B: Thornton, Jamison, Armfield
Hb: Russell, Bower, Scotland
C: Gibbs, McLean, Simpson (vc)
Hf: Yarran, Waite, Walker
F: Betts, Henderson, Kreuzer
Foll: Hampson, Judd (c), Murphy
I/c: Houlihan, Hadley, Garlett, Joseph
Regards Cazzesman

Ok, so my best 22 is set in my mind, with Browne or Lucas to come into the mix for Judd's spot while he's suspended. Search for it if you're curious.

Was a bit bored this morning, so decided to construct my best reserve 22. It's an interesting exercise for those who are unsure of what our list deficiencies are, and highlights who our key first-team players are in terms of the structure of the side.

Without further ado:

FB: Anderson White(r) Dare(r)
HB: Wiggins Austin Davies
CC: Johnson Browne Grigg
HF: Robinson O'hAilpin Lucas
FF: Tiller Fisher Kerr

RR: Warnock Hadley Ellard(r)

Int: Jacobs O'Keeffe Cachia(r) Tuohy(r)

Unlucky: Casboult(r), Donaldson(r)

Some notes:

- No true small defender
- Only one small forward
- Two full back prospects (checked it out: Dare & White are genuine talls)
- Perhaps lacking a genuine FF option, but two missed out
- Surprisingly good skill level on paper
- While not choc full of genuine talls, it's a very tall team

Give it 12 months, and that side would function without Fisher, Wiggins & Johnson. Still needs an injection of smaller types, while looking to develop tall options. Anderson is in real trouble if he can't man smaller types, because there's a litany of blokes who can play his medium defender role at least his level.

Plenty of players who could develop into inside mids as well.

Now for the hit list:

Crunch year
---------------------
Wiggins
Fisher
Anderson
Johnson
Ellard (r)
Grigg

Elevation prospects
---------------------
White
Dare
Cachia
Garlett

Trade bait
---------------------
Jacobs
Grigg

Sounds like it will be a four-man race for the second nominated rookie slot, unless Garlett completely falls off the wagon. He has a starting 22 slot stitched up at this point, so it seems unlikely.

Cachia is reportedly thriving in a professional environment; Dare needs polish, but can play medium/tall defender, has closing speed and a good head on his shoulders. White seems to be a more physically mature version of Dare.

Ellard has worked hard, but is too small and skinny to be a genuine inside mid proposition, which seems to be where he plays his best football. I would prefer him to be an injury elevation, as we have more pressing needs for depth at FB, medium defender and inside mid. If he morphed back into a small forward and could crack it at AFL level, look out.

I just think they need to relax the 10/12 rule. There seems to be plenty of talent at VFL level, it's just giving the unaffiliated sides an advantage.

..nah, i reckon we ought to have our own proper ressies side.. ....drill them in proper afl tactics, vs chasing vfl wins week in, week out.. ..play players in their proper positions, or developing positions.. ..get them used to proper rotations etc etc.. ..more-so, play them out from visy park [least for home games], play them in proper blues jumpers with legit numbers.. ..get them used to playing with eachother all the time, vs some players dropping in and out, plus straight bullies players coming and going..

armfield jamison thornton
bower austin russell
simpson gibbs mclean
yarran waite walker
kreuzer henderson betts

warnock judd murphy

hampson joseph carrazzo hadley robinson grigg gartlett o'hailpin lucas houla scotland sorry, cant decide which 4.

love our depth