My Dream Team

[bunyip]

Now that our list is settled, I want to construct a dream team of Geelong players for next season.
The assumptions I will make are, they are all fit, they all play up to expectations.
Feel free to comment or make a suggestion. You may think of an alternative I have not considered.
Here we go

[bunyip]

Full back line............................Josh Hunt, Matty Scarlett, Corey Enright
Half Back Line..........................Dasher, Harry, Mackie
Center line..............................Jimmy Bartell, Selwood, Joel Corey
Half Forward Line....................Stevie J, Moons, Varcoe
Full Forward Line.....................Stokes, Pods, Trent West
Rucks.......................................Ottens, Byrnes, Lingy
Bench..................................... James Kelly, Chappy,  Wojo, Hogan (Substitute)
Emerg......................................Menzel, Duncan, Hawkins 

[bunyip]

Explanations
1. Blake. Much as I love Blakey, Westy or Dawson Simpson MUST be given a go this season. So, sorry Blakey.
2. Tommahawk. You can't play everyone. It's either Pods or Tommahawk.
3. Lonergan. refer to No. 2

[bunyip]

Purely for my own amusement, here is our alternative team in case the plane crashes.
FB........................................Gillies, Drum, Weston
HB........................................Guthrie, Lonergan, Menzel
C...........................................Taylor Hunt, Cowan, Schroder
HF..........................................Christensen, Brown, Simpkin
FF..........................................Burbury, Hawkins, Simpson
Rucks.....................................Blake, Duncan, Ben Johnson
Bench....................................Vardy, Horlin-Smith, Motlop, Smedts
Emerg....................................Walker,Stringer

[Justin Bieber]

Nice one Bunyip ;D.

I would probably have Hawkins in ahead of West. You guys do need to bleed the Ruck Youths, but with the Emergency, Hawkins could be a good one as he can play Forward and Back Up ruck.

[Wes Mantooth]

pretty keen bunyip! :)

[bunyip]

Nice one Bunyip ;D.

I would probably have Hawkins in ahead of West. You guys do need to bleed the Ruck Youths, but with the Emergency, Hawkins could be a good one as he can play Forward and Back Up ruck.

If we follow your logic Helly, we should drop Pods. :)

[bunyip]

pretty keen bunyip! :)

Do one for Richmond Wes. We can pick your team apart to  ;D

[Justin Bieber]

Nice one Bunyip ;D.

I would probably have Hawkins in ahead of West. You guys do need to bleed the Ruck Youths, but with the Emergency, Hawkins could be a good one as he can play Forward and Back Up ruck.

If we follow your logic Helly, we should drop Pods. :)

I was saying drop West. Still gets you a big man but one better suited for Forwards and more ready bodied ;).

He and Ottens can switch for Forward duties and cause problems having another tall there.

[bunyip]

I didn't think it worked that well last year. Tommahawk will get better though. And, I want them to play Westy, he's good, and if he doesn't get a go we'll lose him.

[Wes Mantooth]

pretty keen bunyip! :)

Do one for Richmond Wes. We can pick your team apart to  ;D

ill get around to it some day!

[bunyip]

Nice one Bunyip ;D.

I would probably have Hawkins in ahead of West. You guys do need to bleed the Ruck Youths, but with the Emergency, Hawkins could be a good one as he can play Forward and Back Up ruck.

If we follow your logic Helly, we should drop Pods. :)

I was saying drop West. Still gets you a big man but one better suited for Forwards and more ready bodied ;).

He and Ottens can switch for Forward duties and cause problems having another tall there.

This brings us to the question of whether you can go into a game with one ruckman. Personally, I'd be very reluctant to go into a game with Ottens as our only ruck. We tried pinch hitting with Hawkins last year with moderate success, but to be honest, I like 2 rucks, in case one gets injured.
Geelong are pretty well off at the moment in that area, so why not use them.
I seem to remember someone saying on TV last season that when Ottens was resting, Geelongs opponents scored more heavily. So it's an important position.
And, lets be honest Helly, if we were playing Essendon, who do you think would win between Hawkins and Patrick Ryder?

[Cruiseon]

Very detailed Bunyip, the off-season when we are losing the Ashes does leave much time on our hands.

I agree that Geelong can't rely on Ottens as a sole ruckman. If anything to prolong his career he needs to almost be the second ruckman who rucks  30-40% of the time and spends some time down forward. He has missed a lot of football in the last two years & he really needs to be fit and firing at finals time for you guys. Will the sub rule help him at all do you think/

Hawkins is a worry, jack of all trades master of none. It worked for Leigh Brown last year but more often than not it works against a player.

[bunyip]

I don't know how the substitute rule will effect us Cruis. If a player gets injured you would assume he would be replaced with a similar player. But you can't carry an extra ruckman just in case, so you would be left with one ruck and a fill in for the rest of the game. So nothing changes.
As for Tommahawk. He turns 23 in July, so he still has time to learn different positions. Like his father, he's a great mark and kick, so he would be a KPP down the spine somewhere. I don't think he really likes rucking, I think he's a future FF or CHF. He will be ready to  replace either Moons or Pods if the need be.
Scotty must be tearing his hair out trying to figure out what to do with some of these players. It's kind of exciting with a new coach. I doubt if he will do anything radical next year, but if the team does not live up to expectations, look out. If I was Geelongs coach, I would be satisfied with nothing less than a GF appearance, and I'd be letting the players know.
The writing was on the wall when he arrived, he said Geelong supporters should expect success. I would not want to be one of the players who lets him down.

[Justin Bieber]

Nice one Bunyip ;D.

I would probably have Hawkins in ahead of West. You guys do need to bleed the Ruck Youths, but with the Emergency, Hawkins could be a good one as he can play Forward and Back Up ruck.

If we follow your logic Helly, we should drop Pods. :)

I was saying drop West. Still gets you a big man but one better suited for Forwards and more ready bodied ;).

He and Ottens can switch for Forward duties and cause problems having another tall there.

This brings us to the question of whether you can go into a game with one ruckman. Personally, I'd be very reluctant to go into a game with Ottens as our only ruck. We tried pinch hitting with Hawkins last year with moderate success, but to be honest, I like 2 rucks, in case one gets injured.
Geelong are pretty well off at the moment in that area, so why not use them.
I seem to remember someone saying on TV last season that when Ottens was resting, Geelongs opponents scored more heavily. So it's an important position.
And, lets be honest Helly, if we were playing Essendon, who do you think would win between Hawkins and Patrick Ryder?

True. I've heard good things about West but he just can't get games. Not sure if he'd play up forward for the Cats but might land a spot on the bench so Ottens can rest up forward.

Ryder has had 2 seasons of Ruck experience. He was thrown in there and was a success. I wouldn't be suprised if Hawkins, if given a bigger role in the ruck, could do the same. He can mark and kick which means he'll be a good ruckman to make his opponent accountable. Although see your point in wanting West ahead of him at this stage.