The natural tendency of most match committees at the start of a new year is to give the established players first crack as long as they have been half decent in the off season. Conversely, a newbie will have to have an absolute cracking summer to force their way in.
By my reckoning, there is only one truely open spot in the team - a small forward to complement Paps with Errol, Belly and Wicksy competing for the spot.
Errol's 3Q has got him in front but there's still this week's trialto go.
I tend to agree with Auntie Gerald's side. There are several good players left out in it like Haywood or promising ones likes Campbell and McDonald. That's not to say that they won't receive games across the season. We have to remember that rarely is our best side available. Injuries are always a concern. I seem to remember that the years when we won premierships were characterised by unusually good runs with injuries. If our best side is available then we can compete effectively against anybody but with injuries we come right back to the field (especially if Buddy misses a lot of games again).
Does that mean “old” McDonald is more likely to get a game before Buddy is back? Or will they play Reid and Sinkers instead? I did see Logan taking one ruck contest on Saturday
How was that passage when he laid three tackles, got the loose pill and kicks the ball long to Paps to goal? Almost made me cry. Rampe was pretty damn excited too.Originally Posted by Ralph Dawg
Yes, that was exhibit A for the case of why he should be in the team.
And from watching academy games, I've been hugely impressed by his ability to get to contest after contest. I've seen him do things like: he won a clearance in the defensive pocket and got a hand pass away to a team mate; after the ball was punted to a contest on the wing, he arrived to receive a hand pass and punted the ball to the forward flank; after the ball spent a few seconds in dispute, he gathered the loose ball and snapped a goal.
It was remembering things like that, that made feel confident that we got a real draft bargain, when we picked him up earlyish in the second round.
My best guess at R1 team:
Lloyd Melican Rampe
Cunningham McCartin Dawson
Blakey Mills Stephens
Parker Reid Heeney
Papley Sinclair Hayward
Hickey JPK Florent
Hewett Gulden Rowbottom Ling
McInerney
Campbell
Wicks
Gulden pushes Wicks out. Buddy to replace Sinclair when he's ready. The emergencies to fight Ling and Gulden and Stephens for their spots (or whoever isn't in form). McDonald can build up in the reserves for a bit. It's a bit conservative but still young and gives best chance of winning. Gives a berth to those with runs on the board and aims to promote continuity rather than chopping and changing from week to week so players can feel secure in having their spot.
Will be great watching ECVFL footy this year! This could be the team:
COR Brand BOC
Gould Fox Carruthers
Clarke Sheather McInerney
Taylor McDonald Bell
P. McCartin McLean Wicks
Amartey Warner Campbell
Gray Ronke Hebron Silvagni
All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well supported in logic and argument than others. -Douglas Adams, author (11 Mar 1952-2001)
Agree with your team except Ling. Can't see him getting a game in Round 1.
Will be between Fox and Campbell.
Amongst players who played last year the ones under most pressure would be
Cunningham
Hayward
Wicks
Bell
Sinclair
Reid
And the replacements are handy
Ling
Campbell
Gulden
Buddy
COR
McDonald
The other three should take notice too
Hewett
Mcinereney
Stephens
I reckon the others are assured a spot already unless they have injury concerns
Out of the under pressure players 2-3 will miss round 1 and I guess that over the first 5 rounds those many spots that would be up for grabs each round barring injury and same position.
I hope they don’t pigeon hole Braeden Campbell into the HBF role. He should be given a chance of small forward too through the year. The combination of Gulden Campbell papley Heeney will be too potent for a forward line with variety.
I think Rowbottom has done enough of getting himself a run of 4 rounds this year and then review.
Fox Sports took a crack at the Round 1 teams: AFL 2021: Round 1 teams, every club best 22, predictions, lineups, injury list, Marlion Pickett, Eddie Betts, Jeremy Cameron
The most notable absences would be Hewett and Fox. Will we play 3 key forwards?
Probably most interesting is the Hawthorn team. Fox has Tom Scully playing even though he's retired. That's a bad sign for the Hawks. I don't think I'll cry just yet.
Cunningham is in the leadership group - no chance he is under pressure.
The eternal connundrum "what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object" was finally solved when David Hasselhoff punched himself in the face.
McInerney starred when he played late in the season. Provided he's fit, insanity if he's not in Round 1 team.
While I would be happy with Fox or Campbell to play I think Ling will play as he is expected to fill the Nick Smith roll.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks