB: Gardiner - Dal Santo - Jones

IC: King - Peake - Ray - Steven

EM: Armitage - Gwilt - McEvoy

5-man forward line. Montagna up on the wing.

[james rose]

Fair 22 JR - I suspect Kingy may be on his last legs with those old warhorse knees.

Geary will definitely keep Raph honest depending on match-ups/height of opposition forward line etc.

I actually had McEvoy there first then changed it because Ross likes to give the established guys first crack.

[SainterK]

Fair 22 JR - I suspect Kingy may be on his last legs with those old warhorse knees.

Geary will definitely keep Raph honest depending on match-ups/height of opposition forward line etc.

I actually had McEvoy there first then changed it because Ross likes to give the established guys first crack.

Read a review about what a great preseason McEvoy has had, and how he will be the one to watch this year.

[Quixote]

Team for Rnd 1, my guess.

Noting: I reckon Baker will be a Rnd 3 prospect, and one of Gram or Hayes won't make Rnd 1. Let's say Gram.

So:

B: Blake Dawson Geary
HB: Gilbert Fisher Ray
C: Joey Dal Goddard
HF: Mini Roo Schnieder
F: Milne Kosi Armitage
R: Gardy Jones Hayes
Int: McEvoy Steven Raph Peake

Emg: Gwilt Dempster King


Then, the best team takes out: Geary & least performed of Peake/Raph/Steven/Ray

And puts in: Baker, Gram


That's just the way I THINK they'll do it.

I really hope Gwilt steps up, he could be crucial.

I would also like to see the likes of Steven and Geary hold their spots. They have the unpredictable factor we need, and some pace. Even Ray can float forward and take a grab.

[hAyES]

B: Baker Dawson Blake
HB: Gram Fisher Gilbert
C: Montagna Hayes Lovett
HF: Goddard Riewoldt McQualter
F: Schneider Koschitzke Milne
R: Gardiner Dal Santo Jones
I: King Armitage Ray Peake

That's the best 22 IMO, but I think Raph will most likely be in there come the start of the season and with Ross Lyon you can never rule out someone like Eddy or Dempster. I can't see a reason for all three of the players I just mentioned getting a game but Ross seems to. Maybe Raph, but his negatives far outweigh his positives IMO.

[saintsRrising]

I think that Armo, Steven, Geary are fighting for two spots in the team.

The other 20 pick themselves.

However I expect Gardiner, King and Ben to share ruck duties. Big Ben a smokey to take Kings spot in the finals. Though injury may decide it.

[PJ]

I think that Armo, Steven, Geary are fighting for two spots in the team.

My thoughts as well and given that Armo will probably get first crack which out of Geary & Steven has the most upside (leaving out match-ups)? For mine probably Steven.

Friday will probably tell us a lot about where Big Ben is at compared to Kingy but it's still going to be a hard call. I'd expect Ben to get more NAB cup game time - hope they experiment with him in the forward line for bursts.

Can anyone see any prospects for the small defender role (not bakes obviously)?

[vacuous space]

I think that Armo, Steven, Geary are fighting for two spots in the team.

I have Steven fighting it out with Dempster, Eddy and Gwilt for a spot up forward, while Armo, Geary and Peake fight it out for the last mid spot. I don't know if RL will agree with me on balance, but I'd definitely agree there are two spots open, plus possibly a ruck spot if McEvoy shows something. Then any injuries, of course (touch wood).

[DWOODROW]

I don't mean any disrespect to Steven but how many games has he played in the AFL. I can only remember one. I might be wrong. I'm taking from the comments above that he has played pretty dam well for the reserves. Me being in Townsville I have no idea so I'm relying and asking the above posters of their opinions on why he is in with such a big chance this year. Not being nasty just very interested.

[HarveysDeciple]

B: Blake, Dawson, Baker
HB: Gram, Fisher, Gilbert
C. Montagna, DalSanto, Ray
HF: Goddard, Riewoldt, Schneider
F: McQualter, Koschitzke, Milne
R: Gardiner, Hayes, Jones

I: Armitage, McEvoy, Geary, Peake

E: Lynch, Steven, R.Clarke

Notes

Goddard on HFF, will spend a lot of time on ball, but I reckon as a lead up half forward he'd give you 25-30 goals and is the best player to swing around and deliver to Roo or Kozi. If Hayes, Dal, Ray etc fit I reckon BJ would be lethal at half forward.

McEvoy replacing King as second ruckmen.

Peake in side for additional pace.

Smith to knock on door if fit, Raph or Steven to come in if match up's require.

[SainterK]

I don't mean any disrespect to Steven but how many games has he played in the AFL. I can only remember one. I might be wrong. I'm taking from the comments above that he has played pretty dam well for the reserves. Me being in Townsville I have no idea so I'm relying and asking the above posters of their opinions on why he is in with such a big chance this year. Not being nasty just very interested.

I understand where you are coming from DWOODROW, Ross does like kids to do an apprenticeship for many reasons including the toll of AFL on their body. Personally I think we may see Steven play 10-15 games, similar to Geary last year.

I have heard the kid is impressing, but I am sure the club will ensure he builds up to senior level.