We will be a cellar dweller for a long time if we do not get an elite young mid or KPF on the list soon.
Red flags everywhere.
2021:
B Melican Rampe Cunningham
HB Lloyd Mills Dawson
C Florent Rowbottom Blakey
HF Heeney Franklin McInerny
F Papley Reid Hayward
Foll Hickey Parker Kennedy
Interchange - T.McCartin, Stephens, Hewett, Fox
Guessing that Mills and Dawson will be alternating as cut off defenders depending on Rampe and Melicans one on one matchups
B- Cunningham Rampe Melican
HB- Lloyd McCartin Mills
C- Dawson Parker Stephens
HF- Hayward Reid Heeney
F- Papley Franklin Sinclair
R- Hickey Kennedy Rowbottom
Int- Blakey McInerney Hewett Florent
Emerg- Campbell, Fox, Clark, Thurlow, L Taylor
B : Mills - Rampe - Melican
HB : Lloyd - McCartin - Cunningham
C : Dawson - Hewett - Stephens
HF : Campbell - Franklin - Heeney
F : Papley - Reid - Hayward
R - Hickey - Kennedy - Parker
IC - Florent - Blakey - Rowbottom - McInerney
Emergencies - Clarke, Fox, Sinclair, Pick 3
I think this is the best 22 of the current squad, although McCartin is a starting defender.
Unlike other proposed teams, I don't think Sinclair plays in a team with Buddy and Reid.
I think spots 21 and 22 (Hewett and Fox) are up for grabs. There are not too many players in the current squad outside that 22 who are really good enough. It's too early to condemn Warner and Gould. Ling could improve if he stays fit.
But I think any improvement to that best 22 is coming from this year's draftees.
I expect Blakey and McInerney will start Round 1 on the wing. They played the last few games there and proved a damaging combo.
The one I think who will have to improve dramatically to get a spot is Hayward. I don't think there will be a spot for him as a negating forward, and he sure doesn't do much as a conventional half forward flanker. We have so many improving young footballers who are far more damaging than him, and if Campbell or Gulden prove up to a Round 1 pick I don't see a spot for him. By the way he is about 10th in line for a backline position.
Blakey and McInerney on the wings excite me!
Florent, Hayward, Blakey and Rowbottom all need big years and would be great for them to take the next step and have breakout years.
Mills and Heeeny need to realise their potential and take their game to AA level.
Pick 3, Campbell and Gulden and Gould all debut R1 after big showings in the preseason.
Could happen!
I'm seeing a fit Buddy steaming out of the goal square being hit on the chest by bullet passes from Dawson, Blakey & Campbell. The 100 goal forward returns :-)
The reality is that whoever wins the midfield battle wins the game.
If (and it's a big if) Florent, Blakey, Rowbottom have breakout years, JPK and Parker maintain output, Heeney elevates his game to a Dusty / Danger / Bont level and Campbell is in contention for the rising star, we could be back in the finals.
Obviously if none of the above happens, we will be sitting at the bottom again.
The fact is we were crueled by injuries to some of our best players. Adding Buddy, Heeney, Rampe, and Hewitt plus a ruck makes it a lot better team. We aren’t contending in 2021 but if we have a Port Adelaide like run of health, we have a good team and we are leaving some good players in our 2s.
B: Melican Rampe Cunningham
HB: Lloyd McCartin Mills
C: Stephens Rowbottom Dawson
Foll: JPK Hickey Parker
HF: Heeney Buddy Blakey
F: Papley Reid Hayward
Int: Hewitt, McInerney, Florent, Fox
It’s a good thing if we can’t automatically find a spot in the Rd 1 team for #3, Campbell, Gulden.
Depth includes:
KPD: Brand, Gould
HBF: Ling, COR, Thurlow
Mids: Clarke, Warner, Bell, Campbell, Gray
Small Fwd: Wicks, Gulden, Taylor, Foot, Ronke
Ruck/Fwd: Sinclair, McLean, Amartey
#3 pick is going to be interesting!
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