Best 22s Discussion Thread

[Ringo]

This one comes with a shoutout to GoLions.

B: Darcy Gardiner, Harris Andrews, Alex Witherden
HB: Daniel Rich, Dan McStay, Luke Hodge
M: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Mitch Robinson
HF: Charlie Cameron, Josh Walker, Rhys Mathieson
F: Allen Christensen, Eric Hipwood, Lewy Taylor
R: Stefan Martin, Dayne Beams, Jarrod Berry
I/C: Ryan Lester, Nick Robertson, Sam Mayes, Ryan Bastinac

Shock and awe that I don't have Rayner I know, but I'll get to that!

Def: Gardiner and Robertson are probably the two most contentious spots in this side, so Tom Cutler presents as a candidate not featured and the latest suggests Jack Payne could push for an early season debut. Claye Beams, Liam Dawson, Mitch Hinge and Marco Paparone are all general defenders that could be called upon but are depth for now. Matt Eagles could push for a KPD spot while Jack Frost and Sam Skinner are behind him.

Mid: Jacob Allison is a guy that's probably unlucky to miss, as are Cedric Cox and Ben Keays. Corey Lyons and Brandon Starcevich will press the claims in the NEAFL, with the former more likely to get a game. Lions fans won't want Tom Bell and Rohan Bewick anywhere other than the NEAFL.

Ruck: Stef has had to contend with Archie Smith in the past, but Oscar McInerney has to be the main threat in 2018. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Oscar take over before the year is out, or at least play in tandem with Stef at some point putting Archie as the firm third in line.

Fwd: Cam Rayner is probably replacing Nick Robertson in the side I named, but he'll play mainly forward with a stint or two in the middle in his maiden season. Zac Bailey, Jake Barrett and Toby Wooller make up the general forward department, with Bailey able to play through the middle. Barrett can do the same too, but Brisbane seem to like to use him as a forward. Connor Ballenden is a promising tall who should eventually take Josh Walker's place, although Walker is only 25 but you'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

Will not comment on the other debate on Lions squad.

Hearing that Bastinac may also be under pressure and that has been proven as he is now emergency for JLT2.  Rayner would be the replacement.
We also seem to wish to use Rich in the centres rather than HB which may open a spot for Payne.
Matthieson I think will not start at half forward but in the guts with his ability to win the contested ball.
Bell is the enigma and i think if he impresses as much as he did last week there may be some pressure here. Last week was the best he has played since joining lions imo.

I personally think Stef will be sole ruck for most of the year. Walker, Andrews, McStay and Hipwood have all pinch hit in the ruck previously. If Stef gets injured you may see Archie and Oscar playing together as this combo worked well together in the NEAFL.

[TomK]

Well, I've got no idea what our best 22 is after that game, 28 players or so I could see lining up.

[Bully]

Well, I've got no idea what our best 22 is after that game, 28 players or so I could see lining up.

Fogarty locked I think, today proved he can be thrown into defence if need be.

[TomK]

Well, I've got no idea what our best 22 is after that game, 28 players or so I could see lining up.

Fogarty locked I think, today proved he can be thrown into defence if need be.

Surprised me a lot, didn't think he was ready but I'm very happy to be proven wrong, looks ready to go.

[hawkers65]

Well, I've got no idea what our best 22 is after that game, 28 players or so I could see lining up.

Fogarty locked I think, today proved he can be thrown into defence if need be.

Surprised me a lot, didn't think he was ready but I'm very happy to be proven wrong, looks ready to go.

The dream forward rookie jumps out of no where. There was a reason why he was touted so much last year

[RaisyDaisy]

Scored 87 and that was kicking 3 goals which he won't do every week

JS would be somewhat shaky, and combined with his price he's a pass for me, but not 100% ruled out due to potential lack of cheaper mid rookies

[Bully]

Scored 87 and that was kicking 3 goals which he won't do every week

JS would be somewhat shaky, and combined with his price he's a pass for me, but not 100% ruled out due to potential lack of cheaper mid rookies

That would be the same for all forward rookies. In saying that Stephenson would have better JS but is more expensive and perhaps doesn't have the same scoring potential.

[Samsturmfels]

Dedicating this to my boy wato.

B: Matt Scharenberg, Lynden Dunn, Tom Langdon
HB: Jeremy Howe, Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard
C: Daniel Wells, Adam Treloar, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Ben Reid, Jaidyn Stephenson
F: Jamie Elliott, Mason Cox, Alex Fasolo
R: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams
I/C: Tyson Goldsack, Tom Phillips, Travis Varcoe, Jack Crisp

Def: Brody Mihocek could honestly replace Lynden Dunn or Darcy Moore if that experiment fails. Sam Murray could maybe squeeze on to the bench and Josh Smith should be near enough to the 22 to think about. Flynn Appleby, Jack Madgen and Nathan Murphy all have promise and could possibly appear at some point. Sam McLarty is the only other key defender and Adam Oxley remains depth.

Mid: Callum Brown and Josh Thomas are the best of the mid depth options, while James Aish and Rupert Wills probably aren't far behind. Jaidyn Stephenson gets a go with De Goey's saga and recent hammy injury. Levi Greenwood and Brayden Sier are depth, while Tyler Brown needs a season or two.

Ruck: No danger to Brodie Grundy other than Mason Cox pinch hitting. There's a fella called Max Lynch, but he's no threat.

Fwd: Tim Broomhead, Josh Daicos, Kayle Kirby and Ben Crocker are all around the mark and will all get games at points this season you'd suspect. It's one of the great mysteries of life as to how and why Jarryd Blair and Chris Mayne still have contracts that grant them a place on an AFL list.

nice effort, in regards to rd 1 both Elliott and Wells wont be playing. Id say lock Josh Thomas in for rd 1, as he has been great in our two jlt games. This leaves potentially 1 spot left for the three of Brown, Murray and Smith. Also Grundy may be potentially suspended aswell

[Jukes]

Here's what I think of ours

FB: Gleeson Ambrose Hartley McKenna
HB: McGrath Hurley Saad
C: Zaharakis Smith Parish
HF: Stringer Daniher Stewart
FF: Fantasia* Hooker McDonald-Tipungwuti
R: Bellchambers Heppell Merrett
Int: Goddard (B/M) Myers (M) Langford (M/F) McNiece (B)

Emg: Begley (F) Laverde (M/F) Baguley (B), McKernan (R/F)
Immediate Depth: Colyer (M/F), Green (F), Guelfi (B/M), Dea (B), McNiece (B), Leuenberger (R)

*Fantasia will miss round one

Update: Marty Gleeson out for the first half of the season :/

Marty is good but he's not irreplaceable. Goddard might play more time down back, and maybe McGrath will have his midfield minutes restricted a bit more too. Depending on match-ups any of Baguley, Dea, Brown, and McNiece could come into the team in that medium-back role. Jordan Ridley could get a gig but it's unlikely unless he's developed a fair bit and shows it in the twos.

I reckon it'll be Dea or McNiece moving into the best 22. I'd prefer McNiece, rate him pretty highly and we need to get some games into him.

I think you’re spot on there Jukes, but I think Langford’s position could be taken by Green/Begley or perhaps Baguley to free up McGrath in the middle.

I'm really hopeful on Langford and his upside, enough to put him into the team based on his potential, but yes he definitely has a history of underperforming (like Laverde - what a cursed draft). Begley wasn't all that impressive yesterday but I'm definitely open to playing him, or maybe even Guelfi. Green was very good yesterday as well so open to giving him a go as well, it's probably the most up-for-debate spot in the team atm (even higher than Gleeson's replacement).

[ubeaut]

I think Baguley is underated and plays really well on small defenders.
He comes in for mine if McGrath is to be played in the middle. Goddard should play back more like he did at St.Kilda also.
Green is a good pressure fwd and should play over Langford imo.

[Jukes]

I think Baguley is underated and plays really well on small defenders.
He comes in for mine if McGrath is to be played in the middle. Goddard should play back more like he did at St.Kilda also.
Green is a good pressure fwd and should play over Langford imo.

I’m moreso thinking about the future, Baguley is on the wrong side of 30 now and the difference between him, McNiece and possibly even Ridley is pretty negligible.

You’d imagine Green will play round one with Fantasia out, that’s his time to stake his case to be a more permanent fixture in the best 22. He was pretty poor for the most part in 2017 but im definitely open to him getting plenty of game time if he can prove his worth - I just really want to put minutes into Langford because his upside is huge

[Ringo]

This one comes with a shoutout to GoLions.

B: Darcy Gardiner, Harris Andrews, Alex Witherden
HB: Daniel Rich, Dan McStay, Luke Hodge
M: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Mitch Robinson
HF: Charlie Cameron, Josh Walker, Rhys Mathieson
F: Allen Christensen, Eric Hipwood, Lewy Taylor
R: Stefan Martin, Dayne Beams, Jarrod Berry
I/C: Ryan Lester, Nick Robertson, Sam Mayes, Ryan Bastinac

Shock and awe that I don't have Rayner I know, but I'll get to that!

Def: Gardiner and Robertson are probably the two most contentious spots in this side, so Tom Cutler presents as a candidate not featured and the latest suggests Jack Payne could push for an early season debut. Claye Beams, Liam Dawson, Mitch Hinge and Marco Paparone are all general defenders that could be called upon but are depth for now. Matt Eagles could push for a KPD spot while Jack Frost and Sam Skinner are behind him.

Mid: Jacob Allison is a guy that's probably unlucky to miss, as are Cedric Cox and Ben Keays. Corey Lyons and Brandon Starcevich will press the claims in the NEAFL, with the former more likely to get a game. Lions fans won't want Tom Bell and Rohan Bewick anywhere other than the NEAFL.

Ruck: Stef has had to contend with Archie Smith in the past, but Oscar McInerney has to be the main threat in 2018. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Oscar take over before the year is out, or at least play in tandem with Stef at some point putting Archie as the firm third in line.

Fwd: Cam Rayner is probably replacing Nick Robertson in the side I named, but he'll play mainly forward with a stint or two in the middle in his maiden season. Zac Bailey, Jake Barrett and Toby Wooller make up the general forward department, with Bailey able to play through the middle. Barrett can do the same too, but Brisbane seem to like to use him as a forward. Connor Ballenden is a promising tall who should eventually take Josh Walker's place, although Walker is only 25 but you'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

Here is the best 22 as selected by Media Writer for Lions Michael Whiting
B: Alex Witherden, Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner
HB: Luke Hodge, Dan McStay, Sam Mayes
C: Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Charlie Cameron
HF: Allen Christensen, Josh Walker, Lewy Taylor
F: Mitch Robinson, Eric Hipwood, Cam Rayner
Foll: Stefan Martin, Dayne Beams, Dayne Zorko
I/C: Daniel Rich, Ryan Lester, Ryan Bastinac, Nick Robertson

Nitable omissions Matthieson and Bell.

[Mat0369]

Saw that, figured Bell comes in for Bastinac

[elephants]

Would be shocked if Mathieson wasn't best 22 :o In saying that though I couldn't pick who comes out. Maybe Nick Robertson and Rich into the defence rotation?

[Ringo]

Would be shocked if Mathieson wasn't best 22 :o In saying that though I couldn't pick who comes out. Maybe Nick Robertson and Rich into the defence rotation?

Trying to find out what the injury was that caused Matho to be a late out for JLT2. This could have some implications for Rd 1 selection.