I have a similar way of viewing our best 22. I have 3 gaps on my interchange and realistic to know we don't have anyone stronger to take Pitto's spot, but sure would love to upgrade the ruck.

Cerra and Kennedy as interchange "specialists" and have them listed in your first 14 players. I get it.

Based on your views of Cuningham Gov hasn't been consistent enough to be relied on:

2019 played 16 games av 8.5 disposals per game. Unfit for purpose in his first year. Auto selection in bottom team.
2020 12 games for 7.7 disposals. Failed Froward
2021 5 games for 11.2 disposals. Failed Forward
2022 7 games for 14 disposals in defence

But I agree he has class and a great vertical leap that we all value. Lets hope he can be relied on. I have Marchbank ahead of Gov, but have the same question marks on both re reliability.

I'd like to think Boyd is an automatic in the BP, hence no need for Stocker.

I thought Young had his breakthrough year, and his spot in the team will not be overtaken by anybody else on our list.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I think we both agree consistency has been Cuningham's challenge, but he obviously has shown something the list manager finds desirable.

Look at it this way: LOB and Cottrell played a full season and earned 2 years (LOB's manager wouldn't accept less than 2). Cuningham who didnt play another game after round 4 in 2021, and no games in 2022 was offered a one year contract. There must be something more than one good game they see in Cuners. I saw him play more than one good game. HF is not an easy position to play for anyone let alone a 22yo. Agree its now or never in 2023 for him too.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Boyd should be but hasn't yet. I expect him to walk into a BP role
McGovern is proven especially at Crows. Now fit he is easily Best 22 IMO
Cuningham is completely different. 41 games in 7 seasons in a poor side. I hope he steps up and Voss gets the best out of him but IMO at this stage he is nowhere near proven and neitehr is anyone else I listed on our possible list
Young was very good but needs some intensity. He should be our first choice FB but I wouldn't write off Durdin to push him for the role

Right now - this is pretty simple, especially when we can't include players on the outer.

Williams Young McGovern (club loves him - I wouldn't blink and have Marchbank here)
Docherty Weitering Saad
Cerra Cripps Acres
Martin Silvagni Fisher
McKay Curnow Durdin
Pittonet Hewett Walsh
Newman Kennedy Motlop DeKoning
Emerg: Owies Carroll Cuningham Marchbank

Walsh didn't play wing this year so why would you think he'll play there in 2023?

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

He did at times. With all our midfielders fit and playing it's hard to fit them in. Carroll could also step up and then we have Pick 10 which looks like a mid based on phantom drafts so far. I can see Walsh Docherty and Cerra spending time on a wing. Anyway, that's my reasoning

Just read this and thought the potential rule change would support what Vossy already prefers playing the 2 rucks.



https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-trade-period-follow-all-the-latest-news-on-all-the-big-deals-as-they-happen/news-story/fe70d07d2dcde91b876ca9cc6ab29385

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Anyone else abit concerned with our lack of trading this year .. are we just relying on natural progression or is it the fact that whilst everyone around us is improving their lists, they are doing so because they have significant retirement or the like ...


I look at Port .. they are getting stronger with their trades..
Pies, yes, lions yes .. all improving their lists ..

We haven't really lost any of our starting 22 though ..

And added acres .. feeling abit underwhelmed by trade period this year

Austin has stated numerous times that we will go to the draft this year.
We've traded first rounders the past 2 years so the strategy is sound. I understand we have a bit of FOMO this week because we've been so active in the past but I like the strategy. Get a couple of high quality young kids in the door. Preferably a tall defender and a quick mid.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Your club's best 22 after the Trade Period in Herald Sun today



Interesting he has Marchbank ahead of McGovern.
When fit I'd have McGovern ahead of Newman as the 7th defender.

I like Boyd in the BP and Docherty in the midfield mix, pushing out one of Durdin or Silvagni.

I love Cottrell's pace and his newfound confidence.

Looking at the team, the addition of Acres fills the only gap we had, hence didn't need to look at Lachie Hunter to improve us on the wing.
There were no other trades I was interested in other than Schache for ruck-KP depth.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

We got our man Acres to fill a need. Job done!

Injury happens to every club, but what Carlton copped in 2022 was off the charts. I am not expecting a repeat and know the club is focussed on getting the boys stronger and fitter for 2023.

There's a difference between need and want.

We don't need any of Taranto Hopper Dunkley Gunston McStay Hill Mitchell Frampton Weideman Jackson OMeara Corbett Bruhn Bowes Henry Berry Bedford Meek Stephens Hunter Grundy Schache Logue Tucker Horne-Francis Rioli Cordy Francis Lobb & Hunt

Grundy would be handy but too expensive and we need to re sign DeKoning and back Pittonet to find his preinjury form. The mids will be fine if they stay fit, no matter who the rucks are as long as they are competitive.

As mentioned in previous post Schache would have been cheap and good for ruck and KP insurance because I dont like Silvagni as the 2nd ruck, but we either missed out on him or chose not to follow through after he toured Ikon Park.

We prefer our midfield group with Docherty included than any of the above Traded players. Ditto HBF's.

We have invested enough in small forwards, albeit young, they are developing and dont need to add any of the above.

Really smart and timely that Austin is looking to replenish the list with a couple classy kids for list balance. Age profile looks perfect for sustained success.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The following is less about what I think will be our starting 22 at R1 2023, but more about who I think our most talented footballers are.
I have Cuningham in because he has explosive pace and break away ability and can kick a goal.
I have Boyd in because I think he has exceptional pace, run and kicking skills out of defense and we need to blood another smallish type defender who can rebound.
I have Marchbank in ahead of Young and tall Durds because I think he is simply a better footballer and he can show for a tall he can play smaller and can rebound.
I don't have small Durds or Owies in because I think Martin, Fisher and Motlop have more talent.
I have Newman in because I think he can play back but also midfield if needed (or at least on a wing).

I know this will upset many but I think Jack Silvagni doesn't make the 22. I think TDK has so much upside he will eventually go past Jack once he masters the forward craft. He is very athletic so I can see him being a ruck-forward hybrid and I think he is agile and athletic enough to not weigh down a forwardline that will have 3 talls. Now all that said I was very close to sticking Jack on the bench due to his versatility. Fans need to accept that just because Jack is a Silvagni doesn't mean he is in the best 22 if he isn't good enough. He tried his guts out and he is a good footballer but he is not a star. He is borderline Jack, and with inevitable injuries will surely play many games next year but he isn't in my best 22 once TDK arrives. I think Jack would do well to work on his tank in a bid to add a midfield string to his bow. Make himself a necessity that cannot be dropped. The true utility - forward, midfield, ruck at a pinch.

B Saad, Weitering, Marchbank
HB Docherty, McGovern, Williams
C Walsh, Cripps, Ackers
R Pittonet, Hewett, Cerra
HF Martin, TDK, Fisher
F Curnow, McKay, Motlop
INT Newman, Boyd, Kennedy, Cuningham

You really think Sos plays ruck? He is the extra mid when thrown in the middle.

The only time you see Jack in the middle is when he is in the ruck.
That doesn't mean he is good at ruck.

So, what you are suggesting is when he is in the ruck, he's actually an extra mid.
Geez he's got crap numbers for an extra mid, especially given he's without an opponent. His opponent is doing the ruckwork.

Overrated big bodied mid is Jack. Undersized ruck. Doesn't have weapons...other than tries his heart out.

I use to think he would be Sergio Mark II, but its the wrong era for that to succeed.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I can only eyeball it because the numbers don’t exist in the public sphere, but we seem to do alright with score launches and clearances in general when Jack is involved in the stoppage.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

As the ruckman.
Yes he follows up, yes his pressure is good but his primary role is to compete in the ruck.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

All these different teams being thrown around look good on paper.

But they all have a problem. PACE.

If a kick does not hit its target and we are not the greatest kicking side ..,. oh, oh.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

Jack’s ruck game is like a smaller (and less good) Blicavs. He uses what he’s got to contribute to the set piece - to get the ball going our way.

As I say, I can only go off my own eye. But, I just feel like Jack’s combative style is a great source for sharked hitouts. Obviously, I’d rather see him used for variety in the attacking half like Cripps or Harry, but he’s more than good enough against the opposition #2.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

He has a couple wins, but overall, imo, he doesnt do "alright", and given where we are heading, I want us to take the next step as a team and be much much better than "alright".

Yes he competes better against the 2nd ruck, but he still gets beaten in most games, then has a good one every now and then, as he did vs StKilda against Marshall. Marshall didnt look right in that game or didnt know how to dominate Jack with his size advantage.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue