Assuming there were no injuries and under ideal conditions what would be your strongest mix to make up our best 22, address some of our consistency issues and areas of weakness leading into a finals series? Here's my list:
B Dane Rampe , Ted Richards , Sam Reid
HB Lewis Jetta , Heath Grundy , Nick Smith
C Zak Jones , Josh P. Kennedy , Jarrad McVeigh
HF Gary Rohan , Lance Franklin , Dan Hannebery
F Isaac Heeney , Kurt Tippett , McGlynn
FOL Mike Pyke , Kieren Jack , Luke Parker
I/C Tom Mitchell , Jeremy Laidler , Jake Lloyd
SUB Craig Bird
Sub role to be shared with Heeney, Jones, McGlynn, Lloyd, Rohan on a rotational basis depending on match-ups.
Depth: Goodes, Cunningham, Robinson, Shaw, Towers
Thoughts: Unfortunately, we lose some speed in dropping Cunningham but make up some defensive pressure and speed in omitting Goodes. Our back 6 is working reasonably well, apart from Shaw who is giving away too many costly goals through his turnovers and poor defence. Ultimately, his benefits in attack are being far outweighed by his liabilities in defence and I'd make the same argument regarding Goodes in the forward half of the ground. Heeney and McGlynn are great at roving packs, snapping goals, can kick goals from 40m+ out and shark off double-team packs forming around Tippett and Buddy or lock the ball inside our forward 50 with tackling pressure.
I may have missed someone which will throw a spanner in the works but let me know your ideal team structure if all the stars were to align before Round 23.
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